Moving yards - MAJOR confidence boost (and lots of advice) needed

Eriskayowner

Eriskayowner

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 May 2008
Messages
1,977
Location
Wellington, Somerset, England
Visit site
Evening!

I'm moving from full livery to a private yard - very very nervous but also really looking forward to it.

I've had horses for 18 years, but always been on some sort of livery yard.

I have got a 3 acre field and 2 stables - I'm going to hack Jazzy over from his current yard, and Mouse will come over from Dorset. They've never met :S

The field is just one field, with a stone trough (there is mains water) - but I need to be able to separate it. I'm thinking electric fencing. Any advice on which energizer, how many strands of tape - Mousey is a houdini with no respect for anything, how much space they should have at a time - both could do with losing weight.

Any tips on how to make it all as cheap as possible. Ideas for how to store hay/haylage and bedding. I'm going to buy a second hand shed, large enough for a knackered chest freezer (to put the hard feed in), and put some saddle racks etc up but I'm thinking of also keeping the hay(lage) in there?

I've probably missed loads. Any advice - however obvious it might seem!!!

White hot choccie and a bounty bar for all that have read my desperate plea!!!
 
It sounds like bliss!!!

I have no advice to give but I am sure you will have a wonderful time and the very best of luck x
 
Frumpoon said:
It sounds like bliss!!!

I have no advice to give but I am sure you will have a wonderful time and the very best of luck x
Click to expand...

Thanks Frumpoon. I know that I can look after the boys but the major advantage of livery is you have people to bounce ideas off and to help out if/when needed.

Really hoping that this is going to be the best solution for the two boys :)
 
Hi, I just introduced my new horse to my posessive gelding with the high fencing, and a channel between them, moving it a bit closer each day. As for energisers, I'm rubbish on that sort of thing! I can reccommend a shed though, I had one for a while and it was brilliant!
Unfortunately the roof needed replacing, and my uncle did the work - the uncle has now commandeered it for his junk :mad:

Good luck! :D
 
If you have a houdini that also needs to loose weight,buy the best energiser you can.The tall fence posts are good if they are likely to jump,but will need at least 2 strands of tape.
I would divide field into 3,1 to graze down well,1 to move onto next and the 3rd for winter use.
It depends on how it is laid out but for ease of use keep the nearest to the stables for winter.
A shed should be fine for storage, hay in small quantities could be kept on pallets under a tarp,as could bedding,
Think of security if keeping tack in a shed.
There will be loads more as you get going but enjoy your own space.
 
becca_norrey said:
Hi, I just introduced my new horse to my posessive gelding with the high fencing, and a channel between them, moving it a bit closer each day. As for energisers, I'm rubbish on that sort of thing! I can reccommend a shed though, I had one for a while and it was brilliant!
Unfortunately the roof needed replacing, and my uncle did the work - the uncle has now commandeered it for his junk :mad:

Good luck! :D
Click to expand...

Thanks Becky :)

Jazzy gets on with most horses - he's generally the boss and Mouse is a wuss so I think pecking order will be established quickly :)

I might be able to get a friend to build me a shed (he's a builder/carpenter :)) but failing that I'll get a second hand one on eBay or somewhere.

Bad luck about your uncle nicking it!!!
 
be positive said:
If you have a houdini that also needs to loose weight,buy the best energiser you can.The tall fence posts are good if they are likely to jump,but will need at least 2 strands of tape.
I would divide field into 3,1 to graze down well,1 to move onto next and the 3rd for winter use.
It depends on how it is laid out but for ease of use keep the nearest to the stables for winter.
A shed should be fine for storage, hay in small quantities could be kept on pallets under a tarp,as could bedding,
Think of security if keeping tack in a shed.
There will be loads more as you get going but enjoy your own space.
Click to expand...

Thanks Be Positive. Luckily Mouse's not really that food orientated but he's just a pain in the backside - loves breaking the rules!

Tall fence posts are a plan - Jazz's 17.2hh and Mouse is known to jump things.

The field is quite nicely rectangular so splitting into 3 is a good plan - should be easy enough :)

I'm thinking the shed is a good plan. It's reasonably secure there - rotties on site etc. but yes - I will definitely have a think about what I leave there and what I don't.

I'm sooooo looking forward to my own space - hope it works out :)
 
Ok, as to the dividing it - I'd put it into 3 - all 1 acre each, then you have:
1. in use
2. Ready to go into, and
3. The one just used.

However, you 'could' divide the 1 acre patch (nearest your stables, shed & gateway) into 2: giving you a tiny area for a 'yard' and the rest as a paddock.
Maybe keeping that slightly smaller one as a 'trash' paddock for the winter?

I'd go for at least 2 lines of tape on the division of it all - and remember the electric works better when run on a circuit.


These insulators really work for me - particularly in the top paddocks where the wind does catch the tape: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-Fence-Fencing-Clamp-Insulators-50-/110373213639?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item19b2c195c7

If doing a 'permanent' fence of tape, then get the 2" round wooden posts to bash in & use the insulators directly on them, at least on the corners as this will hold it well, then use the plastic fencer posts in between if you wish (or more wooden ones with tape carriers)

I find the CP 500 unit works very well to run at least an acre on double tape lines - and can (has) run 2 paddocks at a time. This usually runs off a leisure battery or an old car battery. The leisure battery lasts around 6 days or so on 24/7 use, then the car battery goes on for a couple of days while the leisure battery is taken home for charging.

