Retirement livery

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HashRouge

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Does anyone have their horse on retirement livery?
I'm considering putting my mare on retirement livery for a year or so, starting next summer, as I am planning to go travelling and was just wondering about people's experiences. I would be looking for a yard in the Cheshire/ Derbyshire area to make it easier for my mum/ sister to keep an eye on her.
Does anyone have any good advice as to what to look for in a retirement yard? And obviously if anyone has any recommendations in Cheshire/ Derbyshire, I'd love to hear them!
 
Until very recently, I had two of mine on retirement livery. One has just been pts (old age) and the other I'm collecting at the weekend as she'd been turned away with an injury for a couple of year. I used a fantastic place in Winkleigh, so a bit far for you, but maybe it'll give you some idea what to look for. The things that made me choose it were these:

24/7 365 turn out (huge farm, 900 acres to rotate)

Herd groups arranged according to personality and grazing requirements (mine couldn't live together as she's laminitic and he dropped weight the moment the wind blew. They also hated each other!)

Checked 3 times per day, rugs changed as and when needed. Haylage or hay provided throughout the winter, ad lib. Could also be fed if needed.

Farrier was organised and done in a designated area cordoned off in each field; routine vaccinations done the same way. There were stables to bring in, though, if that was needed for medical reasons, box rest, etc.

Lots of natural shelter and water supplies.

The owner clearly adores what she does and the horses she looks after. When she first showed me around (and every time I visited them), she would just chat about the horses we passed on the way to mine. She knew everyone inside out, always had a word and a pat for them and paused to check if something didn't look right

She kept in touch with pictures and would update whenever I asked and always called/emailed if she thought there was anything we needed to discuss in terms of management and ongoing care.

She was a gem with my old boy, looked after him exactly as I would have wanted, fed him, cossetted him when he started to really show signs of age, and would go up and just spend time with him. She also helped me organise his last few weeks and made sure he was spoiled rotten up to the end.

All the horses, even my stress-head, don't-want-to-retire, don't-leave-me-it's-*boring* mare were happy and settled there. (Took LP several months to come down properly and she still always looks to come home with me - she'll be thrilled now she is - but she'd turn away and go back to her grass and friends when she realised she wasn't. Blonde was much more 'oh yeah, this is the life, see ya later' from the moment he arrived!).

So, yes, that's my experience. Lovely place, lovely people, wouldn't hesitate to use them again. They also have a caravan to stay in if you send your horses from further afield and want to visit.

Hope you have fun travelling!
 
Adopter said:
Wyrdsister what a fab sounding place. How lovely to read about such committed people caring for retired horses.
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Totally! I know of some people who put their horses on retirement livery and literally assumed they were being cared for. They were very wrong. Be careful and its a great idea that your mum and sister can keep an eye.
Its something id dearly love to do. I like to think I could provide the care and attention as described above and have a real love for oldies made stronger by the stories of bad retirement stories ive heard.
If I ever have the facilities I would do it tomorrow.
 
Our pony is down by the Cheshire border on a retirement livery. She is there for a rest after an awful long winter, bad stable, getting injured and we needed a rest (all of us). She is happy, we visit often; they sort out the farrier and dentist; She is on grass livery with shelter, but comes in for a groom and if needed she has a stable; and more.
We are worried about moving her back as she seems to be so happy there. But up to now, she will be staying there for the winter as well. Is the best decision for us at the moment, as my daughter is going to be busy with coursework and me with placements xx
 
Thanks everyone, some really helpful posts especially from wyrdsister!
Woody where is your horse exactly, if you don't mind me asking?
I've been in touch with Cheshire Retirement Home which sounds really nice, but I'd be glad of recommendations (or otherwise!). Noodle, I'll PM you :)
 
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