Sleipnir
Well-Known Member
Update: I went for a visit yesterday.
There are some definite pros, as well as cons. The owner seemed to be very nice and reasonable. He does some breeding on the yard, produces and sells his own youngsters, as well as takes up youngsters for backing, so that could be an asset with my Captain in the future. The stable blocks are quite old and run down, quite dark too, but the air was very good and they have a separate block with extra ventilation for horses with breathing problems. Horses can also be either kept in individual sand paddocks, or, what I'm looking at - in a large field within a mixed herd of roughly 14 horses.
The whole property is quite rundown, but clean and neat - they only recently took over and are now working on repairs, so everything is functional. There's running water and electricity, a washing area, all the fences I saw were in good condition and safe. And there's a new outdoor arena with good footing + a nicely sized indoor, which would dramatically transform my ability to ride during increment weather.
I think I only have too main concerns - how long do the horses ACTUALLY stay inside during winter (YO said that only during nasty weather, when they start crowding at the gates and ask to be taken inside, as there are no field shelters), and how would eating from a round bale in the field affect Snicks' (my 16yo gelding) breathing, as he can be allergic to dust.
Luckily, I have time to think, as the yard has many free stables and the YO is not focused on filling them so as not to overcrowd the property. And lots of thinking is to be done, as I'd be torn to accidentally harming my boys. Snicks has not seen a stable in almost 10 years, and Captain has never been kept in one (except for a few hours at max), so that would be a huge change for both of them.
There are some definite pros, as well as cons. The owner seemed to be very nice and reasonable. He does some breeding on the yard, produces and sells his own youngsters, as well as takes up youngsters for backing, so that could be an asset with my Captain in the future. The stable blocks are quite old and run down, quite dark too, but the air was very good and they have a separate block with extra ventilation for horses with breathing problems. Horses can also be either kept in individual sand paddocks, or, what I'm looking at - in a large field within a mixed herd of roughly 14 horses.
The whole property is quite rundown, but clean and neat - they only recently took over and are now working on repairs, so everything is functional. There's running water and electricity, a washing area, all the fences I saw were in good condition and safe. And there's a new outdoor arena with good footing + a nicely sized indoor, which would dramatically transform my ability to ride during increment weather.
I think I only have too main concerns - how long do the horses ACTUALLY stay inside during winter (YO said that only during nasty weather, when they start crowding at the gates and ask to be taken inside, as there are no field shelters), and how would eating from a round bale in the field affect Snicks' (my 16yo gelding) breathing, as he can be allergic to dust.
Luckily, I have time to think, as the yard has many free stables and the YO is not focused on filling them so as not to overcrowd the property. And lots of thinking is to be done, as I'd be torn to accidentally harming my boys. Snicks has not seen a stable in almost 10 years, and Captain has never been kept in one (except for a few hours at max), so that would be a huge change for both of them.
