PANIC: LOST MY JOB! grass livery???? advice please!

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Marley&Me

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Hi All
I havent been on here for a while as things have been going so well. But I have now had it confirmed that I have lost my main contract (self employed) and I my income is going to half in the next couple of weeks. I will be down by £600 to £800 per month (and I only earn £1200). My biggest expense is horse. I am currently paying over £500 per month (all things added up). There is no way I can continue how we are. I might be able to find something else but who knows when and how soon. But I need to take drastic action with my horse bills to keep him.

So grass livery seems the only way right now.

I would have a field (mixed, shoeless herd of 4 in total) in a big field sparse grass, supplemented with hay in winter.

tack locker and all facilites included (2x schools, walker, lunge pen) No specific feed store so would need to work that out. Access to stable if ill.

However my boy is a fatty and barefoot. Currently on muzzled grazing in a HUGE LUSH knee high grass field. for 6 hours a day. In the sparse field I still would need to muzzle him for probably 12 hours in every 24 when grass is good.


I want to know how do others manage their working horses on grass livery?

When and how often do you visit?

What is your routine?

What, when, how much do you feed?

What do you do in winter? (dreading it already) Do you keep in work or "turn away"

What hidden expenses are there? What are your costs (a list would be fab!)

Do you shoe or go barefoot? How is this managed on grass 24/7

Thanks in advance for replies
 
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I can't really help horse advice wise BUT I would recommend going to your local temp' agency and get signed up for anything!

I did this during a rough patch and had a placement the day after I signed up, don't expect a long term career but it is something to tie you over!!!

V Xx
 
Your solution sounds perfectly nice and totally suitable for your horse! why do you sound so paniced? (Apart from the obvious loss of income)

The 'sparse' grazing will help with his tum no end and with the availability of a multitude of different weight rugs it is possible to keep him clean and dry (and thus easily exercisable) even without access to a stable to dry off etc and without over-rugging him.

Why do you need feed storage if he's a fattie? If it i a genuaine requiment, can you ask if you can put a garden shed somewhere?

With grass livery just feed as and when necessary (as you would if he were stabled) ideally removing him from the field or feeding all at the same time to avoid fights.

Do everything as you would if you had a stable somewhere... your only limitation would be with the weather... but then that can affect us all.

No need to worry!
 
Marley&Me said:
Hi All
I havent been on here for a while as things have been going so well. But I have now had it confirmed that I have lost my main contract (self employed) and I my income is going to half in the next couple of weeks. I will be down by £600 to £800 per month (and I only earn £1200). My biggest expense is horse. I am currently paying over £500 per month (all things added up). There is no way I can continue how we are. I might be able to find something else but who knows when and how soon. But I need to take drastic action with my horse bills to keep him.

So grass livery seems the only way right now.

I would have a field (mixed, shoeless herd of 4 in total) in a big field sparse grass, supplemented with hay in winter.

tack locker and all facilites included (2x schools, walker, lunge pen) No specific feed store so would need to work that out. Access to stable if ill.

However my boy is a fatty and barefoot. Currently on muzzled grazing in a HUGE LUSH knee high grass field. for 6 hours a day. In the sparse field I still would need to muzzle him for probably 12 hours in every 24 when grass is good.


I want to know how do others manage their working horses on grass livery?

When and how often do you visit?

What is your routine?

What, when, how much do you feed?

What do you do in winter? (dreading it already) Do you keep in work or "turn away"

What hidden expenses are there? What are your costs (a list would be fab!)

Do you shoe or go barefoot? How is this managed on grass 24/7

Thanks in advance for replies
Click to expand...

Oh no!! But don't panic - grass livery isn't the end of the world and you sound very sensible about making a choice that means you can keep your horse. The yard where the grass livery is sounds fab. When I wa son grass livery we had just a field. Not even water to begin with. No school (but used a fenced off corner of field).

My horses live out now but can come in in winter but we did do a winter on grass livery so I'll base my answers on that..

When and how often do you visit?
I sued to go up every evening. Other people would keep an eye on him during the day and let me know if any problems.


What is your routine?
I found that having a routine was important - I'd bring him "in" (tie up area?) for a groom everyday or just to have a few mouthfuls of hay and his feet picked out.

