When is it time to give up?

[Nichola_BEquestrian]

My whole life has been horses and I wish that that could continue. Everything I’ve ever worked for has been horses, the one thing that made me truly happy.

Unfortunately present circumstances seem to be destroying my love of horses. I’ve spent a full winter box resting and rehabbing my boy, on a yard that promised a small turnout paddock so that I could start riding again. Only to be told the paddock will now not be available again as they want to seed it and rest it.

I already feel cruel that my boy has watched other horses turned out for months whilst he box rested, and though he’s been very good throughout, he’s reaching breaking point (understandably). His injury has healed remarkably well though.

I’ve also been searching for a yard for months and months, somewhere that will allow me small paddock turnout until he’s fit enough to return to normal grazing. But I can’t find anything local enough.

The yard politics and lack of options for my boy have really made me feel at an all time low.

So now I’m thinking rather than rehab him back to riding, should I just retire him to somewhere and let him go out. Despite my months of following vet advice and rehabbing exactly as planned, I still have no options to get him small area turnout and get riding again. So maybe it would be best to turnout somewhere and retire him? Breaks my heart, but I want what’s best for him.

Sorry for the whiny post, I’m just feeling very let down and very sad at the moment. Because of people in the industry and the yards etc, I feel like giving up horses forever.

Any advice appreciated

 

[AdorableAlice]

Put up a rough idea of where you need the rehab paddock to be and someone on the forum might be able to help you or point you in the right direction.

You have put all the work, heartache and effort into the box rest with seemingly, a good chance of a rideable horse at the end of it, don't give up hope just yet. Everything crossed someone can help you.

 

[Abacus]

Agree with @AdorableAlice - someone might help! If you were near to me I could do this at my yard, we have 3 small turnout paddocks (and the capability to make them as small as needed). Others might also be able to help. Keep trying - the weather has finally improved and it’s worth another push to get your horse back.

 

[maya2008]

Post on local Facebook groups or ask a friend to on your behalf. Someone will have what you need.

 

[Nichola_BEquestrian]

Thank you all
I’m in Bolton, Greater Manchester

I asked my current yard if I could fence a little bit off for him and alternate with the other horses (in when they are out, out when they are in). I’d supply all electric fencing

This made matters worse. They were really horrible to me and told me to just leave if the mixed herd isn’t good enough.

I’ve lived, breathed and worked in the industry a long time. But I’ve hit a point where it’s really getting me down. Sorry for venting on you guys

 

[I'm Dun]

What about rehab livery? They will have suitable facilities and can get him going while you find a yard that works better.

 

[pistolpete]

I’m so sorry you’re having this problem. If you’ve put all the effort into rehab it would be a shame to retire him unless you have to. Today is obviously a rotten day but things will change! They always do. Nothing stays the same forever. Hang in there. Keep positive. Meanwhile I’d be hand grazing and letting my horse eat some hawthorn in the hedge just to give him some quality outdoes time. Good luck.

 

[PeterNatt]

What about finding a local private yard? i.e a domestic house with land and stables, which either has space for another horse or no horses at all.

 

[Chianti]

I was desperate last year to find a new yard to move to. I thought I'd looked at every yard in my area - some of them twice- over the years. I'd done all the horsey Facebook groups and spent evenings searching through these for livery but no result. So I joined local non horsey groups - local village pages and posted on those. I had lots of responses from private yards or yards that were so good that they didn't need to advertise. I did find somewhere to go to. I really feel for you as when livery isn't working all you want is a magic wand to conjure up a new home for your horse. I hope you can find somewhere.

 

[Fire sign]

My whole life has been horses and I wish that that could continue. Everything I’ve ever worked for has been horses, the one thing that made me truly happy.

Unfortunately present circumstances seem to be destroying my love of horses. I’ve spent a full winter box resting and rehabbing my boy, on a yard that promised a small turnout paddock so that I could start riding again. Only to be told the paddock will now not be available again as they want to seed it and rest it.

I already feel cruel that my boy has watched other horses turned out for months whilst he box rested, and though he’s been very good throughout, he’s reaching breaking point (understandably). His injury has healed remarkably well though.

I’ve also been searching for a yard for months and months, somewhere that will allow me small paddock turnout until he’s fit enough to return to normal grazing. But I can’t find anything local enough.

The yard politics and lack of options for my boy have really made me feel at an all time low.

So now I’m thinking rather than rehab him back to riding, should I just retire him to somewhere and let him go out. Despite my months of following vet advice and rehabbing exactly as planned, I still have no options to get him small area turnout and get riding again. So maybe it would be best to turnout somewhere and retire him? Breaks my heart, but I want what’s best for him.

Sorry for the whiny post, I’m just feeling very let down and very sad at the moment. Because of people in the industry and the yards etc, I feel like giving up horses forever.

Any advice appreciated

Hi there , so sorry for you having to go through months of box rest , I’ve done this and it’s soul destroying . What is the prognosis for your boy for a return to normal ridden work if you can follow the vet’s instructions to the letter ? What was the injury ? If there is a good prognosis then I would be highly motivated to move him somewhere like rehab livery for a few weeks until he can be turned out as normal ..

 

[Lucky Snowball]

Don’t give up. I’m too far away but could easily accommodate. Agree, try private houses. Facebook. Is it worth asking the vets if they know anywhere. Also offer to pay - people like a little extra! Good luck.

 

[pistolpete]

Also ask at local tack and feed shops?

 

[spotty_pony2]

Post on local Facebook groups or ask a friend to on your behalf. Someone will have what you need.

