Is it not very wrong to leave stabled horses 24 hours at a time, or am I being fussy?

[hannahmurphy]

It really irritates me when people say they can't do their horses in the morning because they work, and that their YO will throw some hay, feed and water at their horse if it has to stay in, before the owner gets up to muck out in the evening. That to me isn't acceptable.

Depends on the situation. Morning feed, hay, turn out (when fields allow!) is included in my livery mon - sat. It wouldn't be economical to drive up in the morning every day, I have a big box and bed down late in the evening so bed usually lasts through quite nicely. That being said, in the days of having a normal job and standard DIY livery I always managed to get him done before work.

 

[[69117]]

Depends on the situation. Morning feed, hay, turn out (when fields allow!) is included in my livery mon - sat. It wouldn't be economical to drive up in the morning every day, I have a big box and bed down late in the evening so bed usually lasts through quite nicely. That being said, in the days of having a normal job and standard DIY livery I always managed to get him done before work.

Oh I understand that completely - if they're not standing in an unmucked out box then I have no issue, it's when they're left standing in a dirty box all day that I start wanting to strangle people.

 

[Doormouse]

So you have two livery horses who you are annoyed with because they have been turning their horses out in the field and are trashing it due to the wet ground and now you have this other livery who keeps her horse in the stable 24 hours a day? You really aren't having much luck in your new YM position Maybe you should throw them all off the yard and advertise for new ones who will abide by your rules?

In answer to your question. I would never keep any horse in a stable for 24 hours on a regular basis unless sick. As I said on the other thread I wouldn't be able to deal with only checking my horses twice a day.

Keeping them in 24/7 is not my business and in fact mine is not turned out due to wet and mud fever. I am not happy that she doesn't even turn up to do them twice a day, they are left for 24 hours without food very often because they eat it overnight and she doesn't come in till 3pm.

 

[Doormouse]

I think it's unforgiveable to leave a horse standing in an unmucked out stable for that long. There is never an excuse for it - my lot were done on time and properly while I was almost dying in Resuscitation, it meant that I was on my own in hospital, but I would rather that than have my horses suffer.

I start having palpitations if anything is still not mucked out by 7am, I know it's not the norm, and I know I go over the top with checking etc., but then I run a livery yard, live on site, and am paid to make sure the horses in my care are happy and safe at all times.

If anything has to stay in 24/7 (the only reason this would ever be the case on my yard is if they were on box rest) they they are mucked out properly before 7am, then skipped out and hay and water is topped up at 10am and 1pm, then another proper muck out (taking out wet as well as droppings and tidying bed) at 5pm. They are then skipped out again at 10:30pm and have more hay and water then. Horses who have to stay in are groomed once a day, and get a walk out in hand twice a day if possible (due to injury/illness) to keep them happy and their bodies moving.

It really irritates me when people say they can't do their horses in the morning because they work, and that their YO will throw some hay, feed and water at their horse if it has to stay in, before the owner gets up to muck out in the evening. That to me isn't acceptable. I've held down a full time job and two horses in full work, miles away from each other. I had to get up at 4am to go and do my horses before work, but they were done every morning without fail. I was tired, and sometimes I stank of horse for work, but I wanted horses so I had to make that sacrifice. In my opinion it's sheer laziness to leave a horse because you can't be arsed to get up an hour or two earlier to make sure they're happy and comfortable.

Grr! Rant over. Well done for sorting it OP, those horses are lucky to have you around.

That is exactly how I feel, so relieved I was not just going mad. I just can't stand seeing horses standing in muck with no hay, banging their door desperately wondering why their friends have got food and attention and they haven't. Breaks my heart.