Don't forget handles for gateways - this type have done me sterling service: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-fence-fencing-Gate-Handle-40mm-Tape-/360152581280?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item53dac444a0 and hook onto these, which work really well: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-Fencing-Gate-Handle-Insulators-Packet-5-/110711915081?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item19c6f1c249

Check out the stable yard section for the sticky on battery lighting- some really good info in there.

Good luck - and enjoy your own gaff! :)
 
Last edited:
Eriskayowner said:
Thanks Frumpoon. I know that I can look after the boys but the major advantage of livery is you have people to bounce ideas off and to help out if/when needed.

Really hoping that this is going to be the best solution for the two boys :)
Click to expand...

You'll still have HHO for people to bounce ideas off though and you'll have your livery friends on facebook so it won't be so different. I'm moving next weekend from a big livery yard (seventy horses) to a tiny private yard (YO plus two DIY liveries including me) in a whole new county where I won't know anyone. So my tip is what I'm going to do myself - I'm going to put a note in the bigger yard up the road looking for people to ride with so I can make some horsey friends. Is there a yard near your field so you can connect with people for (a) hacking (b) holiday cover and (c) school hire?
 
Hi Unbalanced. Your thread was shorter so can reply on phone!

I'm only moving 5 miles down the road so I know a lot of the routes already and can meet up with people.

I do a lot of hacking alone though as jazzy walks so fast!!!

Its a good idea about the poster though.

There's a big yard
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
Ok, as to the dividing it - I'd put it into 3 - all 1 acre each, then you have:
1. in use
2. Ready to go into, and
3. The one just used.

However, you 'could' divide the 1 acre patch (nearest your stables, shed & gateway) into 2: giving you a tiny area for a 'yard' and the rest as a paddock.
Maybe keeping that slightly smaller one as a 'trash' paddock for the winter?

I'd go for at least 2 lines of tape on the division of it all - and remember the electric works better when run on a circuit.


These insulators really work for me - particularly in the top paddocks where the wind does catch the tape: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-Fence-Fencing-Clamp-Insulators-50-/110373213639?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item19b2c195c7

If doing a 'permanent' fence of tape, then get the 2" round wooden posts to bash in & use the insulators directly on them, at least on the corners as this will hold it well, then use the plastic fencer posts in between if you wish (or more wooden ones with tape carriers)

I find the CP 500 unit works very well to run at least an acre on double tape lines - and can (has) run 2 paddocks at a time. This usually runs off a leisure battery or an old car battery. The leisure battery lasts around 6 days or so on 24/7 use, then the car battery goes on for a couple of days while the leisure battery is taken home for charging.

Don't forget handles for gateways - this type have done me sterling service: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-fence-fencing-Gate-Handle-40mm-Tape-/360152581280?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item53dac444a0 and hook onto these, which work really well: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-Fencing-Gate-Handle-Insulators-Packet-5-/110711915081?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item19c6f1c249

Check out the stable yard section for the sticky on battery lighting- some really good info in there.

Good luck - and enjoy your own gaff! :)
Click to expand...

Separating it into three should be easy enough - I'll look into the links that you put down. I had a quick look last night. I'm not sure I'll be able to put up wooden posts, but I would prefer to do so as it should be more sturdy.

I like the idea of the stick-on lights. There is some mains electricity up there, but not to the stables (although this is being put in apparently) - lighting in the winter would be great.

I'm really grateful for all your advice - it really means a lot.

Thanks soooo much,

E x
 
Any chance you could get them both moved on the same day? Most field incidents are about territory, but if they are both new to the field straight away, it should be much quieter as it is still neutral.
 
If you can get hold of a 'thumper' (often you can get these at tool-hire places) or one of these: http://www.screwfix.com/p/roughneck-spiral-post-hole-auger/56144?cm_mmc=Shopping.com-_-Outdoor%20and%20Gardening-_-Gardening%20Tools-_-Roughneck%20Spiral%20Post-Hole%20Auger which I have & use often to relace the odd boundary post etc it will save you lots of time - and the long-term is SO much better than standard electric plastic posts.

All you do is place the 'corer' into the ground & keep turning it (with pressure) and then every so often you pull it out & set aside the contents & keep going till hole is right depth. Put pole in, then backfill with earth set aside!
Once you have done 1 or 2, the rest are easy.
As said before, even if you only do corners & gateways, it will be so much more stronger & stand up to the wind/stresses etc :)

If ground is damp, posts will go in like butter......
 
Last edited:
No idea on fencing I'm afraid but instead of a shed my friend had a metal container! V safe with padlocks, had all the feed, hay and tack in it. She got it cheap from somewhere but sorry can't remember where. Later sold on ebay when she sold the land
 
Thanks to everyone who's replied so far.

One more question - I have looked at an aerial view of the field (good old Google maps!) and divided it roughly into three.

The bit nearest the stables would be about 3/4 acres - would this be enough for two horses (both 'slightly' overweight!)? I can put hay out over the winter if necessary.

I can make it as big or small as possible really, but I don't want to trash too much of the field through the winter.

I haven't decided whether they are going to both live out 24/7 (would suit Mouse really well but unsure about Jazzy) or to try just Mouse out 24/7 or to bring both of them in at night. Obviously this will affect how much grass they are going to need!!!

Thanks,

E x
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top