What would you do?? Advice please x

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ish1977

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Ok, so I have been at my current yard for about a year now, I have been relatively happy, but things have recently started to bug me...

My mare is not allowed to be turned out with the other mares because she was a little too excitable at the start of summer and decided to run around her field for 45 minutes bucking and chasing the other horses and loving it. So now she is in a tiny starvation paddock on her own.

They are in at night and out in the day. I'd love for her to be out all day, but I don't want her to go out first thing though as she gets REALLY bored in the small field and fence walks and shouts to come in. So, I ask the grooms to ensure she gets a large hay net in the morning before she goes out so at least she has something in her belly.

Problem is, I have just been away for a week so had her on livery, I am certain that they only chucked a small amount of hay in at night and just stuffed her in the field in the morning as when I got back she had dropped weight! I walked on to the yard and she was in her field literally screaming!!! I brought her in and she was soooo tense.

Anyway issue is this: Do I keep her at current yard or move to new yard with the risk of upsetting her even more?!

Current yard facilities (part Livery) £50 per week:
Tiny field (no grass) for summer months
No winter grazing OR turnout (not even a small sand paddock)
American Barn Stables
Walker
60x40 outdoor school
15x30 indoor school
limited hacking

Possible new yard (par Livery) £63 per week:
Loads of grazing
Winter turnout paddock
Outdoor stables (not as nice)
Cross country course and gallops
60x20 outdoor
20x40 indoor
hacking, but have to go on main road to get to the bridle paths.

Both are about the same distance to home. What would you do?? Any suggestions welcome. Thank you, Sarah.
 
Move.
She will get more turnout so should settle.
It sounds like your yard is not really helpful and things will not get any better for her,you will get more stressed also if you feel they are not caring for her.
It is more money but you will save by having to feed her less.
 
Thank you all. I agree. I guess I just needed to hear it out loud (or read it in black and white!)

I think she'll be happier at the other yard, and hopefully will like the stables and settle in well. Fingers crossed. I will update you.

Thank you x
 
Money isn't a huge issue, I can work it out. Plus as I can save £10 per week on lessons. The lessons at the current yard are £25 per lesson (45 mins). The instructor at the new yard is £15 (30 mins). So i guess I'm saving there.

Thank you x
 
How much are you paying now at the current yard and what facilities do you already have? (just to compare to the other two possible yards)

Sounds like it’s not working out at the current yard, I can’t understand why she’s been put in a small paddock to herself, has she actually had chance to settle with the heard of mares, obviously horses new to a yard will run about until they have settled in, did they not introduce her one at a time to each mare so being in with them was not as exciting to her? seems very unfair for her to be on her own.

She’ll only pine and loose condition being on her own and you are then having to cough up and pay extra for hay. Is moving her to another yard really going to unsettle her any more than she is now if she’s not content, if not then move, it’s the only way to find out but make sure you have spoke to your YO to ensure there is nothing more they can do to make things better for your mare, if they don’t know there is a problem or that you’re not happy, they can’t help.

Good Luck.
 
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Thank you all so much, you have confirmed what I was feeling and have put my mind at rest.

... On another sublect, how much notice do you normally give to a YO if you're going to leave? I'd like to get her grazing asap really (seeing as summer is nearly over).

Thanks again for your help.
 
If you have a contract then it usually stipulates the notice period. If you don't then the normal notice period is x1 of however often you pay. ie. If you pay monthly, then a months notice. If you pay weekly then a weeks notice.
 
Kenzo said:
How much are you paying now at the current yard and what facilities do you already have? (just to compare to the other two possible yards)

Sounds like it’s not working out at the current yard, I can’t understand why she’s been put in a small paddock to herself, has she actually had chance to settle with the heard of mare, obviously horses new to a yard will run about until they have settled in, did they not introduce her one at a time to each mare so being in with them was not as exciting to her? seems very unfair for her to be on her own, she’ll only pine and loose condition being on her own and you are then having to cough up and pay extra for hay. Is moving her to another yard really going to unsettle her any more than she is now if she’s not content, if not then move, it’s the only way to find out but make sure you have spoke to your YO to ensure there is nothing more than can do to make things better for your mare, if they don’t know there is a problem or that you’re not happy, they can’t help.

