Yard Routines

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ss_welly

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Hi all,

Just curious really. Whats the routine on your yard whether its your own/DIY/Part/Full. What order are things done and at what time etc.

Thanks!
 
Ours is DIY and there is no set routine. We all have our own little routines and timings and the horses seem fine with it. Mine are nearly always last to come in but aren't worried by it. They're always close to the gate but usually grazing happily rather than standing at it. The only 'problem' we have is one horse has to be put out first so whoever is there first puts him out with theirs - otherwise he literally climbs over the door and gets himself in a right state. His owner's normally first but if for some reason she's late, we just pop him out, it's no bother.
 
I have mine at home :)

Fed at 5.30am, given a little haylage if they have run out.
Turnout at 6am.
Muck out and prepare stables for the evening.
In at dusk and fed.
Last check, poo pick and top up of haylage done at 9.30/10pm.

Ridden in the day or evening.

This is our winter routine.

I try and stick to a routine unless absolutely necessary :)
 
Ours are DIY, who ever is up first pops breakfasts over the door (usually me) which I like as no horse is left without. They all seem quite happy with this. We help each other out but generally all do our own thing
 
Mine are on DIY, up yard at 5.30, chuck in breakfasts and collect empty dinner bowls/haynets, hang prefilled nets while they're eating, fill water buckets and make up dinner and breakfast for the next day. When they're finished eating I change rugs, brush off dried mud, pick out feet, pig oil legs and turn out, usually about 6.15-6.30. Then muck out and go straight to work from yard at 7am.
Back to yard at about 5-5.30pm, bring in and either exercise or groom, change rugs and give dinner. Fill nets for the morning if needed, have a last check and feed a treat, leave yard between 6-8ish depending on what I've done.
 
Completely DIY.

Monday - Friday I am first up before work at about 8am. I feed the whole barn (9 horses) and muck out my mare whilst she is eating. Turn her and her mate out (literally open the door to the field and they wander out on their own, very civilised!) then do hay water and sweep up. All done in about 20-25mins.

The rest get turned out when their people arrive.

Up at 6pm after work, my mare and her mate are usually still out, the rest will have been brought back in earlier. She gets put in her stable, fed and checked over/rugs repositioned etc.

Weekend - Same routine except Mare's mate's owner does the mornings for me and I turn up about 5ish to muck out and bring in.
 
I have a fairly 'free' routine.

They are all fed breakfast by YM - not sure exactly what time, she's always there before me.

Generally speaking I'm on the yard somewhere between 7-7.30am to turn out, muck out & do waters, put up bed to air, put haynet in for him to come into, put night time nets into soak. If I'm not going back, I'll obviously leave all the stable ready for him that night.

YM beings in for me during the week .

After work I then usually re-skip out, put bed down, groom, ride & put in soaked haynets, snack ball & feeds before I go.

Weekend I tend not to get to the yard until 9-9.30am if I'm down in the morning (YM puts in extra net for me when feeding). Otherwise YM will turn out for me - she does one end of the day for me anyway at weekends.

Horse is pretty chilled & never without hay if stabled, so it works for us not having an exact timed routine.
 
On yard by 6am. Feed tb, whilst he is eating turn wb out with his breakfast. Muck out wb, once tb has finished I sort his rugs and turnout with hay. Then muck out tb. Waters and hays done ready for eve. 4.15pm bring in to a small feed. Poo pick. Ride and groom tb. Groom wb, skip out. 8pm to up hay and water, skip out and feed.
 
Arrive at yard at 5.20 AM, put pre made feed in. Turn out the two who are not fed.
Muck out
Put in pre filled hay nets
Waters
Make feeds
Turn out the one that was eating
Muck out her stable
Go home and get ready for work at 8
Someone brings in for me.

I am always first up and the others are all fine and left for their owners.
I try and go up by 7 latest on days off as their routine is an early start, and they don't like me being late!
 
6am check - both are often lying down in the field shelter and don't bother to get up.

6pm they both have a small feed, a check over, rug change if needed and a fuss. I move the fence so they have a fresh strip of grass. I poo pick, muck out the shelter and fill the water trough.
 
DIY.

Winter routine-
Brekkie, rugged up and out by 8am (week and weekend)
Mucked out and everything ready for evening- beds, hay bars filled and waters done.
Bring in anytime between 2-4.30pm (depending on work or whether it's a weekend)
Poo pick field while horses have some hay
Groom and ride one or both
Rug up, feed and finish anytime between 6 and 7.30pm (again depending on what time they came in or if it's a weekend)

So same routine everyday, but may be an hour or so difference with regards afternoon/evening stuff.
 
