Those of you on your own.........

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LOZHUG

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Yesterday the lady I share fields with told me she is leaving next Wednesday, as much as this has come as a shock I knew she was planning on leaving as she wanted to go back on a livery yard but I didn't expect her to be going so soon!

On the plus side I am buying the land woo hoo!! :)

I just wonder how those of you who keep your horses at home/field without a sharer so to speak. We had a nice little rota going to share the trips to the yard, the work etc. Any tips on time keeping, costs, things I can do/make myself? Any ideas would be great thanks.

My horse hates being on his own so I have had to bring my Shetland back from being on loan to keep him company, if only they were pleased to see one another. They have been back together a week and in a separate field to the lady I share fields with horse and are starting to settle down less calling etc so that's good I suppose! :s

Thanks :)
 
we rent a yard for our 2. We have 8 1/2 acres and 5 stables and 2 barns and a tack/feed room and a school underneath the weeds! We have a 15h 5 yr old welsh D and a 16.2 2 yr old H/W hunter. We have sheep on the grazing through the flush months, usually about 40. the biggest challenge, by far, is maintanance. I have a 10 month old daughter and keeping on top of everything is so difficult. Worth it though as i never have to deal with anyone if i don't want to.
 
I just have my mare and some sheep, she's happier alone as tends to get bullied when sharing. I do all the work myself, but it's not a big deal withjust one. My daughter is 18 months old and it gets easier when they can walk, although strapping them in the buggy when you need to isn't always easy!
 
Thanks gerorgie0 and Ob for your replies. I am really looking forward to getting on and doing things bit by bit the only thing I am not quite looking forward to is gong back to having to go and check them twice a day as it will be just me and no one to share the load with. Especially over winter!

Oh well needs must
 
Could you get another sharer? My time saving tips would be 24/7 turnout, good rug (if needed) and big bale hay/haylage in the field, that way if time is tight you can just turn up and check them over.
 
I would also suggest getting another sharer.

I rent a big field a couple of miles from home and had to do them all myself for two years. Last winter a friend put her old horse out with mine, and just having 3 nights off a week was a godsend.

Are there any nearby neighbours you could chat up? Maybe give them your number so if they think there is a problem they will ring. I must admit I only went up once a day because I had several friends that drove past my field, and they would always slow down and check they were all still standing. When one was laying down as she went shopping and was still down when she returned, she rang me quickly (he was tired!). Luckily there was enough grazing that they only needed feeding once a day, and when it was snowing badly, we got the farmer to put out a round bale that they could eat all day long. Some was trashed but it was easier than going up twice a day.

But obviously only going up once a day is not ideal if your field is remote.
 
I've had horses on my own previously and I used to make feed up for the morning the night before if they were fed, ditto the haynets.

A little trick I found quite handy was to have a little box that I could stick boots/brushes/hoofpick etc in if they were in a field so I could take everything up with me when I went to check them then I had spares if they needed to be changed etc. It made things a lot easier to carry across a field!
 
Im on my own with my 2 girlies, and I wouldnt have it any other way! It gets a bit tedious in the winter when you are trying to drag a barrow of muck through a sodden, muddy field (oh, sorry, that was yesterday! Dratted weather!!) but you dont have anyone telling you what to do, when to do it and how to look after your neds!
My top tips are haynets premade and in your boot - I prefer nets as most horses drag hay/haylage out of the bale and trample it! - Baby oil on tail, legs and elbows, plait up long manes, keeps them cool in summer and clean in winter! A good quality rug - when its tazzing down so fast you cant see, and blowing a gale that takes your breath, you will be glad you dont have t try and strip dry and re-rug a sodden an narkey horse! Headtorch - they are amazing!! Cant really think of anything else to be honest, it helps if your horses live on the way to work as mine do) I hedge farm them on the way to work at 7 and then go to them at 11 when Im done, and the same at night x
 
I rent a small yard just with my 2 horses by myself- and with 2 children and 2 dogs all my sole responsibility (husband works abroad) its quite a job especially in the winter.

I miss having support when its needed but the yard is a 5 minute walk 1 minute drive so even if the kids are poorly I can pop them in the car for 2 minutes whilst I let out, or with their iPads if I need to quickly do a skip out.

I actually like just doing my own thing and not having to take anyone else into consideration. My horses are so much calmer with just me around too the change in the 1 is unreal!
 
A good big shelter that you can section off as a stable if need be. If possible with a locking shed/feedroom area that you can keep feed/rugs/tools in.

Are there houses in the area? Would you be able to pay a good horsey teen to go and check them once a day perhaps?
 
It can be done on your own, you just need to be organised. A field shelter helps and invest in a really good head torch, if you have no elec.
I manage my lad who has to be stabled all year at night and work full time. In the summer I get up at 5am and ride before work and muck out and do water. In the evening I put him away for the night and poo pick the field to keep on top.
I have a mobile field stable and collect water off the roof in water butts - so I never need to bring water from home - which would be a pain.
I get his hay piles for the week ready at the weekend.
 
Thank you all for your replies.

Plus sides:
I have stables, electric, water and can do what I want when I want.

Down sides at the moment:
When this lady leaves it will be me doing twice daily checks as this is essential with my accident prone horse. Deciding on fields to use etc and used them efficiently over the winter.

He was out last winter 24/7 for his 1st winter out with me and survived very well I just hope we get a dryer winter this time round otherwise it will be mud, mud and more mud! Oh silly me it's like that now!! I think what I will do is keep him in on awful days with a net to try and save on the fields and then I can muck out in my own time morn or eve. I will also do enough nets and feeds ready for the week as suggested.

Any other time saving tips?

Thanks
 
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