How do you cope with real field kept horses?

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poiuytrewq

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I'm pulling my hair out slightly. Im more than happy to leave my horses out all year round, it's not that I namby pamby them too much but our recent temporary move to just a field is really tough!
Things like no where to tie to rack up, access to the field is bad so we catch and lead them to the car to tack up. There is a gate where I park but it's very old and falling apart so not suitable to tie to.
I don't think my horse has been properly brushed in as long as I can remember.
Now he's lame and there's not much I can do about it right now.
Any tips for easier keeping of grass horses?!
I'm not used to a swanky yard by any means but last place had some useable stables and a hard yard area with running water etc. Basic but I'd kill for it right now.
 
Pop a couple of wooden posts in and attach a tie ring? Ask or swap the gate. As for tacking up by car, we did this for 25 years plus.
 
I do have stables, but until last week only earth floors, and we won't ever have running water or electric, and have no hard standing. As Highlands said knock a couple of posts into the ground and put in a rail for tieing up, do this again to make a saddle/rug rack. You could put down a couple of rubber mats to stand on, for ease of the farrier I guess? Can you put up/buy a field shelter, one on skids would be best, use for tacking up etc.
 
Can you mend the gate? I tie mine on a gate, the string will bust before the gate does. Mine lives out all year round , when grooming I use loads of coatshine, I use it in the mane and tail too I get lots of comments on how clean she is even in winter, when others are stabled. However without any hard standing it is really difficult to keep the feet clean stop mudfever etc I know someone who made some out of hardcore and rubber mats- better than nothing
 
poiuytrewq said:
I'm pulling my hair out slightly. Im more than happy to leave my horses out all year round, it's not that I namby pamby them too much but our recent temporary move to just a field is really tough!
Things like no where to tie to rack up, access to the field is bad so we catch and lead them to the car to tack up. There is a gate where I park but it's very old and falling apart so not suitable to tie to.
I don't think my horse has been properly brushed in as long as I can remember.
Now he's lame and there's not much I can do about it right now.
Any tips for easier keeping of grass horses?!
I'm not used to a swanky yard by any means but last place had some useable stables and a hard yard area with running water etc. Basic but I'd kill for it right now.
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Tacking up - Teach your horse to stand without being tied up (helpful thing to learn!) or knock two posts into the ground and nail one across then add string - that's we we currently have.

In winter we never brush apart from where the saddle / bridle goes. They are only going to get muddy again!

Lame Pony - fence a stable size field section and hey presto.

Get a H2o bag - maes carrying 100 litres of water in the summer much easier!

Anything else you want to know? :)
 
I used to loan a totally field kept horse. You need to be quite laid back about it. No point wanting a dry horse before you rug in winter for example, if it is drizzling and you have no stable scrub with a towel then rug up. You have to accept that if it is raining hard and you rug then you cannot ride because the horse would get soaked. If you do not rug you have to accept there will be times the back is covered in wet mud and you cannot ride. I tied up to either a gate or sturdy fence post. An earth floor is fine, you only bath maybe once on a hot summer day to avoid creating mud. If the weather and horse is dry I prioritized a thorough removal of mud to check for mud fever and rain scald before riding in the time left. Forget about a properly clean horse they need all that dusty grease to keep waterproof and warm. Just remove mud from saddle and bridle patch before riding or use coat shine if you cannot stand riding a muddy horse mud will slide off easily but you will use loads. You can get water from the trough to sponge off after work in the summer. I took everything to the field but everything was not much at all only a hoofpick, dandy brush, sponge, coat shine, wound cream and fly spray in a backpack type bag, hat on my head, bridle and headcollar over my shoulder and saddle carried in my arms. I left a bucket in the field tucked away in the hedge for getting water and for rattling a few treats in if it was a pain to catch. You get used to doing things by feel in the half dark when you cannot see properly.
 
In the same circumstances I bashed in 2 posts and a rail to tie to, there isn't much you can do to make life easier, summer was/is much easier winter is hell. I'm just about to move I couldn't take another winter with no facilities
 
I have a fenced off section of my field where the main gate is to park my car right at the field. I also fenced off a section at the gate where I tie up, tack up, feed, groom etc. I have a lovely couple who's house is next to my field that let me run a hose from there exterior garden tap to fill up water buckets and both my field shelters can easily be converted in to a stable should it be needed.
 
