Retirement livery - pros & cons?

[Season’s Bleatings]

I am investigating the possibility of sending my old boy away to retirement grass livery. For background: he is a 25yo ISH, bit arthritic, retired about 5 years ago due to a few soundness issues and mild KS. Field sound & loves being out. Our current yard does offer year round turnout however they are stabled overnight in winter.

I hadn’t really given this much thought previously but now with increased pressure in work, along with studying a MA, and another horse in full work (and a 2nd retiree who is extremely quirky..) I am wondering if my old boy might actually benefit from living out. For me, the benefit would be time saved (and a little bit of money, but not much, so that isn’t really a factor).

On the flip side, he has been at his current yard for close to 15 years (since before I owned him). Is it fair to uproot his existence? He isn’t particularly attached to any of the other horses. His best mate was PTS at the end of the summer, so he is bumbling along happily enough but isn’t particularly bonded with any of the others.

I have found a yard that offers year round grass livery with natural shelter and additional forage provided in winter; rugs changed, hard feed etc. It is currently full but I would be in no rush to move him until the summer at least anyway.

What would you do? No suggestions of PTS please, I know that is a viable option for some scenarios and I would never judge anyone who chooses to do this in this or similar situations, but he is a happy old lad and I am more than content with subsidising his existence until he tells me it is time.

 

[Gingerwitch]

I couldn't do this personally I would have to leave him where he is. Sorry xx

 

[Prancerpoos]

Having read a few threads on here around how upset some horses get when moved, and how long it takes them to get over it, plus some personal experience of that.. I would leave him where he is.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Despite Jacob being only 11 I already have a retirement livery sussed out for him. I think it hugely depends on the horse, I think if Jacob was out of work he would like a settled herd which are out all the time and having natural shelter, rather than a field where horses are coming and going or where he would need to be in a portion of the time - but the yard I love is only about 30 minutes from home and I would be welcome to visit whenever and fuss him in the field etc which would be important, as I would need to keep an eye on him. I think re: your boy, only you know where he would be happiest. I would be inclined to give it a go and see if he settles, the worst thing that can happen is you pay a month or two months retainer on your stable and if he doesn't settle, then bring him home.

 

[milliepops]

Personally i wouldn't be too concerned about moving him at that age if he is fit and well in general and not a stressy kind of character, if the yard are adept at managing introductions etc and you trust them.
My retirees moved in together in their early 20s having lived on stabled yard routines up to then, they now live out with a shelter, so totally different. Even with almost no care or attention from me ( I check they are upright, all body parts functioning and they have food and water!) the living out lifestyle has made them both sounder than they were previously as retired horses on a yard.

I think going to live a low key more "natural" herd kind of existence is much easier for them to adapt to than moving from one yard to another.

However mine live on our land rather than being somewhere else in the care of another person, I think you REALLY have to do your research and make sure they are trustworthy. There are some horror stories about people taking in retirement liveries as a bit of a cash cow and not really doing what they promise. i think I'd only consider somewhere on personal recommendation from someone i know.

 

[Gingerwitch]

Having read a few threads on here around how upset some horses get when moved, and how long it takes them to get over it, plus some personal experience of that.. I would leave him where he is.

I will also add to this 5he numberbof threads where everything is perfect til owners turn up and gond out it's not. I would hate to think of my old boy shuffling out in all weathers, wondering where his stable went. I personally think if he had always lived out it's a different scenario.
I just have this pitiful imagine ingrained from a horse retired to live out when every night fir months he called to come in. I wish owners had pts him as it was awful but new pony had the stable and old pony saw his owners and used to wait for them. It still makes me cry now x

 

[Lipglosspukka]

I actually think it sounds ideal for him. Providing he's not chucked in a field with too many others then I'm sure he will thrive.

 

[Lady2021]

I would move him especially if he loves being out.

 

[gryff]

Look at Happy Horse Retirement Home on Facebook. This place looks absolutely amazing.

