Owners that disappear when the horses go out for summer?

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Shadowdancing

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Over the years I've heard a few people say how glad they are the horses are going out for the summer- cos this means they don't have to come up every day..?!
This has been a bit of shock to me as I was always taught that the horse needs checking each and every day, and I work with friends to check each others if they can't get up, but usually I've worked it so someone is there morning and someone is there evening to check horses.
I must admit I've not personally known of horses come to harm because the owner wasn't up daily when they were out- but it must happen surely...?
Is this getting more common or did it always happen and I just not notice..?!
 
The owners may have an agreement with someone else to cast an eye over theirs, but it's always happened. Some of us *puts hand up* bought one with a pink nose who burns in the sun so needs her facemask on every morning. I'm glad it's only putting on a mask and not mucking out. If she didn't have the pink nose I may have only visited once daily, but she does run over to me every morning so it's worth it to start the day off on the right note.
 
Always makes me wonder why some people have horses. I love seeing mine several times a day. If it's such a chore, why bother having them?
 
I know of one horse now that is in the field for the summer and will just be checked on as and when the owner can be bothered. Why bother having them ?
 
When mine go out they still get checked once a day by me.
My old pony had sweet itch so she needed fly spray on often.
My mare now though is a serial self harmer, so when she eventually goes out, she'll be checked on twice a day between me and my friend.
 
Deltic Blue said:
When mine go out they still get checked once a day by me.
My old pony had sweet itch so she needed fly spray on often.
My mare now though is a serial self harmer, so when she eventually goes out, she'll be checked on twice a day between me and my friend.
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Mine was still seen by me, morning and evening. Yes, she needed medication, but I also sprayed her too, very liberally at both times of the day, checked her feet and a general watch to see she wasn't limping, bleeding etc. I can think of at least one person who would only look in once a week in the summer - relied on us muppets to do it for her and call her if there was a problem. I am so glad I don't have a horse any more and therefore no longer have to witness this sort of "care".
 
Just because you don’t see someone does not mean they are not coming. Unless you are watching the fields 24/7. Our yard is very big and fields well spread out. I have been accused of not going down to see mine on more than one occasion. The days and nights are drawing out and sometimes due to family commitments I am on the yard at 05.00am and as late as 20.00hrs and will at times go for a few weeks without seeing a sole. I am sure that YO would be in touch if anything should happen to the herd between visits. She knows my lifestyle and is more than happy. It is just one or two yard b”s that have to stir the pot. Have been known to catch and put back the odd loose horse for others letting YO know at a civilised hour what I have done. Sometimes not necessarily in the right field as I was not sure where it had come from so put in YO’s field.
 
I'm talking about people who will say in general conversation, thank god the horses are going out, I can't wait until I don't have to come up every day! So I know that they are not coming regularly and consider this normal!
 
Most horses actually need more attention in summer than in winter. Summer conditions can be quite harsh. Mine has to have restricted grazing, a sweet itch rug and more lotions and sprays than you can shake a stick at! As much as I love summer, winter is far easier as far as horse care is concerned
 
DW Team said:
Just because you don’t see someone does not mean they are not coming. Unless you are watching the fields 24/7. Our yard is very big and fields well spread out. I have been accused of not going down to see mine on more than one occasion. The days and nights are drawing out and sometimes due to family commitments I am on the yard at 05.00am and as late as 20.00hrs and will at times go for a few weeks without seeing a sole. I am sure that YO would be in touch if anything should happen to the herd between visits. She knows my lifestyle and is more than happy. It is just one or two yard b”s that have to stir the pot. Have been known to catch and put back the odd loose horse for others letting YO know at a civilised hour what I have done. Sometimes not necessarily in the right field as I was not sure where it had come from so put in YO’s field.
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I see far less on my neighbours on each side now we have the longer days as we come & go at differing times but all visit at least twice a day :)
 
BSL said:
Always makes me wonder why some people have horses. I love seeing mine several times a day. If it's such a chore, why bother having them?
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I agree. When I had a nasty accident on Bailey and ended up with a slipped disc my Dad had to go to the yard every evening (luckily it was assisted DIY and they fed and turned out for me in the morning). Dad ended up mucking him out for about 6 days. It nearly killed me not seeing him for so long- I wasn't even able to sit in the car as a passenger. When I could get in the car Dad took me up to the yard and I did little tasks until my back was better again.

