Tips and advice for moving from livery yard to field?

[Hippoloosa]

I’m thinking of moving my young horse from a livery yard to grass livery. Mostly as he has had an injury and me and the vet feel he would benefit from a quiet winter just hacking, so to pay for my current yard seems daft when i can’t use the facilities and it doesn’t have the best hacking.

I’ve found a gorgeous little grass livery place. Loads of huge trees for shelter and water supplied and hay when needed. I’ve no doubt my horse will love it, he’s a hardy type and likes living in a small herd.

But I need hints and tips on how I can survive - I’m going to have to keep my stuff either at home or in the car. Before long it’ll be getting more wintery - I have quite flexible working hours so should be able to get up in the daylight most days but a couple of days a week it’ll probably be in the dark (sorry to skip forward to winter!).
I’m kind of hoping I grow to love this way of horse keeping as it’ll save me so much money! And the area is lovely with amazing hacking. If he comes sound and can do more in a few months then I do have a trailer and can hire arenas at least.

Anyway I’ll stop rambling - any advice or reassurance I’m doing the right thing gladly received.

 

[Barton Bounty]

So firstly I would get yourself a little garden unit or garden box to store your stuff in, something watertight so you arent lugging all your stuff around. Always put dirty boots inside a tub or box or bag. Other than that you will be fine, keep most of your stuff at home and transfer when you need

 

[AmyMay]

Good wet weather gear for you. Interchangeable rugs for him. Hat with head torch. Welly bag for the car.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

A good head torch for the dark days.

 

[Fieldlife]

A good head torch for the dark days.

I have a great headtorch, but somewhere nice and safe. Damned if I can find it. Arghhhh

 

[Barton Bounty]

I have a great headtorch, but somewhere nice and safe. Damned if I can find it. Arghhhh

Hubby bought me a crackin led one from screwfix

 

[Fieldlife]

Hubby bought me a crackin led one from screwfix

Rechargeable? I guess I should buy another, as mine isnt re-appearing.

 

[scruffyponies]

A good head torch for the dark days.

You can get a beanie hat with a USB rechargeable LED torch built in.
I was given one as a present and it's the best thing ever.

 

[Squeak]

You can get a beanie hat with a USB rechargeable LED torch built in.
I was given one as a present and it's the best thing ever.

Have to disagree with you on that one. I have a rechargeable head torch from Amazon and the hat with the torch in it and the head torch is far better as it’s brighter and more adjustable.

 

[MuddyMonster]

Have to disagree with you on that one. I have a rechargeable head torch from Amazon and the hat with the torch in it and the head torch is far better as it’s brighter and more adjustable.

I found the same. My headtorches are far brighter than my LED hat.

 

[Squeak]

So firstly I would get yourself a little garden unit or garden box to store your stuff in, something watertight so you arent lugging all your stuff around. Always put dirty boots inside a tub or box or bag. Other than that you will be fine, keep most of your stuff at home and transfer when you need

If you’re able to get something to store stuff in that would really help.

One of the best things I bought when I changed to somewhere with hacking only and no school was a riding skirt for the winter. I find I get loads colder hacking than schooling and also I’d get soaked from the branches if it had rained earlier even if it wasn’t raining when I was riding. The skirt kept me dry and warm.

 

[ponynutz]

You can get a beanie hat with a USB rechargeable LED torch built in.
I was given one as a present and it's the best thing ever.

Second this, love mine.

Not as strong but doubles up as my skull cap cover on an evening hack. Can turn it on and off like full beam headlights.

 

[Pippity]

You can get a beanie hat with a USB rechargeable LED torch built in.
I was given one as a present and it's the best thing ever.

I have them and wear them all the time through winter. However, the light is great for tacking up, doing things in the stable, etc., but it's not strong enough for poo-picking or anything outside.

 

[scruffyponies]

I have them and wear them all the time through winter. However, the light is great for tacking up, doing things in the stable, etc., but it's not strong enough for poo-picking or anything outside.

Mainly use mine for walking the dog. There's no artificial light at all, so in the woods the alternative is complete darkness. If you're used to that (I have actually used the rottweiler as a guide dog a couple of times), it's plenty bright enough!

 

[FFAQ]

Mud control mats to create a hard standing for the farrier!
I have just done a similar move myself and have got a shed and a camping stove - equestrians live on tea!

 

[Red-1]

Rugs, IME you will need at least two exteriors of good quality (I have Rambo/Rhino) and then liners. The reason for two is that, although they are waterproof when on, as soon as you remove them, the water does seep.

If you are riding, the horse will need a fresh one when returned, and you will need somewhere to dry the first. Bagging and taking home to a garage with a heated rail or similar would be great.

I would also get the horse a waterproof exercise sheet, or you will ride the horse, get him wet then have to rug up a wet horse. With 2 rugs and an exercise sheet, you will always be leaving the horse dry and protected. Unless your horse is one of those who would not need rugging, which would be great.

I would get two slightly different rugs anyway, and switch each time you remove (for me that is twice daily, but I guess I could put up with once daily) if someone else checks one end of the day. The reason being that there are slightly different pressure points. I usually have warmer rugs/more liner at night.

I would also have a proper head torch, not just an LED hat. I have the hat, my husband the head torch. He looks like one of these American trucks at night. I have been known to steal his torch as it does make everything bright.

I would get a good car boot liner. Fit a heater to the garage.

 

[maya2008]

Mine live out. One good rug of each appropriate weight per horse, hung on the gate while riding or folded up so the rain won’t get to the inside. My TB used to have a range of them, but now I have ponies so most of them just have a rain sheet to keep the mud off! I don’t clip unless I absolutely have to, and then only bib/belly.

If your horse needs lots of feed in winter, it can take up to half an hour to sit and wait while they eat.

 

[Muddy unicorn]

We did our first full winter at grass livery last year and it wasn't as bad as I'd thought (helped by it not being particularly cold or wet here). My must-haves were a waterproof garden storage box; head torch (proper one so you can angle the beam to avoid blinding horses/fellow liveries - I've got one of the LED beanies and it's ok, but not a patch on the head torch); really good pair of wellies and welly liners and a thermos flask. Oh, and a compliant horse who comes as soon as they hear you - it's amazing how little you can see, even with a head torch and turning up to a very large field at 5pm in the pitch dark and not being able to see the faintest hint of a horse, only to turn round and suddenly he's there gives you an enormous sense of relief!

 

[sjdress]

Head torch is a must! some good waterproofs for you and also enough rugs for Your horse (if needed) to swap over if particularly wet as rugs can get heavy. The biggest game changer for me was installing a field shelter. It means I have a dry area to groom, tack up, daily checks etc. I also got a good sturdy waterproof storage cabinet for brushes etc and keep a supply of hay at field on pallets with tarpaulin over the top to keep dry! My horse is extremely happy wintering out with this set up!

 

[Peglo]

Rugs with reflector bits on them so they are easy to find with a torch. As @Red-1 says, rambos and rhinos have them and some weathabeeta’s and amigos. I’m sure there’s plenty others but that’s the ones I’ve used.

 

[Fransurrey]

Waterproof seat covers all round in the car. Transporting anything horsey is messy business.