Should I move yards? Weight loss problem etc

[shadowboy]

Background: I have a 2.5year old Newfie who should be as tough as anything but as he didnt have the best start in life he has never been great through winter. Last year i kept him at home so he did well. This year I'm at a livery yard. He has lost over 40kg in 8 weeks and its still dropping off. His coat is awful and he's had mud fever so bad that it required over £100 of treatment (was November- now healed). The yard has really muddy fields- no one complains- as "it was so much worse last year as there were 10 extra horses last year" and all the horses are still out 24/7 including mine. Hay is fed in big round bales in a metal feeder - he is in a field with 5 adult horses- the feeder is near the fence so the tractor can just put the bale in over the fence- so there is little space round it for the 6 of them.

He currently has thrush in his hind and heat round the fetlock/pastern where he had mud fever before. I desperately want to bring him in at night so he can dry off and get access to hay to maintain his weight (he is bum heigh at the moment by nearly 2 inches!)

But no one is in despite beautiful big stables. I never see anyone on the yard. In fact since I arrived iv'e met 3 of the other 10 liveries! The owner is hardly ever in. There is no management i.e I never got a contract/I do not know the rules of the yard/there is no worming policy.

I wormed him 2 weeks ago to see if that was pat of the sudden weight loss- but I think its just the lack of grass and the mud which is ankle deep in the bottom third of the field the rest is short grass and fine but the hay feeder is at the bottom for easy access for the tractor. Field is approx 5 acres. I brought him in when he had mud fever in Novemeber but he got upset on his own and didnt eat any hay. I'm not sure if I should ride it out - keep treating the thrush daily or move somewhere where the horses come in for the night?

 

[9tails]

5 acres for 6 horses won't sustain them all year round, especially if it was overgrazed the year before with another 10. I reckon he's definitely not getting enough to eat. Try keeping him occupied while in with a snack ball, mine will happily stay in if her snackball is there even if all the others are out.

It sounds a bit of a crummy yard, TBH.

 

[Wagtail]

Sorry to be blunt but why are you even asking this question? The care he is receiving is appalling! Move him as quickly as you can. Remember too, that you get what you pay for. I do full and part livery which may seem expensive at £93 - £99 per week. But this includes all quality bedding, feed and haylage. The horses live in 5* luxury. Financially I only just break even some years. But I do it for the love of the horses and the company of the liveries. Move your horse to a caring yard before you end up paying out a fortune in vets bills.

 

[ISHmad]

I'd be moving yards for many reasons - the lack of field management, the fact there is no worming policy, possibility of your pony not having access to the hay because of the others etc.

 

[shadowboy]

Sorry to be blunt but why are you even asking this question? The care he is receiving is appalling! Move him as quickly as you can. Remember too, that you get what you pay for. I do full and part livery which may seem expensive at £93 - £99 per week. But this includes all quality bedding, feed and haylage. The horses live in 5* luxury. Financially I only just break even some years. But I do it for the love of the horses and the company of the liveries. Move your horse to a caring yard before you end up paying out a fortune in vets bills.

Thats a bit harsh- I care for him very well thanks! Moving him is very difficult because i live in the City there are very few yards. When i arrived it was end of Sept so the field looked great. They are well fenced and have auto waterers and the stables are huge brand new and the yard is incredibly secure. My issue is I cant bring him in as he hates being on his own- if eveyone was in it would be fine- and the field would be great I think as the top part of his field isnt muddy at all- but the hay feeder is by the gate hence standing in the mud. I could not afford £99 per week even if it did have eveything else! I dont need full livery as he's only 2 and doesnt need all the facilities that comp horses use etc- the yard is nice apart from the lack of owners and management. Its not cheep eaither- in fact non of the decent yards round where I live are tbh- Minimum of £25 per week- mine is £30 DIY no hay etc included.

 

[shadowboy]

5 acres for 6 horses won't sustain them all year round, especially if it was overgrazed the year before with another 10. I reckon he's definitely not getting enough to eat. Try keeping him occupied while in with a snack ball, mine will happily stay in if her snackball is there even if all the others are out.

It sounds a bit of a crummy yard, TBH.