Good Luck.
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Thank you. I asked for her to be tried again with the herd, but the YO refused saying that she was dangerous?! I also asked if she could go into a larger grazing field (even on her own) and the YO said no, there wasn't any spare. Perhaps I'll try one more time maybe, who knows??

The yard i'm now at is the first one on my original post, the new possible yard is the second yard on the original post. The facilities are similar (give or take) apart from the grazing. My current yard is a newer, fresher, american barn type yard, but is very strict! The new yard has a more rustic(sp) feel (if that makes sense?!), outdoor stables, old battered jumps, friendly.

I don't mind the "rustic" new yard, i'll take her there where she can be happy and graze, that's the main thing.

Thanks again for all advice.
 
Move without hesitation at all turnout is far more important and your mare will appreciate that more than extra hay I'm sure and I'd cope with the not so nice stables just for the winter turnout to be honest.

I'd go soon as you can really your mare will settle if your happy she's going to be happy and vice aversa
 
piebaldsparkle said:
1 week if you pay weekly, 1 month if you pay monthly
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I thought this might be the case. I don't have a contract, but I pay monthly (even though the bill is worked out weekly then added up.)

I guess we'll have to wait till the end of the month then, but I'll see if there is any wiggle room.

Thank you for your replies.
 
Just out of interest.......
I own a small livery yard. I have had liveries come to me from similar yards with rextricted turnout and inadequate hay - the difference in the horses once they receive all year turnout to suit their needs and plenty of hay at night through the winter (when stabled) is amazing - happy horses with no vices (weaving, door kicking etc) and much safer to ride!
 
Dippy said:
Just out of interest.......
I own a small livery yard. I have had liveries come to me from similar yards with rextricted turnout and inadequate hay - the difference in the horses once they receive all year turnout to suit their needs and plenty of hay at night through the winter (when stabled) is amazing - happy horses with no vices (weaving, door kicking etc) and much safer to ride!
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Thank you, that is good to know. I must admit, she has been a bit of a devil to ride in winter, what with being in all the time with nowhere to kick her heels up! This summer though, it just feels like she's lost her spark a bit (depressed even?!) I'm probably just being stupid, but she screams to come in from her field, then when she is in, she just stands there looking miserable.

She has always been very forward to ride, but now, it's all I can do to get her moving! I really hope she settles down when I move her, and regains that spark that I loved about her when I got her. I think she just needs to be a horse again, if that makes sense. She's had no fun this summer at all. My fault entirely, I should have moved her sooner. But I assumed it would get better and she'd be allowed back out, or things would change... Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but i'll make it right now though.
 
I agree completely. I feel ashamed that I have not moved sooner, and have no excuse. I was blagged with stories of "oh she's much happier in there because she not chasing other horses and she can relax", and "she's got company over the fence, she's absolutely fine" ...I shouldn't have listened to the YO, and listened to my horse instead. I just thought I was getting good advice.

I will pay for my months notice but move at the weekend if I can.

Thanks again for your advice and posts. I'll let you know how she is in the new field.
 
I feel it is interesting that the more "rustic" yard charges more for a similar service .The reason is probably more satisfied customers.
 
be positive said:
I feel it is interesting that the more "rustic" yard charges more for a similar service .The reason is probably more satisfied customers.
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I hope so! They seem really nice and seem to actually care about the horses. All of the horses in the fields when we looked yesterday looked really well.

One of the reason's it's more expensive is because you have to pay extra for bedding (£7 for shavings), whereas the bedding is included in the yard i'm at now.

The new yard is £56 per week (with £7 for a bag of shavings) so £63. But i don't mind paying more if they care and look after my little girl!
 
ish1977 said:
I agree completely. I feel ashamed that I have not moved sooner, and have no excuse.
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So sorry, my comment was a flippant remark about her state of mind. It wasn't intended to berate you in the slightest. We all do the best we can for our horses and you are doing that. Good luck with your move and welcome to here :)
 
Spring Feather said:
So sorry, my comment was a flippant remark about her state of mind. It wasn't intended to berate you in the slightest. We all do the best we can for our horses and you are doing that. Good luck with your move and welcome to here :)
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Thank you, you've all been really helpful. I will take some pictures of the move and let you all know how we get on.

Thanks again :)
 
Yep, without a doubt you should move. I doubt your mare is happy at the current yard. They are cheap but they certainly don't value your custom or care about your horse. I don't know where abouts in the country you are but £63 sounds very cheap for part livery too!
 
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