What, when, how much do you feed?
I fed once a day, whatever he needed bearing in mind no overnight hay so more fibre in the winter. But we had good grass even in the winter so I could get away easily with one meal a day.

What do you do in winter? (dreading it already) Do you keep in work or "turn away"
Kept in work as much as I could (only limited by daylight hours and not wanting to get him too sweaty - but a clipped horse can live out if rugged properly and not too nesh).

What hidden expenses are there? What are your costs (a list would be fab!)
I don't know if there were any - more rugs needed so they could be swapped over if they got drenched.

Do you shoe or go barefoot? How is this managed on grass 24/7[/COLOR]
No differently to if your horse was stabled overnight. Depends on the horse.

One bit of advice would be not to rug too early in the year if you want your horse to grow a good coat. And get a headtorch.
 
I want to know how do others manage their working horses on grass livery?

When and how often do you visit?
I go down twice a day as if stabled...morning and evening.
What is your routine?
Same as a stabled horse minus the mucking out, just pooh pick twice a day instead.What, when, how much do you feed?
feed twice a day, hard feed is the same as stables just don't need to feed hay at night as they have the grass.
What do you do in winter? (dreading it already) Do you keep in work or "turn away"
Keep in work again, same as stabled they can still be clipped etc...you rug up in stable so you just rug up in field, usually need less rugs out as they are able to move around more to generate heat. What hidden expenses are there? What are your costs (a list would be fab!)
No hidden costs really cheaper all round.
Do you shoe or go barefoot? How is this managed on grass 24/7
Some shod some bare foot, again nothing changes, they are shod every six weeks and barefoot lot are trimmed every twelve weeks or six in the summer.



Really don't panic, it's the same as if you had them stabled as regards to management, you have more poohpicking but no mucking out.

You give hay in the winter as you would if stabled, it's just put in the field instead.
 
I want to know how do others manage their working horses on grass livery?

When and how often do you visit?

Twice per day, once in the morning to poo pick, do waters, bit with youngster etc and later on around 530pm to check them over

What is your routine?
as above :)

What, when, how much do you feed?

Strip grazing them as so much grass, no hard feed - very good doers

What do you do in winter? (dreading it already) Do you keep in work or "turn away"
First winter that we will be doing light work so i suppose when the weather is good, or i can use the local all weather menage if too boggy

What hidden expenses are there? What are your costs (a list would be fab!)

None really, apart from field maintenance say once per year, usual wormers/feet etc

Do you shoe or go barefoot? How is this managed on grass 24/7

Hoping she will stay barefoot, just recently backed so time will tell

Thanks in advance for replies[/QUOTE]
 
apart from the lack of money you will be in a very nice situation, fatties dont need feeding, apart from vit and min. I work full time and do 24 hrs on cll for week at a time, mine is on grass livery a 16.2 warmblood tb 4 yr old who i have broken myself. We have hacking on village roads and a grass area we ride in and stables for really bad weather if we share thats it. lives out all time from end feb to nov. i ride 4 times week and lunge once week in summer and do shows etc. in winter i get up early at weekends and ride whatever the weather on the roads shcooling as we hack we then either finihs early 1-2 days during week or i get up early and ride during week too or lunge. muck out put out etc. in summer i go up on way to work at 7am and i get in at 4-5 and go up then and sort out. feed after i ride, she is also barefoot and i just keep an eye on feet and amount of roadwork we do or ride on verges etc. she is fine, yours will be fine. mine is on one feed a day has a lick for vits etc and hay in evening if reqd, apart from that rain, snow, sun she is put out with or without rugs if needed and gets on with life.
 
Thanks all for tips and advice. Not sure why I am panicking. Though I have never done grass livery before so I am really just getting my head around it.

I am starting to wonder why I didnt do it ages ago now! I am waiting for approval from Yard Manager about moving to Grass Livery....fingers crossed (she knows I have lots my job) it is approved by the owners

My horse does get gassy on lush grazing and a while back was mildly colicky as a result of a few days out 24/7 on knee high grass and no muzzle....not surprising I suppose!

I am worried that the same might happen....that said the grazing in the grass livery field is much less rich and less of it. Also I will use the muzzle as and when needed. I hope this works.