I’d also go round and ask locally, maybe knock on a few doors of farms and private yards… even if someone could offer you something temporarily until he can have a bigger turnout area again it might be helpful. Also ask your farrier if he knows anyone…

 

[GypsGal1718]

Asking around is really worth it, try Facebook, local shops and just call other yards in the area and hopefully you will get a good result

 

[Nichola_BEquestrian]

Thank you all, I've asked on local groups today, rather than just the horsey/livery groups. I'm considering rehab livery in the mean time, with hopes that I will find somewhere before he comes back. So difficult when they need rehabbing, a lot of yards aren't very understanding about it

My current yard "don't believe in rehabbing..." Want me to just put him out on 8 acres with a mixed herd of 30. My rehab efforts would be undone in minutes...

 

[nagblagger]

Mixed herd of 30 on 8 acres is not enough anyway.

 

[Squeak]

Hi there , so sorry for you having to go through months of box rest , I’ve done this and it’s soul destroying . What is the prognosis for your boy for a return to normal ridden work if you can follow the vet’s instructions to the letter ? What was the injury ? If there is a good prognosis then I would be highly motivated to move him somewhere like rehab livery for a few weeks until he can be turned out as normal ..

I was thinking this, would it be possible to put him on rehab livery for a month or two so that he could then be turned out as normal when he comes back or you're able to find a different yard?

 

[2big2small]

Ah you poor thing livery yards can be so miserable.
I can’t really offer more advice than has already been stated up thread but wanted to wish you luck with your search

 

[Nichola_BEquestrian]

Thank you all, I'm going to contact a few rehab yards and see what they can offer. I will need to consider the length of time he is there as I will ultimately need a yard for him to come home to!

If all else fails I'll end up having to turn him out and retire him (and hope for the best - as I wouldn't want him to be re-injured and suffer). Livery yards are a nightmare. So envious of everyone who has horses at home...

 

[CJoe]

Thank you all
I’m in Bolton, Greater Manchester

I asked my current yard if I could fence a little bit off for him and alternate with the other horses (in when they are out, out when they are in). I’d supply all electric fencing

This made matters worse. They were really horrible to me and told me to just leave if the mixed herd isn’t good enough.

I’ve lived, breathed and worked in the industry a long time. But I’ve hit a point where it’s really getting me down. Sorry for venting on you guys

wow, clearly clueless about rehabbing horses! post on local pages in your area something will come up.

 

[myheartinahoofbeat]

Thank you all, I'm going to contact a few rehab yards and see what they can offer. I will need to consider the length of time he is there as I will ultimately need a yard for him to come home to!

If all else fails I'll end up having to turn him out and retire him (and hope for the best - as I wouldn't want him to be re-injured and suffer). Livery yards are a nightmare. So envious of everyone who has horses at home...

Not sure which injury you are rehabbing but turning away doesn’t have to be the end of the line. We had one with a suspensory injury and decided to turn away for a year. He came good and is now back being ridden again. You maybe able to use a 24/7 retirement livery for now and then be able to start riding him again eventually

 

[Nichola_BEquestrian]

wow, clearly clueless about rehabbing horses! post on local pages in your area something will come up.

Thank you. It's a nightmare where I am. Great because it's 5 mins from home, but not so great in other ways. Especially as they 'don't believe in rehabbing horses'. I came so close to getting a sick paddock for him

I'e messaged a couple of retirement places to see if they could help with a temporary place for him to be turned away.

 

[Nichola_BEquestrian]

hi all

Still struggling to find anywhere in my area that will let me have small paddock turnout

What are people’s thoughts on me just turning him out?
All of the horses are going on to the summer field this weekend, so hopefully they would be too interested in grass than obsessed with my boy (being a new member of the herd).

He’s done box rest and has a small hand standing area outside of his stable for the last 6 months. Vet said his injury had healed well and he was 99% better. I need to start walking him in hand/hacking him now. But he’s getting a bit wild to try walk. Yard owner has been promising my small paddock since November, but still nothing.

Would you just turn him out with the big herd this weekend? Or will it undo all of the rehab efforts?

It’s killing me to see him stabled so much

 

[ycbm]

It's a frustrating situation for you both, but after all the rehab time, how would you feel if he has a hooley and puts himself back to square one?
.

 

[Michen]

So frustrating for you. Personally I'd keep him box rested longer if you can't do small paddock turnout, and get him WTC under saddle or whatnot so that he's stronger and strengthened before then turning him out. I wouldn't want his first "fast" moment to be galloping around in a field, I'd want him cantering under saddle first.

Is sending him to a rehab yard an option instead?

 

[Nichola_BEquestrian]

Thank you both. I know, I agree. You are right, it’s just so hard.

All the horses disappeared off on summer turnout today. Now he’s on the yard on his own
It’s killing me to see him stabled like that

 

[Abacus]

Personally I would beg the yard owner for a day or two of a fenced off area (you could offer to do it yourself) and sedate if necessary before putting him in the big field. Long term box rest is so awful.

 

[TheBigPony]

Have you looked further a field to find the livery you need? It may make life a bit awkward for a few months but it might be worth it in the short term.

 

[IrishMilo]

So frustrating for you. Personally I'd keep him box rested longer if you can't do small paddock turnout, and get him WTC under saddle or whatnot so that he's stronger and strengthened before then turning him out. I wouldn't want his first "fast" moment to be galloping around in a field, I'd want him cantering under saddle first.

Is sending him to a rehab yard an option instead?

This is exactly what I would do too.

 

[sollimum]

I have sent my young cob to a rehab yard, I am not sure what your horse's injury is but you do need an intermediate step between all that box rest and galloping around with the herd. It sounds like you have done an amazing job, box resting and looking after him through a long winter, so a rehab yard would be a good next step and then he can either come back to the herd or you can find him another livery yard. The rehab yard have found my cob a field buddy that is very calm, so he is having turnout with another which is wonderful and doing inhand rehab each day too.