Is it too soon...

[Irishcob6]

If handing in your notice means that you will still be stuck at the yard until the end of February then I would stay as by then the ground should hopefully start to be drying up but if your used to a yard with big fields and being in control of your horses turnout then the adjustment will be hard.

Unfortunately most yards in my area don’t need a big excuse to keep them in!

 

[gallopingby]

I wonder how many of you are on livery yards as opposed to farms - land owners? Would you suggest l tell my hubby, relatives that they shouldn’t be farming because the weather has changed and it now rains incessantly for weeks on end? There is a huge difference in management styles depending on the type of work a horse is expected to reform in. The eventers and jumpers are getting fit for the hopefully new season and are managed completely differently to those of the one horse owner who maybe just wants to have a nice time. Nothing wrong with that ? but you have to adjust your management to the facilities you have available which costs both time and money to do properly. Don’t knock the livery yard owners - tough job which appears to be a no win most of the time, some actually do know more than the clients and have years of experience although l’ll agree most have given up DIY in favour of full time.

 

[Annagain]

Mine have been out every day in winter for about 12 hours for the last 18 years. They even got out for two blocks of 2-3 hours each day when the beast from the east hit and only came in at lunch time for some hay as they couldn't get to the grass. They loved playing in the snow. The winter fields are well drained land on the top of a hill (the summer fields at the bottom of the hill just 100m away are completely different!) but even so, the YO deliberately keeps the numbers low so they get out every day. There are 2 herds - one of 6 on 7 acres and one of 5 on 5 acres from November to July / Aug after the hay is cut then they merge and go onto 18 acres until it gets too wet. I'm very happy there, but even if I wasn't, I would put up with whatever made me unhappy as I know they get decent turnout. I couldn't keep my retired boy with me if he didn't and it does mean I don't feel I have to ride the other one every day. The only other decent yards in the area have at least some restriction, like morning / afternoon or every other day or in if it's particularly wet or not providing 24/7 in the summer. Again - non negotiable for me. The horses need to be out and I need the break from the daily grind of having them in.

LP, I'd keep an eye on it and start looking quietly - now's a good time to see if they really do offer winter turnout. If you turn up to look around and they're all in, you'll know they don't.

 

[HorseyTee]

I left a yard for limited turnout.
My boys behaviour really deteriorated in a short space of time.
But I think it's early days so I'd just wait and see for another week or so.
In the meantime can you go for a nice in hand walk and let her graze a little?

This is where hardstanding areas are good so whatever the weather the horses can still go out.

 

[RHM]

Urgh I feel your pain. Ours have been in for the past fortnight. When looking round I was told everyday turnout in winter and 24/7 in summer. What a crock of sh*te that turned out to be! I would love to find somewhere with better turnout but am really struggling.
Anyone have any tips for finding these elusive yards?!

 

[chaps89]

I don't think it's conducive to setting yourself up for success getting to know a new horse if they are in all the time (with the exception of one's who are already used to it I suppose)
We've had horrendous weather here and I've never seen my field so bad. Luckily I can do as I like so mine still go out but I could understand a more involved YO may say to keep in.
If it's exceptional weather and ground conditions then I'd maybe stick it out, but from the sounds of it, it's normal and unless that's the norm for that area, I'd be moving asap.
I think horses kept in all the time need to come out of the stable at least twice a day, preferably with some liberty time in a school/sand pen to let off steam and roll, some hand grazing time and some actual work/moving time. That can be hard work!
Even if you pay monthly, I don't see why you have to give notice at the end of a payment cycle - if you give notice mid way through, part of your notice period is covered by the last payment you made (assuming you pay a month in advance) then your next payment is just a partial one to cover you to the end of your months notice - if you can afford to/want to then clearly you could leave before that so long as you pay to the end of the notice period.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I think I would look about now and if I wanted to leave before the months notice I simply would as long as the stable rent is paid up they can't really stop you going.

 

[Sail_away]

Horse has just given herself a nasty gash above her eye when getting off the walker - not sure I understand what exactly happened but luckily she is stitched up and okay. I couldn’t get there in time but my mum rushed up and the vet saw her very soon after it happened so that’s all sorted now.
So she’s in for a while anyway until it heals up. Don’t know how I feel about her going on the walker again - clearly she’s not settled on it and I hardly blame her, they seem very dull for the horse. And I really don’t want her going on it most days for the rest of winter.

 

[PurBee]

If horses arent turned out due to rain and wet land, all irish horses would never be turned out! ?

land management is key, horses trash paddocks when wet, circulating grazing is necessary, i can see how yards with many horses find this a challenge.
But no turnout at all isnt a solution.

The way yards are set-up needs to change - horses are either shut enclosed in a stable, or free in a field or being ridden. If fields cant be used then the horses have no freedom of movement.
Dry turnout has to be built off of every stable - like many american barns have, although it needs to be a decent size not literally another stable size of concrete For them to wander onto.
It’s worth doing for the sanity of horses whenever field turnout is impossible. It’s not ideal i know but a midway solution to no freedom at all.
It also helps a horse on boxrest, giving them a bit more safe space and fresh air, aiding their recovery.

It works as my hot bloods remain behaviourally chilled-out whenever field turnout isnt possible, by having a decent dry turnout area. If just stabled i would have extremely sharp horses on my hands.

