To move yards or not to move?

Holly Hocks

Holly Hocks

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I am currently on DIY livery on a farm. I like the other liveries a lot - there is the usual moaning and whinging but generally it's fairly harmless and pretty good camaraderie, although there are a few spineless idiots. However I have encountered a major issue which is causing me stress. The farmer has decided that as it has been raining a lot and the fields are wet, we are only allowed to turn out for one hour a day. My TB mare can be a bit volatile at the best of times and my other horse is a four year old 14hh native. We do have a school but with the rain that has also flooded and is more or less unrideable now. But the farmer is dead set on protecting the fields (there are way too many horses for the land) and I'm not really prepared to have my horses in their stables for 22/23 hrs per day. I have been to see another yard which is quite close by but is more expensive although the facilities are much nicer. It's also not totally DIY as they do one end of the day - either turn out or bring in. So I would save a bit on fuel. They have all day every day turnout, regardless of weather. I have just done my sums and it's going to work out about £100 more per month. The school is 20x60 and harrowed daily. I just don't know what to do. The only thing that puts me off the other yard is that all the fields are hills and my TB has spavin and hind limb PSLD. The other thing is that when I do put them out for an hour at the current yard and then shout them to come in, they seem happy to come in. Help and advice please. :)
 
Limited turnout will not be doing the tb much good, with spavins lack of movement is likely to make them worse, a 4 year old needs to be out more also, will the one hour a day become no turnout if the weather gets worse, a school that you cannot use is no good for exercising, before long they will probably start to become a real handful.
 
That's my thoughts too. If I didn't work such long hours, I could hack them out, but I need to be in work by 7.30am some days and don't finish til 5pm, so it's dark by then. I don't think he'll take the one hour turnout away and to be honest I put mine out for an hour this morning and an hour tonight and when I went to the field to get them, the TB came cantering down to come in. I like the yard I'm at, I just don't like the farmer's attitude towards horses and their welfare. Even on days when it's sunny we're only allowed maximum of four hours out. I liked the other yard I went to see as well - but I still have some questions to ask the YO when she rings me this week again.
 
I would definitely move. My friend has a tb x welsh and in winter they were only allowed one hour a day turnout. He became not only unrideable but unmanageable and yard staff refused to handle him so even though he was on part she had to go up twice a day he's now on daily turnout and is no problem.
 
victoria1980x said:
I would definitely move. My friend has a tb x welsh and in winter they were only allowed one hour a day turnout. He became not only unrideable but unmanageable and yard staff refused to handle him so even though he was on part she had to go up twice a day he's now on daily turnout and is no problem.
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I'm definitely leaning towards moving but I have some questions for he YO. She was supposed to be phoning me tonight but hasn't done yet and as I have to be up at 5.30am tomorrow as working away for the day I'm going to bed very soon. Another temptation for moving is that I would get part of my life back. I seem to spend every waking moment when I'm not at work at the yard and I want to spend more time with my new dog and OH. I'm an early starter so could quite easily muck out and ride before work and then not have to go back in the evening. Could even get a social life back (can't remember what that was to be honest!)
 
Used to be on a livery yard like yours with my horses. Allowed out 1hr a day. They were ridden everyday and they did get used to the routine with no behaviour issues after a while. I thought they were doing ok. However I managed to get my own place with more grass than they can eat and over 20 acres to play in and I have seen a big difference in them. they always wanted to come in after their hour before but since moving although they still come to call, they are happy to live out most of the time. Only in really wet weather do I get them in that includes the TBs. The horses are more relaxed and I think they are happier and healthier. My old native pony had COPD, manged with wet hay and dust free bedding but now living out the last year not even a sign of a cough. Plus I have more time to ride and enjoy them now I am not constantly mucking out. The more time horses can be out on good pasture the better for all I believe.
 
If i were you OP i'd defo move. One hour of turnout a day is no where near enough- your horse, if volatile already, could end up going stir crazy in a stable 23 hours a day and be a total nightmare to ride/handle. Plus, i'd say the lack of movement will not be doing her any good.
Don't worry about the hilly land at the new place, it will be great for your youngster and i'm sure your mare will cope fine too- they will move around as they wish anyway!
I think the new yard sounds a good compromise, you could always move now but still keep an eye out for something else if needed. Good luck with it all. :)
 
Move. I spent the last two years at a nice yard but I was getting up at silly hours to turn out and then go to work and be back later on. It was a 20minute journey each way and was costing a bomb on diesel not to mention time consuming . I moved to yard closer with turn out and bring in and although its more expensive I'm actually saving on diesel so it evens out. I'm a lot less tired as well and seem to have days where I can do a bit of shopping or I do want to go out a long hack! One hour turnout is no use either ....
 
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