superted1989
Well-Known Member
I look after the field of retired, grass liveries. They're a nice, easy happy bunch living out their horsey lives as nature intended. They get 'observed' first thing in the morning (legs counted!), then a full check at some point in the day. They have access to unlimited hay, ones that need feeding are fed, farrier trims them all at the same time, wormed at the same time, rugs lifted and shifted at least every other day, feet picked out every day, bit of a cuddle and a chat if they want it! It's full livery, without the stable in essence. Works well for people who have retired their horses but don't have the time to care for them.
Anyway, at the end of the summer, we had a new arrival. Gorgeous, big chestnut gelding had been on YO's friend's very posh livery yard for years. Only information we had was his name and that he'd competed side saddle by somebody quite well known to us. He had never had much turnout before, the reason he came to us was he was no longer able to be in work and the old yard had very limited turnout (none at all in winter). Fair enough, he adapted well to his herd and has really blossomed.
His owners came to see him for the first time and are really chuffed with him. All of the swelling in his legs has gone, he's not constantly windsucking and he didn't try to bite them! As all of the move had been done through his old yard and my YO very little of his history has come through. He had been in a cribbing collar almost 24/7 and some of the grooms were refusing to handle him as he was agressive! His legs were knackered and the vet's advice (after several thousand pounds worth of treatment) was to chuck him out in a field to see if he came right, not to give him a bit of freedom and a happy retirement as YO was led to believe.
The shocking part? There was us thinking he looked fabulous for an oldie (as long as you don't look at his lumpy, bumpy legs) and......................he's only 8!!!!!!!!!!
Do feel a bit of a numpty, although I've never looked at his teeth, but it is quite nice to have one out there that's likely to come onto the yard one day.
Anyway, at the end of the summer, we had a new arrival. Gorgeous, big chestnut gelding had been on YO's friend's very posh livery yard for years. Only information we had was his name and that he'd competed side saddle by somebody quite well known to us. He had never had much turnout before, the reason he came to us was he was no longer able to be in work and the old yard had very limited turnout (none at all in winter). Fair enough, he adapted well to his herd and has really blossomed.
His owners came to see him for the first time and are really chuffed with him. All of the swelling in his legs has gone, he's not constantly windsucking and he didn't try to bite them! As all of the move had been done through his old yard and my YO very little of his history has come through. He had been in a cribbing collar almost 24/7 and some of the grooms were refusing to handle him as he was agressive! His legs were knackered and the vet's advice (after several thousand pounds worth of treatment) was to chuck him out in a field to see if he came right, not to give him a bit of freedom and a happy retirement as YO was led to believe.
The shocking part? There was us thinking he looked fabulous for an oldie (as long as you don't look at his lumpy, bumpy legs) and......................he's only 8!!!!!!!!!!
Do feel a bit of a numpty, although I've never looked at his teeth, but it is quite nice to have one out there that's likely to come onto the yard one day.