living out 24/7

karabella

karabella

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Hi everyone after my last post i am now seriously considering having the field and letting my horses live out 24/7 365day's one is a 2yr old irish cob gelding and the other i'm getting in november is a 6mth old heavyweight gypsy cob, i just wanted a bit more advice please about managing the field it is 5/6 acres it is not divided in anyway so i guess i would need fencing to rotate grazing throughout the year,there is no shelter but there is an abundance of trees for shelter,there is no water supply unless can use the pub's nearby there is a river but without redoing the fencing there is no access to it i must be mad has would be very basic but i'm sure the horses would be happier especially being youngsters,i will have no stable which does concern me a bit what if box rest is needed(i could put a stable up at a later date farmer said would be ok what would be the cost involved)?,how does everyone else manage,whatabout schooling (although not for a while yet) with no school obviously don't wanna churn the field up or am i just to used to the luxury's of tack room,stable,running water,lighting and electric he won't allow 24/7 turnout in winter where i am and i'm a bit concerned about getting the 6mth old and having to put him with the herd of 14 horses even though he will be chunky.my two year is the most laid back chap you could ever meet wouldn't say boo to a goose and follows you round like a dog so think he'd be better with him and hopefully gain some of his manners any help advice much appreciated i do stress at change plus side i guess it'd would just be me and my horses x
 
Is it clay or sand?

What will you do in winter if there is heavy snow? Will you be able to get to them?

Definitely subdivide your field - if they are good doers you might even be able to take a hay crop off that amount of land. Mobile field shelters can be gated and could work for emergency box rest - I have seen these advertised for around 1000 and under. Sounds like water could become a real chore - huge containers from home in the back of a car, possibly? Head torch needed in winter! Where will you store hay?

As for living out 24/7, I personally think it is wonderful, especially for youngsters.
 
I've known people make field shelters out of old straw bales which seem to work well, I can't remember what they used for a roof but they anchored it with more bales.
 
I think you would want to have a rain water collection set up with an IBC tank but obviously this will freeze in Summer and possibly run dry in winter. Is there definitely no water the farmer can run an alcothane pipe off even above ground. Or a pump from the river maybe.

Drive you insane having to cart all that water I think.
 
There is no problem getting to them 10 minutes walk away from home water does concern me unless i can get access to river or ask at the the pub if can use theirs, the field is directly behind it is a nice field and well fenced it's sort of hidden away up from the road surrounded by trees, the farmer can provide big bale hay/haylage delivered direct to field,would i need to rug the 6mth old in winter he does have a thick coat anyway might just be me being soft x
 
Also does anyone know if it would create a problem later in life for the 6mth old if he was ever stabled with being used to living out,he is stabled with mum at the mo at night has for a straw field shelter that's a good idea has a temporary measure never thought of that x
 
A lightweight might be a good idea - just because you haven't anywhere to bring him in and dry him off if you do find him shivering. Just for driving rain and wind. I would hold off for as long as poss to allow coat to grow through, though.

I think if he has had some experience of a stable he should be okay in later life.
 
All the horses in the yard live out 24/7 where I am and love it.

My problem with your situation would be the water. I used to rent some land and stables from a farmer and had water in the yard but not in the fields. I had to transport water to the end paddocks when using them although near the yard could get a hosepipe out. It is a complete pain and worry not having water. They need checking 2x a day and filling if necc. What will you do when you are away or (as I was) if you are suddenly taken ill. I bought some ex food additive containers on ebay cheaply (they had had lemon flavouring in so smelt of lemon to start with.) cheaper than camping shops etc. Friend also gave me some from a garage that had held distilled water. There are water bags that go in wheelbarrows from country stores/ online shops. What about a large water container on a trailer? Is there any way you could sort one of them? They are also for sale on ebay.
Our horses now drink from a river in some fields - is there any way the horses could do that?

I hope you get something sorted - good luck.
 
For the water in your case Id be looking at getting a bowsa

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/water-bow...quipment_RL&hash=item337a28085f#ht_500wt_1219

Have done this before and its pretty simple.

2 on 5/6acres is ideal - I have similar. In summer I track around the edge of it, as mine are v good doers and grow the middle for hay which ive just baled at the weekend. In winter I split it into two paddocks and rotate them. Im lucky in that im on sandy soil so Im never in a mess mud wise. At the moment I have a school of posts and tape - Il have to see how wet it gets to see how long il carry on using it.

I cant see any problems with yours living out 24.7 - its useful if you have a shelter you can occasionally shut them in in case of emergency and also to run rain water pipes from.
 
I think if i can gain access to the river that would be the better option the field is nowhere near the farm, i will have to have another walk up there and assess the situation and speak to farmer or pub to see if can use there water supply the only thing that's there that i know of is a old bath that's very green has for if i'm ill or away i would be relying on friends or the farmer/farmer's wife to attend to them they do have horses of their own kept near the farmhouse my field is tucked away very private pure bliss really i also have to think whether i'd miss the social side of not being on a yard and extra help if needed but i don't think this would be a problem hey no mucking out just maintenence x
 
Thank's for the link that's great and having your own hay that's great i've never made/baled hay before guess be good to learn a good money saving tip, i'm hoping it won't get to muddy has it is a bit hilly so hoping water will run down to the river the grass looks good it's just on patches of the field it has the reedy type grass which is quite muddy in them area's but looking at the existing horse tracks they've stayed around the perimeter of them i will have to watch my irish cob because he does have a bit of mud fever behind his knees which i'm treating but i've only had him a few wks so and don't really know conditions he was kept in before.
 
Well i've had a walk to the field again today looking good for water i followed the horse tracks through the reedy grass and there is direct access to the stream for them and the field wasn't very muddy considering the amount of downpour we've had recently and today the only other thing is the fencing it is secure but it is wire cattle fencing with wooden posts and one strip of barb wire across the top so hope little un will be ok but this isn't any different to the yard i'm on now though cause it also has wire fencing.
 
You can always put a strand of electric tape on electric fence posts just inside the fence to keep them away from the barbed wire - or a thin electric wire along the top (but you would probably have to electrify that)
 
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