New yard woes - advice sought...

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catdragon

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Hi all

I have just moved yards (saturday). Gone from being part livery to DIY. Found a lovely - small yard less than 2 miles from home.

We all have to provide our own elec fencing and are alloted part of the field.

Now, there are 6 equines in all - 4 owners, 2 of whom own 2. So Saturday my girl went out for a couple of hours - no problem. Sunday she went out most of the day - no problem. Monday - she was out all day. Think she kicked fence (electified) and had a hoon - she came in drenched with sweat (inc 200g rug). Took said rug home - dried off horse... Last night - get there with everyone else - one of the ponys escaped (their fence not electrified) and he's run amok in front of my girls paddock - she's gone mad - come in drenched with sweat again... Repeat same process... dry her - dry rug etc etc. Was narked at ponys owner - no apology for said pony running amok - just promise of getting elec sorted today.

Went to yard at lunchtime to bring my girl in (as the other lady with 2 bringing in earlier than usual thought I'd bring my girl in so she's not silly) - she is covered in white foam and drenched again, both her AND her rug... problem - pony is out... again... Thankfully couldn't get up to my girl as I'd blocked the way with tape last night... but - she's unsettled (only moved Saturday afternoon) and he's obviously had a run around, so she's run around. Her field is becoming a quagmire - I am at my wits end as now I am on DIY (work full time) I am dreading coming to the yard to find her injured through galloping in increasingly heavy ground.

Now to the advice... If owner of escaping pony has not bought elec for her saggy fencing- do I ask her directly? The problem is - the more he escapes - the more he will unsettle my girl and the more she'll run... Or, do I contact the owner of the yard?

I don't want to upset people - but out of the 4 owners there (me included) only the owner of the pony's has no elec and frankly sagging fencing - he's obviously realised he can just get out.

Am I being pathetic and over protective? what can I do to help mine settle?

Feel so disillusioned and not wanting to upset people but could cry as I thought I was doing my girl a favour by moving somewhere that she can be out more and have a quieter life.... and the thought of her being run ragged is horrible...

Thoughts please?
 
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Oh dear, that's not a nice situation to be in :( If I were you I would initially try to have a word with the owner, something casual like 'Have you had any luck with the electric fencing yet?' Then if that doesn't work and you aren't comfortable with saying any more to them I'd suggest speaking to the yard owner and asking if it's possible for you to move your horse away from this pony as it's causing her some distress by breaking out all the time. That doesn't make you seem horrible for complaining about the other owner but should mean the problem gets sorted one way or the other. Good luck. :) x
 
I wouldn't be on a yard that relied on non permanent fencing for the reasons you state.

However you'll need to approach YO and ask him to sort the problem pdq....
 
It could be that she misses her old field mate and would settle better if she could share a paddock with another horse. This pony escaping is certainly not helping matters, but I expect she would do it even if he wasn't out if the others were having a hoon about. It's really difficult when moving yards, especially with mares. I'm afraid I would be thinking of going back on part livery if I worked full time. Or at least having a couple of weeks off so you could spend some time at the yard with her observing what is happening and helping her to settle.
 
Could the saggy fence be connected to yours, or another livery's, electric by putting an extra bit of tape across? (Not knowing what the set up is, I'm assuming the fenced off bits are adjacent?) Then you could just tighten up the saggy tape and connect it up - telling the pony's owner what you've done, of course! Any caring owner would be grateful that the problem was solved..... Again, not knowing the owner concerned, I don't know if you would be able to do this, but just a thought.
 
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