Sunshine horses

[tallyho!]

Since I got new job driving around country - can't help but notice fields full of horses boundaried by postage stamped sized leccy tape.

Have I bypassed some new livestock health warning from Merial saying horses should be seperated?

I drove from Poole to Bath today and as usual every horse I drive by, I look and adore, but what sticks out is that mostly, they are seperated off from one another by reams of leccy tape. Usually solitary, in a pen about the size of my house, bleaching in the midday sun.

Now, I'm not being a funny bugger (I'm northern we're not funny people though we look it) but what is wrong with just letting them out in a field (sans leccy tape) and havin' a good run round like horses do.

What's a shinsplint between friends when you're havin' a laff?

 

[Brontie]

Restricted grazing, could be because they're recovering from an injury. Got Laminitis, or on a diet

 

[lauraandjack]

Trouble is, lots of livery yards occupy former dairy farms. Grass that was sown for dairy cattle is way way way too nutritious for horses, who evolved to live on scrubby poor grass. So, you have to restrict access to it, either by time or area. I suppose it is preferable for a horse to be out in a small area for a long period of time rather than having an hour or 2 to gallop around a huge field and spend the rest of the day inside.

Also a lot of people demand individual turnout. Especially on a DIY livery yard, where people are coming and going at different times, it does make sense (especially if you have a horse that is less than keen to be caught when turned out in a large group!).

 

[tallyho!]

Trouble is, lots of livery yards occupy former dairy farms. Grass that was sown for dairy cattle is way way way too nutritious for horses, who evolved to live on scrubby poor grass. So, you have to restrict access to it, either by time or area. I suppose it is preferable for a horse to be out in a small area for a long period of time rather than having an hour or 2 to gallop around a huge field and spend the rest of the day inside.

Also a lot of people demand individual turnout. Especially on a DIY livery yard, where people are coming and going at different times, it does make sense (especially if you have a horse that is less than keen to be caught when turned out in a large group!).

No, I agree. I've got mine on an actual cow farm so grass is super rich. Infact, we HAVE to graze together like cows or they would be on 30min grazing each.

The way I see it is, more mouths grazing = less grass each. So, more horses on a patch but more room to run & play.

As for lamis, well mine is a prone, he's out with three on 8 acres and no lami since '08 since he was on shared grazing. They chase each other about so more exercise and it's better for him IMO.

If injured, I agree need sperating if vet advised for injury but, I'm not really talking about that.

I'm talking about this culture of postage stamping horses and small livery yards having to seperate due to lack of space.

 

[moses06]

Unfortunatly, this country is gradually losing it's countryside to developers, what was once grazing land is now sprawling housing estates. Lots of yards have to make do on a small acrerage. I personally have individual turnout - I put alot of time and effort into my horse and don't want him injured by some thuggy thing in a group, as well as herds changing in livery yards all the time which really upsets the balance - no thanks.....Like it or not there are too many horses for the land we have, and at least these animals have turnout, This goes back to what I say about horsey folk - if they spent more time looking after their own animal and less time interfering with everyone else the world would be a better place.

 

[NeilM]

I also travel long distances with my work and see similar situations.

I don't think it's down to the richness of the grass, I think it's more to do with cramming the maximum number of horses (paying livery's?) onto a given piece of land.

In the 30 plus years I have been on the road, I have seen the number of (visible) horses in fields grow to a massive degree. Not too surprising considering the need for farmers to diversify and find some form of reliable and predictable income.


EDIT: Reading that back, I appear to be having a pop at farmers, which is not my intention. It is just they way some YO's / YM's manage the land / horses I don't much care for.

 

[tallyho!]

Thuggy things? Yes plenty of those about but can't you just put boots on 'til they sort themselves out?

Mine kicked a mare last week - ugly scar. So def understand that perspective but hey, it was tit-tat. He did get half his lip bitten off.

That is horses though. They do heal. Mine is a national champion so I ought to keep him in a stable forevermore but tbh - as long as he runs free with the fat duo even if he does present with a cut or ten I don't mind. If I were to keep him seperated it was only coz I wanted him pristine for a show - how selfish.

NeilM - doesn't matter how many horses you put in a field of cow grass - the more the merrier as they need less of it. So if I was a farmer diversifying... 1 cow = 5 horses = £25/week = readies!!!

I think horsie peeps have taken leave of thier senses.