Making the change from stable kept to grass kept

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becci123

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Hi, I'm new to this forum and have come here for some advice please!
I have recently found out that I am pregnant, which has had the obvious effect of evaluating my budget and assessing where I can save some pennies!
I have had my mare Megan since I was 12 (I am now 27!) which makes her a spritely 25 years old! She is 14.3hh, welsh cross thoroughbred who is an average doer. She has a slight tendancy to drop condition over the winter months although it is not usually a cause for concern, and she picks up again once the grass improves. At the moment she is out during the day and in at night in the winter (sept-april) then turned out 24/7 in the Summer in my friends field as a little holiday! She is retired and not in work.

My friend has offered for me to keep Meg at her field permantley if I want to. This would save me on average £150 per month on livery etc plus no mucking out etc. The thought is quite appealing but I'm a bit worried whether this is the right thing to do for Megan. I would appreciate some opinions on this. The field is absolutely massive, with superb grazing, loads of shelter, both natural and man made. It even has it's own woodland and stream running through it. I would still be checking her daily plus my friend checks her horses twice a day also. It is situated at the back of her parents home.
Do you think that this is a good idea for me as money and time will be very tight, but getting rid of Meg is not a option.
Thanks, sorry if I rambled!
 
Sounds lovely, as long as she has a good rug to keep her warm through winter (if needed) it could work very well. Many older horses do better out full time, provided they have adequate shelter, as the have the option of moving around so they don't get as stiff.
 
My sisters horse was 26 years old and kept very similar to yours but was given approx 6 months to live due to illness, sort of COPD but never diagnosed completley, and he just started to waste away. In light of this she thought she would give him the best last 6 months and move him nearer to home but in a field. Hence to say that he absolutely thrived by being out 24x7 and lived until he was 32. He was never happier and looked better than he had for years.

Good luck
 
My old pony is nearly 30 and lives out all year round with a good rug on and ad lib hay, she has a small feed every day, but is much happier living out and far healthier. i really wouldnt worry about it, after all this is there natural lifestyle.
My field has good natural shelter and they spend alot of the night in the woods like they do in the wild.
 
Mine made the change over last winter and I have never looked back. At first my 20year old pony lost some weight but we managed to find a feed that suited her and she keeps her condition/weight really well.
The horses are so much more relaxed and apart from losts of mud
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(2 arent rugged) they look really well.
 
Thanks for your replies-I feel so much better. I've been feeling really guilty about it but now I think it will suit both of us! I think sometimes we wrap our horses in cotton wool and forget that is their natural environment!
She loves it there in the Summer and will be rugged well if the weather turns bad. Am thinking of turning her out maybe at Easter so she has a few colder days and nights before the Summer, it'll prepare her for the following Winter.
At least then I wont have to worry about mucking out when heavily pregnant! Phew!
Thanks again
 
Yeah, definately go for it! Sounds lovely, wish my horses had all that! Mine live out 24/7 (all breeds including clipped TB's, Anglo Arabs etc.), as long as they are fed well with cosy rugs and adequate shelter then she'll be perfectly happy, plus its way healthier for her to be out at her age - to be moving about and respiratory wise. Plus she's retired, she deserves to live like a horse now!

I never see why some people stable their horses just for the hell of it......!!
 
I think she will be fine. You did'nt mention if she would be alone at night during the turn out. If this is the case, she may fret and pace.
 
No-she wont be alone. There are 3 others out with her, all of which she knows from the Summer. So I think she'll be fine.
Have got 7 bales of hay left so will wait for that to run out then move her i think.
 
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