Struggling for grazing, starting to wonder if it's worth it

[Foxy girl]

Having a bad horse day, week, month!! I own one acre which as you can imagine is pretty poor by Jan. One horse, one pony, both in at night, but the mud, lack of grazing and cost of it all versus how much pleasure I get is starting to get me down. I'm just wondering if it's worth it. I've loved having them at home having been at livery before, but would going back to livery save my sanity (if not my wallet)? OH away most of week, two small kids who aren't that keen on riding and a job. I love my horse to bits but am sick of 'making good' after he's broken fences, ripped off the water tap, wrecked two rugs in a month etc etc. Just lost 2 acres of grazing and can't find anymore locally (have tried everything!).

I know I'm having a bad day and it's mid winter but words of inspiration would be really welcome right now

Thanks all - hot chocolate and homemade cake all round.

 

[Alphamare]

I would fence off a track round the outside with a larger section for socialising and then put down a mix of surfaces. That way through the worst of winter and other wet times you will have a dry turnout AND save your grazing!! I doubt your hay costs will go up too much but I would put the water at one end and a hay feeder in the socialising section.

 

[Foxy girl]

Thanks Alphamare I have put a track down but ran out of cash to fence it off. The problem is my cob has no respect for electric fencing and as soon as I fenced off a section last eve, he went straight through it! I think I need to get a stronger energiser but it's all CASH!!!!

Problem is we're surrounded by farmers who won't let land for horses as we wreck it! They have my sympathy ...

 

[Maiziemouse]

You could try putting large haylege bales out in the meantime, then and at the first sign of spring try to get some grazing for short term while you rest/re-seed/fertilize your paddock. Even if it is a bit further from home once the weather is better they could live out and it wouldn't matter if they were a bit further away?

 

[Archangel]

Everything is so much worse in January and this year even my dry sandy fields have become muddy and slippery so know exactly how you feel *helps self to homemade cake*

I would say hang on in there for this year, the worst of the dark is behind you now. Although broken fences and ripped rugs are a sign that horse is getting up to mischief rather than grazing and chilling. Maybe the area is too small now to cope with January - March and next year you could opt for plan B

Mine have been shut in a smaller back field by day (only by day mind) because my other horse needs priority grazing at the moment. What are they doing with their time? Dismantling the field shelter plank by plank

I think even horses get hissed off with January.

 

[HazyXmas]

I'm feeling the same today :-( Our horses are fed up with the rain & bored as there's no grass, i look at the knee deep mud & wonder if the fields will ever recover?

Another six weeks & we will hopefully be over the worst & heading into Spring.........in the meantime, i think i need to buy another pair of wellies

 

[Ibblebibble]

I think we all go through it at this time of year, every year in january i declare i'm going to send them all to Potters and take up hamster breeding instead i have the use of 8 acres in total but theres no decent grass and i've had to separate them all as the fat boy was getting fatter while the others were losing weight fat boy protests at being on his own by trashing the fencing and churning his paddock up
So what have i done to cheer myself up, arranged to go and see another horse at the weekend on a lwvtb of course

 

[Foxy girl]

Thank you all - you have made me feel better...

Ibblebibble - guess what's coming a week on Sat? Another pony - but only to replace the one we've got as she's off to retire in acres and acres of someone else's lovely pasture (lucky thing).

Hoping a hack out tomorrow will make things seem brighter, although he did tank off with me on Sat so maybe not!!!

 

[Ibblebibble]

lol if he tanks off and you've got the space to do it kick him on and go for a blast now that always cheers me up,