lovelyfrenchie3000
Well-Known Member
It’s only about 0.5 acres so pretty small
Which yard?
- Thread starter lovelyfrenchie3000
- Start date
splashgirl45
Lurcher lover
Oh a bit too small then.. are you allowed to turn out everyday regardless of the weather? Sounds like neither yard is suitable, are there any others that you could look at? I would rather drive for half an hour for better turnout for my horse and good hacking , you might be able to find one that you only needed to go once . When I needed flat grazing for my horse due to arthritis I drove for over an hour each way for 3 months until she was PTS , I felt it was important and I’m glad I did because it meant she was more comfortable for her last months
lovelyfrenchie3000
Well-Known Member
Yeah we make our own decisions re turnout but the general consensus is we turnout unless it’s atrocious. I used to be 30-45 mins from my yard and it was stressful so ideally I want to be as close as possible. I don’t know what to do because I know the turnout isn’t great here
muddybay
Well-Known Member
I think turnout can also depend on access. Mine wasn't turned out for 7 days during the snow because the road was so icy it was a death trap getting to the field. I don't think it's fair to say horse owners are only being precious about land when they decide not to turn out in bad weather
bella0987
Active Member
if you like competing go for the second if your more of a happy hacker stay
ester
Not slacking multitasking
I think there does have to be an argument around the quality of turnout as well as it's availability. Do you have to hay year round with only half an acre?
I think it also depends on the horses a bit, some are happier on busier bigger yards and some aren't. I purposely chose somewhere smaller, with fewer facilities as I don't think mine would have coped that well on a busy one. (and me lol)
I think it also depends on the horses a bit, some are happier on busier bigger yards and some aren't. I purposely chose somewhere smaller, with fewer facilities as I don't think mine would have coped that well on a busy one. (and me lol)
nagblagger
Well-Known Member
Half an acre all year round is not enough for a horse..imo. Look for yard 3, maybe with your friends.
lovelyfrenchie3000
Well-Known Member
Yard 3 WITH my friends isn’t possible unfortunately.
lovelyfrenchie3000
Well-Known Member
Yes I have to hay all year round, which obviously is a bit annoying especially during summer
Barton Bounty
Just simply loving life with Orbi 🥰
All horses had an acre roughly at my last yard. Its very easy to manage, you can section it off throughout the year and save yourself some grass. For winter time you could section a part off and sort out a hay box and just supplement with hay. 0.5 is a little small right enough. Turnout would be invaluable for me. ?
lovelyfrenchie3000
Well-Known Member
I currently supplement with hay, but I definitely agree that the current field situation is less than ideal. Especially as it’s 0.5 acres 365 days a year. I’m trying to find somewhere else - having posted on FB groups - but I think I’m anxious about going somewhere where I don’t know anyone as I’m quite a shy person. Yard 2 was good because of the facilities and whilst I understand that the turnout situation there isn’t good either, it felt like it was substituted with different means - i.e, the walker.
JBM
Well-Known Member
The lack of turnout for the 2 weeks wouldn’t bother me so much that I’d discount it as an option as long as your horse still gets out of his stable for a few hours a day
We have clay here and when the horses couldn’t go out cuz everything was frozen solid (horses were slipping and someone was gonna get injured) they got turnout time in the arena
Not ideal yes but fine for a short amount of time to actually be able to enjoy turnout
All my horses would be very pissed off at me if I stuck them in a 0.5 acer muck puddle..the mud rash would be incredible
My older mare wouldn’t get much exercise in that either as she hates getting herself dirty and would demand something else (this is the mare that refuses to roll in sand when it’s wet and will only in rubber)
DressageCob
Well-Known Member
If the staying in is a rare occurrence that wouldn't put me off yard 2. If it's all winter because they don't want the fields trashing, that's one thing, but if it is a short period because of particularly icy conditions and it's for the horses' safety, I have less of an issue.
lovelyfrenchie3000
Well-Known Member
I’ve messaged the YO for my clarification on the staying in and what happens and I think that will help me make my decision
Ali27
Well-Known Member
I would also try and speak to a few liveries at yard 2 as you will get a more realistic idea of the turn out situation!
I couldn’t be on a yard where there was restricted turn out in Winter! My three are out 24/7 most of the year, only started bringing them in during the day for the last couple of weeks?
lovelyfrenchie3000
Well-Known Member
A friend of a friend has just moved to Yard 2 and I’ve found someone on Instagram who is liveried there (and has done a Youtube video about being there so I’m not a creepy stalker haha) so I might drop them both a message. I’ve also got 2 replies from decent looking yards on my FB post so I may enquire about them too
claret09
Well-Known Member
personally i enjoy doing my own horse so would never put him on full livery, regardless of cost and time i have to get up. assisted suits me although i am now on full diy so have to pay someone or swap with other liveries for help. it is very much personal choice and depends on finances and how much time you have available. if you want full livery i would check how much hay/bedding is included - i like to be in control and decide how much hay/haylage my boy has without someone looking over my shoulder and telling me not to waste it (my choice!!). i also like to be able to use as many bales of shaving in a week as i see fit. does it include hard feed? is it what you normally feed - are there any restrictions.
where we are we have our own paddocks but my boy won't go out on his own so i have to ensure others are out before i turn him out - no problem in the summer but a bit more of an issue in the winter - fortunately we have 17 x 14 stables. i hope that helps
where we are we have our own paddocks but my boy won't go out on his own so i have to ensure others are out before i turn him out - no problem in the summer but a bit more of an issue in the winter - fortunately we have 17 x 14 stables. i hope that helps
lovelyfrenchie3000
Well-Known Member
I spoke to a current livery (or so I thought but she told me she’d moved that day) and she said that she doesn’t recommend yard 2. Apparently they’d been out a grand total of 3 weeks since the start of December - along with lots of other things wrong with the care of the yard. Absolute no-no from me and the price is going up £20 a week to £165 a week (I was told maybe £10 a week).
So glad I listened to you guys and dug a bit deeper and wasn’t blinded by the facilities.
I’m staying at Yard 1 - as at least it’s daily turnout - and keeping my eye out for another yard.
So glad I listened to you guys and dug a bit deeper and wasn’t blinded by the facilities.
I’m staying at Yard 1 - as at least it’s daily turnout - and keeping my eye out for another yard.
Ali27
Well-Known Member
Phew! Lucky escape!
splashgirl45
Lurcher lover
Good job you investigated before you moved, sometimes it’s better the devil you know ,
Fjord
Well-Known Member
Oh wow, 3 weeks out of 8? ? Yep, that's not good, muddy turnout is better than that.
Hopefully you can find somewhere that gives you better options.
Hopefully you can find somewhere that gives you better options.