Stable or grass?

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zoon

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I have horses on 2 yards and am moving them onto 1 as i have sold 1 of 3. Will be more convenient for me, less travel time and more facilities. But will be a little more expensive. My options are a stable each for my 2 or both at grass. Not sure if the stables are worth the extra tenner a week each? I have a 2 year old good doer and an ex racer, who for a tb is a good doer - she is out 24/7 in summer and in at night over winter currently. Fields have good grazing and livery includes ad lib Haylage in winter. There is some natural shelter down one side of the fields, but no field shelter. I'd have 2 fields to rotate as I wish - I currently have them split into 4. Stables if I have them are a good size. I also get space in the tack room which I do not if at grass, but keep my saddle at home anyway - just a couple of boxes of bits and bobs and my bridle goes in there. I have a large lockable metal trunk that I could keep in hay barn (there are a few similar trunks in there)
 
Hi I have two which are out at grass 24/7 all year but do also rent a stable for any emergencies or if we go to a show. Also with a stable got a space in the tack room. Got four paddocks which i can do with as i please. Took me years to find a decent grass livery, best thing i ever done.
 
Could you not just have the one stable and use it for emergencies, night before parties etc? I had my two at different yards before and moved my ridden horse to live out with (a now new/different) 2 year old. I keep my tack at home as no secure storage. For Christmas I was very lucky and got a field shelter and stable, it gets used more for keeping things in rather then horses but is very handy to have.
 
If it was me I'd either have one or two stables, even if it does cost extra, purely for emergencies.

For example, one horse could get a nasty bit of mudfever, and bringing it in to properly dry it would help. Or even if something more serious happened, that warranted box rest?

Also, I'd have the stable/s in case of severe weather.. Really strong wind, hail, thunderstorm (only if they're all together though ;) )

At the end of the day though, we don't know your horses. Be brutally honest with yourself and think 'would my TB really be able to manage in the cold and thick, wet mud?' Etc. Good luck!
 
I've only had her for 1 winter so not 100% sure, but she was out every day last year in nothing more than a medium weight (sweated in anything heavier) and had just chaff and balancer and ad lib hay at night. Didn't lose any weight at all.

I have the choice of in or out - YO won't let stable horses out 24/7 over winter
 
zoon said:
I have the choice of in or out - YO won't let stable horses out 24/7 over winter
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If that's the case I'd go with the at grass option, presumably you could always pay for a stable in future if it becomes necessary, although I expect your horses will be fine. :) Plus think of all the work you'll save yourself!
 
i would defo go witht the stables. at the end of the day, if something were to happen like emergency box rest? what are you gunna do? and i dont think it is so important to have 24/7 turnout in winter. aslong as they get most of the day out, i think it would be fine. i have recently bout 4 months ago bought a 6yo mare tb and i have already brought a stable for winter. i was told she has lived out all winter a few years ago as the owner was heavily pregnant, but mine gets cold in the rain! shes a wimp. i know you say they are good doers, but wouldnt you like to be in a stable in the feezing snow? even if you just ask to rent one throughout the year and then rent two for the winter months. i would defo have atleast one stable all year round.
 
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