In a bad situation. Is there anyone, especially in Central Scotland, with ideas (or just hugs)?

[be positive]

3 days is nothing, like many others I am shocked that a yard specialising in horses with issues cannot help, it is not as if it is a ridden problem or a handling problem they are being asked to deal with just an old mare, set in her ways that requires some time to settle, a YO to give her time and some thought given to how best to accommodate her.

I have had a few here, maybe not as tricky but still requiring special care and they take time to work out how best to deal with them as individuals, I would even consider mild sedation, if the owner was willing, to give her a chance, one or two have done well on valerian to take the edge off and most have settled within a week, to give them any less would be unfair in my experience but I like a challenge!

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Doesn’t surprise me with Ross Dhu heard they do this quite a bit. Like the easy cases.

OP I remember when you were near where I used to stay in Lanarkshire. Would that not be an option again or were the bridges burned there with her too??

 

[Caol Ila]

She can't go back there. I left for reasons, and nothing will be different. If I thought things would be okay there or I could continue functioning with things as they were, I never would have risked leaving. I knew from the outset that my horse can be funny about new yards. I also knew she could be cool. I knew it was a crapshoot either way, and I knew with the status quo, I was slowly losing my mind and it would be a bitch to keep my horse sound through the winter.

Rocks and hard places. There really was no winning.

 

[adamntitch]

Where in Central Scotland are you maybe able to help but am in edinburgh

 

[spookypony]

I read the CoH thread, and if you are considering asking about unusual meds, last year one of my horses was seen by a British locum vet who had worked in the US, and who was willing to consider/suggest courses of treatment that are not as common here. Perhaps he might be an option?

I feel for you, regarding your worries about the stressiness and fencewalking. It's not nice to feel so powerless to help your horse, or even to figure out what is bothering her. Do the situations in which she fencewalks have anything in common? I wonder if living in a different style of yard configuration, such as a track system, or an open-stable system where she can take herself in and out as she wishes (along the lines of Equicentral or an open stable with a small, perhaps individual turnout) could be more to her liking?

 

[Mule]

Can you approach local farmers/ put an ad in a livestock feed shop for grazing?

 

[Sussexbythesea]

Sorry to hear your struggles.

My friends horse was very similar on a normal DIY yard and used to fence walk all the time. He’s taken to retirement livery where he lives out 24/7 in a small herd like a duck to water. He’s not the type you’d think would settle to living out but he has. Maybe that would be an option even if it only for a few months. In a stable herd with plenty of room hopefully it would mean that there would be minimal conflict. It may mean moving her further away but at least you’d have a breather whilst you thought of other options.

 

[Lois Lame]

I'm sorry to hear of your troubles, too.

I've just read your post on Chronicle of the Horse -- what great writing.

 

[holeymoley]

I’ve not read the other thread yet. What about gryffeside do they not offer individual turnout? Only that or Ingliston comes to the top of my head but personally wouldn’t have my horse there.

 

[holeymoley]

I’m from the west but must walk about with my head in the clouds. Had to do a google search to find out who the Rashid guy is and where he was holding clinics.

 

[PapaverFollis]

Aaaarrrgh! So frustrating for you. And frankly the current yard owner is being a right cow!! Why do you have to move so quickly ffs? Can't she let you stable the mare for a few days to help her settle and then do 1 hour of turnout at a time (1 hour am and 1 hour pm say) and just fetch her in if she gets wound up. I don't know the yard but if they're selling themselves as being fancy dancy we sort your horse's issues... dicks.

Personally I think your best bet is to find a field on a farm with an open barn/stable for shelter, some sheep and perhaps an angry Shetland for company. So she doesn't have a stable to come in to and doesn't have other horse around coming in to stables. She'll have been set off at the weekend because horses will have been moving around in a different routine as people have their days off. 1 angry Shetland that doesn't go anywhere and no other horses in sight is probably what's needed. I think a Facebook advert seeing if anyone can offer that kind of set up would be my next move. Meanwhile if you don't find that immediately and you do need to move NOW (dicks) I would just toss a coin between the other to options and go for it and see what happens. I'd be tempted to try the messy one near your house since you haven't substantiated the rumours.

I'm sorry you're going through this. What a mess.

 

[TotalMadgeness]

I am so sorry to hear your struggles! I found myself in a similar situation with two different horses at two different times of my life. It is an utterly horrible soul draining experience.

