Selling up?

[FairyLights]

Well,, have just about had enough of mud and rain and winter. And having my own place seemed great but it does involve expense. Have had to post and rail, buy electric tape, put up stables. Now I find myself on the verge of spending upwards of £1,000 on yet more wood chip, rubber mats for gateways and stone to create a hard standing for grooming and trimming. The paddocks and horses are money pits. We also have a tractor and various tackle for field maintenance and hay making. I pay someone to trim the hedges.I cant afford to compete any more and have no trailer lorry. I only want 1 horse but have 2 because they need companionship. Then there is the separation anxiety when I take one out and the other is left by himself.
It has occurred to me that if I sell up and put one horse in £25 a week DIY livery I will be better off mentally and time wise and financially. No more stress about fencing or maintenance. time to spend just doing stuff with the horse instead of with the land. Fed up.

 

[Coldfeet!]

Its been a long hard cold winter after a long cold wet summer, I think we all feel like chucking in the towel at some point!

I have a friend and she really struggled to cope with her own place on her own, I think you have to do what is best for your own sanity, personally I feel horses are so physically and financially draining I want to be enjoying them as much as possible, this isnt a failure of any sort, its damn hard work not to be getting some fun out of a much loved hobby, do what is best for you.

 

[Orls]

I really admire those who keep their horses at home. I can't imagine the time and stress that must go into it. If it's driving you crazy put your horse into livery, you should be able to spend time enjoying your horse not constant worry. Don't forget that it's meant to be fun!

 

[Merlin11]

I know what you mean. We have had our own place for 6 years and it just seems to get harder and harder. The long winter is not helping. Best of luck with the change.

 

[silu]

Sympathize having just finished digging out a pathway to stables, oh how I just love snow. We keep 4 at home and it is NOT an easy option to livery unless you have hot and cold running staff!

All I'd say is before you decide for definite remember how you can (we did) have absolute horrors at livery unless the yard is good. Maybe have a real good look at local livery yards, speak with people there and see if they are honest about the good and the bad. Often they don't say how they really feel as too scared to speak their minds.Sad but true!

 

[AmyMay]

Now I find myself on the verge of spending upwards of £1,000 on yet more wood chip, rubber mats for gateways and stone to create a hard standing for grooming and trimming.

Your gateways will sort themselves out when the weather improves. And the hard standing can be done when you have the money to do it.

 

[DragonSlayer]

Yes, it costs to keep at home. We have own field but not at the horse...and although it's tough going at times to keep it looking tidy, I'd rather not have horses than go back to livery.

Own space, no-one to answer to, go or stay as we please, change paddocks as we see fit....etc etc

Everywhere is a mess at the moment, but when spring DOES get here, it'll be better...

You won't be splashing out all the time on new fencing will you? Only now and again when a piece needs replacing, same with the stuff in the gate holes..

Chin up, spring HAS to be around the corner!

 

[Adopter]

There are advantages to both, I love looking out of the windows and seeing ponies grazing, but carting buckets of water for so many days when the water outside has been frozen this winter has not been fun, I am sure it has been more than usual, and the first freeze up for us was way back in November.

My sister keeps her horse at livery, a super livery yard with everything you could wish for and is very happy.

Give it a few weeks and see how you feel if spring arrives! Then if you are still not enjoying your horse, well maybe livery would be better.

 

[2horsesnomoney]

God I am the opposite! I envy those with horses at home and would love to! Just remember for 25 a week you will be DIY so not much less cost or hassel than now. I have to pay for my own bedding, sort my fields, fencing, roll and top fields each year then make sure no one is "borrowing" (indefinatly) my things, feed is always going down faster than it should, having to keep in as fields are wet, obeying by rules, yard chores, up at 5 to muck out 2 before work this winter is dragging and making most of us fed up!! I keep thinking it will get better and it must, then we will all enjoy it again.