Individual to herd turn out - would you?

Gingerwitch

Gingerwitch

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As many of you may know i am on the quest for the impossible - a yard with good turn out, good hay and straw, somewhere to be able to ride safely..... have found 2 possibilities ~BUT it would mean going from 2 in a 4 acre field to 7 in a 7 acre or 4 in a 4 acre.

Would you chance it? - i am happy that the one would be fine, but the little horror has trouble written all over him and he just does not think before he acts.

Or would you just stick where you are until something else comes along?

It has been over a year since he was last out with more than one other horse - could he have grown up in this time or is it just not worth the chance. He was badly injured.

I was boxing between yards, but I am getting worn out and MR S is showing a few signs of the flare up of ulcers...and tbh when you have had a bad day at work, the last thing you want to do is drive a horse box, and then not get home till 9pm.

cheers

GW
 
Gingerwitch said:
As many of you may know i am on the quest for the impossible - a yard with good turn out, good hay and straw, somewhere to be able to ride safely..... have found 2 possibilities ~BUT it would mean going from 2 in a 4 acre field to 7 in a 7 acre or 4 in a 4 acre.

Would you chance it? - i am happy that the one would be fine, but the little horror has trouble written all over him and he just does not think before he acts.

Or would you just stick where you are until something else comes along?

It has been over a year since he was last out with more than one other horse - could he have grown up in this time or is it just not worth the chance. He was badly injured.

I was boxing between yards, but I am getting worn out and MR S is showing a few signs of the flare up of ulcers...and tbh when you have had a bad day at work, the last thing you want to do is drive a horse box, and then not get home till 9pm.

cheers

GW
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Hi, I don't think 4 in 4 acre field or 7 in 7 acre field is lots. And it may work really well if your horses get on. But I do understand your concern - you feel like you're throwing them to the wolves! Would this yard let you introduce them slowly, ie electric fence off an area so the other horses can get used to yours?
 
You know I am so worried about it...... I am thinking of taking the stables on at the new yard, not telling the current yard - and just say they are staying at my other yard - and see how they get on for a fortnight - now that is mad and bad, having 2 stables at 3 yards...... wonder if the joint account will notice a few extra hundred going out this month.... could always pretend its his crimbo prezzie :)

GW
 
Gingerwitch said:
You know I am so worried about it...... I am thinking of taking the stables on at the new yard, not telling the current yard - and just say they are staying at my other yard - and see how they get on for a fortnight - now that is mad and bad, having 2 stables at 3 yards...... wonder if the joint account will notice a few extra hundred going out this month.... could always pretend its his crimbo prezzie :)

GW
Click to expand...

I wish our horses knew the amount of worry and indecision they cause us on a daily basis! I would be worried too, but see if you can check out the horses they would be going out with. I would steer clear of any super dominant ones. The majority of yards around me have a minimum of 4 on a couple of acres so the amount of land you are being offered per horse is very good. But it has to work for you
 
I think at a stocking density of 1 per acre, its not too bad, there is plenty of room to get away from the agressor if necessary.

Very hard one to judge, I now have my 4 big ones all in together on 2 1/2 acres, the boys' choice, not mine or the mares. They pushed through the slip rails to get to them, it was a deliberate act and I found them grazing very happily together, delighted to be all in the same field, a very cosy scene. All the more interesting as less than 2 years ago, one of the (shod) geldings was literally trying to run one of the (unshod) mares through barbed wire fencing, which is why they have been kept separated since. There is plenty of grass and other plants to eat in these fields, I do think that makes a difference.

When they are all your own, it is slightly different to it being someone else's horse that could be injured of course.

Could you not do some field division with electric fencing until they all get used to being together?
 
I did it and it was both the best and worst thing all rolled into one!

He LOVED being in a herd and seems immensely happy... however the kick injuries, although minor, had me worried sick. I ended up turning him out in a long rug and hacking boots!!! Seems to have settled (touch wood!) of late...

Every so often there is an injury. Then again, boys will be boys and they play alot - exercise is plus side.

There are 6 mares turned out together and all seem happy and not saying they don't get a minor scratch once in a blue moon, are very settled and peaceful.

I much prefer this to individual turnout. More problems with that from what I can remember.. jumping out... crashing through fencing.... pacing.... general stresshead! It was a far cry from the boy I know today.

I think good idea to see how it goes....
 
Thanks for the suggestions..... its one of those real dilemas.... If i stay where I am the boys are happy, hubby is happy, but I am not.

If i move yards will the horses be happy, hubby wont be as it will cost more in petrol, and maybe i wont be as i may not be able to get to the yard twice a day - as I currently do. And god forbid anything happened to the little lad I would never ever forgive myself.

ahgghghghghghghgh - oh to win the lottery, or find a rich gay farmer that would adore me and want me to be his best friend :)

x
 
I certainly wouldn't put them somewhere where I couldn't get to see them twice a day.
The stocking density you suggest seems fine BUT, these days, I wouldn't put my horses in a field with someone else's. There are so many stories on here about other owners causing trouble if the horses behave like horses.
 
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