Help - have I done the wrong thing?

SNORKEY

SNORKEY

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Hi, moved the boy to a new yard last week, and when I looked around was told he could go out as long as it wasn't a disgusting day.
After him going in his paddock just once they are now not aloud out as the fields are too wet.
He's been put in a tiny padock with two other horses with no grass or hay given to him all day!
He seems ok, but getting edgy, and I like the stables and indoor school as it really helps with me working til late.
But i believe horses should be horses and be able to go out all day to eat grass.

Would you move after just a week or stick it out with no grazing for the winter?
 
Personally I'd move him. I'm afraid I couldn't tolerate him not having food all day, I can understand them not allowing him onto the fields and offering turnout in a small paddock isn't ideal but I suppose is better than nothing but having no hay or haylage???? Absolutely not. He'd be gone now if he were mine, horses are designed to graze and by not allowing his basic natural needs goes against everything I want for my horses. Might be worth speaking to the YO and explaining your worries.
 
The first yard I was on there was no winter turnout but they were allowed hay nets tied to the fence of the little paddocks they went out in.

I agree with above, horses are designed to eat all day and not be stood with empty stomachs.

The no turnout wouldnt bother me but I would not have my horse go without food all day.
 
Have they told you why you are not allowed to give them hay in the field? Is it that the other horses owners don't want theirs having feed? I'd definately have a word first explain your concerns, it might be a misunderstanding?

The grazing at my yard is appauling so my lads are bought in for a few hours everyday which allows them to have feeds and nets and I then put out a few slices in the field for the evening, okay other horses do get it but it's worth the extra cost to ensure they get some food.
 
I dont put him out in the mornings, and I dont know who owns the other two ponies, I think the yo may own one of them.
Il say to her today that id like him to have a bit of hay put out and if she says no then that will give me a good reason to say it's not going to work out and il have to go.
But I dont see why I should give any notice.
 
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Speak yo the yard owner/ manager and say this is not what you are told.

You and your horse may get used to it but, it will always be in your mind and you will always wonder if your horse could be happier somewhere else.

Move him, i would!
 
If yard owners can't organise rotational grazing ie: summer/winter, then they've no right to take your money. More problems are caused by feeding horses like dogs ie: large meals twice a day when they should be trickle feeding, that's what they're designed to do.
 
I'd be checking what the story is re no hay through the day and the answer would dicate what would happen next. No hay = no more of my money, I wouldn't be willing to risk ulcers and general stress that may develop by going against what nature intended.

Hope you get something sorted out.
 
I live in the area and I was at a yard where the horses weren't allowed out if it was raining or the land was wet and as it was clay it was wet a lot. I remember them being in for two whole weeks in the summer once.

The problem is there are very few nice yards in this area.
 
I do have some sympathy with the "no grazing" at times rule though because once the ground has been really kicked up (particularly with clay) then that is it, you will have little grazing on it in the summer. I did question the turn out when moving and in our case, we have summer and winter turnout and it has to be pretty horrendous (as in dangerous) before the horses are kept in. Even in the heavy snow - once the YO was happy that it wasn't compacted/icy underneath they all went out for a leg stretch.
 
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