Sorry - long! Another yard rant!

[pistolpete]

Sorry in advance as I can’t really change this situation at the moment but will change it when physically possible i.e when we move house.
Where I keep the retired hardy good doer it’s field livery. No frills. It was absolutely fine last year as there was too much grass but yard owner allowed us to halve the field and grass lasted until December!
Fast forward to drought conditions and one pony being put down due to lami. Only four left in seven acres of chalk soil non fertilised land and it’s tough.
Annoyingly the ponies have lost no weight! They seem to find enough to keep them happy but it’s all stressed grass and there’s no fibre. I’ve asked if I can make a small track for my fatty NO! I’ve asked if I can pen him and feed him some low cal forage NO! I’ve asked if they can eat down the standing hay in the school paddock that no one uses NO! Would at least get them off the stressed grass. So only solution I have is muzzling and giving him a bucket feed of Timothy chop and a few hay cobs. Sigh. It’s a worry with the grass coming back through and he’s still so puffed up! When I move my plan is a track and some nice lo cal forage. Roll on! Anyone see anything I’m missing? I can’t exercise ponio he’s not sound to ride and a curmudgeon!

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Sorry in advance as I can’t really change this situation at the moment but will change it when physically possible i.e when we move house.
Where I keep the retired hardy good doer it’s field livery. No frills. It was absolutely fine last year as there was too much grass but yard owner allowed us to halve the field and grass lasted until December!
Fast forward to drought conditions and one pony being put down due to lami. Only four left in seven acres of chalk soil non fertilised land and it’s tough.
Annoyingly the ponies have lost no weight! They seem to find enough to keep them happy but it’s all stressed grass and there’s no fibre. I’ve asked if I can make a small track for my fatty NO! I’ve asked if I can pen him and feed him some low cal forage NO! I’ve asked if they can eat down the standing hay in the school paddock that no one uses NO! Would at least get them off the stressed grass. So only solution I have is muzzling and giving him a bucket feed of Timothy chop and a few hay cobs. Sigh. It’s a worry with the grass coming back through and he’s still so puffed up! When I move my plan is a track and some nice lo cal forage. Roll on! Anyone see anything I’m missing? I can’t exercise ponio he’s not sound to ride and a curmudgeon!

If everything is a no im not sure what to say ? but I didn’t want to read and run

 

[Sossigpoker]

Why do they say no to everything? Is there a valid reason ?

 

[SEL]

Is he fat as in crest up fat? I'm not sure I'd muzzle on this short grass because if it's like mine they'll get nothing through it.

 

[Horseysheepy]

Could you borrow a stable to put him in during the day when the fructans in grass are higher and give him soaked hay?

 

[pistolpete]

Y

Is he fat as in crest up fat? I'm not sure I'd muzzle on this short grass because if it's like mine they'll get nothing through it.

Yep cresty.

 

[chaps89]

If it’s any consolation mine is on a bare track at night and an almost bare patch muzzled in the day (they’ve eaten it down from well rested grass) and gets a small feed in the AM for his meds and he is the fattest I’ve known him in the 3 years I’ve had him.
Normally the dry hot weather would have been perfect for fatties but I’ve found it really hard this year.

Unless you can borrow a stable or move (either to the new long term solution or an interim stop) sooner, I think you just have to accept it for what it is and kind of hope he doesn’t get laminitis.

 

[Green Bean]

I am surprised you have received a no for everything. This is the welfare of your horse after all. You say you are moving in the future so understand why you aren't considering a temporary move of your horse, but am disappointed on the lack of accommodation of even one of your requests, they don't sound unreasonable at all

 

[Fjord]

The yard owners sound very unreasonable. I would look for another place I'm afraid, even if it is short term. Does the yard owner 'need' you there? If you said you were leaving because your horse's health is at risk, would they let you pen a small area off do you think?

 

[Chianti]

Can you get the vet out to back you up? I would get the vet out for an MOT and try and make it when the yard owner will be around so you can include her in the discussion. If you prewarn the vet s/he will know what line to emphasize.

 

[Leandy]

I don't entirely understand what you are saying about stressed grass but I take it that your horse is too fat and needs less (despite the field looking to you as though it has little grass). Will they not let you split the field again as you did last year? I'm not sure why you are not suggesting that, or are the others fine and it is just yours? In any event, unless your horse is particularly lami prone, I personally wouldn't be too concerned coming into autumn with not so much rain in sight at this point (although your part of the country may be different on that point). Perhaps the owners are confused by your messaging (as am I) of - my horse is too fat, there is too little grass, I want to feed him something else. If they are farmers, I'd expect them to be thoroughly confused by that messaging.....

 

[Nasicus]

I don't entirely understand what you are saying about stressed grass but I take it that your horse is too fat and needs less (despite the field looking to you as though it has little grass). Will they not let you split the field again as you did last year? I'm not sure why you are not suggesting that, or are the others fine and it is just yours? In any event, unless your horse is particularly lami prone, I personally wouldn't be too concerned coming into autumn with not so much rain in sight at this point (although your part of the country may be different on that point). Perhaps the owners are confused by your messaging (as am I) of - my horse is too fat, there is too little grass, I want to feed him something else. If they are farmers, I'd expect them to be thoroughly confused by that messaging.....

https://thehorsetherapist.ie/gb/blog/stressed-grass-stressed-horse-n37

 

[Leandy]

https://thehorsetherapist.ie/gb/blog/stressed-grass-stressed-horse-n37

Well yes but the grazing as is is what is on offer to the OP. The livery cannot change the the grass or the weather conditions. If the OP does not like the what is provided then it is for the OP to find somewhere they consider more suitable, not necessarily for the livery to have to change what they are offering, given their offering has not changed. I wouldn't expect a provider of no frills field livery to feel obliged to accommodate the individual requests of particular horse owners. They simply aren't paid to do that.

 

[Fieldlife]

I sadly think it’s quite common for no frills group grass livery to not allow field splitting or individuals to do things to the grazing.

Different if on a larger yard with facilities and have a special needs horse. Different if your are the one renting whole field.

I think no frills group grass livery is vastly in demand and those running it are able to typically dictate terms.

 

[dorsetladette]

how long to you move OP?

if not long sit tight and bite your tongue. If its a while I'd be putting a post on local horse FB pages asking if anyone had a lami pony needing a friend for a few/couple of months. Nicely explaining the situation and that the yards hands are tide meaning they are unable to help so you are needing to find a short term alternative. there may just be someone out there able to help.