I can't bear not seeing him and the only time I don't go up now is a prearranged site night out when I can give the YO plenty of notice to finish him for the evening and even when I am having such fun, I still think about him constantly and hate being away from him. I love giving him a cuddle every evening over the stable door.
 
When I was on a yard and I put an advert up on behalf of the ym for another grass livery, the majority of people who responded were very put out when told they would be expected to check their horses daily or pay someone to do it.
 
I get what the OP is saying. I never used to come across anyone who would say their field kept horse was checked less than twice a day. Now I come across people who openly say the horse gets checked once or twice a week.

Plenty of semi ferals on the New Forest are rarely checked individually but there tends to be a culture of letting an agister know if a pony is in difficulty. However with field kept horses there is an assumption that they are being checked regularly by the owner/keeper and even if the field has passers by they do not know who to contact when a pony seems to have problems.
 
criso said:
When I was on a yard and I put an advert up on behalf of the ym for another grass livery, the majority of people who responded were very put out when told they would be expected to check their horses daily or pay someone to do it.
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The yard we're at does grass livery for youngstock/retirees/injured horses, I believe that twice daily checks by the staff are included in the price to avoid this scenario!
 
smja said:
The yard we're at does grass livery for youngstock/retirees/injured horses, I believe that twice daily checks by the staff are included in the price to avoid this scenario!
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That was offered as an add on option, it was just a small yard but ym would do twice daily checks if required. It was £15 per week without so cheap enough that you couldn't expect full grass livery.

ETA there are places in the area that offer grass livery for that price but don't ask any questions or insist on checks so the horses don't get checked.
 
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I was taught that 'a field kept animal should be checked twice daily' and see no valid reason for not ensuring that this is done. >(
 
Don't understand it at all, I check mine twice a day whatever. Okay, when they are out and no issues (no fly rugs, sunscreen etc needed) sometimes one of those checks is just a "from the gate" glance to make sure they are there, have all four legs, and the water trough is cleanish, but for the other I want to see them trot at least to check for lameness and give them a check over.

Even the local farmers check their livestock (including horses) once a day. I've never known anyone openly admit to less than daily checks.
 
There seems to be the assumption that someone else will contact them if there is an issue - but what if someone doesn't notice?

Mind you does anyone remember the thread a few months ago querying how much weight of hay needs to be fed to see a horse through 24 hours so the owner only needed to visit once.
 
I always check mine twice a day even when out 24 hours a day. They are both old, 23 and 31, and I do think that as they get older, the potential for problems is greater.
 
DW Team raises a good point, I love my horses and make many sacrifices to keep them, but it's about balance so I do take advantage of the horses being out to spend more time with family and friends, and just chilling. Winter is a time of enormous pressure for me so I do look forward to having time and energy for other things. Sometimes I come down really early in the morning, ride etc all before 8am, and then I might not be back til 8pm.
 
In my experience where this is on a yard, the staff will keep an eye and let owners know but unless it's something dramatic that can be seen at a distance, problems won't necessarily get spotted.
 
I go to mine twice a day all year round, and wouldn't relax if I hadn't checked her .. they can still get into trouble but the yard owner lives on site so would alert me if she thought my horse wasn't right and I would go straight to the yard..
 
yes though the OP does say she is talking about those who specifically say they won't be seeing them every day, I too know people like that- and have asked people just to drive past and check they are ok if they go away on holiday..
 