I have been feeding speedibeet and supps (cal mag, yea-sacc, charcoal, pink powder and micro linseed) as a way of trying to keep foot sensitivity down as he is barefoot. I also think the speediBeet helps with the gassy tummy. So I will want to keep this up with the supps once a day maybe.

I will be able to go up mornings 9-11.30am to do all the main jobs and exercise. Then in the eves just to check on him (will aim for daylight hours) but invest in a head torch too!

He was living out when I bought him in January, so he should be fine. He was neck and belly clipped at the time and rugged. This seemed to suit him fine. Maybe to more rustic lifestyle will help keep his tummy in check!

I really appreciate the advice. With any luck I will be able to reduce my costs to about £100 per month....much more manageable!
 
my horse is on DIY livery but for the past few years has lived out 24/7 all year round as we are lucky to be able to where I keep her. we have a school for use as required tack + feed rooms

When and how often do you visit?

I visit once a day as a friend checks them in the morning + I do the evenings howwever there are times when we are both up at the same time to suit what what we are doing

What is your routine?

I try + ride 5 days a week then on the horses days off I poo pick (completely) but I am in single horse paddocks so am able to do this

What, when, how much do you feed?

horse (good doer) gets a handful to scoop of hifi lite depending on the time of year + weather with soaked mash (similiar to sugar beet but only fibre suitable for all types) and general purpose supplement. In the summer they only get hifi and a general purpose supplement as they dont require any more.

over the winter hay is fed adlib during snow and when grass is very sparce

What do you do in winter? (dreading it already) Do you keep in work or "turn away"

My horse lives out clipped and in full work over the winter in all weathers, I dont know if your horse was on DIY originally but I'd rather ride for half an hour than muck out a stable!

I dont fuss with mud just so long as its not where the tack is. Its a case of comprimise to fit in with your lifestyle and commitments - you may decide to rough them off from until after xmas then bring them back into work or keep them ticking over which is what I do but also depends on your horse mine gets bored + depressed if it isn't in some form of work !! :)

other things to consider are things like mud fever etc we dont wash the legs off as we find they are more open to it we do however trim the feathers slightly so they aren't dragging through the mud but give adequate protection - this also helps in the snow when they freeze together!!

What hidden expenses are there? What are your costs (a list would be fab!)

I think its initial costs to start with such as I purchased two rain sheets + 2 medium turnout rugs so that I had something to change if the weather was horrid but I sold some of heavier stable rugs to help fund this + looked out for bargains on the internet !!

Do you shoe or go barefoot? How is this managed on grass 24/7

mine is fully shod all year round
 
I want to know how do others manage their working horses on grass livery?

When and how often do you visit?

One a day after work on weekdays and at weekends/holidays once a day at whatever time suit me

What is your routine?

Weekdays; Go down to the field take pony out check and feed him, do a head count to make sure everyone is ok and then did ragwort up.

Weekends/holidays: Bring him up to the yard and ride, I have a very good holiday allocation (31 days plus bank holidays) at work and often take half days to ride.

What, when, how much do you feed?

Once a day - one handful of good doer chaff, one handful of slim & healthy mix and his supplements

What do you do in winter? (dreading it already) Do you keep in work or "turn away"

Chaser clipped and well rugged. Invest in a good torch. Hay is feed in the field if there is snow. YO organises this. In full work (though less competiting) but normally has 2 weeks off due to it being too snowy/icey to ride.

What hidden expenses are there? What are your costs (a list would be fab!)

Grass livery - includes own stable for storage/bringing in you want. £135 a month
Shoes/trimming £45 every 5 weeks - front shoes only
Hay £5 a month in summer - £30 in winter
Feed 2 bags good doer chaff a year 2 bags slim and health mix a year
Rug: I have invested in very good outdoor rugs (Rambo) and have spares too in case they get damaged- no need for stable rugs. But most of the other horses live out unrugged but they are not clipped.

Do you shoe or go barefoot? How is this managed on grass 24/7

Half and half - shod on fronts only every 5 weeks - don't think it is any different to a living in horse!

