Keeping horses at home!

[NewBeginnings]

Hi everyone,

First post here!

I’m extremely fortunate in that me and my partner are purchasing a house with 8 acres of land attached, meaning that my 27 year old cob can come home!

The land has a barn, 4 stables, mains electrics, and a water tap. All the paddocks are electric-fenced, which is handy given he has sweet itch.

Any tips/recommendations/must-haves/advice please?

We’re thinking about getting goats or sheep as companions and to top the field for us, and I’m in two minds about poo-picking vs harrowing and rolling.

I’ve had the old man for 13 years, mainly on DIY but more recently on retirement livery (though he’s still ridden!)

Thank you!

 

[Nasicus]

Could be worth looking at rescue centres to see if you can loan a companion for the old chap, he'll be much happier having his own species for company

 

[gallopingby]

Maybe consider offering the grazing to a friendly farmer for a specified period of time. Much easier than having your own sheep etc which would require you to manage them properly ie clip and dip which you’d require help with. A companion pony would be a good idea.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Sheep are excellent improvers of grazing, goats less so but the best companion for an equine is another equine. If your elderly cob has been used to living in a herd, it would be extremely unkind, imho to sentence him to living without equine company in his last few years.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Definitely look into adopting a companion from one of the charities, they have so many horses and ponies needing companion homes. Yes horses can often cope with other species for company but surely you want him to thrive and be happy?
I'd split the 8 acres and make sure you've got winter grazing and I'd definitely poo pick rather than leave it to keep worm exposure as low as possible

 

[Tarragon]

8 acres is a huge area for 1 horse and a few sheep. I imagine that your problem will be too much grass, rather than too little.
In your shoes, I would love to have an open barn/space that the horses can wander in and out of, with a track system attached, which is especially good for the oldies.
I keep my ponies on a sheep farm, and after nearly 10 years of observing from afar, I fully appreciate that keeping sheep is hard work! There is always something that needs doing and they seem bent on finding ways of getting into trouble. On the plus side, I am not responsible for the sheep so I just get the benefits of having lovely sheep-grazed turf and cross grazing.
How about seeing if a farmer would like to use your land for grazing their sheep?

 

[myheartinahoofbeat]

Hi, I starting having horses at home about 2 years ago and absolutely love it. My main bug bear is fencing, my horses are such troublemakers! I expect with an oldie you wont have problems with fence trashing like i do. I used to poo pick but dont any more as we bought a harrow and so now I do quarterly worm counts. Worm burden hasnt increased. A companion is a good idea. I don't know anything about sheep but see if you can get a local farmer to rent the field as much easier.

 

[nikkimariet]

Goats will eat his tail

 

[paddi22]

don't get goats. they are a living nightmare.foster a charity horse. sounds like an amazing set up for you!

 

[NewBeginnings]

Thanks for everyone’s comments so far! Really appreciate the guidance.

We’re definitely very open to getting a second horse, just want to get our feet under the table (or hooves in the field?) before committing - it might even be a second riding horse now that my old boy is slowing down.

Interesting that most are recommending against goats and sheep to own! Lots of good perspectives.

 

[dorsetladette]

I've had my own place (away from home) for a few years. I have sheep to help keep the weeds at bay and cross graze and to help reduce worm counts. They are pretty easy to keep as long as you don't go for rare breeds (there rare for a reason!) ours are standard meat sheep and are pretty hardy apart from the odd foot issue. But they trash electric fencing. I've given up with internal fencing for them, they pretty much free roam, I just make sure the external fencing is sheep proof.

As for 1 pony on its own with sheep, I did this for a couple of weeks, but he was very needy and clingy and unsettled even with his favourite sheep with him. This was a horse that had lived in the same field for a couple of years so he knew the place pretty well. I would suggest contacting a rescue local to you like others have said.

I've had a couple of 'liveries' over the years, some good, some bad. If your quite a 'friendly/chatty' kind of person you might find having ponies at home a little lonely. But with that much land you have options even if just for grass liveries or renting a field out etc. I currently just have my 3 and love it, but I find winters get a little lonely and I look for options during that time. Just dependsd on the kind of person you are. I'm quite self motivated but struggle with misplaced guilt of not getting 'everything' done and tend to put to much pressure on myself.

