Horsey horsey...
Discussion
We currently have 4 of our own 3 TB's and a Shetland on a private yard we rent completely (9 stables and approx 15 acres). The biggest issue I feel is not so much the money side of the equation (both myself and the missus work full time for a racehorse trainer, and I have a second job and both of us do other bits and pieces for income) We also look after 3 horses for other people which covers the rent on the yard and we just about break even after buying in feed/bedding/haylage etc.
The change in your lifestyle will be the biggest issue to consider. Holidays not necessarily forget them as such but you need to have people you trust to look after the animals and property. Muck disposal often not thought about enough, have you enough land to spread it over, is there a local who will take it away (its now nearly as expensive to get rid as to get it in)
Land management, vet and farrier visits needing to be scheduled when someone is around. So many things to consider. Having said that being in charge of your own place equal no politics and run the place how you want. More than happy to answer any questions on the subject
The change in your lifestyle will be the biggest issue to consider. Holidays not necessarily forget them as such but you need to have people you trust to look after the animals and property. Muck disposal often not thought about enough, have you enough land to spread it over, is there a local who will take it away (its now nearly as expensive to get rid as to get it in)
Land management, vet and farrier visits needing to be scheduled when someone is around. So many things to consider. Having said that being in charge of your own place equal no politics and run the place how you want. More than happy to answer any questions on the subject
We have a private yard with 15 acres and it's not cheap
People think about the core things like feed, hay, bedding but I've found that the things that cost are:
- Fixing things - fencing, stable, gates, ground, tractor, flail mower, barn roof, sheds, brooms etc etc
- maintenance - paths, grazing, electric fencing
- making the place better e.g. painting stables, viewing platform for Manege etc etc
- The stuff you don't think about - e.g. every year clearing out each stable and all the mats and disinfecting,
Time is the thing. If you like being outdoors then it's great but you will spend more time on maintenance and fixing things that you could ever imagine. We live on site which does help
People think about the core things like feed, hay, bedding but I've found that the things that cost are:
- Fixing things - fencing, stable, gates, ground, tractor, flail mower, barn roof, sheds, brooms etc etc
- maintenance - paths, grazing, electric fencing
- making the place better e.g. painting stables, viewing platform for Manege etc etc
- The stuff you don't think about - e.g. every year clearing out each stable and all the mats and disinfecting,
Time is the thing. If you like being outdoors then it's great but you will spend more time on maintenance and fixing things that you could ever imagine. We live on site which does help
shocks said:
I must be going mad, started looking at yards / land to buy, now I'm no longer chained to a desk and travelling for work it's very tempting though I'm entirely clueless about what it entails other than what i see on my visits over the past few years. Pretty sure owing one would be ruinous.
For yourself or to rent out to liveries etc? Never underestimate how entitled, b
hy, argumentative, and downright unreasonable horsey women can be if they're paying for the privilege! One person's horse doesn't get on with the other one, someone parks in "the wrong place", leaves their hay net out, or doesn't sweep the yard "properly", suddenly you need 25 acres to keep them far enough apart. Condi said:
For yourself or to rent out to liveries etc?
Never underestimate how entitled, bhy, argumentative, and downright unreasonable horsey women can be if they're paying for the privilege! One person's horse doesn't get on with the other one, someone parks in "the wrong place", leaves their hay net out, or doesn't sweep the yard "properly", suddenly you need 25 acres to keep them far enough apart.
I could not have summarised the private livery world better. Bravo. Never underestimate how entitled, b
hy, argumentative, and downright unreasonable horsey women can be if they're paying for the privilege! One person's horse doesn't get on with the other one, someone parks in "the wrong place", leaves their hay net out, or doesn't sweep the yard "properly", suddenly you need 25 acres to keep them far enough apart. Taken a week to be able to post this, and sorry to bring the thread down, but on midsummer's day we said goodbye to John, who some of you made lovely comments about on his retirement photo earlier in the thread.
One of the last photos of him, with his field mate Victor.
A total gentleman of a horse, with us for 18 years and we suspect at least 30 when he went - not bad for a Shire cross. He slipped away really gently after lots of fuss and cuddles from the stable girls and us, with me holding him as my OH couldn't face it.
Understandably my OH is bereft and wondering what to do with all her "free" time. Ruddy animals really do get under your skin, don't they? Even our vet was in tears - she's looked after him on & off since joining the practice in 2010.
Thanks old fella, you were one in a million,
Steve
One of the last photos of him, with his field mate Victor.
A total gentleman of a horse, with us for 18 years and we suspect at least 30 when he went - not bad for a Shire cross. He slipped away really gently after lots of fuss and cuddles from the stable girls and us, with me holding him as my OH couldn't face it.
Understandably my OH is bereft and wondering what to do with all her "free" time. Ruddy animals really do get under your skin, don't they? Even our vet was in tears - she's looked after him on & off since joining the practice in 2010.
Thanks old fella, you were one in a million,
Steve
So sorry to hear of Johns passing, he looks like a wonderfully gentle soul & I'm sure appreciated the life you gave him. I knew a shire on one yard I rode at who was a darling but loved to snap her reins without warning, usually on a hack 
I'm loving the photos and updates so please keep them up, I used to ride a lot until about 10 years ago but have never been able to afford (money & time) one of my own so appreciate seeing everyones Le Mieux collections
I mean 4 legged friends 
I'm loving the photos and updates so please keep them up, I used to ride a lot until about 10 years ago but have never been able to afford (money & time) one of my own so appreciate seeing everyones Le Mieux collections
I mean 4 legged friends We went to the Royal Highland Show at the weekend and you think you are doing reasonably well until you see these horses that compete. Some of the top show jumping horses from some of the best bloodlines with well into 6 figure price ranges.