Thanks in advance for replies[/QUOTE]
 
Marley&Me said:
When and how often do you visit?
What is your routine?
What, when, how much do you feed?
What do you do in winter? (dreading it already) Do you keep in work or "turn away"
What hidden expenses are there? What are your costs (a list would be fab!)
Do you shoe or go barefoot? How is this managed on grass 24/7[/COLOR]

Thanks in advance for replies
Click to expand...

Ok I have always kept mine at grass livery. Not a fan of stabling other than health reasons.
I visit once a day, because I am lucky in that YO lives on-site and has his own horses so does all the hay twice a day in winter.

Feed varies. For my little laminitic it's restricted grazing plus Happy Hoof and some hay in summer, out at grass plus hay in winter.

Big ones have grass plus hard feed (varies) in summer; grass/haylege/hard feed in winter. I find unmolassed sugar beet is always a good base as hard feed, plus whatever mix/nuts. Keeps weight on and provides energy but is cost-effective. I've so far only ever needed to give one hard feed a day as there is plenty of grazing and ad-lib hay or haylege, and in winter I dont have time to ride every day.

YO reckons a big round bale of haylege will be £35 this winter.

Winter means not so much riding except weekends and school holidays, but that's fine with me. Keeping them rugged means you can just brush over and tack up. I do find replacement rugs are a regular cost no matter what the brand, but you can pick up decent own-label quilted jobs from places like Robinsons and Derby House at bargain prices.

Ridden horses are shod, otherwise barefoot so farrier just trims. £20 a trim, £60 a set of shoes.

I pay £10 a week per horse grass livery, plus haylege (although the £10 covers all hay for the shetland). As I said earlier, YO puts out the hay so that's one job less for me! There are a couple of stables available if needed, and YO has never charged me any more for using them. Most of the fields have shelters.

We're moving house in July and OH is sounding out a local farmer so *fingers crossed* I might be rent the adjacent field and bring them home - can't wait. I just hope he agrees and if so, doesn't charge the earth!
 
I really feel for you. Hope you manage to get more contracts - self emplyed is a worry.

I want to know how do others manage their working horses on grass livery?

When and how often do you visit?
I go once a day as there are other people about and so we check each others horses when we go. So they're still checked at least twice a day.

What is your routine?
I go up in PM, poo-pick, ride and then turn out.
What, when, how much do you feed?
I feed nothing. In winter - they get a salt-lick. The TB on the yard is the same and keeps weight nicely on: leisure mix, chaff and sugar beet. Twice a day and a scoop of each.

What do you do in winter? (dreading it already) Do you keep in work or "turn away"
I keep in work and the past 2 years are the oly times my horses have needed to be turned away due to weather. 6 weeks at most off work.

What hidden expenses are there? What are your costs (a list would be fab!)
Only hidden expenses are if I need to hire yard to look after them because I can't get there (a couple of times a year max). Things like: £3 a day poopicking, £0.75 per feed. Not a hidden cost as such.

Do you shoe or go barefoot? How is this managed on grass 24/7
One is shod and one is barefoot. I have 2 paddocks for rotation plus a winter paddock and don't find any difference between them to be honest.

I pay £12 per week per horse and this incudes: tie up area, storage for my winter hay, secured tackroom, paddocks, fencing is maintained by yard, muckheap removal and a grassy area for schooling plus there are jumps I can use.

There are stables for use so I can have one £12 per night for emergencies or pay £25 for all of above plus a stable.
 
When and how often do you visit?
Twice a day - morning at around 6.30 - 7.30 and evening 5.30 - till whenever really.

What is your routine?
In the morning I come in and poo pick her whole field and check for anything that shouldn't be there as I keep finding squashed dead rabbits in her field!! Bring her in (tie her up outside) give her a good check over, full groom, pick feet. Moisturise her tail and mane (she has a bit of dry skin bless her) Spray her with the best fly repellent ever - Avon skin so soft. Put on her fly rug if I know its not going to rain or just her veil and ear protectors. Sun tan lotion on (if needed) Then a carrot for being a good girl. Put her back. Change her water to fresh.
Evening I do the exact same thing....



What, when, how much do you feed?
Had the nutristionist out and she said for her to only have grazing and half a scoop morn and eve of Alan an Pages 'Fast Fibre' as she has previously suffered with being over weight. And Fast Fibre is perfect for giving horses that are constantly turned out as it gives all the vitamin and minerals without the stuff that will make her fat.


