Winter / turnout help

[jobhelp]

Hi folks

I am a regular poster but using another account to keep it anon!

For context…

I have two horses on livery and have kept them at the same yard for a considerable amount of time. One is 25yo and has been at the yard for 10+ years, the other is relatively young (we have had him for almost two years - before him we had another horse at same yard). Basically, we have been present at this same yard for a long time with a min of two horses.

We have been fortunate enough to enjoy turnout year round, however this year for a number of reasons this has been heavily restricted - initially it was to be turnout every other day. Although this is not ideal, we felt we could manage it OK - young horse can be exercised on “in” days and old horse will happily go for a walk.

This week we have been informed of further restrictions which mean we are effectively only able to turn out twice a week, with no indication of whether this is a permanent or temporary arrangement. This simply will not work for the older horse and obviously it does not sit well with me from a welfare standpoint for either of them.

A friend has offered to take the old horse to her place. She has limited stabling but excellent grazing and access to additional stables if necessary, and I have a plethora of rugs in various weights etc (and many duplicate sizes and weights too lol). One of old horse’s best pals lives with her so I know he would be happy in her herd. He loves being out - a day in turns him into a box walking monster. Not to mention he is arthritic and gets stiff. when stood in.

My only concern is the current turnout situation might change again and we might be back to our “original” TO arrangement which I can probably work with. Part of me is reluctant to take the old boy away from what he knows - but he would be going into a settled group of 3 and would only be 10mins down the road.

It’s a no brainer to move him, isn’t it?

Help - sensible opinions needed to walk this through in my head ?

 

[Laurac13]

If the restricted turnout at current yard is permanent I would definitely move the oldie. Could you find out from current yard owner what the situation is are they approachable and will they give you an honest answer?

 

[meleeka]

Of course it’s a no brainier. He’ll be so much happier out.

If you aren’t sure you could say he’s going on a little holiday for a month and keep your stable until you know he’s ok.

 

[PSD]

I think you need to find out If the turnout situation is permanent or now where you are first, before you make any hasty decisions.

However I would probably move him anyway, sounds like a nice set up for an older horse regardless.

 

[Goldenstar]

You need to move the oldie to your friends .
Unless the yard owner is crazy she should understand and if things I don’t see why that would be a barrier to you bringing him back if the situation improves on your current yard .
Personally I would be quietly looking for alternatives for the younger horse as well.

 

[Trouper]

It's certainly a no-brainer to move the old boy. It sounds as if he was not happy with the set-up last winter and a quiet, consistent place in a settled herd sounds ideal for a retiree. I would simply tell the yard owner that he now needs total turnout and retirement.
As Goldenstar says, I would also be looking for another yard for the youngster, too - probably over the winter to test out exactly what other yards were doing about winter turn-out and not just what they said they do.

 

[ycbm]

Yes it's a no brainer to move the old boy.

I don't know if I'm more amazed at your forethought of having an unused account lying around for 5 years in case you wanted to post something or that you remembered the login ?
.

 

[Quigleyandme]

After so many years have you not established enough of a relationship with the yard owner to discuss your concerns and enquire the reasons for drastically restricted turnout and the long-term plan?

 

[Sir barnaby]

We are lucky to have all year turnout unless it gets very wet then we only come in during the night and can still turn out during the day, I wouldn’t be able to manage with your situation and would definitely move oldies are much better out in a good rug unless it’s really bad weather wind and torrential rain. If situation changes you could always move oldie back again.

 

[jobhelp]

Thanks so much everyone, that really helps. Unfortunately our YM can be a little tricky to deal with so whether or not we get much communication about what’s going to happen over the next few months is questionable! We are trying to find out but in any case I am inclined to think a more turnout focused lifestyle would suit the old bloke regardless, he does very well on 24/7 turnout in spring & summer.

My friend is a real animal lover so I am happy that she would look after the oldie very well, and she’s very local to us too which helps.

We have started making enquiries about yards for the other one, who would have thought that trying to find livery going into winter would be difficult ??

Lol ycbm I went to create a new account on a different email address but it said I already had one on that email ? reset the password and voilà !

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would definitely move the older one then find somewhere for the younger horse 2 days a week turnout is not ideal, my horses are 17 and 18 and wouldn't cope with that and be a bit wild to ride.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would ask your friend if she could possibly accommodate both horses, tbh. YO doesn't seem to have much loyalty to long-established clients, so there is no reason for you to be loyal to the yard.

 

[milliepops]

You need to move the oldie to your friends .
Unless the yard owner is crazy she should understand and if things I don’t see why that would be a barrier to you bringing him back if the situation improves on your current yard .
Personally I would be quietly looking for alternatives for the younger horse as well.

I agree with this post, i would have hoped your YO would understand your position given the changes and if that was the case, should you need to go back it wouldn't be too much of an issue.

My oldies are happy living out at home and I have found that adding a new similar horse to a happy herd works well, so yours should settle in nicely.

I have limited winter turnout where I keep my ridden horse, I could not keep any of my old ones there because i've seen the alternative for them and it's so much better.

 

[jobhelp]

Thanks so much everyone, your comments, experiences & feedback are hugely appreciated!

Unfortunately there isn’t much in the way of facilities to suit the other horse at my friend’s yard, but we are keeping our ear to the ground for alternatives for him also. She could probably accommodate him temporarily if things change further at the current place.

Your feedback is giving me a lot of clarity and I really feel like now is a good time to prioritise the oldie and his well-being, I would miss seeing him daily but I cannot keep him at an unsuitable livery yard purely for my own convenience. And it would still be easy to see him a few times a week etc.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I would define oldie, it sounds perfect . I know you will miss seeing him but I doubt he will give you a second thought when he is grazing with his new buddies!!

