Track Livery

[Bellalily]

I’ve never been able to afford track livery for two, but I’ve stumbled across one that seems perfect. I’m going to visit at lunchtime, but it looks great. It’s full grass livery with natural shelter and barns for them.
My only real concern is that my 28 year old has never fully wintered out, although I’ve waited until December before now and chucked out in March. I’m wondering how he’ll cope with being out 24/7. Physically it’ll probably do him a lot of good as he’s getting quite stiff overnight and obviously he has a large wardrobe to keep him warm and dry.
Has anyone else done this? He’d still have his friend with him all the time as well as others. I just don’t want him getting tired if he doesn’t rest as much at night.

 

[Bellalily]

I should add that this one is a much better price and won’t cost much more than being on DIY.

 

[Arzada]

He’d still have his friend with him all the time as well as others. I just don’t want him getting tired if he doesn’t rest as much at night

Sounds great - still with his friend and in a herd. The herd will take shifts. Some rest/sleep/lie flat out while another/others are on lookout duty

 

[SantaVera]

My horses all live out all year round including the 29year old but they do have field shelters and rugs if necessary. You do have to watch out for them getting too fat if on grass in the summer though.

 

[SantaVera]

Another consideration is mud in winter are the gate ways and haying up areas properly constructed so they don't become a sea of mud?

 

[Bellalily]

My horses all live out all year round including the 29year old but they do have field shelters and rugs if necessary. You do have to watch out for them getting too fat if on grass in the summer though.

It’s track livery so grass won’t be a problem. He’s only just fat enough now and still on winter rations and hay.

 

[Bellalily]

It’s track livery so grass won’t be a problem. He’s only just fat enough now and still on winter rations and hay. View attachment 119092

Excuse the daft pic, it was the only one small enough to add

 

[Bellalily]

Another consideration is mud in winter are the gate ways and haying up areas properly constructed so they don't become a sea of mud?

Good point! I shall check that out. Thank you.

 

[Birker2020]

I’ve never been able to afford track livery for two, but I’ve stumbled across one that seems perfect. I’m going to visit at lunchtime, but it looks great. It’s full grass livery with natural shelter and barns for them.
My only real concern is that my 28 year old has never fully wintered out, although I’ve waited until December before now and chucked out in March. I’m wondering how he’ll cope with being out 24/7. Physically it’ll probably do him a lot of good as he’s getting quite stiff overnight and obviously he has a large wardrobe to keep him warm and dry.
Has anyone else done this? He’d still have his friend with him all the time as well as others. I just don’t want him getting tired if he doesn’t rest as much at night.

Lari was a ex comp horse, then privately owned, the usual in/out scenario, same with me. So he's at retirement livery, out 24/7 and he's never looked better. Visited him yesterday, seems very happy, shouted to his friends when we turned him back out and wandered off to find him. No backward glances- couldn't be more pleased.

We are having some new ones next week so will see what happens, but in terms of looking well (no rugs/fly sheets) he looks great. Feet amazing too! Look strong, no thrush.

 

[Bellalily]

Lari was a ex comp horse, then privately owned, the usual in/out scenario, same with me. So he's at retirement livery, out 24/7 and he's never looked better. Visited him yesterday, seems very happy, shouted to his friends when we turned him back out and wandered off to find him. No backward glances- couldn't be more pleased.

We are having some new ones next week so will see what happens, but in termsvif looking well (no rugs/fly sheets) he looks great. Feet amazing too!

Has he done a winter out? I’m just worried he will miss his stable this year

 

[Birker2020]

Has he done a winter out? I’m just worried he will miss his stable this year

No he's not done a winter yet as he went to retirement the first time in April 1st then came back after getting injured 17 days later, then went again 1st July.

I seriously don't feel he will cope well with winter ground conditions but that was because he had what the vet called a significant injury with significant damage to both the DDFT and the SDFT which I worked on literally day and night to fix him so he could return to retirement. I'm not sure how or if it will hold out if last winters mud was anything to go by. But we feel even if he only manages these few months over summer and autumn at least he's had some enjoyment of a free retirement life.

That certainly wouldn't be the case for the 'normal' uninjured tendon horse, I'm sure physically Lari could cope without a rug as he detests them so much! I'm sure your horse would manage equally with or without a rug.

I think timing is crucial. In retrospect Lari would have been better going a month or two later than when he went in April but in the Midlands we had some unprecedented wet weather which turns the area between fields where the mud control mats ended into a swamp. The difference now its dry is incredible and his leg is down and cool.

Research has shown that when a horse is stabled but with its door left open free to venture outside they choose the latter.

 

[Bellalily]

No he's not done a winter yet as he went to retirement the first time in April 1st then came back after getting injured 17 days later, then went again 1st July.

I seriously don't feel he will cope well with winter ground conditions but that was because he had what the vet called a significant injury with significant damage to both the DDFT and the SDFT which I worked on literally day and night to fix him so he could return to retirement. I'm not sure how or if it will hold out if last winters mud was anything to go by. But we feel even if he only manages these for months over summer and autumn at least he's had some enjoyment of a free retirement life.

That certainly wouldn't be the case for the 'normal' uninjured tendon horse, I'm sure physically Lari could cope without a rug as he detests them so much! I'm sure your horse would manage equally with or without a rug.

I think timing is crucial. In retrospect Lari would have been better going a month or two later than when he went in April but in The Midlands we had some unprecedented wet weather which turns the area between fields where the mud control mats ended into a swamp. The difference now its dry is incredible and his leg is down and cool.

Research has shown that when a horse is stable but with its door left open free to venture outside they choose the latter.

I’m hoping to continue spending non ridden time with him, including taking him with me on rides as he has done for many years. Regards giving them the option, yes we noticed that too, they would come in for their hay, but would rather stay out unless it was utterly hideous. I did find him in the shelter a few times and that was when he was rugged too, but it was a particularly disgusting day. As long as he has shelter and can rest, I’m hoping he’ll be ok. Thank you

 

[Bellalily]

Complete waste of time. She’s started the set up, but I noticed the horses were in the field when I arrived, instead of being on the track, which completely negates the benefits of a track, but I assume it’s for her to save money on hay as there were no feed or hay stations. Also as was suggested by someone here, it’s on the side of a hill and has had no groundworks done. Basically she’s put an electric fence round her land. I know it was cheap, but blimey. Hey ho. The one near me is fab, but it’s an extra £400 pm on what I’m paying now, so no good. Thanks for all the advice I’ll stick to mine.

 

[Fjord]

Oh bummer, what a shame. I was going to say that my 25 year old wintered out for the first time last winter, she was rugged and absolutely fine.

 

[Birker2020]

What a shame. Rotten bad luck.