New owner blues? Sorry very long!

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BayLove

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Is there such a thing?

I love my new boy to pieces but oh my goodness is having a horse a big deal!

I'm having problems with his livery at the moment. He's meant to be sharing a field with another horse and the lady doesn't want to share but the yard owner wants her to saying she's got too much land for just one horse (3 acres.) That was bad English i apologise, i'm tired!

So at the moment he is in his own field which i'm actually really happy with apart from being told it gets really wet in winter as it's right at the bottom of the hill so I want to move him to this shared field which is just next door but further up the hill.

I don't know whats going on with that and i'm a bit stuck. His current field has a broken gate barbed wire and ALOT! of grass. The field was last used for hay. My boy is a cob and at the vetting the vet said 'don't let him put on any weight he's perfect as he is.' No problem I thought, he's going in shared field with already restricted grazing. However I get a phone call a few hours before he arrives from yo saying he's got to go in bottom field with all the grass till he sorts out the share issue.

So my perfect weight cob is in a huge field full of grass with a broken gate and I don't know what to do. Do I pay a fortune to get electric fencing just to be told I can move to the field which already has it? Get him a grazing muzzle? What do I do?! No ones telling me anything as to if and when I can move him!

So that's one thing that's not helping.

Second thing. Tack issues! I've got no saddle yet so can't ride although I did jump on him bareback for a two minute walk round the field. I bought the size bit I was told he took by his last owner but I think it looks too small. I'll get pics tomorrow and ask your opinions. So that's potentially £40 wasted.

His shoes are beyond awful they don't fit his feet and he's got a massive fly bite the size of a golf ball come up and I'm still waiting for his avon soft and fresh to arrive and just ahhhhhhh!

Plus i've got no wheelbarrow yet so poo pickings a case of back and forth and I can't open the broken gate to get a wheelbarrow though it anyway as i had to tie it all shut to keep the blimming thing togther.

I'm fed up. I was all organised till this phone call just a couple of hours before he arrived saying I couldn't put him where he was meant to be going!

I don't know why i'm posting this really, Just need to get it out i suppose.
Anyone want to join my self pity party?!
 
Keep you chin up..........its not your new horses fault or yours!!

I know it is fustrating, can you electric tape a paddock in this 3 acre field you are supposed to be sharing?

Otherwise start looking for another yard!
 
Awww no, feel for you :(

As tough as it is when things are going badly, look on the brightside, you have your new boy. It'll all work out some way or another so just try not to get bogged down until it does.

Any pics of the new boy? I'm sure people cooing over how gorgeous he is'll make you feel a bit better ;)
 
Meandtheboys said:
Keep you chin up..........its not your new horses fault or yours!!

I know it is fustrating, can you electric tape a paddock in this 3 acre field you are supposed to be sharing?

Otherwise start looking for another yard!
Click to expand...

Oh I don't blame new boy for anything he's good as gold bless him. Just want to give him the best and he seems happy but he doesn't know come winter his field will be a swimming pool!

Lady with the 3 acres has already got it taped off in to sections. I'm happy to do anything to help keep her and my horse happy and healthy in the same field, ideally we'd split the thing down the middle and be done with it. If someone could tell me Mike being in this bottom field is a long term thing then I'll happily start mending gates and replacing fences and working out what I'm going to do in winter! But it's the not knowing! It's peeing me off now and i've only been there 2 and a half days!
 
Honestly I think you are just feeling over whelmed with everything. Is it your first horse?

You do need to do something about the grazing asap even if it is just a muzzle for now, you don't want him getting laminitis

Shoes are easily fixed, call a farrier asap

Field, talk to YO and other owner, offer to put up tap in her field to keep the separate, but remember the water trough (you want water in your half too as it is awful to have to carry it, not too mention buckets freeze up too fast in winter

Although these things seem a lot at the moment, trust me as far horse owning goes these are the easy ones

hugs cos it is so hard with new horses!!
 
Get the farrier out and sort his feet.
Ask the YO to get to the root of the share issue. What's the woman worried about?
Have you wormed your horse?
Stick the bit on eBay so you can get some money. I tend to buy bits second hand off eBay as its a lot cheaper.

Having your first horse is a big change but it'll be worth it! You need to get to know him and vice versa. Use the time waiting for a saddle to bond. Chin up hun :)
 
Trish C said:
Awww no, feel for you :(

As tough as it is when things are going badly, look on the brightside, you have your new boy. It'll all work out some way or another so just try not to get bogged down until it does.

