How does this stable look?

cobsarefab

cobsarefab

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Hi all, so this is the first time I've kept cobbus in a stable and I'd really appreciate opinions on what I'm doing right/wrong thanks to those who comment:
dccCJNj.jpg
 
I don't like haynets anyway but yours looks to be dangerously low. The reason I don't like them is that they should be high enough to make sure that the horse can't get tangled up in the haynet if he rolls. I must admit that I don't like part-bedded stables either. The orse should not be able to lie down on concrete, which unfortunately yours can. How big is your stable?

He looks like a really nice horse!
 
From the photos perspective the haynet looks a bit low, the chain wouldn't hold if he leans on it (may not matter if you will always be in stable when chain is on).
I can't tell if the back of the stable has rubber matting or concrete flooring but if its concrete he would need more bed.
Can't see a water bucket but I'm sure its there somewhere.
He looks very happy though!
 
net is only low if cob has shoes on and I'm not sure that she does? My nets are on the floor :p

I've also always part bedded stables and never known a horse choose to lie on concrete and I don't think all the ones I have known are particularly bright :D. It saves getting aforementioned hay mixed up with the bed. But I would probably bring it forwards a foot.

Is stable 12'x12'? It looks smaller given how I know F looks in one and he must be about the same size as cob, just not so wide ;).
 
I have to say that I also think your haynet is far too low. I personally would like more bedding- but I'm one of those that even with rubber mats I like mine to have big thick beds, & again I'm not keen on shavings- but that's personal preference. Might just be the picture and the way your horse is standing but the stable does look a little narrow? Might just be the angle though
 
It looks like there is enough bedding coverage for the horse to be able to comfortably be able to lie down on it- horses are generally sensible enough to choose to lie where they are most comfortable so part bedded stables aren't really an issue. Especially as the front half seems to be rubber matted?

I agree with PaS about the haynet though.
 
I agree, ideally more bedding (covering a larger area) and the Haynet is probably technically a bit low although I appreciate she doesn't seem to have shoes/rugs to tangle in it. As others have said I'd want to be sure the chain will hold and/or potentially not leave her for any period of time with the door open. Having said all of that its a much better set up than plenty of others have and she looks perfectly happy.
 
If the haynet is loose on the floor i.e. not fixed to the wall in any way, it is less likely to cause injury than a net fixed low to the wall, whether the horse has shoes or not. I would simply put the hay on the floor - that amount of hay will be separated from the bed by the horse quite easily.

Ime bedding moves when the horse moves, so it might be wide enough and a reasonable depth when the stable is set up but as the horse lies down/roll/gets up again, the bedding will move into the space, so will migrate away from where it was left onto the bare concrete/mat, leaving a much thinner bed than intended.
 
Hi ,again haynet to low ,the walls could do with painting white, needs more floor covering in shavings, the stable looks very small if he was stood square on it looks as if you would struggle to walk round him not a chain lover seen horses stuck over them before, sorry its all negative but everyones advice will take you forward and make horse ownership more enjoyable.
 
Putting hay on the floor is great if you aren't trying to slow them down, given this mares rather rotund history she probably needs not to have free access.

What does walls being painted white actually do? other than look dirty quite rapidly?
 
She isnt going to fit her feet through the holes in the haynet now is she? Its fine and actually a good idea for anything that needs to lose weight. I hate haynets with a passion and try to avoid them at all costs but if I did have to use one for some reason it would be slightly lower than that. I'd put a tiny bit more bed in though, just enough to meet the mat at the front.
 
Leo Walker said:
She isnt going to fit her feet through the holes in the haynet now is she? Its fine and actually a good idea for anything that needs to lose weight. I hate haynets with a passion and try to avoid them at all costs but if I did have to use one for some reason it would be slightly lower than that. I'd put a tiny bit more bed in though, just enough to meet the mat at the front.
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The problem with this haynet is that it is low and fastened to the wall. Cob could strangle herself in the 'string'. It's not just about the size of the feet.
 
ester said:
Putting hay on the floor is great if you aren't trying to slow them down, given this mares rather rotund history she probably needs not to have free access.

What does walls being painted white actually do? other than look dirty quite rapidly?
Click to expand...

With fat horses I prefer to give the recommended ration of hay and turn it into ad-lib forage by offering plain oat straw chaff. I can't see much problem with hay pillows tbh but would always prefer to feed loose forage.
 
Does this look better?:
W50656Z.jpg
she had two water buckets they're just round the corner. She's got about another 40kg to lose as she's lost about 30kg so free feeding isn't an option it has to be in a greedy feeder. I've put another bale in of chopped straw. The yo told me not to use too much but we pay the same per month for 8 bales or 2 so that might be why. The chain is temporary until I can get a proper guard and is only on when I'm with her. She has plenty of room to lie down:
D0TD1vZ.jpg

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions :) does anyone know a good guard I could get for the door?
 
