Everyday routine and Hello!

[gingerspice]

First post - very exciting!! Have been getting more and more addicted to this place over last month so I thought time to join in!
I have a dilemma looming and would appreciate your thoughts.

For last 3yrs I have worked 45mins from where keep horse at part livery. But have now moved jobs and live back in village where family farm - 10mins from livery yard. In summer horse comes back to the farm.

My dilemma is what to do in about a month when he needs to get stabled. Do I keep him here or put him back in part-livery? I hunt him so he's fully clipped and gets stabled at night, then have started eventing him in the first half of summers before he has a holiday. We have stables and grazing so thats no problem but I worry about having the time to be able to give him the appropriate level of care.

How does anyone with full-time job (I am lucky mine does have pretty flexible set-up but do sometimes have to be out all day or late back) look after their own horse? Whats your routine?

The though of "doing" him 100% and having that control of turn-out etc is massively appealing! He does have tendency to jump out if on own, so have always sorted a summer companion for him, so would need to sort that out.
I would love to hear anyones thoughts on subject!!

Otherwise just general "Hello"!!

 

[cloverleaf1985]

Welcome! I work full time and my pony is kept at yard 10 mins from me. u will find looking after him on ur on is hard to get used to but its also really nice to see them! in the morning i feed, rug up and turn out. when i finish work i go straight to yard, bring in, groom, muck out and then feed. it takes me about 15 mins in morning and 1-2 hours depending on if im riding/lunging etc. hope that helps! enjoy

)

 

[catembi]

I work f/t & used to keep mine DIY about 3 or 4 miles away. All year I used to get up early & ride before work - which was sometimes by moonlight!! It got easier when I negotiated my hours to 10 - 6. Then whiz past & chuck some food out in the evening.

Now I work 9 to 5 in the City & the horses (one in work, one very ancient & ret'd) live at home. In the am, I chuck food & hay out & change rugs if nec. In the eve I ride as soon as I get in, do feet, fill up the trough etc.

My ISH is fully clipped & they're both rugged to death in winter. They both live out 24/7 all year with a double field shelter that they do actually use. I only catch them in if it's wet as the old mare box walks & won't eat & the ISH neighs to be let out. Therefore virtually no mucking out. If they're in more than one night during the week, I'm lazy & deep litter, then get the bed up at the w'end.

You just need to find out what works for you & your horse. As mine are out, the odd late dinner etc doesn't seem to worry them too much.

 

[gingerspice]

Thanks Cloverleaf1985, useful to hear your timings, can be up, do horse and be away pretty quick if needed! Leave mucking out until later! I appreciate it would be hard on my own but like you said the positives should out-weigh that hopefully!!

In winter, guess can put fleece lining under rug if no not going to be back until 6ish and leave out until then, temps never change that much through a winter day surely! catembi - do you change rugs between day and night if yours out 24/7?

thank you for comments!!

 

[welshies]

Hi, i'm affraid the temp does change a lot in winter!!! Especially if we have a nice cold dry one with sunny days, minus 5 at night then sunny in the day. My 3 live out all year, 2 darties aren't rugged, tried it with one once and he just stood in the same place all day! They get rediculously thick coats though. Sec d is one of those who is alwasy hot when its dr but gets the shakes if he gets wet through! I've have always looked after my one and would never have it any other way. (well ma & pa help) I work FT but have negoiated 7-3 as my rented field has no water or electricity, so need to get there asap before dark in winter, only prob is mom and dad have to see to them in the morn as i have to be @ work 4 7. but they only have to check they are still standing in summer and chuck out hay and mybe take off/change rug in winter. My biggest worry is rugging my sec d in winter! It's a night mare! You are so lucky that they will be @ home, i'm sure i would worry a lot less if mine were. As it is i have to see into the future to see what the wether is going to do. They have a 12x12 field shelter where they will all quite happily stand together is it's really bad plus they have 3 large trees in the middle of the field and it's completely surrounded by trees, and there is a 36x12 shelter split into 3 so i use one as an emergancy stable but my sec d wouldn't be stabled anyway!. But that means in the winter if its just above freezing but sunny my horse sweats in his rug because the field stays so warm. But the biggest issue is if it decides to rain and i can't get there in time he's wet and thats it so has o have no rug until it dries up, then i feel awful!!!!!! Ususally can't sleep worrying. I'm sure this wouldn't be so much of an issue if they were at home, i/ma/pa could nip out at any time of day to chuck a rug on etc!! Also means i can't ride in winter during week

but could be worse!! I wouldn't hessitate having thema t home if i were you, sooooo lucky!! It is my ultimate dream and will happen one day! Good luck and hope you make the right decision!

 

[Harlequin_Ro]

Some times I wouldn't be able to get up the yard until 7 in the winter and I was DIY. Breathable rugs are brill and snuggy hoods to reduce grooming times. I was turing out at 5:30am as well so the weather does change alot between then. But if the field is well sheltered you should be okay. Couldn't you let him live out?