Lucky788 said:
Ours are DIY, who ever is up first pops breakfasts over the door (usually me) which I like as no horse is left without. They all seem quite happy with this. We help each other out but generally all do our own thing
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That would drive me mad. My horses don't need extra feed, therefore someone getting involved unnecessarily would be very, very unwelcome
 
CrazyMare said:
That would drive me mad. My horses don't need extra feed, therefore someone getting involved unnecessarily would be very, very unwelcome
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I'm presuming that everyone leaves the breakfasts out ready and first person up n the morning just dishes them out. All yards work differently but I always prefer this approach as there can be a good few hours difference in what time DIY's arrive in morning and not ideal for horses to see others fed and wait hours for their own x
 
Ours varies a bit through the year. All horses out 24/7 all year but at the moment:
YO feeds the four that are in the nearest paddock at about 8am.
Various people ride at different times during the day. Horses usually get small additional feed or some hay if they come in to work.
At about 4pm either me or YO scrape/poo picks the hard-standing and field shelters in the nearest paddock. We then hay and feed on the now clean hard-standing and make sure they have plenty water and are correctly rugged for the night.
I usually walk down to check the others who are a couple of fields away through some woodland. Make sure they are all ok temperature-wise - three are still not rugged, two in lightweights at the moment but we are likely to up the rugging this weekend as forecast is poor; make sure water trough is ok and all are healthy and happy. They are not getting any extra feed or hay at the moment, but will get a mega-bale in the field every few days when needed, probably after Christmas.
 
Lulup said:
I'm presuming that everyone leaves the breakfasts out ready and first person up n the morning just dishes them out. All yards work differently but I always prefer this approach as there can be a good few hours difference in what time DIY's arrive in morning and not ideal for horses to see others fed and wait hours for their own x
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Yes all owners leave the feeds out and very much appreciate them being fed! This rule was in place before I moved ;) I just happen to be the first up!
 
Very lucky to rent private yard for my 3 boys 2 mins from home. Much easier now not sharing with someone who sometimes left out, sometimes got in really early etc, stressy TB just can't cope with it!

At yard around 7 (although they are sometimes chucked out earlier if I have to go to London), muck out, hay, water etc while they have breakfast and either chuck straight out or ride if working from home and at weekends. They don't come in until 6/6.30 pm as I don't have to worry about others coming in and them charging about. Have an abundance of grass and they're never waiting to come in. Pick out feet, extra rugs if needed and evening feeds

Working well this winter and I like that they are out as much as in. Sometimes entertaining getting 3 in in the dark though ... especially if it's windy!!
 
Mine gets put out about 7:30am and i usually get up about 4PM and do his nets, bring him in about 4:15pm and let him have his net while i get his tack and what not, then riding for about 4:30pm. He goes right back in and i untack and he gets his dinner about 5:45pm and treat net put in (about 1kg of haylage and a turnip and carrots hidden in it) and rugged back up and settled for the night for about 6pm. I either muck out before i get him, if im up earlier than 4, or muck around him when hes eating his dinner. On a tuesday i do a proper muck and refill so im usually there about 3. Sharer picks whatever day shes wants, apart from a tuesday...thats MY special day lol

As for my minis, they are usually out, but if they are in my dad will either give hay at approx 8am or chuck them out. I then do the stables at whatever time in the day i manage to, and bring them in when i get back from big horse. If dads just gave hay, i usually try to drive or lunge. If they are out, i will usually try to pretend ill work them in the morning.
 
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Full livery. YO and the staff feed breakfast and put haylage in at 8am. They are then all rugged up and turned out unless owners have said to leave in. All horses mucked out, waters done and haylage put in stables. In winter horses are brought in at 3.30pm - earlier if it's bad weather or if they're gate hanging and wanting to come in. Skipped out at 5pm and given more haylage. Fed at 6pm and haylage topped up. Late night check and more haylage at 10pm.
 
ss_welly said:
Hi all,

Just curious really. Whats the routine on your yard whether its your own/DIY/Part/Full. What order are things done and at what time etc.

Thanks!
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part livery

weekdays mon- tues ( wed my day off ) thurs-fri start yard 6.45am feed turnout then muckout - evening feed - water - hay each stable one by one so finished yard all waters etc done for the evening.

cats


then chores - shopping computer work creosoting or lesson or what ever needs doing till evening shift

3,30pm bring in brush off some - pick out feet on some - change rugs on some. dee poo fields - hay last ones 5-530pm. - cats . Then 9.30-10pm aka now hay mine finish yard 10pm long day

Sat............. start 8am as hubby helps Saturday + put shavings in and hacking
Sun..................... same minus shavings
 
Part.
Winter:
Yard staff feed breakfast around 8am, rug and turn out. All out by 8.30. On days where they have to stay in, they will go on the walker in groups of 6 while staff do their beds. All in by 4pm latest. Rugs changed and fed around 5.
I usually arrive by 6.30, groom, ride, skip out, check hay and water etc. Done by 8.30. Home by 9.

Summer
Horses all brought in by 8.30 and have breakfast.
Tea and turn out for the night late afternoon, around 4.
If I am riding, my horse is kept in and I turn out and skip the bed when I've ridden. Otherwise I check over in the field.
 
