pros and cons of livery over winter .v. long

[debsflo]

have to bring a horse back into work after 6 weeks off. normally kept at home with no facilities which when already fit is not a problem as we hire a school or compete most weeks . horse is highly strung at the best of times so next few weeks will be interesting and have booked an arena for first time on . my dilemma is whether to put horse on livery for the next few months or permanantly but the drawbacks are that she has taken over a year to really settle with us and this may solve the problem of regular work in that we will have a school to use daily even in bad weather but possibly create her original anxiety re change . i suspect she wont like comings and goings of a yard either. i have 2 other horses,one on restricted turnout recovering from tendon injury and a minature both who would stay at home. turnout is a trash paddock at the moment and i am probably just feeling fed up re weather etc but dont know what would be best all round . should i just grit my teeth and get on with it for the next few weeks until it gets easier. we have stables and all 3 go out every day and in at night and are in a good routine but i hate this time of year completely. very jealous as my neighbours horse is the total opposite she got on after even longer off riding and plodded up the road. any ideas on best plan.

 

[Dancing Queen]

i would keep her at home rather than out a livery. It seems a shame to move her and as you said yourself you dont think she would like it. I tend to give mine the winter off to relax and have a long xmas holiday - i dont tend to bring mine back into work until end of feb/start of mar time, and mine are highly strung, but i figure they deserve a good rest and a holiday. xx

 

[mhorses]

keep her at home and do lots of road work. 5 or 6 days a week. I have no sand arena
I have competed to a reasonable level, 1m10 eventing by only hiring a school or competing once a week.
Cant beat having the horse beside you

 

[debsflo]

she has been a star up to now being out of work but is getting bored and pratting about. also restarting pony club rallies and training mid feb so need to get going now really. i am worried about unsettling her as she is so sensitive and has been moved around a lot .before we got her nearly 2 years ago she had only been with people a year at most (maybe because of her being high maintenance)she is my daughters horse but i think if she was mine i wouldnt restart yet.

 

[sueeltringham]

If she is unsettled by change then I would keep her at home. It's not that long now until (hopefully) better weather and lighter nights
My horse is very unsettled by changes too and, although I have kept him at livery, he's happiest and most settled at home. I hire an arena when the weather permits, but otherwise I just try to make hacks into fun schooling sessions and try not to stress myself up too much about what others are doing.

Sue

 

[debsflo]

mhorses. can manage 4 days at best mon,wed ,sat and sun as daughter at college but i guess if we get out both days at the weekend and do road work mon and wed that would help keep her sane.