Any pics of the new boy? I'm sure people cooing over how gorgeous he is'll make you feel a bit better ;)
Click to expand...

Just to top off my day pictures aren't loading on! I'll get some on asap he is a lovely boy. Here's one but it's not very good and you might have seen it already.
picture.php
 
soulfull said:
Honestly I think you are just feeling over whelmed with everything. Is it your first horse?

You do need to do something about the grazing asap even if it is just a muzzle for now, you don't want him getting laminitis

Shoes are easily fixed, call a farrier asap

Field, talk to YO and other owner, offer to put up tap in her field to keep the separate, but remember the water trough (you want water in your half too as it is awful to have to carry it, not too mention buckets freeze up too fast in winter

Although these things seem a lot at the moment, trust me as far horse owning goes these are the easy ones

hugs cos it is so hard with new horses!!
Click to expand...

Yes he's my first and i'm first to admit i'm very over whelmed!
I'm doing it all on my own too. No one else I know is horsey and sometimes I need someone to give me that bit of reassurance that i'm doing the right thing. I will measure him up for a grazing muzzle tomorrow and get one asap. How one do you suggest he wear it for. If I put it on 9.30am and take it off at 6pm will that be ok for him? Or leave it longer? Shorter?

As to farrier this is where i'm confused. Vet said shoes are small but fine and as he's just had them done leave them till they're due and get them sorted then. I think i should get them done now though, opinions?

I've not yet met other owner and yo is so laid back he just want's everyone to get on with it. I don't want to keep bugging him and be known as the annoying whiny woman but really now, am I going in that field or not?! I could just cry right now over a sodding field!
Water I will make sure he has access to at all times.
 
LaurenM said:
Get the farrier out and sort his feet.
Ask the YO to get to the root of the share issue. What's the woman worried about?
Have you wormed your horse?
Stick the bit on eBay so you can get some money. I tend to buy bits second hand off eBay as its a lot cheaper.

Having your first horse is a big change but it'll be worth it! You need to get to know him and vice versa. Use the time waiting for a saddle to bond. Chin up hun :)
Click to expand...

Woman's worried about the amount of poo picking two horses produce but I think she's forgetting she won't be the only one doing it! Horse isn't wormed yet no, still trying to sort that out. I can't work ebay I'm a technophobe. Horse and hound is about the extent of my computer skills!
I'm doing alot of ground work with him trying to build up a bond. Getting him to pick up his feet nicely is my current challenge! Tried lunging him today but he had no idea what to do. He just followed me bless him. Don't know how to sort that with no one to help, any ideas?
 
1st of all owning a horse is ment to be enjoyable, i have a saying in life.. there is no point in worrying about what you cant change until tomorrow, so instead get a plan in your mind, ask to speak to YO and the lady in current field together, its not always a bad thing to have your own field.. (do you have a stable too?)

get them together and decide what you want to happen befre hand also work on what you was told previous. if you feel there is a issue take up some choccies and offer to share lady and just say look im sorry hes my first horse and I just want to get it right, and i do admit im new to all of this.

2nd. buy a grasing muzzle that is very lush new grass for neddy to be scoffing,

shoes. book the farrier tell him your concerns let him make the choice BUT dont feel bad for asking him to explaine things to you,

work, ten minutes bare back is better than nothing leave the lunging for now in my opinion if you are stressed out you wont have the patiance to do it. ive got a really good book about lunging and long reining, it is a bit advanced in places but for you basics will help you, will get it out and send you the name.

honestly tomorrow take a cold drink a book and a grooming kit and just go and spend some time with the lad, it is the best way to get to know a horse, and as time goes on if he is poorley or something isnt right your pick up on it.

oh and the wormer... try wormers direct, or just google horse wormers and lots will come up also with info about which to give at what time of year.
 