Horse 1
He was at Mid Gavin (many many years ago when it was a riding school) who banned him from turnout - IMO very cruel. I eventually found him a place at Easterton who beautifully catered for his needs (this was a LONG time ago I have to say!). This horse absolutely thrived there but the journey from home was 40 mins.

Horse 2
Several years ago kicked out of a large livery/riding school in Largs. As I lived in the area at that time I contacted Gryffeside who have individual small turnout areas - they were very friendly & helpful but only offered assisted livery at the time I was looking.
However they recommended a small private livery yard in the area which did full livery and I moved my horse there and didn't look back. Both YOs listened to me, recognised my horse's issues and helped me. This is the important thing - there are some fantastic YOs out there.

Thankfully I now have my own place and both my current horses have their needs fully met (both have joint problems).

For an older horse with arthritis as another person mentioned on this thread there is Equicentral near Motherwell who has a track system. I'm sure they mentioned on FB about having an open day soon.

Good luck!

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I feel for you OP with her issues and the constant stresses of being moved about but never finding anything that suits you might have to think is this fair?

the track system life might suit her has its designed to be walked. There is no field fenceline for her to go to and the barns are all open for access to come and go. No stabling etc unless injured/ill etc.

if this doesn’t suit then if I were you with her age and issues I think I’d be thinking more of her welfare and is this right.
Hugs as it’s hard x

 

[Annagain]

I don't know the area so can't help with yards but would recommend lightly sedating when you turn her out at first to try to break the cycle. I know the reasons for individual turnout but I'd also take her back shoes off (if she has them) and try to get her somewhere with some sort of company, maybe a very settled small herd who won't be too interested in her arrival. Our herd of 5 usually take new arrivals very much in their stride. They come over to say hello then wander off to eat within a minute or two. Because they show no signs of aggression, the new horse rarely does.

 

[Lurfy]

I think your current BO is not giving you and your horse a fair go. I would push for meds from the vet to help the mare's anxiety and tell the BO you are working towards an improvement in her behaviour. Defer to the vet, suggest BO talks to the vet if she wants more details. You should not be pushed out after such a short time, push back and stand your ground if you can at least until you have had a chance to find the next yard. So sorry you are going through this, good luck and I hope your mare settles down enough to stay.

 

[Caol Ila]

The horse isn't there anymore, and the current YO is essentially doing what Papaver suggested -- with a bit of sedalin.

Horse needs to be on full livery because I'm often away, but the dream would be a yard where she could have her own grass paddock, or a paddock shared with one other, that had a shelter and she could go in and out of the shelter as she pleased. I have not found that yard.

The track system sounds ideal in theory, but I'm not sure how keen the YO would be to accept a horse who might disrupt their herd dynamics. She chases other horses, or did in her misspent youth, and introductions would have to be super slow.

When I spoke to my vet yesterday, I did say that if I could not find a yard where the horse would settle, we needed to talk about what's best for her. He agreed. He also said he wasn't ready to give up on her yet.

SpookyPony, can you PM me that vet's name?

 

[Annagain]

The horse isn't there anymore, and the current YO is essentially doing what Papaver suggested -- with a bit of sedalin.

Horse needs to be on full livery because I'm often away, but the dream would be a yard where she could have her own grass paddock, or a paddock shared with one other, that had a shelter and she could go in and out of the shelter as she pleased. I have not found that yard.

The track system sounds ideal in theory, but I'm not sure how keen the YO would be to accept a horse who might disrupt their herd dynamics. She chases other horses, or did in her misspent youth, and introductions would have to be super slow.

When I spoke to my vet yesterday, I did say that if I could not find a yard where the horse would settle, we needed to talk about what's best for her. He agreed. He also said he wasn't ready to give up on her yet.

SpookyPony, can you PM me that vet's name?

Thinking outside the box slightly. Are there any local farming groups on Facebook where you could ask about renting somewhere? Maybe renting a suitable field (even if you have to put a shelter in yourself) finding a suitable companion and a freelance groom to cover when you're away could work?

 

[PapaverFollis]

If you found a really tame farmer with their barn and their sheep and their angry Shetland they might look after her for you while you were away. They'd have to be a very tame farmer though I admit.

Or a freelance groom.

 

[TotalMadgeness]

The horse isn't there anymore, and the current YO is essentially doing what Papaver suggested -- with a bit of sedalin.

