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Post by jennyg on Jan 4, 2009 0:18:27 GMT 1
Hi guys, just some general ideas and thoughts wanted! I have the opportunity to move my horse to a friend's 3 acre field with 2 stables and tack room but there's no menage. I'm quite tempted by the offer as the land seems to drain well there and the field looks great after having 2 horses on it for most of the winter (they've just been moved which is why the field's available). Where I'm at at the mo is alright but the field's so churned up and the YO is very lackadaisical (I wouldn't like to leave my horse in her care for any length of time due to general slackness) and have started to think that having my own space might be the best option. My horse would also only be 1 mile from my house at the new place as opposed to 4.5, which is a bonus . What's holding me back is the fact that there's a floodlit outdoor menage where I currently keep my horse, which has enabled me to continue having lessons on my mare. She's only 6 so it's been great for improving her schooling. There must be loads of people who cope without a menage so I just wondered whether people could give me some ideas of how to keep her well schooled by doing certain schooling exercises on hacks? I could probably school in the field when ground conditions allow (it's on a gentle slope so not totally flat but not too bad). I think I've been spoiled by the fact the 2 places I've kept her have both had menages so the thought of no menage concerns me a little. I'm not a competitive type - prelim dressage is about my level, but as she's only 6, I don't want her to become badly schooled - she's also not that confident with her jumping, so the menage is handy for that too. Unfortunately I have no transport, so boxing her to a menage is not an option. So, is it possible to keep your horse reasonably well schooled without a menage or is it a schooling nightmare?!
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Post by rifruffian on Jan 4, 2009 0:39:44 GMT 1
I strongly recommend you stick to a place with menage. I would, if I had the opportunity.
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Post by ladynowak on Jan 4, 2009 0:52:40 GMT 1
I would stick to somewhere that has a school if I were you, but possibly consider looking for a new yard if you aren't happy where you are. Also, would it just be your horse on the yard or would she have company? I don't have a school at my yard but as there are always spare fields (probably about 30 acres of empty fields at any one time) it isn't an issue. When we rented our own yard (6 acres for 3 horses) it just wasn't possible to do any real schooling apart from in summer. You have no idea how much you miss having a floodlit school until you don't have one any more
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Post by pinkpony on Jan 4, 2009 0:53:39 GMT 1
Well, would you not be able to hire out the school for your lessons?
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Post by jennyg on Jan 4, 2009 1:05:16 GMT 1
I'd need to box her to the menage pinkpony and I have no transport.
Having a menage is great, I just also like the idea of being able to stick to my own routine, i.e. keep her out 24/7 (with shelter), at the mo they all get brought in between 3pm and 4pm. The fields are also very badly rutted and the lady at the yard has some funny ideas when it comes to horse care - most of her horses where pretty much out of hay by 6.30pm tonight but she said they weren't getting any more for the night as they were all too fat. I don't like the idea of her caring for my horse when I'm not there if she thinks it's ok for a horse to go 12 hours or more with nothing to eat. Don't get me wrong, she's a nice enough person, just rather slap dash!
ladynowak I'd have to try to find a sharer at new place or get a pony from a charity for company as otherwise my horse would be there alone (there are other horses in the field next door though). I don't like the thought of her being alone though, so this is another consideration.
I am wary however of losing access to a menage so it's good to hear other people's thoughts on not having the use of a school.
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Post by Liz on Jan 4, 2009 1:14:14 GMT 1
I guess it really depends on what you and your horse like doing. I never had access to a manege in the many years I had horses but did basic stuff out on hacks. I was limited as I kept my horses on the Quantock Hills and any flat area was non-existent! Going up and down hills made them handy, though! I also practised leg yielding and length of strides etc in the lanes which were flat in parts! My thing was hacking and hunting and the occasional hunter trial or team chase and similar stuff.
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Post by ladynowak on Jan 4, 2009 2:36:14 GMT 1
Given you'd have to find someone to share with and or get a companion pony I think you would be best finding a different yard that has a school (your YO sounds like a bit of a liability!). Having your own yard sounds perfect until you do it, but I guess everyone is different. In summer it was fantastic, but come winter it was absolute hell. Not having someone to give the horses a general check over in daylight in the winter was a nightmare and while been all alone was lovely in so many respects it did get very lonely not having someone to chat to or to step in if I was on holiday/not well. If you really want to keep having lessons, schooling in evenings etc then having a school is really the only way to do it
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Post by marianne on Jan 4, 2009 9:04:54 GMT 1
listen if you call spell lackadaisical - and I had to go look up it hahaha ;D - then you can certainly spell mAnEge It's a tough question, but I have really struggled to school my mare without a school ......
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Post by bramblesmum on Jan 4, 2009 9:38:55 GMT 1
to me a good school is a must now, having not had one for years Bramble has improved so much having one
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Post by wabuska on Jan 4, 2009 9:42:53 GMT 1
I long for a menage. Try to secure one. Winter I agree is a bummer without a school to work in.
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clairebearnz
Advanced Poster
Mum to Sparky and Tally and Fready and Missy
Posts: 407
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Post by clairebearnz on Jan 4, 2009 10:00:01 GMT 1
I don't have one, I do have a flat bit of paddock which is pretty well-draining, so I cope. It's never really bothered me, fewer people here have arenas so it's a bit different.
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Post by specialsparkle3 on Jan 4, 2009 10:14:43 GMT 1
Well all I can say is, when I was showing under saddle, hardly anyone had a menage, and I certainly didn't, but we still achieved well schooled horses. My friend the late David Cronk hit the headlines in Horse and Hound when he won Hack of the Year on a 5 year old who had rarely seen a school. He did all his schooling on grass verges, roads and tracks and the field. I believe that horses today, spend far too much time in schools and do not have enough variation to keep their mind occupied and "fresh". which I think makes them more receptive to learning new things and enoying doing so. I appreciate that some horses do not live in an area, where this sort of schooling is possible due to busy roads, etc, and I'm not saying you can school a horse up to Medium level without the use of a school, but if it's possible to win what David won from road and track work, surely that would be enough for the majority of horse owners.
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Post by KoLaTo on Jan 4, 2009 10:33:10 GMT 1
I only have a grass arena which is unusable from Sept to April and last yr was kindof unusable all yr because of all the wet so mine are all pretty much schooled on hacks although the smallest does go to pony club often so gets the benefit of their outdoor schools.
I do have an all weather down the road to use but finances don't always allow me to use it as often as i'd like (just twice last yr-LOL)
I show my ponies and have done for many years and have been on my yard for 25 yrs now without a proper school.
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Post by wabuska on Jan 4, 2009 10:36:22 GMT 1
I'm certainly going to make a more definite area Sparkle, as I'm sure it can be done, and without a menage, it's too easy to say 'well, if I had a menage, he would go better.' We school in an open field and it can distracting on a windy day or if his attention is wandering.
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Post by lilaclomax on Jan 4, 2009 10:44:29 GMT 1
I would love to have my own place but realise that it is better to have back up especially for myself as if I was suddenly unable to get to the yard I know that others would help me out as I would return the favour, also I can go on holiday at anytime of the year by sharing responsibilties with others. The school is always a bonus and although you can cope without one just work out how many times you have used it last year. Unless I could keep my boy at home I like the idea of our YO living on site and others coming and going who would notice if something had happened to him... I have just realised that sounded so negative.. sorry!
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