Pony Club Camp Stabling

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FunkyFilly28

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Hi all, I went today to help setup jumps and dressage arenas today before camp starts on Wednesday. Tomorrow we are to assemble tents and prepare the stables before the horses arrive in the evening. The temporary stables (the sort of wooden/canvas ones) had the labels on already so I went to investigate where my horse would be. Once there I was quite shocked by the suze of it. Now I realise that the stables are never going to be that big but I don't see how my horse is going to be reasonably comfortable for the next five nights.

There are slightly bigger stables that are also temporary that I'm sure my horse was stables in last year. Also, there are large normal brick stables but these have been give to those whose parents are the secretary or ride leaders etc.

I found the DC and explained that I thought the stable would be a bit too small for my horse and would it be possible to swap with someone or find another stable (my horse is 15.3hh and the majority of others are ponies with a couple of small horses). She said that they were the standard size and that's what you would get at a competition. Also that they'd had that size last year and there had been no bigger stables.

I'm pretty certain that he was in a bigger one last year as I could fit two water buckets to the right of the door and this one will only fit one. We are also expected to muck out with the horse in the stable and I'm concerned he or I may get injured in doing so.

Do you think I'm being unreasonable? Or can you suggest any ways to make the week more comfortable and safe for us? Thanks in advance and sorry for the long post!
 
I would wait and see when he is in it. Then, if it really is too small, point it out to an instructor. They won't put a horse in danger. I think that they often look too small because they are quite low.. If you're worrying about mucking out, perhaps use rubber gloves and a skip rather than a barrow and metal tools...
 
Have a look at the size stables used at HOYS / Olympia......bet there not any bigger! Am sure horse will be fine. My older mare is over 17.0hh and when she was away competing lived in some very small stables depite being in a 16' by 14' at home. Have fun!
 
legend22 said:
Have a look at the size stables used at HOYS / Olympia......bet there not any bigger! Am sure horse will be fine. My older mare is over 17.0hh and when she was away competing lived in some very small stables depite being in a 16' by 14' at home. Have fun!
Click to expand...

Ditto this! :)
 
Horses manage fine in these stables only for five nights as they are ridden so much, not ideal but alright. Make sure you can hand graze if you have the afternoon off some pony clubs I think do this every evening. I would always use a skip for these stables or create a muck pile and then you can quickly transfer the poo into wheelbarrow rather than having it crowding the stable while you muck out.
And also make your bed all the way to the front of the stable so he has maximum room to lie down.
And I have descovered it seems with pony club once you have a horse over 17hh they put you in p**s take stables that are actually massive sort of three stables size or massive corner stables and take forever to muck out. (can hear horse chuckling as you put him in.)
Have a good time they will move him if he is struggle they have alot of experience between them and are all concerned with your horses best interests
 
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