Horse needs to be on full livery because I'm often away, but the dream would be a yard where she could have her own grass paddock, or a paddock shared with one other, that had a shelter and she could go in and out of the shelter as she pleased. I have not found that yard.

The track system sounds ideal in theory, but I'm not sure how keen the YO would be to accept a horse who might disrupt their herd dynamics. She chases other horses, or did in her misspent youth, and introductions would have to be super slow.

My Arab did that - if in individual turnout he fence walked, if in a herd he chased the horses. He was only settled if turned out with a single companion. Easterton were the yard that finally were able to cater for him - despite being a very big busy yard! However that was years ago...

 

[9tails]

Are you going to yard A? What is the story on yard C? I would try yard A, I've found those yards that aren't pristine on first view usually don't worry too much about mud along a fenceline. You're close so can keep an eye on how she's being treated. I'd also try to get her a friend, someone who she can be with all the time and not worry about the movements of other horses around her.

 

[Caol Ila]

Yard C is a no-go -- owner told me they were full when I phoned the following day. Horse is currently on holiday at Yard D (or E? who knows anymore), which is way too far for me to drive more than a couple times per week. But so far, the horse seems chilled there, and the owner is more than willing to work with her, so that's fine until I (hopefully) find something suitable closer. I'm still considering yard A but I will look at everything within 20-25 miles radius.

There has got to be a great yard for this horse closer than 40 miles.

 

[Annagain]

Remind me, is she still ridden? If not and she's happy (so far, at least) where she is, is it worth leaving her there? I know you'll see her less but if the YO is trustworthy and she's happy, you can relax a bit and won't feel compelled to be there so much? Obviously if you still want to ride, it's more of an issue.

 

[Caol Ila]

Aye, she's still very much ridden.

 

[MrsMozart]

I'm sorry you're going through all this. I hope where she is can help. I know it's a distance from you, which is bloody awkward. Everything crossed something comes up closer very soon!

 

[Caol Ila]

What's the reputation of Easterton like these days? I looked at it about ten years ago when I first moved here and was yard hunting. Back then, it was kind of a hole and I didn't fancy it. Looking at pictures online, it looks like they've done some serious upgrades and at least on the pictures, it looks nice. It's probably the closest yard to my flat.

 

[TPO]

What's the reputation of Easterton like these days? I looked at it about ten years ago when I first moved here and was yard hunting. Back then, it was kind of a hole and I didn't fancy it. Looking at pictures online, it looks like they've done some serious upgrades and at least on the pictures, it looks nice. It's probably the closest yard to my flat.

I've not visited there (used to be friendly with someone that livered there) in 10yrs but, to me, it was an absolute dive and I had no idea why anyone livered there. The liveries that I knew said that the sspca were never away from the place.

However I know of someone who is there now and who had high standards when I knew them. I've also seen some photos of yard improvements so I'm guessing that it's under new management?

It did just have a strangles outbreak approx 8-12wks ago. It can happen to anyone anywhere never mind a yard that size but if you go to look it would be worth asking about their bio security measures.

If it's a consideration you're best to go yourself well armed with a list of requirements and questions. Have a look at the full livery beds, RS horse stables and RS horse/pony condition as an indicator of how the place is now being managed.

 

[Caol Ila]

Yeah, I'll go to look at it cautiously. So far, the horse seems happy where she, which means less pressure to find a place immediately.

 

[EventingMum]

Easterton has been taken back by the landlord and has had a major revamp. It is being turned into a Farm Park with plans for a cafe/restaurant etc. It has good hacking at Mugdock Park as long as your horse is ok on the roads to hack there. They has just posted on Facebook that they have the all clear from strangles. I think there are a few more yards in the area including Milndavie but I don't know much about them.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Yeah, I'll go to look at it cautiously. So far, the horse seems happy where she, which means less pressure to find a place immediately.

It might be easier to relocate yourself than the horse!

 

[NLPM]

You poor thing - what a nightmare.

Horse is currently on holiday at Yard D (or E? who knows anymore), which is way too far for me to drive more than a couple times per week. But so far, the horse seems chilled there,

So far, the horse seems happy where she, which means less pressure to find a place immediately.

So sorry if you've covered this already, but any idea what is different? It might help you vet potential future yards/help people who are trying to suggest yards to you (I'm nowhere near you so cannot be of use, sorry).

I was going to say what has already been said - Equicentral or a track. I have some 'tricky' characters who struggle with traditional set ups and am now a massive convert.