I wouldn't use a guard unless you are going to stand next to it all the time, I have known horses limbo under them!
If it were my stable I would want a lot more bedding, chopped straw only makes a good bed if it's thick. It doesn't actually cost any more over the season to start off with a good thick bed because you only need to top up with a small amount.
I would still want the haynet to be higher for safety if you insist on using it. I've got one to lose 100kg by using loose hay and oat straw chaff, so that she was never hungry.
Has your horse got room to roll in the stable? Because they can and do get cast.
 
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Pearlsasinger said:
With fat horses I prefer to give the recommended ration of hay and turn it into ad-lib forage by offering plain oat straw chaff. I can't see much problem with hay pillows tbh but would always prefer to feed loose forage.
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yup that's a possibility too :) as you can see OP we all do it differently :). I find by using a hay pillow it doesn't all get dragged into the waterbucket, across and out the door under the stall chain and into the bed and when restricted to yard prices at about £4.50 a small bale it preferred it if he ate it ;).
Apart from the occasions the whole pillow ends up in his large bucket :D but then at least it was easy to remove and hang up to drain :D


The limboing.. I think I have the only pony known to escape back into his stable :D if lose, and actually I used to use the chain mostly to keep him out when tied up outside otherwise he would swing round on the rope and put himself back in :rolleyes3:. We don't have them at home but I do miss having them for ease of access when trying to get jobs done.

Is there anyone next door with the haynet there? that may cause arguments?

Personally I really don't like them too high due to neck strain and have never had an accident with them at my tie height but have probably had bigger stables so they wouldn't be rolling near them- that is also why I have a part bed so as to discourage rolling near it. I have a roller but he he likes to dig bed first so that will always be at the back.
 
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ester said:
yup that's a possibility too :) as you can see OP we all do it differently :). I find by using a hay pillow it doesn't all get dragged into the waterbucket, across and out the door under the stall chain and into the bed and when restricted to yard prices at about £4.50 a small bale it preferred it if he ate it ;).
Apart from the occasions the whole pillow ends up in his large bucket :D but then at least it was easy to remove and hang up to drain :D


The limboing.. I think I have the only pony known to escape back into his stable :D if lose, and actually I used to use the chain mostly to keep him out when tied up outside otherwise he would swing round on the rope and put himself back in :rolleyes3:. We don't have them at home but I do miss having them for ease of access when trying to get jobs done.

Is there anyone next door with the haynet there? that may cause arguments?

Personally I really don't like them too high due to neck strain and have never had an accident with them at my tie height but have probably had bigger stables so they wouldn't be rolling near them- that is also why I have a part bed so as to discourage rolling near it. I have a roller but he he likes to dig bed first so that will always be at the back.
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I was thinking of limboing out, rather than in! TBH I can't see the point of having a chain, rather than shutting the door. I certainly would never put a wheelbarrow, which might be easier to push under a chain, in the stable while the horse is there. In fact imo it's far easier to just put the horse out to do the housekeeping.
 
it is, unless your horse keeps trying to come out the stable ;). It also depends on the the overhang you have we didn't have much on livery so horse would be out in the rain and I deep litter and skip out 3 times a day usually which would be with a tubtrug and into the barrow outside which is much easier without a door. I'd rather that than have the barrow in the doorway which is what I was brought up on and generally wasn't too succesful as a barrier. Also easier to duck under with water buckets than set buckets down and do door and get them in. I think it very much depends on your set up as at home we can reach with the hose :).

It just really worked well for us after 8 years without one and if I were at mum's now I'd add them.

It does of course all depend on the horse, F is for the most part a well behaved not get himself into trouble beast.
 
How about slip rails??


We use them and they slide open and go into the third one. There is a pin to secure them to stop horse knocking them down yes the haynet was low but as it is a small holed one there prob wont be an issue.
I am for small holed haynets, I hate hay bars as my horses eat to quickly and would be without too long, so 3 cm hole ones are brilliant
 
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I wouldn't want the hay net any higher than it is in the most recent photos, but I would shorten / tie up the hanging string from it.

I prefer cutting with straw (chopped or otherwise) and feeding forage loose too, but it does make a mess of a bed. I use straw with an auboise base to get around that though. People do things differently. I think, provided her bed is clean and thick, and her stable is sufficient for her not to get cast or to escape easily, and she has a decent time accessing forage and fresh water available, it's pretty much ok.
 
could just paint the top half of walls white to appear brighter?
i have seen a haynet stuck under a shoe before.

horse looks quite happy

(bet OP sorry she asked now :) )
 
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