Livery Yards Colts and Mares..Advice

[lolly]

I keep my three horses on a lovely small livery yard with 7 girls and 13 horses. Up to know things have run smoothly, everyone has got on and apart from my cobs escaping through electric fencing (only mine do it) and rioting occassionaly things have been quiet.

We have a 15 acre field which is split into individual owner paddocks and rotated. All these are separated by electric tape, (my paddock is the only one with three strands around).

The livery owners have announced today that a new girl are coming with 3 horses between them at the end of the month and will be in the same field as the rest. The problem one is stallion/colt Apparently they will just put them a electric fenced paddock away from the mares.

Now I am no colt expert but I would say that electric tape will not keep the colt/stallion in if my mare is in season, and knowing my mare she will be fence hopping to get in with them. Anybody know my rights, I really dont want to have to move but it seems a crazy scenario.

[rtk not logged in]

Move now before they arrive.

I have had lots of experience with this on our last yard. They wont respect the electric fence and their presence will cause no end of trouble. You will never feel safe leaving your mares out. We didn't even with a large wall in between.

[viking]

I second rtk.

Staying under those circumstances is a recipe for disaster.

[Dee Jay]

Hewston - I think we have a problem!!!
Electric fence will not keep the colts out. The girls will be just as bad when they are in season.
We have a separate paddock for the colts and stallion. They are turned out alternate days. The mares and fillies are in the next field which is separated from the stallion and colts on one side. This has a strong post and rail fence with electric fencing on either side. This works as they cannot get close enough to sniff one another and the electric is run off the mains.
We find this quite handy in the covering season as the mares "show" to the stallion when they are in season which saves a lot of time "trying" them. Luckily our stallion is very laid back and doesnt get worked up when they are teasing him.
Young colts and one row of electric fence is definately asking for trouble.

[Molly]

I would move before they arrive as someone else stated its asking for trouble..Though it seems a pain for you to have to move your horses.

[lolly]

I am really upset about it, and moving is hard because its been such a friendly yard and its been so lovely to find a yard where there is no bit*hyness. Its going to be a nightmare trying to find a yard near with three stables

[pho3nix]

i would say move as well... I know my gelding was hard enough to keep in a sectioned off part of the field with an electric fence... and all he wanted was the new grass on the other side!

he used to kinda sit on the fence and then step over it, a horned up colt will probably just jump it!

[Guestless]

Can all the liveries get together and approach the YO to say you are all unhappy about it? Are they horsey - maybe they don't understand the implications of having entires on their yard. We had several young entire Shetlands on our yard for a while, but we just kept on and on at the YO until he got them moved - they were in a totally separate field but kept coming out of their field and going wandering. It was just sheer luck they didn't manage to cover any of the mares.

[kilty]

I'm afraid I'm with the others on this one. As hard as it is to leave a place where you are happy, the situation will quickly become untenable with the colts around unless your YO is prepared to make more of an effort to keep the colts seperated properly. It might be worth speaking to your YO to see if there is any chance of working something out, before you get yourself into the whole moving thing!

[lolly]

The people coming are x Kings Troop and very knowlegable, but wouldnt you think they would know better

Going to view a yard tonight, quite a trek but camped next to them at ponies for the week and they were so lovely it might be well worth it.

[dl]

i was always under the belief that a colt stallion should be inside a fence of 8ft. and if these people are knowledgable they wont turn them out anyway they will wait or arrange for everything to be emptied for an hour.

[lolly]

I'm so excited,
And I just can't hide it,
And I know, I know, I know, I know"

Moving to a fab new livery yard in 3 weeks, morning turnout ;D ;D ;D, no pheasant shoots oof the yard ;D ;D ;D and a floodlit school ;D ;D ;D and most importantly lovely people ;D ;D ;D

Will be sad though leaving where I am as made some smashing friends and the owners of the yard are lovely. They have decided the colt/stallion cant come anyway - just dont think they realised the implications - but morning turnout is just too bigger a attraction - the new place people are also good friends of skints so I will see more of her - which is nice, although she is a really bad influence and corrupts me ;D ;D ;D


downside...over 20 large rubber mats to move as well as ponies wardrobe tack and and all rubbish that goes with it


;D ;D ;D

[kilty]

I'm so glad you found somewhere that you'll be happy! That sounds like a better situation all round for you. At least your present YOs saw sense about the colts anyway, that must be reassuring (even if you are leaving). Good luck with the move and I hope you and the ponies settle in well

[sallyw]

Thank goodness you have found somewhere, lolly. You seem to have almost as many problems with horses and stuff as I do! Shall we widen this thread and talk about livery stables in general. I keep my horses at home but a few years ago had to leave two of them a livery whilst I had a shoulder operation. They couldn;t catch the one and instead of ringing us and telling us there was a problem, they kep saying everything was fine. He got laminitis and nearly died. They were then able to catch him and told us to come and get him as they didn't want him there when he was sick (they had noticed this by now) because of the others. I had to drive the lorry with my arm all strapped up and burst my stitches. I think livery yards should have to have a licence like riding schools do. Anyone who runs a yard and thinks colts are okay with electric fence between them and mares should be put of of business immediately.

[viking]

So pleased you've got it sorted out. I share Fetherston's views re. yards who don't have an understanding of colts. They need to wise up, or close up immediately.

[lolly]

I think that all livery yards will have to have a licensed in the next five years...I might be wrong but am sure I have recently read it. I wouldnt mind paying a bit more to be on a yard that was licensed as it gives assurance for both yours and your horses well being and safety.

[kilty]

I agree that licensing is probably on it's way in, especially in today's compensation culture, but other than being at a licensed yard for insurance reasons, I can't say it would sway my decision.

There are lots of licensed riding schools that I personally would steer well clear of! Likewise, some of the best teaching and advice I've had has been from unlicensed people (who happen to be professionals in their discipline but not BHS/similarly accredited).

[ferret]

glad u got sorted with a good yard lolly they are hard to find...i would love to have mine at home , but no such luck !
I used to have mine at a posh big yard but it was soooooo expensive , when they changed the winter turnout to twice a week i made the very hard decision to move , i am now on a small yard that i share with one other ...we get on great ,its half the price , can order what haylage etc we want and turnout whenever and generally run it how we want to ...oh and next door to big equine vets ...so no big vet call out charges !!! Although i was sad to leave the old yard ...it was definately the best move !
So am sure will be the same for you Lolly ...its funny how things can work out for the best !