Grass livery - expectations

[mavandkaz]

Will try to keep this short.
Took the decision to turn my lad away for 9-12 months in the hope Dr Green and time off would bring him right. Looked around a few yards for full grass livery/retirement livery where he could live out in a herd.
Settled on a place that seemed to meet our needs, it's also a livery yard. Yard manager seemed the old school sort. Livery included good quality haylage and twice daily checks, with rug changes as needed.
So dropped him off 2 weeks ago, and all seemed well. I text one of the yard staff a couple of days later to check on him, apparently all fine. Visited last weekend and noticed some of the other horses weren't letting him near the hay (5 horses, one round bale). Messaged the yard manager asking him to keep an eye on it. Didn't hear anything back.
Went up today, and as I approached I could tell by the way he was standing that he was lame. Again he was separate from the group that were eating from the bale, which is actually pretty rubbish hay. Eventually managed to get him to take a few steps, and yep, he's lame.

Am I over reacting to wanting him out of there asap? As in tmw? I know these things happen, but not only had I not been told he was lame, but I don't think they had noticed! I think he has an abscess as it's the same foot he had one in a few weeks ago. The YM was aware of this and I even left him with some hoof putty so they could plug the hole that had been left.
Feel absolutely awful and that I've let him down. He looked so down when I got there.
Spoke to YM, but he has kind of left it to me to sort out and then just tell him what I want doing. I was able to move him into a new field with 2 quiet ponies and he immediately started eating, so at least that is something.
Do I give the yard another chance, or find somewhere else quick?

 

[Littlebear]

If he is now happy and eating i would stay. How far away are you from the horse to be able to check regularly yourself?

 

[Michen]

Guess with an abscess they can be fine one minute and very lame the next. Maybe he was fine at the time of their checks? Poor boy and stressful for you!!

 

[PeterNatt]

I would check your horse at least twice a day to ensure all is well.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

You would be well within your right to remove him tomorrow and I wouldn't say you were overreacting - however, if it was mine I would leave him in this second field (as long as everything else is great) but make sure to visit him every day just to make sure all is fine. If you don't want to do that could you send him away to an established retirement livery place (he sounds very placid in his field manner) or youngstock livery? As that's their sole service, I find that they are usually better at it.

 

[EllenJay]

This is not acceptable. My old boy is on retirement livery and he only has to look a little wrong and the YO messages me. Personally, I would move him now. xx

 

[AmyMay]

Nope, mine would be out of there.

Did you take his rug off to check his weight?

 

[mavandkaz]

Sorry if I wasn't clear ...the livery includes twice daily checks, I am paying for this set up as I am unable to see him twice a day, or even once a day as it is too far away. I moved him from DIY livery to full retirement livery so he could live out. That meant moving him out of area.
I basically have tmw to sort something out, and then I won't be able to see him again until next weekend.

 

[AmyMay]

Can you take him back to your old yard?

 

[mavandkaz]

Can you take him back to your old yard?

Unfortunately not, it's completely full, or I would have done this in a heart beat.
I could possibly bring him home - I have 1acre with two Shetlands on it. It won't work long term as the grass is already basically gone but I could hay for a couple of weeks and sort his foot out.

 

[Lammy]

I would move. I’ve been on a part livery yard with an inattentive YO before and if it has started off bad I don’t think it will get better in my experience. Even giving them the benefit of the doubt that the abscess had come about after they had done their checks, then they still should have noticed that he wasn’t getting on in that herd and needed to be moved out.

 

[mavandkaz]

Nope, mine would be out of there.

Did you take his rug off to check his weight?

He is naked. His weight seems to be ok, although I had fattened up before he left, and of course he is very fluffy so not easy to tell. I was a little concerned last week as one of the other horses had had their rug taken off and was looking quite ribby, but obviously don't know any history

 

[Tiddlypom]

Spoke to YM, but he has kind of left it to me to sort out and then just tell him what I want doing.

This rings major alarm bells. He should have immediately brought the horse in with you to check him over, and to try and find the cause of the lameness. If he’s that apathetic when you’re there, it doesn’t bode well for when you're not.

I think you’ll have to move him.

 

[ihatework]

Unfortunately not, it's completely full, or I would have done this in a heart beat.
I could possibly bring him home - I have 1acre with two Shetlands on it. It won't work long term as the grass is already basically gone but I could hay for a couple of weeks and sort his foot out.

If you have a bad gut feeling then I’d listen to it.

Bring him home, sort his foot out and look for a new livery

 

[be positive]

I think I would probably look for another option, as a YO I know it can be easy to miss the odd thing but my main concern would be that he is not getting near the hay and that was not acknowledged when you told them you were concerned, if he can stay with the ponies he may be ok but if he goes back out and is the bottom of the herd pecking order and the YO will not offer another option of hay then he could drop off rapidly in the next month or so.

