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Post by isla on Jul 31, 2007 9:25:29 GMT -2
Ok, this is for those who are fortunate enough to have your horses at home  What should one take into consideration when considering having your horses at home? Advantages? Disadvantages? Problems etc. Thanks ;D |
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Post by laura on Jul 31, 2007 10:01:12 GMT -2
Flies..... How close are your neighbours to you, are you leagally allowed to keep horses on the property.
then there are the how many paddocks can you have, will there be enough grazing, will horses live in or out, is there storage space for feed and tack, where is the nearest water supply to where the horses are kept, is there access to the feed room for trucks if you have feed delivered, how safe is the area, are there busy roads, is the fencing suitable etc etc...
The pros far outweigh the what ifs thoug, you can care for your horse in your own private yard, its alot cheaper, your horse is right there so you dont have to fight traffic.
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Post by julesh on Jul 31, 2007 10:16:45 GMT -2
Also if you are going to see to the horses yourself - it means no holidays, no going aways etc.. Unless you can find someone to horse sit. If you sick, or having an operation .... the horses still need to be fed, watered, stables/paddocks mucked out in routine etc.. So no late Sunday lie-in's!! LOL
It is a huge commitment and responsibility - but I have to agree with Laura - the rewards must be fantastic.
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Post by laura on Jul 31, 2007 10:47:33 GMT -2
Ooops sorry forgot to say that hehehe thanks jules i forgot about holidays as there are none. Also remember grooms need off so then you will have to do stables. but its well worth it.
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Post by ~Ginger~ on Jul 31, 2007 10:56:57 GMT -2
Lol - ya no off days! I think that's the only reason my groom is happy when i come back home for hollidays because then he is off and it's my responsibility to feed the horses (but i'm a bit guilty, my groom still muck out the stable for me hehe)
When a horse is sick he is close by so you can also keep your own close eye on him and not lie awake 10km away wondering how he is doing...
and then off course the phsycological advantages! hehe!! my horses are my shrinks and keep me sane so ya.. you'll always have some company at home!!! hehe!
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Post by isla on Jul 31, 2007 18:41:19 GMT -2
Thanks guys! Much to ponder methinks!
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Post by saxon on Aug 1, 2007 16:41:53 GMT -2
Isla, I've had my horses at home for a while now, with a break in between the first time I had them at home and now. My manner of keeping them is VASTLY different than it was, and my horses are happy.
The most important thing is to have a good support structure. You need an excellent groom, who can be trusted to look after them if you go away, knows how to recognise colic, and other major problems, and who can phone your vet or farrier if necessary. You will also need a back-up groom if you need one (either by borrowing from a neighbour or having a casual who is reliable) in case something happens.
Quite simply, if I didn't have a good groom, I would put my horses into livery. I refuse to be as housebound as I was the first time I kept my horses at home. Or as paranoid!
Secondly, you need a spouse who will be prepared to accept that horses bring with them certain unavoidable consequences. These are:
- living arrangements which include horseproof fencing, stables, decent grazing, and an arena if possible;
- not having the luxury of a lie-in on the groom's day off, which may mean Christmas spent mucking out, or late night staying up with a sick horse;
- being broke. A lot.
You need an employer who will understand that, if your groom phones to say Dobbin is colicking, you need to go NOW. Not later. NOW.
You need a sense of humour because when Dobbin pulls up all of the baby trees you just planted, in order to play with them, thereby wasting a grand you could ill afford, there's nothing you can do but laugh. You need a sense of humour because Dobbin WILL cut his leg and need stitches the night you're tarted up to the nines and about to go out to supper, and it's the only way you'll be able to stand and hold him in an evening gown and gumboots without wanting to kill him. You'll need a sense of humour for when you get your feed bill.
Other than that, having horses at home is richly rewarding. Especially when Dobbin leaves green goop on your evening dress to say thank you for fixing his leg.
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Post by misty on Aug 1, 2007 16:58:02 GMT -2
Saxon forgot to add you need to be very quick thinking - always have a fund of ready answers and loads of tact because when your husband asks you 'WHY' - you need to be able to explain without turning him against the horses...................
- why there are hoofprints in the newly planted bed, and surely there were more plants than that this morning.....
- why there is a hoof print in the door of his new bakkie......
- why some horse found it necessary to walk across his newly laid concrete............
-why..............why..............why...............
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Post by isla on Aug 2, 2007 3:38:02 GMT -2
LOL! Thanks Sax:) Lots of good points to consider. Its something I have always thought would be great and then when I start to think of all it involves I become unsure of whether its the best option or not! Will take it under serious consideration tho before deciding on anything:)
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Post by saxon on Aug 2, 2007 5:12:27 GMT -2
Isla, it's a totally different experience to having horses in livery. Not better, or worse, just different.
I am a fussy cow and couldn't cope with the livery option, so it works for me.
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Post by Ratty on Aug 6, 2007 5:17:00 GMT -2
If I had the money to buy and maintain a small holding, I wouldn't think twice!
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Post by arte on Aug 6, 2007 5:32:18 GMT -2
Isla You can go away for weekedns etc-You just need a brilliant groom and a horsey house sitter to watch over things...
We have our horses at home and its so awsome!!!!!My horses are well cared for now-We can feed as much as we want-And No body can tell us what to do-Its great!!!
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