I have used the roof rails of a car as a hitching post (warning, wing mirrors ca suffer badly). A rope between two trees also makes a decent picket line.
 
Rhodders said:
In the same circumstances I bashed in 2 posts and a rail to tie to, there isn't much you can do to make life easier, summer was/is much easier winter is hell. I'm just about to move I couldn't take another winter with no facilities
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This^^ could never go back to it, feel your pain OP I wouldn't have a horse if I had to keep with just afield ever again, if you thinks it's bad now you will HATE winter.
 
Mine are totally field kept. I have an old rice trailer for all non expensive essentials, and have strung up some string inside to hold a few rugs, and have a big dump bag for hay, which I collect from the local farm when needed. Pony ties up to said trailer, I hold mare as she won't tie. Luckily we have an automatic trough, and as we're on the edge of a disused air field, do have an area of hard standing (ie runway!) - this is where the trailer is parked.
Within the trailer I have the infamous 3 legged saddle stand! I keep tack in a locked garage (family owned) about half a mile away, - so I carry the tack when wanted. I've cleared a space for the farrier van by the gate, and the over looking bungalow owners have all my details should anything happen.
Local horsey lady has offered me the use of her field shelter-stables and round pen should I require them, not that I think I'll need them, but very kind all the same.
Never been so happy!!
 
Can you not just teach the horses to stand still? Easier said than done I know, but very helpful once they do.

Mine lived out all year round and there was a place to tie-up, but I'd just put his head-collar on and tell him to keep still while I brushed him and picked his feet out.
 
See, mine are totally field kept but I do think some kind of stabling is essential for an emergency. I suppose if you have 3 or more you could move the injured/ill one to a livery yard. I have always had either a field shelter with slide rails to turn into a stable in an emergency or similar. It's not too difficult to knock something up. As others have said, an old trailer can be handy. A bit of hard standing can be created with a tipper full of road planings. An old shed can be bought cheap on Ebay for storage. I would start with a new gate and fencing a small area off by the gate for feeding, farrier etc. Your new best friends are Ebay and a hammer/nails :-D
 
We have a tie up rail which is as described, a very simple affair. My horse went hippy in Feb and although there are field shelters, he loves it! I wouldn't go back to stabling now. It would be really strange! Clean belly where girth goes, around ears and saddle patch, pick out feet job done! Love having less grooming to do! I also have a Stubbs saddle mate which I use to carry everything to field it's brilliant.
 
I have kept mine on a field with zero facilities for almost 7 years.
Its only in the past 2 years we have replaced the fence, had a small holding area fenced off with tie rings for the neddies, a small shed and had some hardstanding put in last year.

Previously used 2 large garden storage chests outside for storing headcollars etc, dustbins for feed, and used elec tape to cordin off this area. Also had bale string tied to the main gate for tying them up - never had room o ark car near field as narrow lane so used to park up the lane in the chapel car park then walk my tack down when i wanted to ride, still dont have a water connection so water is still transported daily in 25 l containers.
 
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We've done it for 8 years. A shed for feed, an area to tie and tack up (fence posts!) and that Harris fencing cobbled together with sheeting over keeps you dry when filling nets.

In the shed we have a couple of chairs to sit on while the kettle boils for a nice hot cuppa whilst we shelter from the rain! A strict schedule helps keep us sane!

It's ok, we cope. :)

We do have a water supply though, hose pipe system in summer, back of the truck in winter with the barrels!
 
We did this for a winter, used to tack up outside our garage, have feet done there, not ideal, but horses were happy living out, plenty of natural shelter and grass, we are much happier having the use of a barn, present field is pure mud come winter, so even the horses appreciate coming in to the barn for a dry lie down
 
You just need to get creative! As said, a couple of post rammed into the ground as hitching posts. Cheap rubber mats to put on the ground around them keeps away the worst of the mud. Otherwise, a load of cheap wood chips can be handy too! Wheelie bins are excellent for keeping paddock rugs in, as well as extra hay/feed. See if you can source a cheap garden shed, great for storing inexpensive gear and somewhere to get changed or stand in out of the rain. Hot tape, an electric fence unit and tread in posts are necessary to fence off gate ways for mud prevention, and to create holding yards for those that are injured. You can most certainly bed these areas down with straw etc to prevent turning into a muddy mess. Best to start preparing for winter now!
 
