Feeling flat this morning re yard move :(

Ladylina83

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 October 2009
Messages
2,022
Visit site
My lovely 18 year old mare has been away for a bit of schooling for 5 weeks as I've been bringing her back into work after having a foal. I fell off and hurt my ankle plus was going on holiday so it fitted in well. In the mean time I met somethingorother and she is going to help me out 2 night a week and one weekend day to keep my girl ticking over if I need to work with my youngster and allows me time to carry on my training to become a yoga teacher.
While Lina was away I was wowed by the facilaties as we've come from a small potato farm with a small out door with no lights and a bit of a dodgy surface and came to the decision that as my boy is out 24/7 I would keep her at new posh livery yard for the winter. So a stable was found for me in the livery block and I took back sole charge of her yesterday.

I got down this morning and the wasn't a single other horse out in the field not 1 out of 45 (it's split paddocks they don't all go in one field) - it was 8am not that early even in my book. I thought well I just need to get on with this and turned her out..... que high speed acrobatic display ! I dont blame her she couldn't see any others - so brought her in which was an eventful mix of jogging and rears, took her rug off as all sweated up, skipped her poos and did a haynet by which time I am running late for work - wrote in the jobs book for her to be turned out by the groom and brought in before she is the last one out but I can't do that every day its almost an extra £15 a week !

I just needed to get it off my chest really as I'm sat at my desk feeling like crying.

... feeling like I might just need to bring her home but then we won't be able to ride in the week and the schooling money will be wasted :(

sobs hiding behind monitor .... has anyone got any chocolate ???
 
Oh, nos - what a Monday for you. Have some of our cakes...

Two thoughts - first, could you have a chat with the YM and establish what the usual TO time and routine is? Second to that, if they're all going out too late for you to get to work, is there any way one in an adjoining paddock could go out at the same time as yours? This may be an easier arrangement to come to once you've got to know other people as obv you'd probably have to turn out both...

Secondly, and this is the harder part - my boy currently goes out around half an hour before any of his mates during the week. He can technically see one of the mares, but she's two paddocks away and frankly he doesn't give a hoot whether she's there or not; all he's bothered about is his fieldmate or the girls in the next paddock being there. He is a bit of nervous pants about being on his own sometimes so this half hour on his 'own' in the mornings is new and he's been kept an eye on (no acrobatics etc. but it has been known previously when he's been on his own) - and lo and behold, he's settling. He gets into the field in the morning, calls a couple of times, realises his mates are still on the yard he himself just was led off *facepalm* and gets down to grazing.

It's taken a bit of time for him to get used to it and I wouldn't attempt it with nobody there to keep an eye out for the first days but frankly I think it's best for him in practical terms to be able to manage being out without his mates for a bit. His yard isn't brand new to him, mind.
 
Last edited:
Hi Hun,
Dont get too down its only day 1! My mare had to go out on her own last year due to work commitments in the dark. At first she was quite distressed but the way i got round it was to give her her breakfast in the field. Whilst she was eating this her mind was taken off the fact she was on her own. After a while because she knew she would have feed she couldnt wait to be turned out- so dont despair:)

Another alternative is to arrange for his field buddy to be turned out together maybe one day you turn out and the next the buddy turns out that way he wont be on his own x
 
I feel your pain somewhat :( F is out all alone (can just see others) but will need to start bringing in at night soon and he will be on his own totally in the stable which I know he wont like much. I have been feeding him in the stable everyday to try and get him used to it so fingers crossed when the time comes I can just let him get on with it.

