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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2010 11:28:57 GMT 1
also, to be fair, IME most livery yards don't have stable herds and so turning lots of horses out on a small space can just lead to lots of kick ups. Where I worked they used a 20 x 20 indoor school for turnout in pairs and I regularly ended up bringing one or more in early because they were being beaten up or constantly chased round and round by the other one.
Anyone who thinks Join Up exhausts horses wants to see what that lot did to eachother!
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Post by mandal on Dec 15, 2010 11:38:50 GMT 1
Have a read of this blog. It's a rehab centre where horses come and go all the time. The latest one has settled fine in the herd and I don't believe they have any major problems with new arrivals. rockleyfarm.blogspot.com/The thing I've noticed is if horses have constant movement they don't tend to 'go ballistic' and charge about etc. I have also noticed that those with lots or 24/7 turn out seem calmer generally (excluding the grass as rocket fuel factor! lol) or am I wrong here?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2010 12:06:39 GMT 1
Sorry Mandal, I've looked at the blog and I can't see anything about their turnout areas or new arrivals!
My point was really that having seen first hand a small turnout area used as people are suggesting, it's not quite as simple as some are making out, especially on bigger yards. Yes in an ideal world where all horses get along it would be lovely.
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Post by Yann on Dec 15, 2010 12:15:40 GMT 1
Space does seem to be the key thing if you want to run a herd without too many injuries and incidents, especially with frequent newcomers.
It's worth remembering that horses will often loon to keep warm, or simply for the joy of it too, ours have more room than most and still have regular playtimes.
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Post by mandal on Dec 15, 2010 12:23:02 GMT 1
Apologies Michellp, I follow the blog so forget to find that information you would have to read back. Getting carried away there. Here's a link to Nic Barker's thoughts and experience of tracks. Sadly no real comments on behaviour though. www.barefoothorses.co.uk/page16.htmlMel and Ross Barker's info on environment. www.progressivehorse.co.uk/html/environment.html NB. A note here about road planings made from bitumen or road dig ups. I believe the bitumen has been noted to cause problems in some hooves so may not be the most suitable surface. and Sarah Braithwaites thoughts and experiences. www.performancebarefoot.co.uk/paddockparadiseinnorthwales.htmlMta. I agree Yann, horses do hoon at times for 'fun' and free space or ability to move away from others is a big factor. Oh yes Michelle I agree, it's not a case of just turning horses into a turnout and letting them be.
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Azrael
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Post by Azrael on Dec 15, 2010 21:29:05 GMT 1
We do have to be careful about which horses go out together, certain combinations never go out together in the school and others are only allowed out supervised. Some of them can be utterly evil to each other while other combinations get on brilliantly.
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Post by arabmania on Dec 15, 2010 23:10:41 GMT 1
no turn out is abnormal. i moved from three yards in a space of months two years ago because of this. why oh why people put their wretched fields above horses is beyond me! fields recover
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lucia
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Post by lucia on Dec 16, 2010 22:18:23 GMT 1
no turn out is abnormal. i moved from three yards in a space of months two years ago because of this. why oh why people put their wretched fields above horses is beyond me! fields recover This is a problem for me in the summer too though. My YO stresses and worries if the fields get eaten down so suggested I muzzle (not an option with two of them as they get violent if you try!) or bring in, which isn't an option as I don't want them in if I can avoid it (they are in over night in winter) and can't afford it (bedding hay etc) as he want them moved onto fresh grazing before the fields are eaten back. But I have 4 good doers (one with cushings) so I'm not sure how we will cope next spring summer if I can't strip graze properly (he wants me to move the fence more frequently than I think will work and by too much). I'm worrying about it I have to say. Otherwise the yard is perfect so I am going to give it a whirl and see if I can make it work as they are nice people but it may be we will have to try to find somewhere else. The fields recovered perfectly (we harrowed and re-seeded where necessary) but they worry about weeds (although I view it as herbage lol) and that the horses eat the hedges (they do even when there is decent grass - they like it as its hawthorn!)so I don't understand it but then I'm not a land owner.
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Post by anastasia55555 on Dec 16, 2010 22:20:27 GMT 1
Why not print them stuff off about lami, cushings, paddock paradise, herbs for horses etc, maybe that might help them understand a bit?
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lucia
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Post by lucia on Dec 16, 2010 22:27:39 GMT 1
I could try although I have spoken to them previously about my concerns. They are lovely but very 'old school' when it comes to grazing and they like to look out onto gorgeous green fields, which I do understand its very pretty! Plus they had polo ponies for decades and had no problems but my 3 natives and a spanish horse prone to ulcers and being a bit porky aren't like polo ponies. (yard up the road has pretty fields as they fertilize but then they also struggle with lami). They are approachable so I am hoping to speak to them again after christmas, especially now one has been diagnosed with cushings, and explain my concerns. It may be we won't be able to find a compromise and I will have to try to find somewhere else which will be sad.
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Post by anastasia55555 on Dec 16, 2010 22:55:35 GMT 1
Good luck! My last YO was quite old school, didnt really get lami, just thought it happened in spring and only to ponies, she also liked to see fat horses/ponies she was a lovely lady, but with that, poor maintance, and being trampled by other peoples horses, and rude nosey people we decided to leave. Have a field rented now. Field owner understands lami, she has 2 little ponies that have suffered and has a fat mare she is forever trying to slim down every way she can. She knows the ground will get muddy, and warned us it will, but tbh its no where near as bad as where we used to be, got some methods of mud control including carpet lol!
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Post by cbc on Dec 17, 2010 8:48:26 GMT 1
I think it is vital that horses get turnout, when I had liveries I made sure they had this all year round, but would add a few thoughts. The kind of weeds that thrive around here on poached ground tend to be docks, ragwort, thistles and nettles all of which are very invasive. Horses love eating thistle flowers, some horses love fresh nettles but they take up ground very competitively and left unchecked can ruin pasture. Those people who are tenants will find their landlord and the RPA breathing down their necks if poaching is seen to be at an unacceptable level, or certain weeds are in abundance. I dont need to add anything about ragwort other than to say it thrives in disturbed ground.
So while I do not support no turnout, I can see the problems livery yard managers face.
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Post by mandal on Dec 17, 2010 11:18:18 GMT 1
Well, blow me down. Nic Barker has written an experience at Rockley of cheaper ways of creating alternatives to stabling on the blog today. rockleyfarm.blogspot.com/
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lucia
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Post by lucia on Dec 17, 2010 13:25:51 GMT 1
I understand about the weeds problem but ours are pulled and/or sprayed and the fields are 90-95% grass, as I say we harrow, re-seed and manage it well but there are inevitable times of the year when mus and eaten down fields are inevitable and aren't pretty. I am hoping we can sort something out. Horses come first. Fields can be fixed.
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Post by amelia on Dec 17, 2010 13:47:06 GMT 1
I know lots of yards that do this in our area.
We're fortunate that we have quite a lot of land for the number of horses where my two are now. But even still during the awful snow they all had to stay in for a few days as it was dangerous to even walk them to the field. Sparks is still a playful baby and needs turnout to keep him Sane, 3 days was about his limit. Sunny hates the cold and snow, she likes the be turned out but after 5 mins looks at me like I'm the most cruel owner in the world! And maybe I am as I refuse to bring her in until late afternoon or else sparks would get upset as well!
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