I havent tried a snack ball- he spends time staring over the stable door- although He never box walks or weaves or anything, just stares ...... constantly - not noisily either!

There are some paddocks being rested- ATM hence i think why there are so many horses in each of the fields. 4 paddocks of the 20 acres are empty. Its the lack of owners/management that makes it difficult

 

[LegOn]

Wow that is a really hard decision - if you have a contract, are there contact details on it? It would be worth ringing the managment & talking it through with them or getting hold of one of the liveries & seeing if anyone else fancied bringing their horse at night aswell or maybe try bringing in your lad & see if he settles on his own, getting access to food & shelter might actually seal the deal for him & relax him! Or try getting a shatter proof mirror in the stable so he thinks another horse is in with him - can keep them happy! Good luck!

 

[Faro]

If you do have to stay at this yard here's an idea - This might mean more work for you (in that no-one else would be interested/would be around to help) but why not check with the YO/YM to see if it's okay to move some of the hay to the other, drier part of the field? If it's possible, get some hay from the feeder moved over there - as much as you can, do several wheelbarrow loads if necessary, and put it into LOTS of piles - definitely more hay piles than there are horses - so if yours gets bullied away from one pile, he can move on to the next.

 

[Brandy]

Given that he is suffereing from Thrush and has had mud fever, it seems that this will be a reoccrruing problem in the winter so I would think about moving. £25 - £30 is not expensive for diy.

In the meantime, I would be moving some of the hay so your pony has access to a seperate pile.

Or try bringing him in and see - he might be fine in overnight on his own and out during the day. He will then have 12 or so hours to eat in peace and have dry feet.

 

[shadowboy]

Wow that is a really hard decision - if you have a contract, are there contact details on it? It would be worth ringing the managment & talking it through with them or getting hold of one of the liveries & seeing if anyone else fancied bringing their horse at night aswell or maybe try bringing in your lad & see if he settles on his own, getting access to food & shelter might actually seal the deal for him & relax him! Or try getting a shatter proof mirror in the stable so he thinks another horse is in with him - can keep them happy! Good luck!

I dont have a contract sadly.

If you do have to stay at this yard here's an idea - This might mean more work for you (in that no-one else would be interested/would be around to help) but why not check with the YO/YM to see if it's okay to move some of the hay to the other, drier part of the field? If it's possible, get some hay from the feeder moved over there - as much as you can, do several wheelbarrow loads if necessary, and put it into LOTS of piles - definitely more hay piles than there are horses - so if yours gets bullied away from one pile, he can move on to the next.

Not a bad idea- i dont think ill b able to use a wheelbarrow but could get a few hessian bags worth and try that- i didnt think about this i'll have to try and get hold of YO to ask if this is ok.

Given that he is suffereing from Thrush and has had mud fever, it seems that this will be a reoccrruing problem in the winter so I would think about moving. £25 - £30 is not expensive for diy.

In the meantime, I would be moving some of the hay so your pony has access to a seperate pile.

Or try bringing him in and see - he might be fine in overnight on his own and out during the day. He will then have 12 or so hours to eat in peace and have dry feet.

HMMM, The OH shares a horse on another yard (no vaancies) so we pay half the costs for him too so I dont think we can afford to pay more than the £30 a week as hay and straw for 2 adds up. I would have to be a yard of the same price. I have rung three up with a good reputation and they are also full I think its a good yard over the summer months - having seen it in september/oct especially considering they had 26 horses last year (16 this year ) but it seems I may well have to leave for his benefit in the short term at least. No mud fever today yet thankfully- thrush hasnt worsened either- and as long as the weather stays dry he should be ok untill I find somewhere new

 

[jhoward]

what about leaving a note some where to see if any one else would be happy to bring thiers in day or night?

other wise how about starting to get hime used to being on his own? short times with a feed and your comapny, then you wander out of his stable and get further and further away.

a stable mirror may help, and i would say unless he was going to come over a door or give himself colic then let him be upset for a bit, as some point he has to get used to living on his own.

re the thrush/mud fever, again bring him in daily and treat it.

 

[Piglet]

I would definitely try to find another yard for your pony if poss, even for your your peace of mind.