What do you do in winter? (dreading it already) Do you keep in work or "turn away"
Keep her shaved, fully rugged with neck piece. Ride her when weather allows. Everything else stays the same except we have hay bales put in the field every day.


What hidden expenses are there? What are your costs (a list would be fab!)
No hidden costs - cheaper!!

Do you shoe or go barefoot? How is this managed on grass 24/7
Barefoot unless heavy hard work on roads etc.


Hope this helps and enjoy grass livery!!!! :D
 
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I want to know how do others manage their working horses on grass livery?

As i dont have an arena i can only ride on weekends, but with an arena i :
Half clip, Keep well rugged and change rugs regularly to stop them getting dusty and let them dry out.

When and how often do you visit?

Every night

What is your routine?

in winter if they need it they have hay twice a day so the girl who owned the other in his field would feed on a morning, i do it on a night. On a night i go up and groom well, ride and feed.


What, when, how much do you feed?

Haylege twice a day in winter, and pony nuts on a night!

What do you do in winter? (dreading it already) Do you keep in work or "turn away"

Keep in work, if theres an arena with floodlights full work, if not light work.

What hidden expenses are there? What are your costs (a list would be fab!)

Livery- £44 pm
Hay (winter) - £15 pm(?)
Feed - Very little, about £5pm
And others like shoes etc. But would reccomend having good quality rugs like rambo or amigo.

Do you shoe or go barefoot? How is this managed on grass 24/7
Depends on the horse, if they need it they are shod, if not they arent!
 
When and how often do you visit?
Twice a day

What is your routine?
have 3 so 2 get breakfast, riding horse gets light snack, work horse, give breakfast, make up feeds for night, go to work - evening feed, poo pick, groom etc

What, when, how much do you feed?
Twice a day, chaff and pony nuts with sugar beet. Grass nuts after Christmas for the slim one. Try to manage grass so don't need to hay until Christmas. Last year was different as foot of snow in December :( Start to prepare for onslaught of spring grass in January (the good doers that is!)

What do you do in winter? (dreading it already) Do you keep in work or "turn away"
I clip early so they have a reasonable regrowth for January and don't clip any more than necessary.
Keep going to New Year, have found best to turn away during January as that is when most riding days are lost due to frozen ground or peeing down with rain & don't want to get their backs wet. Don't think it is fair to get them absolutely soaked through riding when they haven't got the benefit of a stable to dry off in. Generally keep close eye on weather and plan days off for horse round weather.

What hidden expenses are there? What are your costs (a list would be fab!)
I invest in really good, breathable rugs and have spares.
Get yourself a really good torch and spare.
Lots of warm clothes
Boots that don't slip in the ice
A car and/or winter tyres than can get you out and about in all weathers
Make friends with other person in field so you can share chores.
Have containers to hand to store water when pipes are frozen.
I actually think it is just as much work to look after a grass kept horse in winter than a stabled one.
You will become an expert on the weather. People will start asking you for weather forecasts because you ALWAYS know the weather for the next 24 hours!

Do you shoe or go barefoot? How is this managed on grass 24/7
All unshod (one was previously shod).
 
Mine's not actual grass livery but as my stables are barely every used I think it almost counts!

Marley&Me said:
I want to know how do others manage their working horses on grass livery?

When and how often do you visit?
Every evening in week, most of the day at weekends.

What is your routine?
Weekdays - Check over pony, put grazing muzzle on/off, bring in ridden horse and groom, ride 3/4 nights, feed horse only, turn out, lock up and go home.
Weekends - Pony bought in, groomed and possibly worked (depending on what sharer has done with him in week), generally given some time/fuss and attention.
Horse ridden, groomed, fussed over etc.

What, when, how much do you feed?
Pony at grass, small feed of Alfa-A & carrots when worked (2/3 times a week)
Horse one large scoop Alfa-A, one small but heaped scoop conditioning mix (Changing to A&P R&R on next bag) and carrots.

What do you do in winter? (dreading it already) Do you keep in work or "turn away"
Keep in work as much as possible, depending on working hours mainly. Will definitely be worked at weekends and where daylight allows in the week.