One of mine lives out 24/7/365 with a buddy. It goes without saying that summer is a doddle, but winter is "character building"!

My friend and I were very creative and fashioned a den in the adjoining woods, and there we keep feed bins etc. We purchased a giant lockable wheelie bin each for rug storage, and we attach bailer twine to sturdy branches in the hedge for tying up.

We poo pick twice a day, have use of a neighbour's outdoor tap to run a hose to the trough, and we manage fine.

Yes, the depths of winter can be a bit of a challenge, but the horses are happy as Larry.
 
I've kept horses out in fields for 40 years, and at the same time for 20 of those years had stabling.

I'd advise against tying to gate itself. Use the gate post which should have been set in concrete: more substantial and less likely to break, and impossible to swing open and frighten horse. Tie a loop of baling string round gate post first.

Hitching posts: if your horse isn't used to them, it will simply walk round each side, until there's nowhere left to go, and may then panic and pull the cross piece off. Only of use if placed adjacent to fence.

If you have a field shelter put a tying ring in there, and also on both frame supports outside. Obviously that gives you a variety of tying places, but a lunge line between the two external ones creates a temporary enclosure very quickly indeed. Slip rails can then be put in place in your own time and by you alone.

Metal workmen's huts aka elephant huts: if you can find one it will be very cheap, put a pallet or two down and you should be able to get 20-25 bales of hay inside. When space allows you can take a break there too, and perhaps leave brushes etc inside. Hut is not attractive to thieves either. Your biggest risk is that kids will go there to smoke and inadvertently set fire to the hay, but at least the hut is unlikely to allow the fire to spread.

Leave nothing of value behind you. Almost certainly it will walk at some stage. I' d include wheelie bins in that statement, given that the large hay ring feeder in one field I was using disappeared! How many people are they useful to? Only farmers and metal merchants.

Invest in a really well fitting pair of wellies. Inevitably somewhere you use in your field will become really muddy over the winter and leaving a. boot behind when walking through it is never nice! ��

Do not get hung up over the state of the field in winter. It will come good again eventually in the spring/ summer. Obviously if you can divide it, rotate and rest one half for some of the time that's good but it's not essential.
Field kept horses may get more incidents of rain scald and mud fever but that is offset by the reduced likelihood of respiratory diseases and stress related behaviours. At least scald and fever can be cured fairly cheaply.
Try to enjoy your field, as a field. Being outside does you good, not just the horse. Breathe in the fresh air. You have your own, albeit rented ,space to learn all about weather and the stars in your area. Appreciate and help the wild life that is living there too.
 
Why don't you replace the gate? If its falling down, you'll need to anyway (or the landlord will) and then you can tie up to it as well. Mine live out 24/7 but I have always had facilities (ie. stables and tack room etc.), don't think I could do it without the basics like somewhere dry, running water and electricity!
 
The gates not ours. We access our field (which has new fencing and gates) via someone else's land.
Water wise we are ok, there is a very clean stream which runs past so I bucket water over the fence into a trough every morning so that's no problem....a tap would be easier admittedly!

Like I say its not permanent. I've made a yard area near our house and we are waiting for stables on skids to be delivered, however when ever we enquire as to when they will actually arrive its 2-3 weeks and has been for about 2 months.

Some of the above idea's are great though and I will definitely utilise some of them as even when I have my yard we will keep this other field and use it from time to time to rest the little grass we will have at home.
 
Michen said:
He's lame and there's not much you can do about it? do you know the cause of lameness?
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Yes he's lame and no I don't know the cause of the lameness (yes that sounds awful when I put it like that)
The fact is he's arthritic and often any lameness disappears after a few days off but left out to move round. This hasn't. Last night I poulticed his lower leg to see if ive missed any nick or cut that may have become a little infected.
If this still shows nothing then I will get him in for a day or so (I can take him to work with me at a push) and then call the vet as I will have exhausted the easy idea's.
 
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