It’s clear they are very professional though. Some of them clearing rounds of jumps at 1.6m high. The top rider on the day got £8k and the runners up got £5k if I recall.
Then you spot the whole place is sponsored by coutts private banking and wealth management. There were private jets flying in and out of Edinburgh airport and some competitors arriving by chopper. Different world.
And yes I did add to the share price of LM once again. Sigh.
It’s clear they are very professional though. Some of them clearing rounds of jumps at 1.6m high. The top rider on the day got £8k and the runners up got £5k if I recall.
Then you spot the whole place is sponsored by coutts private banking and wealth management. There were private jets flying in and out of Edinburgh airport and some competitors arriving by chopper. Different world.
And yes I did add to the share price of LM once again. Sigh.
Thanks folks - appreciate the kind words about John.
Got to clear out all his stuff from up at the stables this weekend - that'll be emotional, I'm sure.
Sorry, OH has never been into LM so no cheap PH-discount bargains to be had
Anyone in Berkshire needing an older Ifor Williams horsebox that needs new tyres, though - I'm your man!
Got to clear out all his stuff from up at the stables this weekend - that'll be emotional, I'm sure.
Sorry, OH has never been into LM so no cheap PH-discount bargains to be had
Anyone in Berkshire needing an older Ifor Williams horsebox that needs new tyres, though - I'm your man!
Sorry to read the sad news above, hope all are doing as well as can be expected.
Our mare lost her foal at birth last year, an absolutely heartbreaking situation. We tried again and she got pregnant, but the vets aid she had lost the foal at the 28 day scan at which point we decided it just wasn’t to be. Roll on a good number of months and the mare was just getting bigger and bigger so we had her examined to find she was in foal. Well last night she delivered,, an exceptionally quick birth and touch wood mother and foal doing ok, with one exception - whilst all over the foal she wouldn’t let it suckle. So I have been run ragged, milking the mare every 2 hours (which she lets me do just fine) and then feeding the foal. With the help of the vet and sedation we got the foal suckling tonight, let’s hope this continues once the sedation has worn off…
Our mare lost her foal at birth last year, an absolutely heartbreaking situation. We tried again and she got pregnant, but the vets aid she had lost the foal at the 28 day scan at which point we decided it just wasn’t to be. Roll on a good number of months and the mare was just getting bigger and bigger so we had her examined to find she was in foal. Well last night she delivered,, an exceptionally quick birth and touch wood mother and foal doing ok, with one exception - whilst all over the foal she wouldn’t let it suckle. So I have been run ragged, milking the mare every 2 hours (which she lets me do just fine) and then feeding the foal. With the help of the vet and sedation we got the foal suckling tonight, let’s hope this continues once the sedation has worn off…
Davie_GLA said:
We will be there next Sunday I think for a lesson. She needs to get onto different horses to learn. I think.
Lol ! the 17th should be good, full comp day with a lot going on; if you do make it along, DM me and I will buy you a coffee and commiserate on the wallet depletion horse world brings us Davie_GLA said:
I could not have summarised the private livery world better. Bravo.
ROFL, this did make me laugh. Have seen :The Vet - livery who thinks they are a vet. But are not.
The s
t Stirrer - has no life, seems to exist to create strife and misery amount others.The Treat Thief - still trying to find this one, they exist as the depleting treats arent all going to horses. At least now our ones.
The 5* Eventer / BS'r - really only did 2* but likes to tell everyone their riding faults and critiques on a whim
The keep 25 acres apart is soooo true, last summer was like a revolving door of livery exits on some bad behaviour. Been quite blissful since, the yard always full and the waiting list growing.
Thanks for the offers of a steer on owning/running, if I get serious on this will take up the offers for sure !
shocks said:
ROFL, this did make me laugh. Have seen :
The Vet - livery who thinks they are a vet. But are not.
The st Stirrer - has no life, seems to exist to create strife and misery amount others.
The Treat Thief - still trying to find this one, they exist as the depleting treats arent all going to horses. At least now our ones.
The 5* Eventer / BS'r - really only did 2* but likes to tell everyone their riding faults and critiques on a whim
The keep 25 acres apart is soooo true, last summer was like a revolving door of livery exits on some bad behaviour. Been quite blissful since, the yard always full and the waiting list growing.
Thanks for the offers of a steer on owning/running, if I get serious on this will take up the offers for sure !
DO i win a prize if i can pin all of them in one person? With the exception of the treats. There is a military like protection racket around these. Private security firms should recruit at livery yards. The Vet - livery who thinks they are a vet. But are not.
The s
t Stirrer - has no life, seems to exist to create strife and misery amount others.The Treat Thief - still trying to find this one, they exist as the depleting treats arent all going to horses. At least now our ones.
The 5* Eventer / BS'r - really only did 2* but likes to tell everyone their riding faults and critiques on a whim
The keep 25 acres apart is soooo true, last summer was like a revolving door of livery exits on some bad behaviour. Been quite blissful since, the yard always full and the waiting list growing.
Thanks for the offers of a steer on owning/running, if I get serious on this will take up the offers for sure !
Also, i'm politely requesting you get out of my head. I had said NOTHING about the 17th to the daughter and have just got a text (she is upstairs, naturally): "can i do the jump Day at Turlood?
So now i am certain i'm searching for another horsebox hire. I'd be cheaper just buying one.
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