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Arachnid
Platinum Member
 England
1872 Posts |
 Posted - 17 Jun 2010 : 09:00:33 AM
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My YO has decided to sell her house. (Some people are just so selfish). I have been slightly burying my head in the sand but as even YO has fixed up a livery yard for her horses, think its about time I get my act together.
There arent very many viable options around here. Lots of the yards are of the barbed wire and bits of string variety but I have seen a couple of nice ones. The one I like best so far is small, really well run, tidy, gorgeous outdoor school, cosy stables and right on the South Downs way so no roadwork at all BUT the grazing is really exposed. Its RIGHT on top of the downs (the views are amazing)but will this suit my rather wimpy arab? Is he going to have to wear a rug 11 months of the year? My friends reckon he'll cope but think I might have to buy him a couple of neck covers. He will be stabled at night or in rubbish weather in any case. What do you ladies think? Anyone graze their horses up mountains?
All opionions valued as ever
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Karon
Gold Member
England
1411 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jun 2010 : 10:13:00 AM
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South Downs is hardly a mountain  My fields are probably higher up than them and my Arabs live out fine. Someone I know has her TBs living out on the side of the Long Mynd, and they're clipped in winter too - they cope perfectly OK. I've had my horses living out on fields in the hills near where I live in some pretty exposed fields, and as long as they've been well rugged they've been fine too - no stables, either, they live out all year round.
If the yard is ideal in every other way, go for it. I'd love to have mine closer to the hills - all that hill work in their field is great for keeping them fit. |
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shah
Gold Member
England
1356 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jun 2010 : 10:58:35 AM
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Don't forget that Spider is already on downland grazing (apart from when he's in the lush garden paddock...) so I doubt you'll see much of a difference actually. He will need his hay and feed as usual though and maybe upping the linseed/oil levels in his feed for when he needs more calories. With a neck on the rug he'll be fine in the winter - he might even get used to the wind finally 
And it's just up the hill from us - they'll be fit as fiddles doing that hill climb a couple of times a week  |
West Sussex |
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Mrs Vlacq
Platinum Member
Wales
3776 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jun 2010 : 11:49:29 AM
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There are benefits to being on a hillside, we are 1,000 feet up and have far fewer flies and midges at home than our lower fields. Our outdoor neds are well rugged in winter and do extremely well.
If everything else at that yard ticks the boxes I would go for it. |
    
- V Khazad - V Calacirya & V Sulime - Quarida(L) - V Boogie Knights - V Hamra Tofiq |
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Arachnid
Platinum Member
England
1872 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jun 2010 : 12:06:08 PM
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| Thank you all for being so encouraging. I suppose the South Downs arent really mountains Karon! I just want to make sure its the right place for Spider. The yard does tick most of my must haves such as decent post and rail fencing, lockable tack room etc. Most of all it looks SAFE. I have booked a place from September and actually quite looking forward to it now. The other big advantage as Shah says is that it is a short hack from her yard (but quite a long drive as you have to go around the Downs) |
West Sussex |
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Bexandspooky
Silver Member
England
332 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jun 2010 : 1:14:07 PM
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If I were you i'd give it a try - at the end of the day - you can always move!!
They are suprisingly tough and adjust much quicker then we do :) |
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Gemma
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1802 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jun 2010 : 3:20:01 PM
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Finding the right yard is always a compromise!!! It sounds like this one is pretty good actually. The South Downs can be exposed, much like where I have the girls on the North Downs, but as long as they have forage, shelter and suitable rugs, I find they thrive on living out for 90% of the year.
I've been looking for a self-contained yard just for me for about 18 months. I didn't want much: 3 - 5 acres, stables, good hacking and secure fencing. It's taken A LONG TIME to find the right one at the right price in the right area. It's not perfect, so I've had to make a couple of small compromises. But I'm fine with them.
As long as you're happy with any compromises, I'm sure Spider will be fine! |
 
Photo 2: West End Photography |
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LYNDILOU
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
13976 Posts |
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Callisto
Platinum Member
6905 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jun 2010 : 4:56:43 PM
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| He'll be fine - Harlequin is a very delicate flower, and before he came to the deep south he was perfectly ok up a very big hill in Aberdeenshire, although he did have a comprehensive wardrobe of rugs . He was out during the day and in at night in the winter, and out 24/7 in the summer. The yard and the hacking sound great, so enjoy! |
  Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta)
Linda
East Sussex |
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lulu
Gold Member
763 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jun 2010 : 6:50:51 PM
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| If this is the one at Truleigh it looks terrific, I'd go for it. |
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Arachnid
Platinum Member
England
1872 Posts |
Posted - 18 Jun 2010 : 07:50:56 AM
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| Yes Lulu it IS the one at Truleigh hill. The lady that bought it 3 years ago has made astonishing changes to it, I am so impressed. Shes registered it with the BHS so she has all sorts of little saftey measures which they insist on like having a whiteboard showing who is hacking where and what time. Also she has a partbred arab herself which is very encouraging. |
West Sussex |
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Livery yards