 

[Leandy]

I would move him. I moved my old horse in his late 20's from one full grass livery to a retirement livery because it was closer to me. Originally I had had him at the former yard in full work and stabled at night before his retirement so he had been there for about 15 years. I retired him to live out there with his lifelong companion and girlfriend but she had passed away in the spring and he had gone out with some other retirees for a few months until I elected to move him to a new place. He made all the changes in his life easily ie firstly from being stabled routinely to being out 24/7, then to losing his lifelong companion and then latterly to moving to a new yard in his late 20's. He was however one who loved to be out and just lived to scoff grass. I used to joke that it was always his life's ambition to be retired.

Do remember that even though someone else is meant to keep an eye on them, that you will need to go regularly too just to check all is well. There are many stories of retirement livery not being all it seems. It is still up to you to check his welfare. Slightly different scenario but I loaned out a brood mare once. When she first went I visited reasonably regularly and all seemed good so I let my visits tail off - until I got a phone call from someone to say "have you seen the state your horse is in?" and I had to go and rescue her. Lesson learned.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I’d keep him where he is, in the routine that he is familiar with, and where you can continue to keep a close eye on him.

Many old horses love being stabled at night in winter, despite what the ‘all horses prefer to live out 24/7’ brigade may say.

 

[sport horse]

If the retirement yard is close enough for you to check him personally at least once/week then fine. If not keep him where he is. Words are fine but quite a few of these places are not so good. I have to say I have a 27, 25 and 2 x 24 year olds and they go out every day but I can promise you by lunchtime on a cold/wet day they are lined up by the gate demanding to come in. Luckily they are at home and when we see them ask to come in then that is what they do - without a doubt they now best.

 

[exracehorse]

I’ve just taken on an elderly horse for retirement livery. There were concerns he wouldn’t settle. But he’s been absolutely fine. Although I treat him like he’s one of my own. He’s out with access to a stable which he loves. He absolutely couldn’t have been in a mixed herd out all weathers. He likes his comforts. And not quick enough to move if another horse charged. I update owners every day with photos and videos.

 

[Brownmare]

Many old horses love being stabled at night in winter, despite what the ‘all horses prefer to live out 24/7’ brigade may say.

That's a difficult one though because really it just comes down to what they are used to. One of mine would start fencewalking at 3pm on the dot he was so keen to come in when I first got him and was also quite stressy in the stable, had to be looking out to check he missed nothing but also had to be eating constantly so he spent all night doing laps of his box. Now he lives out 24/7 and is far happier and healthier but he needed a gradual change to get used to his new lifestyle and wouldn't have coped being left out if others were coming in.

I would say move him to the retirement livery but keep your place reserved on your current yard for the first month so you can bring him back if he doesn't settle.

 

[myheartinahoofbeat]

Obviously I don't know your horse as well as you, but I would give the retirement livery a go. I have a 15 year old TB who retired 3 years ago. He went to a fantastic place where he lived out 24/7 in a herd of about 10, no rugs or hard feed, just good quality grazing and hay and regularly moved to new grazing through the winter. All fields had natural shelter. I was very unsure at first, but my precious TB took to it so well. He looked good at the end of each winter, better than he looked on livery when he was in work!He is a stressy horse, wind sucker and cribber, ex racehorse and I think the herd and just being a horse worked so well for him. I'm sure I had more sleepless nights worrying about him out naked in the wet and cold than he ever did. The lady that ran it had been doing so for 30 years and was a real old fashioned horsewoman but I couldn't fault her. My horse was very happy there. Things have moved on and we now have our own land and he's back at home with me and he is by far the best behaved one. I was worried he might have gone a bit feral.

 

[tiahatti]

It depends on the individual horse. I moved 2 to a retirement yard, on grass 24/7. They had their own field and loved it. I had been a bit concerned whether one of them would cope out all the time but she adapted so well. Mine were happy just chilling in the field.

Could you keep your space at the current yard for a few weeks until you know whether he settles?

