They’re Home!

[mum_gone_rogue]

Thanks for everyone’s advice for stable essentials at home.

So, my boy and a new companion came home yesterday! They knew each other from the stables where I kept Barney on livery, so they’re already as thick as thieves.

Polly (the companion) needs fattening up, but we have an abundance of grass to help with that.

I had a hiccup last night, as I couldn’t get Polly to go into her new stable ( there’s a step to get in, which she didn’t like), so they slept in the field. So much to think about and routines to establish. Not going to lie, I’m feeling rather overwhelmed by it all, but I hope that as my confidence gets better, things will feel easier!

Feeling a little out of my depth!

 

[JBM]

If it helps I don’t have any kind of routine with mine at all so they don't expect one now! And are just happy out grazing
I leave mine out 24/7 but if the grass needs rest I find that out at night and in during the day is actually a much nicer way to do it(for yourself) as you can have a lie in without worrying that they need fed, they’re already in when you want to ride and they get more turnout time being out at night!
Take it one step at a time they look happy out!!
Also throw her hard feed into her stable and if she’s anything like my mare she will walk over anything to get to it

 

[Auslander]

Is there a reason they can't be out 24/7? I have 6 stables, all with "owners", and 5 of them rarely get used, as my lot much prefer being out - even the fit, clipped competing ones!

 

[mum_gone_rogue]

Is there a reason they can't be out 24/7? I have 6 stables, all with "owners", and 5 of them rarely get used, as my lot much prefer being out - even the fit, clipped competing ones!

Nope, no reason I suppose. I had wanted to wait until it was a bit warmer to have them out all the time. But maybe I’m just being an over protective first time parent.

 

[ihatework]

Nope, no reason I suppose. I had wanted to wait until it was a bit warmer to have them out all the time. But maybe I’m just being an over protective first time parent.

Look at that lovely grass covered field!!! As long as they aren’t too fat leave them out!

 

[JBM]

Nope, no reason I suppose. I had wanted to wait until it was a bit warmer to have them out all the time. But maybe I’m just being an over protective first time parent.

This was my girl in the snow out 24/7 they’re tougher than we give credit for!

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Handy to have the stables, particularly in winter or for when trying to get poo samples for poo counts but I suspect your life will be easier (and cheaper as you won't need bedding or hay for overnights in summer) if you can leave them out and just poo pick.

 

[JBM]

Handy to have the stables, particularly in winter or for when trying to get poo samples for poo counts but I suspect your life will be easier (and cheaper as you won't need bedding or hay for overnights in summer) if you can leave them out and just poo pick.

This! I once spent 2 hours standing in the field waiting for everyone to poop to collect poo samples as I have no stables

 

[Mrs G]

Congratulations OP! A much respected P2P trainer once told me "the best routine for horses is no routine" and certainly with some horses if you keep to too much of a set routine it becomes hard to change it without all hell breaking loose! And I agree with others above - if you have the land keep them out as much as you can - its better for everyone! (Im still waiting for the go ahead to have mine out 24/7 - it cant come soon enough!)

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Congratulations OP! A much respected P2P trainer once told me "the best routine for horses is no routine" and certainly with some horses if you keep to too much of a set routine it becomes hard to change it without all hell breaking loose! And I agree with others above - if you have the land keep them out as much as you can - its better for everyone! (Im still waiting for the go ahead to have mine out 24/7 - it cant come soon enough!)

This in abundance! I have no routine for my lot beyond - breakfast before 9am (could be as early as 4am) hay after 5pm, dinner after 6pm - sometimes they get fed just after 6pm sometimes it's gone 10pm depending on where I have been away racing. Nothing is waiting at the gate at a set time, nothing colics (touch wood) they are all happy and chilled. They know when I turn up its food time but that's all.

 

[Titchy Reindeer]

Congrats on getting them home and welcome to the club. Mine have been home since August last year and I only got the stables sorted out beginning of February. Since then they have spent a grand total of 4 nights in. Once for my convenience, 2 nights because of massive hail storms and once this week because Little Madam decided to have an allergic reaction. Otherwise they often come in in the afternoon when I work from home, ready to ride straight after work. I don't do routine as I can't stand regimented animals, they've all learnt to cope with what life throws at me.

 

[mum_gone_rogue]

Thanks all. Silly question, but how do I feed them separately in the field (God I feel clueless!)? They’re like Velcro to each other and try to eat from the same tub. But I want them to get their supplements etc…

 

[ihatework]

Thanks all. Silly question, but how do I feed them separately in the field (God I feel clueless!)? They’re like Velcro to each other and try to eat from the same tub. But I want them to get their supplements etc…

Well I just tell them to stick to their own bowls and not go on the steal. But if that’s not your bag either pop a little leccy fence pen by the gate and separate them while they eat, or pop headcollars on and use buckets that hang on the fence

 

[Nasicus]

Well I just tell them to stick to their own bowls and not go on the steal. But if that’s not your bag either pop a little leccy fence pen by the gate and separate them while they eat, or pop headcollars on and use buckets that hang on the fence