What hidden expenses are there? What are your costs (a list would be fab!)
I pay £26 p/w for the both of them for livery. Hay is an additional when needed (I refuse to feed it as soon as I see grass appearing), and bedding if I do bring in in winter. Then the obv. farrier, insurance, feed, wormers etc.

Do you shoe or go barefoot? How is this managed on grass 24/7Pony barefoot
Horse has fronts
Click to expand...
 
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Sorry to hear about your job. I am a student so quite good at keeping a horse on a budget!

I have a cob who lives out, he is in a small bare paddock with one other horse. I keep his feed in a locked box I bought from B&Q for about £20, under a tarpaulin along with the haylege and chaff.

I go up in the mornings, the girl I share with goes up in the evenings.

I get there, give feeds (only give him a handful of chaff before I ride then proper feed after), then groom and ride, then give hay and poo-pick. He is muzzled during the day and I put on sun cream and his fly rug and mask unless it's going to rain. If he's just been clipped he gets a l/w rug on at night and if it's going to rain. The girl I share with gives hayege and feed, and poo-picks again in the evening.

He gets a cup of baileys lo-cal and a large handful of hi-fi lite twice a day. Also 1/2 a slice of haylege (the horsehage that's suitable for good do-ers) twice a day.

Same in winter, except fed hay in the field. Last winter I kept him hairy so didn't need to rug, even in the snow. When he's clipped out he has quite a few different rugs so I can change them round when they get wet.

Costs are - field rent, feed, haylege and hay, worming, farrier, vet. Pretty similar to when he was stabled overnight really except much less on hay and no bedding. He normally has front shoes on but last winter had them taken off as I wasn't doing any roadwork, will be getting them put back on soon as have just moved him to a place where I have to do lots of roads.

Hope that helps - I love keeping them out for what it's worth, much easier and my horse prefers it.
 
I want to know how do others manage their working horses on grass livery?

When and how often do you visit?

first thing in the morning i pop in quickly to check them, feed them, move small pony into his strip of fatty paddock ( actually my friend who rents the paddock next door usually puts him in for me around 7am unless she is off work) check waters, rug/un rug as necessary, apply fly spray etc.
In the evening (well 4.30 ish when i finish work) i poo pick, ride, let little pony out into main field change water for fresh, and rug if needed. I have also been ragworting in the evenings!

What is your routine?

As above! i tie to the gate on one of those equitie things which are quick release, we have got a shelter with tying rings in our other field but that is being rested for winter.

What, when, how much do you feed?

At the moment little pony just has a handful of healthy hooves with his breathing supplement in, and my horse (oldenburg x selle francais) has 1kg of winergy balancer. They are currently fed once a day as their weights are both great but if my mare drops off she will be fed twice and certainly in winter they will get fed twice daily, with my mare being fed a third feed at lunch time if need be...not had her through a winter yet she came at the end of feb but was quite ribby then. They will get hay/haylege in winter twice a day as needed, depends how the grass is and how their weights are. I check them both with a weight tape most days to keep and eye, its hard having a skinny and a fatty living together!!

What do you do in winter? (dreading it already) Do you keep in work or "turn away" keep in work but to be honest just hacking at weekend during mid winter as we have no lights for schooling and i work 5 days a week.

What hidden expenses are there? What are your costs (a list would be fab!)

as normal -worming, shoeing, hay, feed thats it really! same as if they lived in but less hay and no bedding costs except the odd bale of straw in the shelter in winter to top it up.

Do you shoe or go barefoot? How is this managed on grass 24/7
both are shod fronts only-neither have great feet and we hack on roads/flinty bridle ways so wont try barefoot.

mine are both happy as anything living out.
 
Just thought I would resurect this thread and update you all.

Thanks so much for everyone who contributed and reassured me when I was in full panic back in June.

My boy has now been on grass livery for over 2 months and it is the best thing ever! He is happier and I am happier. He costs my 1x fifth what he used to and the best news is, I am now not going to actively look for more work. The savings I have made on horsey costs and in other areas means I can survive a bit longer without more hours at work.