 

[HashRouge]

I just couldn't bear to send my old girl away. I also wouldn't trust anyone else completely when it comes to looking after her, bar my sister. I think I have the best of both worlds - a set up that works a bit like full livery if I need it to, where the horses are out (or in) as much as I want them to be, a very good YO, lovely private yard (just my two and their friend M), and excellent grazing. But I see them pretty much every day. I have been away for 6 weeks before and left them in the care of my YO, but I couldn't go long term without seeing them every day. A big things for me is that I'm conscious every year could be the last with my old girl (she's 28, so knocking on a bit) and I want to see her as often as I can and ensure she is well cared for. I just couldn't send her away.

 

[Wheels]

I am also considering retirement livery for one of mine but struggling to find somewhere close with 24/7 turnout which is what he likes.

Sheep where is this yard?

 

[Season’s Bleatings]

Thanks everyone for your replies.
It’s an emotive topic for sure and I appreciate not for everyone. I know he loves being out, he box walks when in so it might well suit. Anyway, no immediate decision being made, just getting some ideas.
Wheels, I’ve pm’d you!

 

[Bluewaves]

My old boy is about 50 minutes away so i can check him at weekends. He's retired about two years and adapted really quickly to 24/7 turnout. It helps that i have a friend who keeps her unretired horse there too and keeps an eye out for me. It really does depend on the horse and the retirement livery if it works i guess. He's still always pleased to see me, but i do miss seeing him more regularly and had to have a stiff gin the evening i moved him. It just seemed so final at the time.

 

[lannerch]

My old boy has been on retirement livery for about 8 months and he absolutely loves it , he went from single turnout and stabled at night to a herd of about 11 others out 24 hours . When I go to visit him he is always pleased to see me but never wants to come in with me .
He would be horrified if I moved him, he did have to come in when he went lame , he hated it even though he was surrounded by other horses all he wanted to do was get back to his chums .
If you find a good retirement livery I would not hesitate.

 

[poiuytrewq]

My retired horse lives with me and other than he’s not ridden still has the same routine. I wouldn’t send him anywhere else. However, my old retired horse got really stressed and upset when others were ridden. I had to go and groom him until they got back! so for a long time I did think retirement livery, where his friends stayed with him 24/7 might be the kinder option for him.
Neither current or old retiree were ever left alone, the first just wanted to work I think at first.
So I think it depends on the individual horse, owner and of course yard.

 

[Guernsey2020]

My old boy has been on retirement livery for about 8 months and he absolutely loves it , he went from single turnout and stabled at night to a herd of about 11 others out 24 hours . When I go to visit him he is always pleased to see me but never wants to come in with me .
He would be horrified if I moved him, he did have to come in when he went lame , he hated it even though he was surrounded by other horses all he wanted to do was get back to his chums .
If you find a good retirement livery I would not hesitate.

Hello, sorry to jump on a previous post but what retirement livery is your horse at? Currently looking into options.
Many thanks.

 

[Fana Mal]

We moved our old arthritic boy to retirement livery. He lives out 24/7 365. He has free range of about 10 acres. With natural water and trees and a range of pasture etc. BUT there is a large covered barn with big round bales of hay which they can come and go from as they please. The yard is run by a very old friend so I know he is pampered. She says they mostly sleep outside but there are a few who choose to warm up in the barn in the mornings and a few who overnight in the barn when it’s very cold or wet.
he was previously always stabled at night in the winter. It’s a massive barn and easily accommodates all the horses with plenty of space and feeding stations to avoid squabbles

 

[Lady Jane]

We moved our old arthritic boy to retirement livery. He lives out 24/7 365. He has free range of about 10 acres. With natural water and trees and a range of pasture etc. BUT there is a large covered barn with big round bales of hay which they can come and go from as they please. The yard is run by a very old friend so I know he is pampered. She says they mostly sleep outside but there are a few who choose to warm up in the barn in the mornings and a few who overnight in the barn when it’s very cold or wet.
he was previously always stabled at night in the winter. It’s a massive barn and easily accommodates all the horses with plenty of space and feeding stations to avoid squabbles

Where are you in the UK?