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Kelly
Platinum Member
England
1571 Posts |
 Posted - 25 Apr 2007 : 09:44:21 AM
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Hi there
How do those of you whose horses live out at grass all year, and don't have stables, cope? I have my own land, with water, but no natural shelter.
I currently have an arrangement with the lady in the next field, which has worked wonderfully until now (horses in both fields, me using her spare stable). Now I am beginning to think that her livery is picking on Jack (mostly biting) too much to make it worthwhile. I also wonder how many of Jack's many scrapes are caused when trying to escape from this horse.
It occurred to me this morning that I could cut the arrangement, get a little companion for Jack, build a shelter and they could live out. Not a problem, could probably get a generator for lights, a hut for rugs etc, but what about haylage in winter? I suppose a tarpaulin over it is the obvious answer.....
Does anyone have any comments/suggestions/helpful advice?! It's just a thought at the moment, but I may as well work out if it's viable.
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Kelly
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Roseanne
Moderator
United Kingdom
6708 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2007 : 10:49:36 AM
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This is a difficult one because in my opinion, most horses don't mind being out 24/7. After all that's the natural way for them. However if yours has been kept in overnight for much of its life, it won't be very toughened up and you'll have to do all you can to keep him comfortable.
The problems with keeping them out 24/7 are mud in the winter. In some areas that aren't drained well (clay etc) you may find that difficult. Ours deal with a certain amount of mud but the majority of their paddocks remain drained. It tends to be gateways etc that are a bit gross! You will need to rug your horses warmly - but believe me that with a decent rug (such as a Fal) they will survive just fine. You will also have to accept riding out with a horse that's very dirty in the winter since manes and tails get very muddy too. That just goes with the territory as they say.
Your haylage will be OK if it's well plastic wrapped and you put a net over to stop birds puncturing the plastic, and plenty of drainpipes or similar with mouse/rat poison at ground level to stop rodents nibbling in - or it'll wreck your haylage.
You need also to bear in mind that if you ever need to put one on box rest, you should have an arrangement with someone who does have a convenient stable you can use.
The other option is to buy converted, mobile field shelters which don't need planning permission and are like stables and are always easy to sell on if your circumstances change.
Once you've had your own facilities, it will be very hard to go back to livery with all the restrictions and 'personalities'...
Good luck! |
Roseanne |
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Kelly
Platinum Member
England
1571 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2007 : 12:13:22 PM
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Thanks Roseanne, very good points.
I am also concerned about box rest if necessary, but I'm sure someone would help me out (if not the lady in the next field!)
Dirty horse doesn't bother me at all!
I'm not sure I could get through haylage quickly enough with 2 horses to get big bales, so buying hay as and when would probably be a better option.
I am used to having my own facilities (this is the only time I've ever used someone elses stable), and we are doing fine, except for the bully of a horse! Jack looks like a patchwork quilt!
I'll see how it goes, and then decide. It would be a shame, this arrangement works well, but if Jack keeps getting beaten up.....
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Kelly
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cassy
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3348 Posts |
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Kelly
Platinum Member
England
1571 Posts |
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Grey Girl
Platinum Member
England
1554 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2007 : 7:15:54 PM
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Amelia and her companions live out 24/7 with no field shelter BUT it's a big field with lots of hedges and trees and slopes - they can always get out of the wind. They are all perfectly happy; hairy and rugged in winter.
I agree with Roseanne: a mobile field shelter - perhaps you can get one with a sort of 'annexe' where you can keep hay, a generator and what have you.
If there's an emergency so long as there's a local stables or yard you can use theirs. A friend used to have her own field (not stable) and when her horse had suspected laminitis she simply rang around and paid a livery charge for a week or so (it wasn't laminitis in the end).
Good luck
Grey Girl
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 Said the little eohippus, "I´m going to be a HORSE"  |
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Gemma
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1802 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2007 : 8:58:58 PM
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I think I have facilities similar to Grey Mare. Marigold lives on about 15 acres with two geldings (arab, naturally!). They have field shelters, natural shelter, and all wear rugs as appropriate to the weather and their levels of hardiness! We have an old luton van with an attached shed (built by our wonderful farmer) for storing hay, feed etc. We don't have electric which can be a pain in the depths of winter but apart from that I wouldn't change our set-up for a livery yard. We do have plenty of yards within a few miles that we could hire a stable for in emergencies, and in fact others on the yard have done that in the past.
If you can get suitable shelter, and some storage (how about a simple shed, or something attached to the side of a shelter, as others have suggested, to store hay or haylege in) I'm sure you'll be fine, and Jack much happier. |
 
Photo 2: West End Photography |
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georgiauk
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
2605 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2007 : 9:10:43 PM
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My 23 year old wintered out for the 1st time this year after a lifetime of being molly coddled. She had access to a field shelter but rarely used it in the evenings prefering to mooch around near the stable block with her pal. I frequently offered her the choice to come in and on only 3 occasions did she take me up on that. I took her rugs off completely 3 weeks ago and was very pleased with how she looked, very muscled and a tad fat
I avidly watched ebay to buy my field shed, 24 x 12 foot and lined. The plan is to put a gate on the front for next winter and possibly put a divider in. All 5 of my neddies have been in it and all together (mostly!) happily sharing the space. It has paid for itself 10 fold all ready  |
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