I find the time I spend with him is quality time rather than rushing about mucking out making feed and nets. Now almost all the time I am up the stables I am hands on with him.

He is more relaxed and I dont feel guilty if I dont ride.

I know the winter will be muddy, and icy. SO I am planning ahead and he will be turned away for the months of December, January and the beginning of February. I hate the cold and wet and so I am going to let him grow a big wooly coat and leave him "au naturel" for a couple of months.

I have already started preparing him with pig oiling his feathers which I am letting grow for protection.

Thanks Again!
 
So glad things are working out for you.
Also glad about the woolly coat.
Both mine live out without rugs. There is plenty of shelter for them and ad lib hay and their coats are imo far more reliable than rugs....cheaper too;)

And I still ride(unshod) when weather and light permits throughout the winter months....I may not look very smart,but that does not bother me.
 
Marley&Me said:
Just thought I would resurect this thread and update you all.

Thanks so much for everyone who contributed and reassured me when I was in full panic back in June.

My boy has now been on grass livery for over 2 months and it is the best thing ever! He is happier and I am happier. He costs my 1x fifth what he used to and the best news is, I am now not going to actively look for more work. The savings I have made on horsey costs and in other areas means I can survive a bit longer without more hours at work.

I find the time I spend with him is quality time rather than rushing about mucking out making feed and nets. Now almost all the time I am up the stables I am hands on with him.

He is more relaxed and I dont feel guilty if I dont ride.

I know the winter will be muddy, and icy. SO I am planning ahead and he will be turned away for the months of December, January and the beginning of February. I hate the cold and wet and so I am going to let him grow a big wooly coat and leave him "au naturel" for a couple of months.

I have already started preparing him with pig oiling his feathers which I am letting grow for protection.

Thanks Again!
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Just read this update. FANTASTIC.
 
It's so nice to read a positive end to a post - delighted it's work out for you both.

See how the winter goes, a friend of mine has her 3 living out all year and even the whimpy TB works throughout (weather permitting).Sure yours will enjoy the time off regardless though - I know mine would!
Send us another update over winter. I'd love to see how you're getting on.
 
Mine lives out fully clips and hunts all winter then has summer off! Except this winter she's roughed off whilst I'm still broken. We have no school lights either and I work full time, but it is doable!
 
ONLY JUST REALISED THIS WAS AN UPDATE! silly me!!!

My horse has been on grass livery since I bought her a year and a half ago. She is, or at least was in full work until a few weeks ago.

I visit every day, normally twice but sometimes just the once. She's on a routine as similar to a stabled horse as possible really. I check her in the morn, change rugs/re-fit anything that's needed really. Fly mask/spray in summer etc and also cornucresine. Then go up in the evening also, this used to be after college. Would bring her onto yard, full groom, tack up, ride. do whatever else needed doing. do off, re-rug, feed, turnout.

She's a VERY sharp quirky mare so feed as little as possible. Grazing is restricted in summer although this summer she's broken every fence post i've bough so has not been too successful! She gets fed a scoop of alfa-a oil and a handful of high fibre cubes, just so she can have her RelaxMe, Garlic and Biotin. In winter I up the feed and she also gets ad-lib hay. Slice in morn and two for overnight.

In winter she stays in full work, we're very lucky to have and indoor school, so no time off. She's fully clipped, legs etc. Then is also VVV well rugged up. Last year in the snow I think she had 3HWs on at one stage. Obv in snow and ice, breaking trough and extra hay is a must! My mare gets rather a lot of hay anyway but she's Hanovarian x KWPN not exactly what i'd call designed to be living out!!! She's also shod allround.

My livery is cheap at only £50 and then get ad-lib hay for £18 so monthly bill is £68 all year despite not needing hay in summer.
Shoes every six weeks at £78.
Alfa-A and hi fibre cubes, totalled all year, not a clue! but guessing around £10 a month as she has a minimal amount. The relaxme etc works out to about £25 a month.

Rugs, I have only one heavyweight combo which goes over the top of other rugs. The turnout was cheap from robinsons and then I have Horseware stable rugs with good lining underneath to try and prevent rubbing of the mane! If top rug gets wet i swap it for a MW during the day when it's marginally warmer and let the other dry out.

don't think there's anything else?
 
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