Yard Routines

catroo said:
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.[/QUOTE

Would be nice not to stick to a routine!! unfortunately full time work and DIY dictates it!
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I think for horses living out, routine is not so necessary. For stabled horses, I believe it is more so.
I'm not strict with times in that they get fed at exactly the same time everyday, but we follow a general routine and I have done for 30 years. It works for me. The rest of my life fits in around the horses (apart from working hours, as I'm a teacher so have no control over that!), it's a decision I made and its how I enjoy my life. They dictate everything, might not work for all but I love it. Must add that I have no children and have no plans to, as I don't wish to change my lifestyle, I understand children and family would make it much harder and I take my hat off to those who do it all.
 
DIY winter routine at the yard by 6am in the week. Tied up outside stable to eat breakfast whilst I muck out, top up water and hang up a fresh haynet. Rug changed and turned out. Brought in by 5.30 rug changed, given tea and put to bed. Riding squeezed in where possible!
 
Gosh there are some early risers here!

Mine live out with access to stables. I work from home and have kids so usually get to the field around 8.30 feed and muck out, fill nets for evening. Evening visit is anywhere between 5 and 9pm.
 
Very interesting love these kind of threads.

Mine are at home and live out. So am field check, either 7.30 ish on das I work or 9.30 otherwise. I also do any swapping about - ie when changing fields we let the ponies in for just the day so the don't explode.

PM winter I bring them in 2.30 on non work days or 3.30/4 on working days (after school pick up). Give hay. leave them in while doing school run, poo picking etc. Ride ponies if kids want. Fed, check etc turn back out.

Summer same as winter but tends to be later and more chance of them getting ridden.

I check fencing. water troughs etc when poo picking.
 
All out 24/7 unless continual rain, sodden fields.
Arrive at the yard 9.30 am, call my two in and just check from the gate there are still 8 others in the field.
small feed and hay net. Take my girl out if am I not working. Check over my youngster. Pig oil, light groom and out, tidy up yard. Friend brings hers in early evening and checks mine over.
 
I hate strict routines too, makes for stressy horses in my experience. However, things do get done in a general order even if the time is off.
Have mine at home so;
Between 8 - 9am check/change rugs then turnout. No morning feeds, will then go back in; get dressed and have breakfast. (If dads home, he'll muck out after turnout.)
Between 2 - 3pm - muck out, do haynets, water & make up evening feeds.
At dusk, or whenever I've finished yard jobs (whichever is later) - Bring in, check/change rugs & feed.
Between 10 - 11pm - go down and check they're okay. Throw more hay over and lock up.
Not riding at the mo. but never had any strict times for that either.
 
Get to the yard at some point during the day, change horses rug to a turnout rug if it's raining, put him in the arena, take buckets out of stable and scrub them. Then I muck out, put hay in for him, fill up water, grab feed buckets, make up evening/morning feeds. If all the other horses have been fed out a feed in his stable for him. Go to the arena, bring him in, change over rugs again. If he's had a feed I usually wait until he's finished to take the bucket out. In the mornings/evenings if you're not there the girls at the yards throw in hay and feeds! :)
 
I have 4 at home. (2 retired)
Winter - AM
Chuck feeds in, fill haynets while they eat. Ride at least 1 horse usually both.
Turn all out (either in fields or woodchip turn out)
Muck out, fresh hay nets & water. Quick sweep of yard.

Mid afternoon
All brought in

Early evening
2nd feed

Late evening (between 8.30-10pm)
Late checks: rugs changed, dried mud brushed off, stables skipped out, water topped up & big hay net given.

Summer: live out 24/7 brought in for a couple of hours every day to be ridden/go to a comp
 
I have part and full liveries on my yard, a typical day goes like this..
8 am feed, collect and wash feed buckets and put away
Rug and boot for field
Turn out all
Muck out, leave beds up to air
Put in afternoon hay nets
Change water
Put clean bedding in corner ready for later
Fill night nets
Put all tools away
Tidy muck heap
Clean out wash box
Sweep and pick up in the yard
Make up feeds for that night and tomorrows breakfasts
Sweep out feed room
Empty dust bins
Do any other jobs.. clean the walker, de cobweb, wash walls etc
Feed and check field horses

LUNCH 12.30-1.30

Approx 1.30
Catch in
Hoof pick
Wash legs and feet
Groom
Change rugs
Exercise
Wash off
Clean tack
Put beds down
Tidy yard
Grade arena
Give field horses second hay and feed
Tidy tack room
Grade arenas and check skips are empty

5pm night rugs on
Skip out
Night hay in
Feed
Re fill water

Final sweep and tidy

Clean staff room and kitchen

6pm- check round and finish
 
I only work part time and don't have children. I need a routine myself and know I'm lucky to be able to stick to it. DIY yard. Up at yard at 9am ( no point going earlier as he would be out alone), feed, change rug and turn out. Muck out, bed down, hay and water. Poo pick twice a week. If riding (approx 3 times a week just now due to getting used to working barefoot) back up at 3pm. Being in, scrub feet (white line disease), groom, tack up, ride. Scrub feet again, quick groom, spray feet, Feed. If not riding back up at 4pm, in, scrub feet, groom, spray feet, feed.
 
DIY

At the yard by 6am latest - if out, he'll get a hayball thrown at him and a checkover with some carrots lobbed about the paddock. If he's in, it's the same routine, but I put him out before chucking food about.
After work, if I have the time and energy he will get exercised in some way. If he's going to be in then I muck out and check him over again. If he's out, then I attempt hunt the poop in the dark and lob some more food around. Although 9/10 the poop-hunting will get put off to the weekend when I can do it in the daylight.
 
My yard is DIY everyone does their own thing. I feed and poo pick everyday and try to ride every other day but the time I go up varies according to what shift Im on, as I work flexi shifts. My horse has never been fussed. ( Occasionaly if I am up too early she is asleep though lol)
 
Blimey I'm so impressed with some of the start times you guys do, it puts me to shame!
Ok for what its worth ... Horse kept at home and this is for winter.
Mon - Fri ... field check between 0700-0740 and if dry I usually do one wheelbarrow of poo picking. 1730 get home, go to yard, bring in, feet, groom and small feed before back out again.
Weekends can vary depending on what the plans are. He is always checked minimum twice a day morning and evening and I will ride at some point but nothing is fixed.

I think its easier to have a routine of not actually sticking to a routine if they are out 24/7 but he will always be looked at twice a day and that rug will always come off for a groom once a day without fail!
 
I'm on a DIY yard which stables around 60 horses and a few more live out. Everyone does there own thing and life at the yard is pretty anonymous.

I turn my out about 8.30 and and fetch in around 7. Mines normally left out on her own at that point but she copes OK with it. The yard's that vast I couldn't tell you who the horses who share my field belong to let alone which stable they have. If I have a query I post on the yards Facebook group :-)
 
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