If you were in east sussex I'd come down and show a few things to support you, you poor thing. These are all teething problems. I guarantee there'll be more problems, issues, hassles and fly bites to come but each one you experience the next isn't a big deal. Trust me!! The second day I bought my pony he buckaroo'd me off into the stinging nettles! Not good. I thought "what have done?!" Take one thing at a time. Tackle the field first as that seems to be the trigger for all this. Give yourself a deadline, such as Thursday. Once that's sorted you'll be ready for the next small issue. Don't worry hun, we're all here for you xx
 
1) Farrier
2)Ask YO to fence off part of the 3 acre field he's surposed to be in.
3) Buy yourself a wheelbarrow and shovel
4) from your photo he's a heavy boy, so ask saddler for a Wintec or Thorogood(hope I've spelt that right) for a heavyweight cob (roughly £500) as he slims you can change the cantle in the saddle, easy peasy:D:D
 
jhoward said:
1st of all owning a horse is ment to be enjoyable, i have a saying in life.. there is no point in worrying about what you cant change until tomorrow, so instead get a plan in your mind, ask to speak to YO and the lady in current field together, its not always a bad thing to have your own field.. (do you have a stable too?)

get them together and decide what you want to happen befre hand also work on what you was told previous. if you feel there is a issue take up some choccies and offer to share lady and just say look im sorry hes my first horse and I just want to get it right, and i do admit im new to all of this.

2nd. buy a grasing muzzle that is very lush new grass for neddy to be scoffing,

shoes. book the farrier tell him your concerns let him make the choice BUT dont feel bad for asking him to explaine things to you,

work, ten minutes bare back is better than nothing leave the lunging for now in my opinion if you are stressed out you wont have the patiance to do it. ive got a really good book about lunging and long reining, it is a bit advanced in places but for you basics will help you, will get it out and send you the name.

honestly tomorrow take a cold drink a book and a grooming kit and just go and spend some time with the lad, it is the best way to get to know a horse, and as time goes on if he is poorley or something isnt right your pick up on it.

oh and the wormer... try wormers direct, or just google horse wormers and lots will come up also with info about which to give at what time of year.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much.

I'm actually loving having my own field and would happily stay there and fix it up with post and rail and section it off but i've been told by yo himself and another girl on the yard that it does get very wet. But I am loving having my own field!
I'm going to set up a plan of action. Get wormer sorted, phone around farriers, phone around saddle fitters so at least I know that's on it's way to being sorted.
I'm going to measure him up for a grazing muzzle and get that ordered tomorrow. Any ideas on best one to get?
After all that I will track down yo and try and push him to get this sorted. I would talk to the lady myself but i'm yet to meet her.
I'm planning to spend the day at the field with the boy tomorrow and i'm gonna do sod all but chill. If i'm lucky might even catch the lady when she's doing her horse.
I'm off to google wormers!
Thanks again.
 
BayLove said:
Yes he's my first and i'm first to admit i'm very over whelmed!
I'm doing it all on my own too. No one else I know is horsey and sometimes I need someone to give me that bit of reassurance that i'm doing the right thing. I will measure him up for a grazing muzzle tomorrow and get one asap. How one do you suggest he wear it for. If I put it on 9.30am and take it off at 6pm will that be ok for him? Or leave it longer? Shorter?

As to farrier this is where i'm confused. Vet said shoes are small but fine and as he's just had them done leave them till they're due and get them sorted then. I think i should get them done now though, opinions?

I've not yet met other owner and yo is so laid back he just want's everyone to get on with it. I don't want to keep bugging him and be known as the annoying whiny woman but really now, am I going in that field or not?! I could just cry right now over a sodding field!
Water I will make sure he has access to at all times.
Click to expand...

Is this proper livery yard ? if not you would be better off on a nice yard, where there are people to help

I would get feet done now, its best to sort things out early

with all that grass he needs to wear the muzzle all the time as new research shows that is not the amount of time they are out but more they can eat as much in 3/4 hours as in 24 if restricted the rest of the time

You would not be the moaning woman..... any decent YO would know you cannot turn out one horse on a field like that, you are asking for laminitis and or colic and if he doesnt understand and do something this is not a yard I would like to be on

I would worm horse with panacure guard, this is a 5 day wormer that goes in feed. I use this one because it is best for a horse that you don't know its history. Equest is ok BUT it can be too much all at once for a horse that is not used to wormers
you will then need to ask for a tape worm one about 2 weeks later

Most important, is don't let your new horse boss you around, ie if he picked his feet out fine for his old owner the he WILL for you, you just need to be firm with him. Sorry if this seems a critism BUT I really don't want you to be one of the unfortunate new owners that in 3 to 5 months have a horse that has very slowly taken over and you can no longer do anything with him
Horses are so clever and they do things a little at a time, like one step into your space then 2 so that you move away instead of them
MAin thing to remember is that EVERYTHING has to be your idea, even one step in any direction.

Wish you lots of luck!!!!!!
 
