Grass livery - is it possible?

C

ChestnutConvert

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 September 2010
Messages
1,135
Location
Hertfordshire
Visit site
I have been offered the use of a field that unfortunately has been denied permission to build stables on for moment. Has got a large field shelter and water but that is it.
All sounds fine but no storage at all, possibly a bit to keep feed and some hay up the road.
It wouldn't bother me but one condition by the planners is no feeding in the field i.e no hay feeder, so hay only in the shelter.
Is this really feasible?
I would already be sacrificing riding for a while as no storage for stuff (don't drive) but would consider winter her out until either planning magically got sorted or somewhere else turned up. Yards are a rarity for my situation!
 
I'm contracted to not feed hay in the field. No supplementary feeding which in theory also covers hard feed!
I feed hay on the floor twice a day (equals to ad-lib in my mind as always a bit left over) through out winter.
No one has ever said anything but i can't say it's not a hassle lugging sacks or nets of hay in my car then out to the field. However it seems to work.
Could that be an option?
 
poiuytrewq said:
I'm contracted to not feed hay in the field. No supplementary feeding which in theory also covers hard feed!
I feed hay on the floor twice a day (equals to ad-lib in my mind as always a bit left over) through out winter.
No one has ever said anything but i can't say it's not a hassle lugging sacks or nets of hay in my car then out to the field. However it seems to work.
Could that be an option?
Click to expand...

In an ideal world no as I don't drive hence why I would be sacrificing riding for a while. The place I could keep my hay is close enough to lug them. Just weighing up pros and cons and as perfect as half of it is,the other half is just cons. Probably just answered my own question!
 
how many horses are you feeding? I had to lug hay across a field one winter and it was an absolute pain. backbreaking work if you have a lot to feed, plus sticky slippy mud. is the field shelter near the gate?
 
The daily logistics sound soul-destroying; the thought of managing in that set up if something goes wrong would put me off completely. It may be the best of the options open to you, but in your shoes I'd keep looking for alternatives.
 
She would be sharing her field plus surrounded by others, i think deep down I know the answer is that it isn't fully suitable for me.
My main problems is that it isn't totally working out where I am (more people problems then horse, she is happy but that's another long story!) and any form of livery let alone a field with a few of you is very hard come by.
I think I am better off waiting and at some point something will fall into place. If it had storage like most fields the then I'd go for it but unfortunately it's not to be, unless she worsens with her ailments and gets retired!
 
if shes sharing her field then you could be lugging hay for other peoples horses! unless everyone gangs together and gets a bale in?
 
Whereabouts is the shelter in relation to the road? would it be possible to get a farmer to bring a round bale and put it straight in to the shelter?
 
This could be a disaster for so many reasons.
If the field gets really wet you're going to struggle to carry hay across to the shelter if its away from the road/gate - top that with also having a small herd of horses trying to eat the hay while you carry it.
You won't be feeding just your horse - the others will also eat your hay
If your horse isn't high up in the pecking order it isn't likely to eat much of it at all
Even if you all club together and buy a large bale to put in the shelter its an accident waiting to happen if the dominant horses start pushing the others around as they won't find it easy to get out of the way of hooves and teeth
If all the feed is in the shelter it won't take much wet weather to turn the entrance into it into a deep mud bath
If your horse should be unfortunate and get injured or be ill or get mud fever you won't have anywhere to put it while it recovers
Even if you don't stable most of the time its nice to have dry covered area with no other horses for things like grooming, farrier/vet visits, giving a bucket feed or just checking the horse over
 
The Council Planners will have far too much work to do in their department to be monitoring what is being fed to a pony or 2 in a random field. The staffing levels across all Government departments is at an all time low. Where I am shares one enforcement officer who is part time, across 2 authorities.

Going back to the logistics, I think you will really struggle and if you found the pony in any form of distress where could you get him in the dry, clean and with light for a vet to treat him.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top