Shadowdancing said:
Over the years I've heard a few people say how glad they are the horses are going out for the summer- cos this means they don't have to come up every day..?!
This has been a bit of shock to me as I was always taught that the horse needs checking each and every day, and I work with friends to check each others if they can't get up, but usually I've worked it so someone is there morning and someone is there evening to check horses.
I must admit I've not personally known of horses come to harm because the owner wasn't up daily when they were out- but it must happen surely...?
Is this getting more common or did it always happen and I just not notice..?!
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I'm looking forward to saying I'm glad my horse is out for the summer so I don't have to MUCK OUT every day but other than that I cant imagine not checking at least once a day but I know it will be twice. I don't know many yards that do 24/7 TO now and one of those yards don't for this very reason (Im sure not the only reason)

24/7 TO for me means no mucking out so more time to ride every day and/ or spend quality time with horse :)
 
I love it when they go out but to me that means not setting the alarm for stupid o'clock as I can be to the yard, poo-picked, watered, fly-sprayed, rugged/unrugged/masked and home again in about half an hour. My fieldmate does the same routine in the evenings so they are always seen twice - and usually I go back to ride or faff. However, we are on a yard where everyone looks out for all the horses. I noticed the mare in the field next to ours was lame this morning and was heading down to tell the YO only to meet her heading back up with her farrier OH and the hoof testers. Therefore, our horses basically get checked whenever anyone goes through the main gate.

I do feel like I get my life back in the summer but to me that means getting to spend "quality time" with the horses, rather than rushing around tending to their needs in the dark.
 
I have seen this a couple of times on our livery yard.
One horse went out on the first day we were allowed and his hooves never touched the yard again until the last day of allowed 24hr turnout. The owner was also very rarely seen and when they were it was peeking through the hedge at the bottom of the field. The horses feet got so badly in need of attention that it was quite lame and in the end the YM had to step in and insist the owner visit and get the farrier. I just dont understand why have a horse if it's just too much effort to bother to care for them in a correct and ethical manner.
 
smja said:
The yard we're at does grass livery for youngstock/retirees/injured horses, I believe that twice daily checks by the staff are included in the price to avoid this scenario!
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Yep mine too.

In summer I check once a day and in winter I go up once a day. I pay for mornings to be done all year round. Last year however, YO messaged me to say I didn't need to go up everyday as Horse was out with theirs who would be checked twice daily anyway.

And I went up 1-2 a week (knowing she was being checked obviously) and you know what? I am ashamed to say I needed the brake :)
 
I don't always go up twice a day. Strictly speaking, I go up once a day. And once very late at night... But that's pedantry ;)

I don't understand why a lot of folk have horses. Barely visit them, let alone meet basic welfare, or actually doing anything with them.
 
JFTD said:
I don't always go up twice a day. Strictly speaking, I go up once a day. And once very late at night... But that's pedantry ;)

I don't understand why a lot of folk have horses. Barely visit them, let alone meet basic welfare, or actually doing anything with them.
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I don't do anything with mine, but then very few people could ;)

Fine on the ground to an extent (Can stress), huge muscle tear in her hind quaters (Will never heal, vets are involved), stage 1 heart murmur, colitis prone and incredibly sharp to ride and bolts. If you so much as look over your shoulder too fast she bolts. Trot is not a nudge, its *thinking* about it and you are launched into it. I'm currently too fat to ride her, and I am not happy to let anyone else.

I don't see her everyday in summer, I pay for her to be checked. We are both happy and she loves being a lawnmower, so much more chilled out. Ridden work just seems to stress her hugely.

She's 15 btw, you don't have to "do something" with them to enjoy their company ;)
 
JFTD said:
I don't always go up twice a day. Strictly speaking, I go up once a day. And once very late at night... But that's pedantry ;)

I don't understand why a lot of folk have horses. Barely visit them, let alone meet basic welfare, or actually doing anything with them.
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The novelty wears off, that's why. They usually don't have much knowledge in the first place and aren't prepared to put the work in that learning takes. I was lucky to never have my horse go down with colic, but I made sure I knew the various symptoms and observed friends' afflicted equines, so that I could recognise it in my own horse should it ever happen. They invariably take the gadget route rather than long-term schooling, pick up on every fad going and believe every word they see in adverts. Come a hot summer they find they would rather be sunbathing or drinking in a beer garden somewhere, come the winter when it is so cold your boots freeze to the yard while you are filling water buckets, they find excuses to do the minimum. Seen it all before, and sadly, not just once. It would help if you couldn't pick up some poor animal for a couple of hundred pounds at the local market.
 
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