I'd never go back to a livery yard as I can't stand the politics, so a place on my own where people visit or keep ponies with me on my terms works best for me. But it really does depend on the kind of person you are I think.

 

[tda]

There was a quite long post recently about the merits (or not) of having sheep
Agree with others about a companion (or 2 mini's )

 

[ponynutz]

If there’s enough space I’d really recommend getting a charity pony while you all settle at the new house and then looking for a second ridden when you’re ready.

 

[Tarragon]

and if you are going to get a charity pony, make sure they are compatible in terms of maintenance and care. I know so many people who get a tiny pony as companion for their horse and then find they can't graze together

 

[sunnyone]

You'll also need to invest in an old tractor so that you can keep the grass and weeds down with regular cutting. With luck you should have surplus hay to sell on, too but that also needs maintenance, so we harrow our fields when they are rested. That way you aren't spending all of your time doing field maintenance instead of enjoying the horse.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I definitely would never have goats especially kept with a horse and I wouldn't have sheep either they are not the easiest and require different fencing to horses generally.

I would much rather have a few more horses especially ones I can ride

Having horses at home is the best I love it congratulations.

 

[MagicMelon]

You could cut a lot of the acreage for your own hay? We used to do that, not sure it was any cheaper by the time we had contractors coming in to do it all however at least we knew what was in it!

 

[littleshetland]

There's nothing like doing the morning feeds in your jimjams, dressing gown and wellies....

 

[splashgirl45]

Please don’t let your old boy be without equine company, I would get a couple from a rescue who need the same type of grazing as your old boy , 8 acres for a couple of horses is quite a lot so you will need to be quite careful and split it up so you have plenty of winter grazing so they can all be out as much as possible .. the place sounds lovely , lucky you

 

[Carlosmum]

Agree about goats, but if you do decide to go down the farm animal route, don't forget you will need a holding number

 

[m.l.c coloured]

Don't get goats,my mum had 3when I was a kid not only did they eat manes and tails they also devoured tack and they had the cheek to do it while you was tacking up! Plus they were forever escaping

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Don't get goats,my mum had 3when I was a kid not only did they eat manes and tails they also devoured tack and they had the cheek to do it while you was tacking up! Plus they were forever escaping

They are the work of the devil I would never have them I had the pleasure of working for someone who had them never again.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Please don’t let your old boy be without equine company, I would get a couple from a rescue who need the same type of grazing as your old boy , 8 acres for a couple of horses is quite a lot so you will need to be quite careful and split it up so you have plenty of winter grazing so they can all be out as much as possible .. the place sounds lovely , lucky you

If I had that much land I would at least get 1 ridden horse then cut hay from some each summer you would still have plenty for grazing.

 

[poiuytrewq]

There was a quite long post recently about the merits (or not) of having sheep
Agree with others about a companion (or 2 mini's )

I have two little companions and one big horse to be honest I’d far rather one other horse, much as I love them both dearly it’s a tough balance keeping them all happily together yet they are a group so get pretty distressed apart (I can ride but not split them at home)
Personally I’d not recommend this!!

 

[PSD]

There's nothing like doing the morning feeds in your jimjams, dressing gown and wellies....

I do this anyway on a livery yard ain’t no way I’m getting dressed at 5am to see them

 

[Spotherisk]

We have two retirees at home, a six acre field and a 1 acre field with a track to the stables. They live out 24/7. We harrow or use the poover to clear the small paddock. We shut up the big field in the spring and the local farmer cuts and round bales it and takes it away, normally gets 28 bales. They also put a flock of sheep on it for a few weeks every autumn, the are with the horses. In payment for this we get hay when we want it (had one round bale last year) and they flail the hedges, which would cost a bit to have done. It’s a good pay off for them and us.

