I do hate being on a livery yard

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littlen

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Well, as you proberbly know by now I am having a pretty hard time of it at the moment, struggling financially and also time wise as I work 6 days a week currently. I am debating selling my horse but as he is a difficult ride I dont know how feasable this is, I have looked for a loaner for months with no luck.

Anyway I am currently on DIY which is split into mare and gelding herds. Unfortunatley my gelding is the biggest wimp ever invented and was kicked to pieces in the gelding herd resulting in a rather large vet bill. At this point he was pulled out of there and put in with 2 other ponies, both owned by the same lady, they are little fat welshies and get on with my horse great. Lady has had trouble recently with a messy divorce and custody battle and I have taken care of her ponies for her. I have not seen her once for 7 months and have just monitored the ponies and text her regulally with updates. Suits me as my horse is happy. Last weekend however I got a text from her stating she was bringing her ponies in for winter as they were cold (despite being wooly mammoths with rugs on and this lady has not been up for 7 months so not sure how she would know!!) and proceeded to bring my horse in with them so as to not leave him out on his own. My horse has problems with his joints and I dont really want him stabled as he gets very very stiff but she egnored me and brought him in anyway. I text her saying I dont want him in, especially as I leave for work at 6am and she text back saying she would put him out for me. I then find out from yard owner that she left him and 2 others standing in until 11:30 am before putting them out, no the wonder mine was walking very strangely tonight!

I am very annoyed actually as I now have to bring my stiff horse into a stable at night when I really dont want to yet, its not even cold. I understand its her choice but wouldnt it be polite to discuss it and make a compramise!
I have asked YO to move but my only other option is to put back in with geldings for him to be eaten alive.

I am debating going up at 6am and putting him out myself so I dont have to rely on this lady, if he has to be in at all that is, but would a horse cope being the first one out? How is he likley to react, since ive never tried it, and whats the best way to test it out!
Any other ideas would be great :(
 
i would try it for a few days and see if he settles. after all DIY is do it yourself not dil do it lady in q? most settle well to being alone for a few hours and munch in peace alone.maybe a part or assisted livery would suit you? yes might be more £ in one direction, but will save on time, petrol, tyres etc , and at least you know your horse is being seen to at acceptable hours?
 
Can he see the horses in the herd fields from his field? If so, he might be ok to stay out on his own when the ponies go in for the night. Is he a clingy sort? I know one of my boys wouldn't mind being in the field on his own as long as he could see other horses but my other one would hate it! It really depends on the individual horse.
 
Hate to say this but haven't you talked to YO about what you want for your horse??? As don't YO have the last say. If someone was bringing in my horse against my wishes and I'm paying , shouldn't my wishes be taken into consideration.
 
I've spoken to YO and he says if she's bringing in I will have too as well as we have a policy of nobody can stay out alone on a night!

Unfortunatly she brings In at 3pm, and I don't want mine coming in that early. So I either bring them all late or she brings mine too early! Yo only suggested putting back out with geldings as no spare fields, or stay where I am with this lady! I can't find another yard as cheap that offers longer turnout either!
 
One of mine used to have to go out on his own before 6 in the morning, I would pop him out with his breakfast and a slice of hay and apart from a little calling he happily munched his way through his food until the others started going out. We have individual turnout which made it easy in terms of having food in his field. Something in his line of sight would normally be out within an hour.
 
I agree with the watcher. However a lot of horses settle to being out alone if they like to be out. I would try above suggestion otherwise put him out alone. Both mine are fine left and put out alone if I am riding either. Unfortunately there has to be give and take.....:)
 
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It's always tricky on a livery yard to compromise and keep all owners and their horses happy! Everyone works long shifts and trying to sort a routine that suits is a nightmare! If we all did 9-5 would be fine lol! The best thing would be to sort out a putting out bringing in rota with the other livery. I don't think I would want to put your horse back in with the geldings if he will get injured! I have the opposite problem to you and want my mare in but noone else will bring in and she won't stay in the barn on her own argh horses are so stressful . Would you not be able to move to an assisted diy yard or another yard where there are different turnout arrangements?
 
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