Going on Holiday - What to do with horses?

3Beasties

3Beasties

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I'm going away soon for about 8 days. The horses have just recently moved to a new yard/field (just me on it) and are currently in during the day and out at night.

A few weeks ago they were in overnight and out in the day.

They are currently grazing a two acre patch that has a nice big field shelter in it, an automatic water tank and plenty of grass.

The TB can eat as much as he wants so he isn't really an issue but the ISH is a very good doer so I work hard to keep her weight down. She is currently muzzled overnight when out (sometimes manages to get it off though) with a hay net for when she's in during the day.

The field is a few miles from home but my mum has said she will do the horses for me which is great but I am unsure as to what to do with them routine wise.

My mum works long hours, sometimes she's out the house from 7:30am till 10:30pm with only a small break in-between (if at all) so I feel it's slightly unfair to ask her to do the horse twice a day, especially if it involves bringing them in, mucking out etc.

I am wandering if it will be better to leave them out 24/7 with her checking them at least once a day (The YO's will be there twice a day feeding the birds and the cats so will check the horses have 4 legs and a head for me too). Do you think this sounds OK? I left them out today and they didn't seem overly bothered by the change in routine!

My concern with out 24/7 would be the ISH getting too fat, obviously I can't leave her muzzled full time and I have a feeling she would get tricky for mum to muzzle if she was out in the field/knew what was happening.

So, do I fence some of the field off for them to graze down before I go and then leave her on that with the TB on the un-grazed bit?

If they were out they wouldn't be getting fed any hard feed either but that wouldn't be the end of the world, the ISH doesn't need it and the TB won't waste away with the grass that is there!

Other option is to rope a friend, the YO's and mum in to share the task of bringing in/mucking out but I have reservations about that so I'm not to sure.

Sorry for a rambling post, just need a few thoughts and ideas?!

Haribo and Rose wine for anyone who gets this far :D
 
Schooling livery? We went away for three weeks once and left my daughter's pony on schooling livery mainly because we couldn't find someone to look after him at home. Was worth every penny.:eek::cool:
 
Could the yo put the muzzel on in the morning and then your mom take it off in the afternoon/evening when she checks them.

I would work it so they were out
 
Full or schooling livery is not an option. It is only me on the yard (YO doesn't have horses) and I am not prepared to move them having only just got them settled where they are.

MyNutMeg - Yes that could be a possible option to consider :)
 
3Beasties said:
Any other ideas/thoughts?
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If I were you, I would put on schooling or full livery but reading your post my plan C would be paying a friend or horsey person to do it, that way I could state exactly how I want my horse cared for and expect them to do so.

Without riding, I would be looking at paying at least £15 per day aswell as fuel money if they were to be turning out, mucking out, grooming/muzzling and bringing in.
 
Could you pay some body to do night and get ur mum to check/ take muzzle off in the mornings. Otherwise grazing half the field would be a fine idea. Also remember it is only 8 days, that is not that long to get some very expensive plan set up. :) hope you have a great time away.
 
Huumm, looks like I'm going to have to change my plans.

I was really hoping they'd be OK left out being checked at least 3 times a day :o
 
bluebellfreddy said:
Could you pay some body to do night and get ur mum to check/ take muzzle off in the mornings. Otherwise grazing half the field would be a fine idea. Also remember it is only 8 days, that is not that long to get some very expensive plan set up. :) hope you have a great time away.
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The YO has already offered to help as has a horsey friend (my mum is also horsey) but I don't want to impose on them if I can help it. My worry with them being in is mums shifts changing so them being left in for hours longer then normal.
 
Having them checked three times a day is fine. :)

I would electric fence off part of the field so that they graze it down before you go away. Then you should be able to leave them out 24/7 without any worries. Your Mum could put haynets in the field shelter or other safe place so that they don't go hungry.
 
I went away in October and it was very exceptional family occasion so my normal arrangements with family were not an option.
The ponies stayed in their field for a week and a very kind friend went up once a day to check them sand gave them a feed in the field.
Neighbour also kept an eye open for me, I made sure vets number was prominent, everything was fine when I got back.
 
tankgirl1 said:
If you would prefer to keep their routine of in during the day, out at night with muzzle, then perhaps a horse sitter would be the best way? Try http://www.mobileliveryassociates.co.uk/
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I don't mind about changing their routine, it's just how to manage them being out 24/7 for the time I'm away :)

The TB usually lives out all summer anyway so he's not a problem, it's just working out the best cause of action for the fat one!
 
Divide a patch off & hammer it hard now with both Fuzzies.
Then get fatty used to staying in there with a bit of hay for at least 50% of the time.

When you go away, leave thinny in the better area & leave fatty the other side of the fence in the diet area & get mum/friend to give fatty hay twice a day when they check waters & fencing for you. You will need to make up nets for the time you are away to save friend/mum from doing them & make contingency plan in case the fence does not keep fatty in.
Hope that works - it does for me in summer months as would rather my fatty had hay twice a day in small paddock for up to a week+ than risk a muzzle coming off or timings being off from who-ever is caring for mine.

Have a good holiday :)
 
Faracat said:
Having them checked three times a day is fine. :)

I would electric fence off part of the field so that they graze it down before you go away. Then you should be able to leave them out 24/7 without any worries. Your Mum could put haynets in the field shelter or other safe place so that they don't go hungry.
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This is what I would do, for eight days I'm sure it won't be too much of an issue and easier for your mum.
 
Faracat said:
Having them checked three times a day is fine. :)

I would electric fence off part of the field so that they graze it down before you go away. Then you should be able to leave them out 24/7 without any worries. Your Mum could put haynets in the field shelter or other safe place so that they don't go hungry.
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The Fuzzy Furry said:
Divide a patch off & hammer it hard now with both Fuzzies.
Then get fatty used to staying in there with a bit of hay for at least 50% of the time.

When you go away, leave thinny in the better area & leave fatty the other side of the fence in the diet area & get mum/friend to give fatty hay twice a day when they check waters & fencing for you. You will need to make up nets for the time you are away to save friend/mum from doing them & make contingency plan in case the fence does not keep fatty in.
Hope that works - it does for me in summer months as would rather my fatty had hay twice a day in small paddock for up to a week+ than risk a muzzle coming off or timings being off from who-ever is caring for mine.

Have a good holiday :)
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Either would be the ideal solution really. Will have to get some tall electric fence posts (fatty popped over the standard height ones as if it where a trotting pole the other day, it wasn't even containing her, she just couldn't be bothered going round!) and get them to graze a section down before I go.
 
I'd leave them out 24/7, with the fatty muzzled during the day.
I'd ask your mum if she would prefer to do am or pm - and then only impose on her once a day and a quick muzzle on/off
I'd then pay a freelancer to come in the other side of the day.
 
Can you think of any local reliable teenagers you could pay a few quid to pop up twice a day to put muzzle on and take it off? That with your mum keeping an eye on them too might be enough?
My sharer who always did my holiday cover has moved away so I was planning on asking one of the older junior members of my riding club if she'd like to earn a bit of money looking after mine when I go away. She's just passed her driving test and a very knowedgable reliable girl so it would have been ideal.
As it turns out I think I've just found another sharer if the girl who came to ride him twice this weekend works out, which I really hope it will as she's lovely, so hopefully won't have to pay anyone!
 
Faracat said:
Having them checked three times a day is fine. :)

I would electric fence off part of the field so that they graze it down before you go away. Then you should be able to leave them out 24/7 without any worries. Your Mum could put haynets in the field shelter or other safe place so that they don't go hungry.
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Totally agree.
 
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