Opinions on keeping your horse at home?

I've had mine at home for 7 years but been in sole charge for nearly 9. Its great and I wouldnt go back to a yard. I have a trusted friend who house/pony/cat sits but we're lucky if we get a long weekend away once a year (not happened this year, two long weekends last year-nothing the two years before that). We have dogs, cats and poultry too. If I am away for work then hubby is quite good at checking everything and the horse part is geared up so its easy if I am away or ill.

Pros-I dont have to talk to anyone, dont have to answer to anyone else and can keep them how I want. I do rent additional grazing but have found an awesome farmer who likes the ponies and me enough to put up with us. He's also just given me access to his hills for off road winter hacking once the beasts are in.

Cons-the only one really is that if you dont have any facilities such as a school, if you run into problems its harder to deal with them. I found it hard with a youngster-I had noone to nanny us, couldnt hire someone to come and teach me as nowhere to ride etc etc. Likewise having one on boxrest or rehabbing is more difficult, especially if you work and commute.
I do have my own transport which I love having although it is quite a large financial commitment.


As for collecting, I got up to three for several years but then back to two last year. Personally I found it too much.
 
I do both. I have my retired mare and 2 little ponies at home Just mooching about and I have my riding horse at a local livery. For me I like the company of buzz of a yard for riding and the odd bit of competing, facilities are great and other liveries are all fab despite it being large 30+ Liveries we all get on and have done for many years. I work full time and have 2 young kids so like the support of the yard and full livery if I need it. I seem to spend more time with the retired lot as I'm constantly fixing something or pulling weeds etc. I'm my opinion if you are a happy hacker, have retired horses or you are a social recluse then keeping them at home is great if I can do it as it saves money and you can futter about at your lesuire but if you want to get the most out of your horse, improve your riding and be motivated for me livery is best option!!
 
I'm 7 weeks in to buying a horsey home and having my boys at home. I echo what everyone else says about the pros, it's wonderful being able to nip out to them whenever I want.
Cons are - I seem to have less time than before to actually ride. I work full time and there are always jobs to do - fence maintanence, poo picking, organising the bales, yard tidying, checking fencing, mucking out. There is always something.
I still love it though.
 
On the having less time to ride at home I found this too particularly at first - the jobs get in the way .
I am really strict I simply don't allow the I don't have time to ride thing when I feel myself start with it I tack up and ride getting it done as soon as possible it needs only take an hourish then I get on with what ever .
The only time I allow myself the I have not got time thing is Christmas Day .
 
My two are at home. I have never had horses at a yard. I look out the kitchen window into the paddock. I can see the field shelter too. Yes, there is maintenance, but a little every day goes a long way. Apart from the obvious pros and cons etc, i find it is those small, magical moments that are the best. I have sat out in the field with my two on a balmy summer night at midnight, under full moon and shooting stars, sound of crickets all around... it is so perfect, and I would never swap that for anything.
 
LHIS said:
I'm 7 weeks in to buying a horsey home and having my boys at home. I echo what everyone else says about the pros, it's wonderful being able to nip out to them whenever I want.
Cons are - I seem to have less time than before to actually ride. I work full time and there are always jobs to do - fence maintanence, poo picking, organising the bales, yard tidying, checking fencing, mucking out. There is always something.
I still love it though.
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ride first, do chores later. yard tidying, bale organisation (what is that exactly ;) ) etc-doesnt matter so much when you're by yourself! its a very easy trap to fall into but there's nothing will make you lose your riding mojo quicker ime
 
I had my old mare at home when she retired, for ten months until she was ill and subsequently pts. She was 23 when she moved home, so not sure the upheaval was right for her but I wanted the chance to dote on her in retirement.
She was quite high maintenance and I tried to stick to a strict routine but impossible because of the hours I was working at the time. I was just getting into the swing of how I wanted to work everything when she died.
Pro's- loved having her at home, letting her graze loose in the garden, letting her turn herself out and bring herself in - she'd sometimes been tricky to turn out so solved that issue. Seeing her everyday, twice a day. Doing everything exactly as I wanted it - two foot deep bed- she loved a lie down in a deep bed-no problem!
I was v lucky and paid a friend to bring in on my work days, friend was amazing.
Cons- so worrying when she was ill and I was an hour away at work, no one seeing her until lunch time, then me not getting home until late evening.
I was generally v lucky with holiday cover but it does take a lot of planning - rather than a quick, I won't be up tomorrow.
Same with routine visits - all included on my last yard livery, holding for vet, dentist, farrier etc, so had to book time off, uses up annual leave.
I did miss the company of a Yard, I like having a chat in between jobs.
Not sure I would have had the time to ride, especially in winter. Horse didn't like being out in the dark, rain, flies- so always a worry, especially in winter when I'd rush back home on a weekend to bring her in, when it gets dark at 3pm! - cuts into what you can do! But my horse was high maintenance and I loved her, so it worked.
I only have an acre and a half grazing, so took some managing and feeding hay in paddock for mare and companion, so more nets etc. I also didn't realise sycamores where a threat until the stables and fencing where finished so that was a constant worry, battle.
I am quite particular and tried to stick to old yards routine, so made life more difficult for myself! Horse was stabled, so no lie in in the winter and tough when I was ill and lots of early starts as often leave for work at 7am, so would be shattered by the weekend, plus worry of having turned out and then raining relentlessly and knowing she was out until friend came at lunch time.
I'm on a yard now with new horse, which I enjoy. I miss being at home sometimes as stables standing empty and I think if I did it again I'd be a bit easier on myself!
 
I love having mine at home. No travelling is brilliant for a start. I have plenty of land and a school to ride in. We make our own hay/ haylage, plenty of room to keep my stuff. A tackroom which no one else can leave unlocked. I have always poo picked whether it was at a yard or at home so that's no different. My husband tops the fields, or the neighbouring farmer will. I fix the fences as and when needed but that's not a regular chore. Farmer will take away muck heap to spread on his land and he puts some sheep in our fields over winter to graze down what the horses don't.
The only downside is if and when I go away, I have to find someone trustworthy to look after the horses which is not easy. I don't mind having no one to do stuff with because I can arrange to meet people, I compete a lot and I go to lots of clinics!
 
I have my two at home. We actually had 4 at one point. We had a couple of liveries for a while, but we really didn't like the interruption of our peaceful, "revolving around us" yard.

We have a groom one day a week or a freelancer doing a day or two. It gives you a day off and also means you're on their radar/client list and are more likely to do the odd extra day in times of illness or holiday.

I spent a lot building my yard and fencing fields etc, but ive just worked out what I'd have spent in livery, and I'm ahead now! Although I've certainly done a lot more creosoting and painting than the average livery!
 
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