 

[Annagain]

Horse has just given herself a nasty gash above her eye when getting off the walker - not sure I understand what exactly happened but luckily she is stitched up and okay. I couldn’t get there in time but my mum rushed up and the vet saw her very soon after it happened so that’s all sorted now.
So she’s in for a while anyway until it heals up. Don’t know how I feel about her going on the walker again - clearly she’s not settled on it and I hardly blame her, they seem very dull for the horse. And I really don’t want her going on it most days for the rest of winter.

Glad it's not too serious. She might just not be used to it yet but I imagine you won't be confident in her safety or her sanity now so I'd start looking elsewhere I think. You might have to PAY 4 weeks notice but you don't have to stay. I know that's potentially a lot of money to be shelling out for 'nothing' but for me it would be worth it and the right place came up.

 

[PurBee]

Urgh I feel your pain. Ours have been in for the past fortnight. When looking round I was told everyday turnout in winter and 24/7 in summer. What a crock of sh*te that turned out to be! I would love to find somewhere with better turnout but am really struggling.
Anyone have any tips for finding these elusive yards?!

If its actually stated in their contract that turnout offered every day, and it turns out not to be the case, they have contravened/breached their own contract of services offered, so you’re in your right to not serve any notice period, or pay for the notice period and immediately move Yards. I know moving yards is rarely just a click of the fingers tho....but if you found a better place, dont hesistate to move due to ‘notice period’ after yard breach of contract.

im shocked by what alot of you here have said about yards saying turnout all year, knowing its a lie, just to lure you to their yard! So they can shove that ‘notice period’ where the sun doesnt shine!

 

[RHM]

If its actually stated in their contract that turnout offered every day, and it turns out not to be the case, they have contravened/breached their own contract of services offered, so you’re in your right to not serve any notice period, or pay for the notice period and immediately move Yards. I know moving yards is rarely just a click of the fingers tho....but if you found a better place, dont hesistate to move due to ‘notice period’ after yard breach of contract.

im shocked by what alot of you here have said about yards saying turnout all year, knowing its a lie, just to lure you to their yard! So they can shove that ‘notice period’ where the sun doesnt shine!

It’s happened a couple of times to me now. Starting to think I must be a terrible judge of character! Limited turnout is particularly prevelant where I live now, which is bizarre because there was definitely worse weather where I used to live!

 

[cbmcts]

Just interested to know what people would do if they live in an area with incessant rain and clay? Maybe relocate to another part of the country?

In my case, I don't have horses anymore. When my last two retired they were moved out of county so they could live out without being knee deep in mud. In 24/7 from October to April is not how I want to keep my animals I'm afraid. I miss not having my own terribly but, in reality do not have the time to exercise both ends of the day and would still feel awful that they were in too much.

There has been so much building here in the last 20 years, last 10 especially that every yard is hugely overstocked. 20 stables and 5 acres are not unusual sadly. It is heavy clay but it also doesn't help that the massive estates of houses provide more water run off into the now much smaller grasslands so flooding is also more common than it ever was.

I'll buy again when we relocate in the next year or two - the only good thing about Covid is that my job has proven it can be done remotely so will be able to move farther away and stay employed.

 

[Sossigpoker]

We are saturated here and don't have any turn out except in turn out pens. Most yards around here either don't turn out in the winter or they don't manage the ground and turn out in knee deep mud.
I would find out if turn out is weather dependent at all times and if other yards do the same.
Just be careful that you don't end up in a worse situation where the ground isn't managed so you will have dangerously deep mud in the winter and rutted ground with poor grass in the summer.

 

[Sossigpoker]

I wonder how many of you are on livery yards as opposed to farms - land owners? Would you suggest l tell my hubby, relatives that they shouldn’t be farming because the weather has changed and it now rains incessantly for weeks on end? There is a huge difference in management styles depending on the type of work a horse is expected to reform in. The eventers and jumpers are getting fit for the hopefully new season and are managed completely differently to those of the one horse owner who maybe just wants to have a nice time. Nothing wrong with that ? but you have to adjust your management to the facilities you have available which costs both time and money to do properly. Don’t knock the livery yard owners - tough job which appears to be a no win most of the time, some actually do know more than the clients and have years of experience although l’ll agree most have given up DIY in favour of full time.

I'm on a "proper" yard where they look after facilities and manage the land. The paddocks are so water logged right now they hardly even take human weight let alone horse weight. Unfortunately we are on heavy clay and it is just unsuitable for keeping horses on in the winter. Unless you have about 15 acres for 2-3 horses, which most places don't.
We have a surfaced turn out pen we can use so at least they get to go out and have a roll.
I hand grazed mine today and he was basically grazing in a rice paddy field and after 10 minutes got fed up and asked to go back in.
Bring on spring time !

 

[Sail_away]

And we’ve handed in our notice. It’s a shame as it’s a gorgeous place and she’s been very well looked after - but turnout isn’t something I want to compromise on. We’ve found a lovely yard that turns out every day (and we viewed it on one of the wettest days of the year so far). It’s also very near my other horse’s retirement yard so it works out rather nicely. She’ll be moving as soon as she’s healed enough to travel safely. Thanks for everyone’s input.

 

[Annagain]

Well done. Hope you both love it at the new yard.