I used to use a little electric fence corral for such purposes. Well that and being able to go in and out of gates without worrying about any escapees, kind of like a safety porch in an aviary

 

[JBM]

Thanks all. Silly question, but how do I feed them separately in the field (God I feel clueless!)? They’re like Velcro to each other and try to eat from the same tub. But I want them to get their supplements etc…

My older mare tries to steal everyone’s food so I just tie her to eat and that sorts the problem cuz no one will go near her when she’s eating! You could just tie both? Outside the stable or to a fence and wait for them to finish

 

[Dasher66]

I like to feed in the stable at least until they learn that coming “in’ means something to eat. Then you won’t have a problem catching them when the vet/farrier/etc arrives.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Thanks all. Silly question, but how do I feed them separately in the field (God I feel clueless!)? They’re like Velcro to each other and try to eat from the same tub. But I want them to get their supplements etc…

Mine will stick to there own bowls mainly I have 2 at home with no set routine they mainly live out, they come in to the stables most days to be ridden I can't leave 1 in the field they go nuts.

 

[Katieg123]

With regards to getting Polly in her stable - will the other pony walk in and can she follow? sometimes they just need to see that it can be done!

 

[SEL]

I pretty much only use my stables for feeding! I have a very dominant one. If I'm feeding in the field she gets her bucket first and the other two follow me into the next paddock - but actually coming in for breakfast and tea means I can poo pick in peace. Bucket in stable might help your nervous one.

They did 10 nights in this winter when it was so wet the field was a slimy mess and they were miserable. Happily out in Dec's cold spell though.

It is nice having your own place and making your own rules

 

[Peglo]

Mine are out 24/7 atm and it’s way earlier than we’d usually do but since Tali lost her stable mate it was easier. And we’re up north.

As for buckets of feed Tali gets hers first, then Kes and then Squeege as that’s the pecking order. I just give a bit more chaff so they pretty much finish at the same time or stand guard until Squeege is done.

Hope you enjoy having them at home. It’s great, especially in summer.

 

[Bobthecob15]

Ah so lovely! I am hoping to have ours at home one day but we only have a small bit of land and its not currently fenced! Will need to source a bit more elsewhere before we can move him...and find a little companion or two!

Enjoy having them home!

 

[Fjord]

Oh how lovely to have them at home! My mare is on a farm (won't fit in the garden!) and at 24 years old wintered out for the first time. She was fine and it was so much easier (and cheaper) for me. They'll be fine.

 

[mum_gone_rogue]

With regards to getting Polly in her stable - will the other pony walk in and can she follow? sometimes they just need to see that it can be done!

I didn’t try him to be honest, neither of them have experienced these stables yet at all, and my boy is 17.2h, and I wasn’t in the mood to tackle him while I was on my own!

I’ll give it a go with him though for sure. See how she reacts!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Congratulations! Ime, if you put a bucket of feed at the back of the stable directly opposite the door, almost every horse will go into the stable and you can shut the door whilst they concentrate on eating

 

[ponynutz]

I’d definitely get them used to the stables and comfortable in them until theyre out 24/7 just incase you need them in an emergency

 

[Palindrome]

I use a feed bucket with a strap that goes over the horse's poll. They are shetland proof so works for me.

 

[Auslander]

I've just bought 4 nosebags for my girl herd, who live in a big field next door. The fancy warmblood is disgusted, but the other 3 accepted them without any problems!

 

[Annagain]

At the moment I'd feed in the stables to encourage them to go into them. When they're fine with that, feeding in the field is much quicker. Archie and Monty would eat from the same bowl or would swap over half way. They shared a field with others but they were very settled so I'd usually be able to call them and get only them. If the others didn't come I'd just put their feeds down and keep an eye while they ate. If the others were close by, I'd put their buckets in what we call the runway - a gated path from the yard to field, let them out and let them get on with it. They had the same food so it didn't matter who had which bucket but when one of them had to have danilon, I'd pop a headcollar each on, guide them to the correct bucket and stand guard.

If your two are happy sharing a bucket, and eat the same food, I'd take a feed each but just let them get on with it. They might swap over they might stay put or they may share one bucket then the other but it won't make much of a difference. If they have different needs, one in and one out of the field also works well.

 

[mum_gone_rogue]

Thank you! Apologies for all the questions.

I know that it is only been a few days, but I’m now having issues or difficulties rather, separating them. I managed to get a head collar on my gelding, and attempted to take him out of the field. The mare kept attempting to come through the gate too, not wanting to leave my boy.

Once through the gate, this then freaked out the new mare, putting my gelding on high alert. I’m not entirely sure how to handle them both when I’m wanting to take one away just to do a basic groom!

Please help a first time at home, horse parent!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would enlist a helper, lead one horse each at the same time and pop each into their designated stable with a bucket of suitable feed and some hay. Let them both finish the bucket and take one back to the field and then take the other, if you think one can be left for long enough to do that. Then, gradually build up from there.