Grass livery to keep costs down


I was going to do this last year, but when the time came I just couldnt part with my lovely stables!!!
Im SO pleased I didnt do it now, what with all the bad wheather. I cant bear to see my horses stood out in crap weather looking all sad!
I ended up getted a second job instead.
 
Mine has been grass livery several times, with various results. At the first yard, it turned out they didn't really want me to use any facilities, or even hack - so I voted with my feet and left! Next yard was much better, I had use of facilities but no stable. It was great BUT being out 24/7 my mare put on a LOT of weight and was fairly gross.

This year, I can again go on to grass livery, and I get to keep my stable too, which is awesome! With this in mind I may actually bring her in (if there is anything else in) for part of the day, but if she is going to be out 24/7 I will most likely have to muzzle her for part of the day or night.

Main things to check are that you get full use of facilities, and also keep an eye on your horse's weight. Also be very clear about coming in for things like farrier and dentist - my horse was always brought in for the farrier for me, but she was left in the field once when the dentist came, got missed out and I never knew.
 
I have a field on a long term yearly contract with a field shelter in it where I put the horses hay and they just help themselves. (2 TB geldings). For the pleasure, amateur, week-end rider, would say it is the best way to keep a horse. They appreciate the shelter most in the summer to get away from the flies. It is land which has some hilly parts and they vary where they graze, stand, doze according to the wind direction in favour to using the shelter. They are both extremely content and never get stressed waiting to be either brought in or turned out as they are living a proper natural horses life. I also think it is a far healthier way to keep them, no dusty stable (doesnt matter how much you clean a stable, it will always have some dust), they move around as much or as little as they want. They are not clipped and lightly rugged as I am lucky they dont sweat much when ridden.

They have never had mud fever or any other problem through living out. When they have eaten as much hay as they want, they nibble grass and have noticed that the snow has freshened the grazing up and they spend ages clearing patches of grass to eat. They also lick the ice and breathe on it in the trough till they thaw a hole to drink through, between me taking the ice off for them. (Perhaps used to play with automatic waterers in the stables when they were in a racing yard.) I also think they are fitter being out all the time.
 
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