Rooji
Well-Known Member
I am in need of opinions for my winter plans 
I am pregnant, due in Feb and keep 2 horses at home, a small welsh sec a and a huge 17.2hh ISH 6 yr old. I am their sole carer .
I was planning ( as last year) to start bringing them in at night from Nov and maybe sending my big boy to a full livery not long before baby was due. I am not too keen about sending him away but couldnt risk having to hurtle off to hospital and him not having someone to bring him in etc . He is a real clock watcher and hates a change in routine and anyone else bring him in would have trouble - I can manage him fine but he often needs reminding that he isn't the boss and due to his size/strength others ( even my horsey friends) are intimidated and problems start escalating .....
I am also having concerns over me being able to cope if we have such a bad winter as last - I actually put my back out last big snow doing my stable jobs and I won't be as nimble this year
Anyway I had a thought that maybe I could just leave them out this year - they would be rugged up etc and adlib hay but it should be much easier for me to cope with, and easier if I need help from others as it is much simpler just to fill up water and feed in the field. I am just worried if my big boy would cope as I don't have a field shelter ( though do have a well sheltered field - 8 ft hedges etc) . I don't want to trash all my fields as we are on clay. I have about 4 acres in total including the sheltered field - about 1 1/2 acres - would this be enough ? The main pro for this plan is that I wouldn't really need to send my ISH away as it should be easier than stabling and it is not like he is in work - I stopped riding a couple of weeks ago.
Am I worrying too much? Sorry this is such a long post - tea and biccys if you got through all of the above !
I am pregnant, due in Feb and keep 2 horses at home, a small welsh sec a and a huge 17.2hh ISH 6 yr old. I am their sole carer . I was planning ( as last year) to start bringing them in at night from Nov and maybe sending my big boy to a full livery not long before baby was due. I am not too keen about sending him away but couldnt risk having to hurtle off to hospital and him not having someone to bring him in etc . He is a real clock watcher and hates a change in routine and anyone else bring him in would have trouble - I can manage him fine but he often needs reminding that he isn't the boss and due to his size/strength others ( even my horsey friends) are intimidated and problems start escalating .....
I am also having concerns over me being able to cope if we have such a bad winter as last - I actually put my back out last big snow doing my stable jobs and I won't be as nimble this year
Anyway I had a thought that maybe I could just leave them out this year - they would be rugged up etc and adlib hay but it should be much easier for me to cope with, and easier if I need help from others as it is much simpler just to fill up water and feed in the field. I am just worried if my big boy would cope as I don't have a field shelter ( though do have a well sheltered field - 8 ft hedges etc) . I don't want to trash all my fields as we are on clay. I have about 4 acres in total including the sheltered field - about 1 1/2 acres - would this be enough ? The main pro for this plan is that I wouldn't really need to send my ISH away as it should be easier than stabling and it is not like he is in work - I stopped riding a couple of weeks ago.
Am I worrying too much? Sorry this is such a long post - tea and biccys if you got through all of the above !