My retired horses still have enough grass they do not want any hay yet, so the fact yours is on full grass livery and needing it means they are probably overstocked, possibly pushed for time and things will be overlooked.

 

[awelshandawarmblood]

That isnt right and I'd want him moved ASAP too. I have youngster on grass livery an hours drive away & I see him only monthly! He has twice daily checks & I get told when I visit of anything that has happened etc as they handle it all & don't want to worry me - just little things like a runny eye or mud fever that they're treating. Anything more than that they'd let me know. They should have listened to you & made sure your boy was ok. Hope you can move him home & find somewhere who does what they offer.

 

[MrsMozart]

So sorry it's not worked out.

I'd move him. Unless the agreement says they'll just keep an eye rather than properly checking than they're in dereliction of both their contractual and moral obligations.

 

[Auslander]

Get him out. It's not on at all that the poor guy is not being allowed near the hay, and nothing is being done about it. As for not noticing he was lame, urggh!
I spent an hour up at my yard today looking after a lame horse, on my day off. i'd be mortified if my liveries noticed a problem before I did

 

[KittenInTheTree]

I'd bring home and feed hay for now.

 

[Littlebear]

Unfortunately not, it's completely full, or I would have done this in a heart beat.
I could possibly bring him home - I have 1acre with two Shetlands on it. It won't work long term as the grass is already basically gone but I could hay for a couple of weeks and sort his foot out.

If this is the case I would do this, make sure his foots spot on before you try again, would also give you a chance to find somewhere suitable x

 

[dominobrown]

I would move... if it is full grass livery it's not on really. As a YO I would of messaged to say he isn't enjoying it and maybe another livery package would suit better... i.e bring him in for part of the day and give hay, or when he went lame say he needs to come in and be stabled, .."Hope this ok etc" type message.

 

[HeyMich]

It sounds like the twice daily checks weren't being done. I would be livid!

Herd dynamics is one thing, but not being allowed at the hay for a week is another. Plus an unnoticed lameness - not acceptable, and in breach of contract. Move him asap.

 

[meleeka]

I’d move him home. Bad enough that the YO just didn’t notice the lameness, but I’d have expected them to be full of apologies and helping you to find the cause, not just leave you to it. Things do get missed sometimes, but surely they’d have felt awful about it?

 

[stormox]

To be fair, abscesses can appear suddenly overnight. I think it depends what arrangements were made between poster and YO. Surely a visit to the yard should be made at least once a day? Or is it full livery? Unless hes thin I wouldnt worry if sometimes he's not at the bale he can get his turn if he wants when the others are full and have wandered off..

 

[Trouper]

Agree the lameness could have come on suddenly but the herd dynamics must have started immediately and I would get him out. I would just be spending every weekday worrying about him. Is there a chance you could rent some other grazing near you and move him and Shetlands to it - at least for the winter??

 

[Jellymoon]

If they’ve moved him into a new field with two quiet ponies and he’s happy then maybe give it a chance. But they do sound like they are not being attentive enough...

 

[meleeka]

To be fair, abscesses can appear suddenly overnight. I think it depends what arrangements were made between poster and YO. Surely a visit to the yard should be made at least once a day? Or is it full livery? Unless hes thin I wouldnt worry if sometimes he's not at the bale he can get his turn if he wants when the others are full and have wandered off..

OP said she’s paying for twice daily checks.

 

[windand rain]

That is awful we have an old boy who was supposed to be with us for a few months three years later he is still going from strength to strength. He is cared for with my own in that he gets hay, grass and fed everyday rugs are adjusted daily. I have gone out of my way to make sure his food is high quality and have bought specialist food for him his tummy gets runny if he eats hay. I clip legs and treat his mites, He is groomed and checked and is very happy. I hope his owner is too all for the princely sum of £10 a week after his field rent is taken out. I have to pay 20 per horse per week to the land owner. His owner comes to see him from time to time and seems happy I will be sad if he does pop his clogs but will know I have done everything to make his last years good ones

 

[Red-1]

There are 2 separate issues, as I see it.

1. The field did not suit, with the other horses and the hay. This is now resolved.

2. The YO did not make you feel that they were listening. You are now not sure checks have been made as you found the horse lame. The YO did not reassure you, instead telling you to sort it out yourself.

The field situation is now resolved, so is not a concern. The YO has proved not to be doing what you need to keep your horse so far from where you can check him yourself, in fact has not been proactive at all to investigate and solve the lameness. So...

I would move the horse. I would not trust them to treat the foot or investigate further. Simple.

 

[honetpot]

Even without the abscess he sounds like he is being bullied and will not get his share of the hay. A good horse person shouldn’t even have to see a horse walk, to know there is something wrong.
I would bring in home, an acre is plenty if you are feeding hay. You are paying for something you are not getting.