 

[saalsk]

No to goats, they eat everything and are a nightmare to fence in. Yes to sheep but remember you need to have holding numbers, and vaccinate, fleece, spray for flies, worm, do foot care etc etc, although they are great to get fields into good shape. And they are lovely - I have a small flock and thoroughly enjoy daily sheep cuddles and hand feeding them digestive biscuits. Please get your old guy a companion - he will really appreciate it. WHW and many others offer field companions, youngsters, and ridden ones as loans - I got my current chap a friend from WHW when I lost my old guy - new friend is a hoot, and the agreement I have is that he stays ( I could swap him for a younger model, and then he would be moved on as a ridden pony, but to be fair, he's a little shit, and too small to be an adult ride, too naughty to be a kids pony, so he is a field ornament and companion, who I use to teach others how to long rein and lunge with).
Be careful with growing fields to use for hay - I found that if I manage the land well, I don't need hay, and I also don't need hungry greedy fat ponies trying to get from grass-appropriate grazing into lush hay-wannabe grazing. You will find that fencing - sturdy wood or electric, or both... aren't enough !

I don't poo pick as I have enough fields to move them regularly, and leave the field for at least 8 months to a year, and it gets harrowed and rolled after use. I do worm counts on the horses and the sheep, and for the last 4 years have been negative, with no use of wormers needed, but that is a fixed flock/herd, so no newbies.

I also do my early morning visit, and night time check in PJ's. And some of the inbetween stuff too. Not having neighbours who can see me is a huge bonus, although the postman has had the odd scare.

 

[marmalade88]

I have 11 acres for two. The big field (6 acres) has sheep in it from a local farmer, he’s just had bales off it as well and will chuck them back in the field in a few weeks. They’ll come out in early autumn and I’ll use it for winter grazing. Horses are in the smaller paddocks atm which I poo pick daily and rotate them around . I don’t bother in the big field over winter just leave them roam and get on with it. I don’t even harrow in spring, there’s so much room and with the rain it all washes away, we just chuck the sheep in. The horses live out pretty much 24/7 apart from when’s it’s very hot or snowing. I don’t cut hay, it’s too much hassle and stress and I’d have far too much for what I need and end up trying to get rid of it. I just buy what I need when I need it. With that much gazing for one or two horses I doubt you’ll need any hay at all.

I really depends what you’re getting in term of the quality of the fencing, barn, etc when you move in and also how well the place has been maintained in the past. Give yourself a year to learn the ground and the best fields for summer, winter etc. and how you use the space. Invest in some decent electric fencing or an energiser if you haven’t already got it so you can split paddocks or stop escaping from dodgy boundary fencing.

 

[rabatsa]

I would get some sheep as well as an equine companion. The sheep I would get would be stores to eat the grass and sell in the autumn. That way you do not have any long term management issues.

However sheep do have characters and you can become attached to them so it may be best to use someone elses stores in your fields. The ideal arrangement would be summer grazing in exchange for equine hay.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Your biggest challenge is going to be managing the grass! We have 10 acres - and currently have a total of five horses (some are liveries) grazing this in various "Track" systems, and we still had to top it recently!

Ditto advice re. sheep. IF and I say "if" you can find a friendly farmer who will shove a few sheep out onto your paddocks to graze it down that would be very handy. However, a lot of sheepkeepers/farmers just don't "get it" as far as sharing grazing with horses is concerned. Last year (in the drought) we had a smallholder who'd put some sheep on our land, but they really hadn't got a clue and during the baking hot summer they didn't feel there was a need to feed them anything!!! However we were needing to put down hay for our horses and the sheep were gobbling it up as soon as we put it down. Farmer never gave us any £££ for this.......... so you will need to choose carefully and not just grab at the first person with some sheep out there. We also had problems with this particular person as they were basically doing sheepkeeping on the cheap, and you just can't do that: we had several instances of poorly sheep (one died) which was really down to poor husbandry and nothing else. There needs to be a good working relationship between landowner and farmer if the thing is going to work.

Like others have said, avoid goats like the plague. I've had to deal with goats where I work and wouldn't ever have one!! End of. You might as well invite the Devil Incarnate to come onto your place, seriously. They will eat EVERYTHING (and I mean everything), plus Houdini has nothing on the darn things. Total PITA! Just don't go there.

Also (echoing others) your old boy will benefit from a companion; again, don't rush to invite the first person that asks to share with you. It may be that you could consider a livery (which would help pay your bills!), but the horse(s) needs to be the right sort of energy for your old boy as it really wouldn't help for him to be bullied. Something you'd need to watch.

Wishing you well! How wonderful that you are able to bring your old lad home with you; there's nothing like it. Good luck!