Smallhorses said:
If you were in east sussex I'd come down and show a few things to support you, you poor thing. These are all teething problems. I guarantee there'll be more problems, issues, hassles and fly bites to come but each one you experience the next isn't a big deal. Trust me!! The second day I bought my pony he buckaroo'd me off into the stinging nettles! Not good. I thought "what have done?!" Take one thing at a time. Tackle the field first as that seems to be the trigger for all this. Give yourself a deadline, such as Thursday. Once that's sorted you'll be ready for the next small issue. Don't worry hun, we're all here for you xx
Click to expand...

Oh I so wish I was in East Sussex!
The field is my big problem at the moment cus it's all so uncertain. I am totally in the 'what have I done?!' phase. Life was so much easier before :o
 
Hi

Re grass get a muzzle as suggested as cheap option quick fix & if you can get a few electric fence posts and tape even a small area. The energiser & battery will cost unfortunately unless you can get a second hand one?Ebay. Hes a big boy and the grass is very lush. If you can electrify then it will keep him away from barb wire etc. Just make sure none of the barb is not loose or hanging/buried in the grass even ie tidy it up.

Re feet get farrier to just trim him until you can afford shoeing at least this wont be too costly(I pay £20 for a trim) and as you are lightly doing him this will suffice.

Re no wheelbarrow. Wilkinsons or B&Q will cost about £34 BUT if you cant afford this I would buy a bucket from Tesco cheap builders one 99p and pick up poos and stick them in corner of the field at the bottom of it and away to keep flies down. If you do it daily it will be easy to keep grass clean.(buy some gardening gloves to poo pick thats what i use).

I think your priority tomorrow is grazing muzzle and the bucket. Electric fence is the ideal.
Then organise farrier. Then speak to someone about the gate.
 
soulfull said:
Is this proper livery yard ? if not you would be better off on a nice yard, where there are people to help

I would get feet done now, its best to sort things out early

with all that grass he needs to wear the muzzle all the time as new research shows that is not the amount of time they are out but more they can eat as much in 3/4 hours as in 24 if restricted the rest of the time

You would not be the moaning woman..... any decent YO would know you cannot turn out one horse on a field like that, you are asking for laminitis and or colic and if he doesnt understand and do something this is not a yard I would like to be on

I would worm horse with panacure guard, this is a 5 day wormer that goes in feed. I use this one because it is best for a horse that you don't know its history. Equest is ok BUT it can be too much all at once for a horse that is not used to wormers
you will then need to ask for a tape worm one about 2 weeks later

Most important, is don't let your new horse boss you around, ie if he picked his feet out fine for his old owner the he WILL for you, you just need to be firm with him. Sorry if this seems a critism BUT I really don't want you to be one of the unfortunate new owners that in 3 to 5 months have a horse that has very slowly taken over and you can no longer do anything with him
Horses are so clever and they do things a little at a time, like one step into your space then 2 so that you move away instead of them
MAin thing to remember is that EVERYTHING has to be your idea, even one step in any direction.

Wish you lots of luck!!!!!!
Click to expand...

Yes it's a proper one with lots of people however they never seem to be there when I am! It's only very basic. Mostly grass livery.
Farrier i will get out.
Grazing muzzle on all the time. Don't think yo has much to do with anything horsey. It's just land he rents out. First thing he said was fences are your responsibility which kind of says it all!
Horse doesn't get a feed. What do I do with wormer in that situ?
I'm being very strict with him. I'm not letting him be boss no way. If he doesn't pick up his feet straight away i keep pestering till he does which is knackering cus he's got very heavy feet! I make him move back and move his bum round etc and working on leadrein we go where i want to go so i think i'm showing him who is boss, i hope!
Thank you. I need luck!
 
indie999 said:
Hi

Re grass get a muzzle as suggested as cheap option quick fix & if you can get a few electric fence posts and tape even a small area. The energiser & battery will cost unfortunately unless you can get a second hand one?Ebay. Hes a big boy and the grass is very lush. If you can electrify then it will keep him away from barb wire etc. Just make sure none of the barb is not loose or hanging/buried in the grass even ie tidy it up.

Re feet get farrier to just trim him until you can afford shoeing at least this wont be too costly(I pay £20 for a trim) and as you are lightly doing him this will suffice.

Re no wheelbarrow. Wilkinsons or B&Q will cost about £34 BUT if you cant afford this I would buy a bucket from Tesco cheap builders one 99p and pick up poos and stick them in corner of the field at the bottom of it and away to keep flies down. If you do it daily it will be easy to keep grass clean.(buy some gardening gloves to poo pick thats what i use).

