feilds

Z

zebadee

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 January 2010
Messages
67
Visit site
First in relation to my other posts about my pony i am going to give the owner an offer to buy her.
Second i need a field but i dont know where to look, there is a load of fields in front of our house i was going to ask the farmer if i would be able to keep her in his feild, do you think that is a good idea or any ideas on what i should do.
Thanks
 
you can only ask. Would it be your plan to keep her on her own. They are herd animals and don't feel safe on their own. Is there not a livery yard you could get into? Where is she kept at the moment, could she not be kept there?
 
Well the reason i am wanting to buy her is because i want to get her away from the life she lives now so staying where she is is really not an option, she is a very special pony to me, and i am going to give her everything she never had. There is one livery yard i would consider moving her to but it is right next door to where she is now and i dont think i would like to be in that area if i buy her.
 
If you need to get her out of a situation then perhaps it would be ok for the short term. If she has been always used to company though, she might create a fuss. If you get the field then you could put an ad in paper or feed shops etc advertising grass livery. It will reduce your costs and give your pony some company. you need to make sure that there is decent shelter if she has to live out.
 
We keep our two out on grass 24/7, 365. Here are a few things you need to consider.

Water: Is there water in the field? If not, how are you going to provide water.
Company: Horses are heard animals. Some will live on their own, but most are stressed when left alone.
Grass Management: You cannot just dump a pony in a large field full of grass for several reasons, not least is the risk of over eating leading to obesity / laminitus, so you have to think about the cost of electric tape and possibly even post and rail fencing.
Winter Feeding: Grass stops growing at temperatures below 10 degrees. Even if you have set aside some grass, by December / January this is only providing fibre, so you must have additional feed available.
Shelter: Horses need to get out of the wind / rain / snow sometimes. Has the field got a decent hedge on the windward side or can you install a field shelter.
Access: How do you get to the field? If you need to walk a mile across other fields to get there, you are going to find this a real chore in winter when you are possibly pushing a wheel barrow full of feed / water / tack.
Dung: For the grass to remain healthy, you must poo pick, preferably daily. Where can you start a dung heap? And will the farmer want it removed or is he happy for it to rot down.
Security: Can you get exclusive access to a field? If so, then it is a good idea to chain and padlock both ends.

I am not trying to put you off the idea, far from it, we would not put our two back on a commercial yard for anything, but you need to consider just how much work is involved in keeping a pony on grass.

Good luck.
 
While I agree with some points; the grass does not stop growing below 10 degrees, its below 5 degrees!!

If there is plenty of grass in winter, your pony might not need extra feed; most good doers don't and shouldn't, fibre is all they need.

Perhaps you could have a walk around the area and knock on a few doors, I have taken in the odd "I'm at a livery, get me out of here" !!
 
NeilM said:
We keep our two out on grass 24/7, 365. Here are a few things you need to consider.

Water: Is there water in the field? If not, how are you going to provide water.
Company: Horses are heard animals. Some will live on their own, but most are stressed when left alone.
Grass Management: You cannot just dump a pony in a large field full of grass for several reasons, not least is the risk of over eating leading to obesity / laminitus, so you have to think about the cost of electric tape and possibly even post and rail fencing.
Winter Feeding: Grass stops growing at temperatures below 10 degrees. Even if you have set aside some grass, by December / January this is only providing fibre, so you must have additional feed available.
Shelter: Horses need to get out of the wind / rain / snow sometimes. Has the field got a decent hedge on the windward side or can you install a field shelter.
Access: How do you get to the field? If you need to walk a mile across other fields to get there, you are going to find this a real chore in winter when you are possibly pushing a wheel barrow full of feed / water / tack.
Dung: For the grass to remain healthy, you must poo pick, preferably daily. Where can you start a dung heap? And will the farmer want it removed or is he happy for it to rot down.
Security: Can you get exclusive access to a field? If so, then it is a good idea to chain and padlock both ends.

I am not trying to put you off the idea, far from it, we would not put our two back on a commercial yard for anything, but you need to consider just how much work is involved in keeping a pony on grass.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

I agree with all of the above. Just popping a pony in a field isn't going to work unless the field is 100% secure and has been used for horses in the past (water, shelter, drainage etc. etc.) and there is still upkeep (poo picking, fence checking, trough checking ....). And your pony would surely need company?

Hope it all works out for you! :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top