Poo crisis on DIY yard

Spring Feather said:
I do have to wonder if it would really have to be a non-horse person, or a horse person who doesn't care, who could put up with make-do fixes and with no proper care for the land. Regardless of what your horse needs, the land needs to be properly tended too otherwise it will end up seriously lacking in nutrients.
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Of course, this would be ideal. But what if you work shifts, have a short break to put your horse away at night and find some fencing broken? Surely putting up something temporary that is safe (by bodging i didnt mean putting up fencing that is useless, just less gppd quality than the original) until you can get up the next day/get supplies to fix it properly, is better than doing nothing or keeping the horse in until then?
 
Spring Feather said:
OK so it's not truly DIY as in you do everything yourself. I think that might have been what Amymay was alluding to that there are other people (including the owners of the land) who do a lot for you to keep the field and stables up and running. This may sound strange to some but this is why I couldn't do this sort of thing on my farm as bodge jobs don't slide with me. My farm is stunning and my fencing and stables, field shelters are kept in tip top condition and I wouldn't have anything less. I do have to wonder if it would really have to be a non-horse person, or a horse person who doesn't care, who could put up with make-do fixes and with no proper care for the land. Regardless of what your horse needs, the land needs to be properly tended too otherwise it will end up seriously lacking in nutrients.

There are land owners and some of them are just that, then there are land owners who really view themselves as land caretakers; I'm the latter.
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Lol - no we do most things ourselves and have lots of independence, but we're pampered and spoiled by the Land Owners vast knowledge and gentle kindness - we are part of the wider farm with about 500 acres of hacking too, so we're REALLY lucky:)
 
Ah so you guys are in different type situations it sounds like. Muckypony yours sounds more like a field rental type of set up? Achinghips yours sounds like you struck it lucky :) How does the price of what you two have compare to actual DIY livery locally then?
 
Thanks SF, we all love our Yard - and our Land Owner, he is so kind! I pay £100 per month, but save a fortune on hay as we have about 6 acres per horse of fantastic grazing and we also have an additional 60 acre field with 3 menages we have set out for ourselves for our lessons - we buy in our own instructors
 
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Spring Feather said:
Ah so you guys are in different type situations it sounds like. Muckypony yours sounds more like a field rental type of set up? Achinghips yours sounds like you struck it lucky :) How does the price of what you two have compare to actual DIY livery locally then?
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Yes, field with stables tack room etc on someones land behind their house (minus the hacking I think I struck lucky too :p )
Mine is considerably cheaper. But for this I sacrifice a menage and other advantages such as land maintenance, but it isn't something that bothers me much :)
 
Wagtail said:
Is there a backlog of poo to clear? As 3 barrows a day is a bit much. Horses out 24/7 average a total of 12 poos each which is around a barrow full. If you are just saying 3 barrows a day until it is cleared, then fair enough, but once on top of it, then one barrow a day is fair. I am a yard owner but don't do DIY except for one person who does all their own mucking out. If they did not do it, then I would remind them politely, and if they still didn't do it, then I would clear it myself and bill them £3 a barrow. If you cannot do that, then I would give them a warning that failure to do their alloted poo picking would result in being asked to leave the yard.
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I was thinking this too
 
amymay said:
6 horses must be on at least 7 or 8 acres - I wouldn't be poo picking that I'm afraid.
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amymay said:
The reason why poo picking is needed is because quite simply the horses aren't enough land.

Well, as the YO your rules apply. So you can insist or kick off if they don't do it.

Or buy yourself a poo vacume........
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I have to agree with this sentiment. you would not get me poo picking that large an area... if you insist on poo picking, separate the horses in to their respective and easier to manage areas, or rotate and chain harrow or get a vaccum
 
Achinghips said:
Thanks SF, we all love our Yard! I pay £100 per month, but save a fortune on hay as we have about 6 acres per horse of fantastic grazing and we also have an additional 60 acre field with 3 menages we have set out for ourselves for our lessons - we buy in our own instructors
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I think I need to add "very" to your luck lol! :D Sounds like you're really happy there.

muckypony said:
Yes, field with stables tack room etc on someones land behind their house (minus the hacking I think I struck lucky too :p )
Mine is considerably cheaper. But for this I sacrifice a menage and other advantages such as land maintenance, but it isn't something that bothers me much :)
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It sounds like it works out really well for you :)

Gosh we did veer off topic a little! Sorry OP :o
 
muckypony said:
Lol was just thinking this! Sorry OP :p its interesting to see what others out there do on different types of livery though!
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Yes sorry OP - for me it boils down to not taking advantage of the YO, given the kindness we all get shown, we don't mind keeping the place clean and tidy, and that includes pooh picking our own patches
 
Muckypony please protect yourself and have a proper contract drawn up. Verbal is simply not enough.

You need to know about building insurance, land insurance, liabilities and who is responsible for things like poundry fencing (usually land owner). As well as maintenance of land and what is expected of you as a tenant.
 
amymay said:
Muckypony please protect yourself and have a proper contract drawn up. Verbal is simply not enough.

You need to know about building insurance, land insurance, liabilities and who is responsible for things like poundry fencing (usually land owner). As well as maintenance of land and what is expected of you as a tenant.
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I'm more than happy with what I have, but thank you for your concern :)
 
I have 2 acres which I keep 3 ponies/horses. Most of the time I poo pick every 2 or 3 days, if the weather is really wet as we are on clay it gets left and I do not get any off the really poached bits.
In spring the field is divided, all the poo cleared from one section, harrowed, reseeded and sprayed when that is done the other section is done. My ponies are wormed auterm,spring and midsummer and I have never had a high worm count.
I think the obession with poo picking has got out of proportion, I have seen someone do it in the dark with a head torch. You have to let the insects and beetles have something to live on.
 
mcnaughty said:
What is the obsession with "pretty fields"? Really not sure what bearing this has on good field management.
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Ermmm pretty fields as you call it is GOOD FIELD MANAGEMENT.

It means we care :
  1. how it looks
  2. keep it worm free
  3. good chance to find ragwort while poo picking
  4. less flies
  5. less sour grass
  6. good time to find rubbish thrown in field
  7. better grass
  8. good exercise
  9. find missing horse shoes
anyone else add to the list??
 
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There's a difference between a bunch of friends getting together and renting a yard to keep their horses on a DIY basis, and DIY livery. I prefer to keep my horses at DIY livery, so I don't have to worry about land management or yard maintenance.
 
Princess P said:
OMG I can't actually believe how many horse owners object to poo picking or don't see it as part of essential horse care!

Shocked!!!
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I secretly like doing it. Especially Ned's pen. I get to spend time with him, give him random cuddles and chat to him. It's also a good work out!

Between us, we often get 5+ barrows a day. YO sometimes does it alone, which I admire.
 
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