I think your priority tomorrow is grazing muzzle and the bucket. Electric fence is the ideal.
Then organise farrier. Then speak to someone about the gate.
Click to expand...

I've been round the field taping off sections with rope which has done the job so far but not sure if rope alone will keep him in one space. Seems like he could get out and get tangled, not what I want. Might just have to pay out for the electric.

I would like him to go bare foot really. His feet seem very hard to me but to get out hacking he will have to walk done a stoney track. Not sure what to do for best. Eventually i'd like him to be barefoot if at all possible. If not then he won't be.

Poo picking is being done twice a day. I'm taking it right out the field and have started my own muck heap but there's only so much you can fit in a poo picker so it's a lot of back and forth from one side of the field to another. It's not even really a problem, it will get me fit i'm just having a moan :rolleyes: I tried loading up a boot liner and dragging it across the field with me but it all fell out so i ended up carrying it. Horse poo's heavy in bulk! Not doing that again, i'd rather go back and forth!
Gate is my responsibility now but i can't afford to fix it up to be told i can move to origional field and have wasted that money buying them a new gate!
Everything just seems to much at the moment but i am under the weather so when i'm feeling better hopefully it won't seem so bad!
 
Echo Bravo said:
1) Farrier
2)Ask YO to fence off part of the 3 acre field he's surposed to be in.
3) Buy yourself a wheelbarrow and shovel
4) from your photo he's a heavy boy, so ask saddler for a Wintec or Thorogood(hope I've spelt that right) for a heavyweight cob (roughly £500) as he slims you can change the cantle in the saddle, easy peasy:D:D
Click to expand...

That's what I need, a list!
Farrier - doing tomorrow
wheelbarrow and shovel - tomorrow
Yard owner to fence - that won't happen! But i will get on him to sort it out and get me in that field.
Saddle. Thing is he's only 4, he's got some more filling out to do. So saddle is leaving me very confused!
 
If you are poo picking twice a day, there won't be that much each time, as there is only your boy in the field. 8-10 a day, on average. A wheelbarrow will make it a lot easier. Try for a saddle with an adjustable gullet and make friends with your saddler.
 
I must've missed what area you're in. If you were near me I'd come and lend a hand and I'm sure plenty of other HHOers would too. Best of luck with it all, one day/chore at a time and you'll soon be having fun!

Saddle - find a fitter who sells 2nd hand ones - get something for now (perhaps with changeable gullet) and get it checked regularly.
 
jeeve said:
You should be able to take the bit back and change it for the next size up, whenever i buy tack, I make sure I can exchange it if not right.

All these issues are fixable so do not stress. They will get sorted.
Click to expand...

Thank you i needed to hear that.
As for the bit it's a Happy Mouth and the blighter bit it and left a lovely tooth mark so can't go back :rolleyes:
 
windsorblue said:
If you are poo picking twice a day, there won't be that much each time, as there is only your boy in the field. 8-10 a day, on average. A wheelbarrow will make it a lot easier. Try for a saddle with an adjustable gullet and make friends with your saddler.
Click to expand...

No poo picking is managable, that's the least of my worries just thought i'd tag it on the end of my moan. Finding a saddler is the hard bit but once i do i'm making them my new best friend!
 
He's a handsome chap :D

How old is he?
What are you planning to do with him?


And breath....and relax! ;)

First horse is always a bit stressful until you get used to it :D

As the others have said, it will get easier! :)
 
C.C.T said:
id look 4 another yard if i were u but a grazzle muzzle is probably a gd investment 4 the moment x
Click to expand...

It's in my mind but i don't want to mess the yo around and i have only just moved there. Ideally i'd like my own field to do my own thing in and not on a yard at all but there isn't one out there and i was lucky to get this one so at the moment a grazing muzzle it will have to be.
 
re poo picking, dont get a shovel, poo picking on grass with a shovel is a night mare, i personally use a shaving fork, or you can get thoose poo picker things.. half a bucket with a tiny fork, never worked for me but many i know like them.. if you dont know hat i meen yell will go and find a link

shavings fork needs to be metal.

re worming, most these days are syringes so syringe in and try can keep neds head up rub/throte neck to encourage him to swallow it, as they are got at gobbing it out (which is guarenteed to land on mother:D)

i dont use graxing muzzles but know a few people that rate the webbing ones,. id start off with on for half a day see how he goes.
 
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