 

[hollyandivy123]

honestly i would consider moving the oldie any way..........the potential new yard has stables if needed, but from experience out with the appropriate rug and as long as the field has wind breaks shelters he will be fine...........lost count the number of time i found the old one standing under a tree wincing when the rain drops landed on him, whilst ignoring the large barn with its door wide open and a very very deep straw bed with adlib hay.................

 

[Antw23uk]

Yes, its a no brainer. Take the oldie to your friends, what a lovely life

 

[Melandmary]

I would definitely move the oldie.... And actually both if possible. At the yard I used to livery winter turnout was heavily restricted. My mares field mate was 25 and very arthritic. She was so stiff being stabled 24/7 for weeks at a time. When I was looking for another companion I asked her owner if I could have her on loan. She lives out 24/7 with access to field shelter. She is loving life and it made me happy the other day watching her canter from the far field to the gate for her tea looking so well ( despite a dip in the river last week ?). Honestly, he would thankyou for it. Would be nice if your friend had room for both, a 2year old should be out ?

 

[milliepops]

don't think the other horse is a 2yo, OP says they've had the horse for 2 years.

 

[Melandmary]

Oops misread that one? sorry, was eating my lunch at same time ?

 

[Fransurrey]

I would move both if you can. The upset at the possibility of two moves for the younger horse if you decide you can't do without facilities is far outweighed by the welfare gains IMO. As far as things 'improving' at the current yard, I wouldn't consider going back. I can't abide YOs changing things constantly. T/O twice a week suggests that the land or management simply isn't suitable for livery. and to rectify that means long term change.

 

[jobhelp]

I would move both if you can. The upset at the possibility of two moves for the younger horse if you decide you can't do without facilities is far outweighed by the welfare gains IMO. As far as things 'improving' at the current yard, I wouldn't consider going back. I can't abide YOs changing things constantly. T/O twice a week suggests that the land or management simply isn't suitable for livery. and to rectify that means long term change.

Yeah, it’s definitely a tricky one. We are looking into more long-term/viable alternatives for the younger horse. The main problem I suppose is our friend could help very short term (a few weeks max) with the second horse but it wouldn’t quite work long term with him.

Have a few ideas up my sleeve for him anyway so hopefully we have a clearer plan in place soon.

Thank you again folks, your clarity and insight is invaluable in what feels like quite an emotive situation - from a sentimental point of view, I’m really sad that oldie might not end his days at the yard he’s known for years - but, as others have said, he won’t give a fudge when he’s out stuffing his face with his pals ?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Thanks so much everyone, your comments, experiences & feedback are hugely appreciated!

Unfortunately there isn’t much in the way of facilities to suit the other horse at my friend’s yard, but we are keeping our ear to the ground for alternatives for him also. She could probably accommodate him temporarily if things change further at the current place.

Your feedback is giving me a lot of clarity and I really feel like now is a good time to prioritise the oldie and his well-being, I would miss seeing him daily but I cannot keep him at an unsuitable livery yard purely for my own convenience. And it would still be easy to see him a few times a week etc.

What facilities does the horse (as opposed to you) need? Could you not box him to the facilites that you need while taking advantage of the set up at your friend's yard? IME horses need turnout above any other 'facility'.

 

[jobhelp]

What facilities does the horse (as opposed to you) need? Could you not box him to the facilites that you need while taking advantage of the set up at your friend's yard? IME horses need turnout above any other 'facility'.

I completely agree with you on their needs being paramount. There are a few other wee bits & pieces that would influence our decision on what to do with the younger horse, in any case logistically he would only ever be able to be there very very short term anyway (I’m talking days/weeks max). Hoping to sort something more robust soon, have a few things in the pipeline!

We only found out about the change in situation yesterday and it was a total bolt from the blue, but please be assured the well-being of both lads, young and old, is very much top of the agenda.

 

[spotty_pony]

Hi folks

I am a regular poster but using another account to keep it anon!

For context…

I have two horses on livery and have kept them at the same yard for a considerable amount of time. One is 25yo and has been at the yard for 10+ years, the other is relatively young (we have had him for almost two years - before him we had another horse at same yard). Basically, we have been present at this same yard for a long time with a min of two horses.

We have been fortunate enough to enjoy turnout year round, however this year for a number of reasons this has been heavily restricted - initially it was to be turnout every other day. Although this is not ideal, we felt we could manage it OK - young horse can be exercised on “in” days and old horse will happily go for a walk.

This week we have been informed of further restrictions which mean we are effectively only able to turn out twice a week, with no indication of whether this is a permanent or temporary arrangement. This simply will not work for the older horse and obviously it does not sit well with me from a welfare standpoint for either of them.

A friend has offered to take the old horse to her place. She has limited stabling but excellent grazing and access to additional stables if necessary, and I have a plethora of rugs in various weights etc (and many duplicate sizes and weights too lol). One of old horse’s best pals lives with her so I know he would be happy in her herd. He loves being out - a day in turns him into a box walking monster. Not to mention he is arthritic and gets stiff. when stood in.

My only concern is the current turnout situation might change again and we might be back to our “original” TO arrangement which I can probably work with. Part of me is reluctant to take the old boy away from what he knows - but he would be going into a settled group of 3 and would only be 10mins down the road.

It’s a no brainer to move him, isn’t it?

Help - sensible opinions needed to walk this through in my head ?

I would move him - sounds ideal for him especially as he will be meeting up with an old friend!