Not much help I know but dont worry too much, as others have said, suss out the routine and try and get her to fit in or buddy up with someone for an early t/o even if you offer to turnout out for them xx
 
Breakfast is quite a good idea as when I had finished faffing someone else turned up and put 3 out 2 paddocks away so that could buy us some time before the panic sets in ! she was blasting full speed round and round screatching and I could see her pulse in her neck. I hate seeing her so stressed. to top it all she has a massive fly bite under her saddle area on her side that is weeping :(

I will speak to the others in my block tonight ! I already know non of them go out in my field but they might be able to suggest someone / I don't mind turning out 2will try to speak to YO too but she is quite elusive hence the feeling of packing up and running home I think. It is a lot more money than I have been paying over double - I just wanted it to be perfect but thats life I guess

Thank you for the cake :(
 
I hate it when horses arnt out early, I know I lot of the time it can't be helped but most of the owners I know that don't turn up till 10 don't work, then the horse is back in at 12, just while they do the muck out, then they don't come down to feed, check etc till the day at 10.

My youngester is out at 7, every day of the week, no lie in for me on a Sunday. He comes in at 6. Obs when the weather changes his turnout will change, which is fair enough. But he is first out, last one in. he is fine with this, doesn't run and is happy on his own.

However I did have a tb that wouldn't go out on his own. So had to wait for the late risers to turnout. Offered to help do theirs but was turned down.
 
why dont you talk to another livery - see if you could turn their horse out too? then you could even share days so you only end up turning out every other day!! saving money and time! and happy ponies :)

eta- even if u did every day, it will only take an extra 5 mins and save £15

eta a 2nd time - someone has already suggested this!! serves me right for not readin properly :)
 
Historically I have always been the last one down at 8 ! I'm not sure about this posh livery yard business lol
 
Last edited:
Another vote for turning her out with a huge bowl of yumminess and letting her get on with it. If paddock secure etc she can't do herself much damage xx
 
Might be worth asking around the yard to see if anyone else would like their horse turned out earlier? Yes, you'll have to turnout two but that only adds an extra 5 minutes onto your time and solves your problem. You'll probably gain a new very grateful friend as well!
 
Poor you! Horrible to feel so disappointed and worry about your decision. I vote for the option of seeing if you can put someone else's horse out at the same time for them - lots of people do that at our yard. Do you also need to ask anyone to look out for her in the evening in case she gets left on her own?? Also in your position I would be making myself feel ill worrying about the conversation I would have with the YO and that i would let myself get walked over - I am sure you are more sensible than that but if it worries you my advice is practice on a friend so you can do it nicely and assertively. Good luck :)
 
Might be worth asking around the yard to see if anyone else would like their horse turned out earlier? Yes, you'll have to turnout two but that only adds an extra 5 minutes onto your time and solves your problem. You'll probably gain a new very grateful friend as well!

I really don't mind doing this, I would be happy to however I'm feeling unusually shy too at the moment - I'm Flat full stop ! think I'll find it hard to approach complete strangers :( big yards are quite intimadating when you come from a 6 person yard ... its like I want to flea back to the womb. She is out now and settled YM text to say she'd done it herself and will be out to discuss options later she's also lent me some feed bins (having to double up on all essentials as 2 horses 2 yards was getting expensive !! )
 
Just had a call from YO to say the grooms started to do bring ins and my mare went mental - like this morning but has resulted in her having a nose bleed !!! they took 1 mare out of the other 4 in her paddock YO who has been teaching me for 6 months and has been schooling my mare at her yard for 6 weeks but in her fields 1 field away from where she is now but at the back is completely baffled by the change in her over night !! They have brought her in and cleaned her up for me and said she is ok

I'm really upset now
 
I had this problem on my yard. There only my YO and her 3 Horses, and 2 other liveries. One of which are always in. So I spoke to the other livery and said I would bring in for him if he allowed his Horse to stay out late with mine. YO turns both our Horses out in the morning and then I bring mine and other Horse in every weekday evening. Luckily they get along really well so can lead both in together to save me 2 trips.
 
So she is back in YO field rather than livery field and had her breaky there on her own and seemed to settle much better

Very tucked up this morning and her legs were a bit puffy too from all that hooning about - see how she gets on for the rest of the week
 
Top