hackedoff
Well-Known Member
I am possibly pipe dreaming but I really want to put my Fell pony mare in foal. She is a proven broodmare and her now grown up colt foal won SEIB search for a stars M&M championship. She has competed successfully in dressage, trec and showing despite the notable handicap of having me as a rider.
I have wanted to breed my own since I was a little girl playing with Britains Farm animals and had always assumed I would have my own land some day. Now in my mid fifty I have accepted that I will not be able to afford my own place and finding a field to rent where I live is harder than finding a money tree. I keep pony at livery on a biggish yard with restricted turnout in winter, 24-7 in summer. its v hilly as an area.
My lovely yard owner's eyes lit up when I suggested this as an idea and she and her husband are willing to set part of their lambing field to one side for a mare and foal to be turned out rather than their going in with all the other liveries. My stable is quite large and yard owner is willing to put my mare in her huge stable so she can foal in it. Saldy my old boy was PTS in there so it kind of starts and ends a circle if that makes sense.
My concerns however are:
1. would mare be stressed by comings and goings on the yard- she is quite nosy and simply watches at the moment
2. I would have to lead foal across a lane and up a drive to the turnout from my stable - perhaps she could stay out once foaled?
3. children on yard might try to get in stable to see foal and get squashed by mare or let foal out
4. worried that mare or foal might die in foaling. Farmer has lambed sheep and calved cowes and vet would be on call.
Has anyone else bred successfully when based on a livery yard?
I have wanted to breed my own since I was a little girl playing with Britains Farm animals and had always assumed I would have my own land some day. Now in my mid fifty I have accepted that I will not be able to afford my own place and finding a field to rent where I live is harder than finding a money tree. I keep pony at livery on a biggish yard with restricted turnout in winter, 24-7 in summer. its v hilly as an area.
My lovely yard owner's eyes lit up when I suggested this as an idea and she and her husband are willing to set part of their lambing field to one side for a mare and foal to be turned out rather than their going in with all the other liveries. My stable is quite large and yard owner is willing to put my mare in her huge stable so she can foal in it. Saldy my old boy was PTS in there so it kind of starts and ends a circle if that makes sense.
My concerns however are:
1. would mare be stressed by comings and goings on the yard- she is quite nosy and simply watches at the moment
2. I would have to lead foal across a lane and up a drive to the turnout from my stable - perhaps she could stay out once foaled?
3. children on yard might try to get in stable to see foal and get squashed by mare or let foal out
4. worried that mare or foal might die in foaling. Farmer has lambed sheep and calved cowes and vet would be on call.
Has anyone else bred successfully when based on a livery yard?