Lulup said:
I'm presuming that everyone leaves the breakfasts out ready and first person up n the morning just dishes them out. All yards work differently but I always prefer this approach as there can be a good few hours difference in what time DIY's arrive in morning and not ideal for horses to see others fed and wait hours for their own x
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This is what happens on our yard. Breakfasts are made up and left ready along with a haynet. First on yard goes round and puts all feeds in and hangs nets. My horses only get a balancer once a day and at previous yard I would feed them in the evening. It was a simple matter to change them to being fed in mornings instead. It also means that my daughter who does our horses in mornings and has a one year old little boy doesn't have to worry if things don't go to plan and she's a bit later getting to yard.
 
On a week day get to yard at about 7 and just put rug on and turnout. Get back there anytime between 4 and 6, muck out, fill nets and water then bring in and give quick brush etc. and everything will take me just under an hour. on a weekend it's the same but I get there at about 9am.

It's DIY so everyone has their own routine and help each other out if someone asks so I always try to help when I can 1) because I like to help and 2)if I ever can't get there or maybe go away, it means I can ask other people to help out
 
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Part livery. Yard does mon to fri DIY weekends.
Horses fed 7 am, then all turned out if it not terrible weather
Stables done ready for evenings, and feed put in and nets hung, waters done.
YO will bring in before dark, check rugs, do feet, and then check and top up hays at about 8.
Weekends,
Arrive at 8 feed and hay, kids will ride and I do stables , then leave them out till 4 in winter, in summer they stay out so it's just a case of quick check of waters, do feet, and that's it.
 
DIY. I'm usually first up during weekdays and will throw breakfasts in if they've been left outside doors. If my 2 have been out overnight then they come in, have feet picked out and first breakfast. Mare usually then gets ridden (but currently off) and once she's finished they both get second breakfast and turned out.

Mare had ulcers so first breakfast is just damp chaff while gelding has his proper breakfast. Trouble is when I finish riding and give her a proper feed the boy has completely forgotten he's already been fed and gets v worked up. So he has to have second breakfast.....

Bring them in or check in the field at about 5-6. If they've been in then I usually muck out in the evening and sort out feeds etc.
 
winter routine and horses at home is 5.30 fed then turned out with Hay net then at some point in the morning I muck out and get feeds and everything ready, they will both come back in to be ridden the time varies, then they come in at about 4.30 get a feed and hay then they get a late Hay net at about 10pm and skipped out.
 
Rented field -

AM:

Make breakfast and feed the girls.
Poo pick while they are eating.
Change rugs if necessary.
Move the old girl on to the better grass.
Give fatty a handful of hay.
Fill water buckets.

PM:

Refill water buckets.
Change rugs if necessary.
Move old girl back in with fatty.
Move fence to give more grass.
Put a couple of piles of hay out.
 
horses at home and pretty much retired. look out of window when I get up and make sure they there and appear happy. go out after breakfast and do thorough check and depoo them then feed if its winter. gaze out of window at various points of the day. evening feed and check that they are ok. they have a big bale feeder and a non freeze trough for water so other than putting a bale of hay out when its needed thats it for me. I am looking at getting a camera in the barn so that I can watch from the computer when its cold and they are standing inside out of any bad weather or flies in summer
 
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I don't like routines. Horses have to fit round my extremely busy life and I don't like them standing waiting for things to happen to a time scale. They have adlib hay at all times and only two have a bucket feed and they just get it morning and evening whenever it suits. They all live out as well so jobs are done once I've ridden.
 
At home so DIY. I ride whenever so just fits in.

Winter

Bring less fatty pones in 7-8am, or earlier if possible 2kgs of hay in stables already. Feed indoor fatties 2kg of hay each.

12pm give less fatties 2kgs hay. Turn fatties out for 4 hours if poss. Muck fatties and pick field.

4pm give less fatties 2kgs hay. Bring fatties in. Give less fatties little feeds.

8pm turn less fatties out. Muck less fatties, skip fatties and give big bowl of top chop zero with small sprinkling of nuts.

11pm-1am give fatties 2kgs hay.

Once fields closed it will change slightly, everyone will get 2hrs in turn out pen and less fatty ponies will get 8pm and 3/4kgs late night hay. Also fatties will get lunch hay and 8pm hay but will have chaff for the 4pm hay.

Summer

About the same except all go out at 9/10pm and hay is given at 7am, 1pm and 5pm with fatties getting 1pm hay replaced with chaff.

As you can tell even my less fatties need diets and luckily being at home they are never left without food for long, fed something every 4 hours with just a bit longer over night.

If I go out I either double up the hay or get chum from village to give hay :)
 
FfionWinnie said:
I don't like routines. Horses have to fit round my extremely busy life and I don't like them standing waiting for things to happen to a time scale.
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I'm the same, avoid strict routines at all costs! My morning visit can be anytime from 4am-10am depending on what I'm doing that day. They mainly live out, just come in if it's been sustained rain to give them a chance to dry off and check over properly.
 
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