Animal care on lockdown

[MayDayHelp]

Just wondering how this will work? I have 2 horses which I keep at my mum’s place (15 mins drive away). I have to go and care for them every day, usually for about an hour.

I’m worried that if lockdown happens this won’t be seen as a valid reason to go out, but if I don’t go the horses will be neglected. My mum can’t do them as she’s recently had a double knee replacement. Being locked down at my mum’s isn’t an option either as I have other animals at home which I wouldn’t be able to take with me.

There must be many people in a similar situation, with horses or other livestock which can’t live at peoples houses.

Whilst all bets seem to be off these days, I cannot imagine we will leave animals to suffer in a lockdown, especially considering it's often possible to care for horses (and livestock) without coming into contact with other people.

But you can go to them!

There is no absolute lockdown and, if there is, care of livestock will have to be included in the list of reasons to go out

At the moment car journeys are fine, as is being outside for leisure purposes, if you keep your distance from others.

OP, there's a thread on the tack room board about this, which you may want to look at 😊

I really hope not! Also hoping that feed stores will be allowed to remain open, even though it’s not human food they’re selling.

Sorry, posted too soon.

Closed environment of your car to a yard or field with nobody else around would not break a quarantine. Surely!

Thanks @Fivefourthree will have a look :)

I have a family member in a lockdown city, a pet shops are still open. I went to get wormer at a farm stores today and the car park was packed (I didn't go in) so I think people were probably stocking up.
I am hoping that caring for live stock classes as essential journey. I spoke to my vet and he hasn't received official guidance yet but he was reassuring.

I am in a similar situation and have every intention of getting in my vehicle and going to feed them, never see anyone anyway apart from passing other cars on the way. I have a little bit more feed in than usual but only enough for a couple of weeks.

I have been talking about this with my mum today. Her horse (old and retired) is nearer to my house than hers but she works nearby so is here everyday at the moment.
It’s a livery yard so other people will have to go there too but enough space we can keep away from each other. I’m planning to help out as much as I can and we will probably split the days caring for him. I would be happy for the excuse to get some fresh air if we were locked down.

Some people at the yard have been talking about turning them out early for the summer and taking in in turns to check on them. I don’t think it’s the best idea to be honest as the grass isn’t through yet and we are still due some bad weather. We will see though. Hay, shavings and feed might be a bit hard to come by soon so I’ve suggested she starts to deep litter but she isn’t keen. I suppose worst case we have down rubber mats so it’s better than nothing. Feeding can be cut back soon once the spring grass comes through. It is a worry though. Also there will be no farriers working so goodness knows how that will work as it’s illegal to trim horses feet if you are not qualified.

I also wondered how it will work with no farriers :( . I guess exercising them is going to be out of the question too.

Our fields are far too wet and not enough grass to have them turned out 24/7. One of mine is well into her twenties and really feels the cold so need to keep her rugged up and in at night, especially in bad weather.

I'm fairly certain farriers and vets will still be working. Welfare is still an important law. Nobody will be letting stock die in fields. With the latest guidance on quarantine we might get postponements because of that, but we'll be able to work around it.
It's a good kick up the backside to put plans in place for any time we might be out of action, for whatever reason.
Worth chatting to friends to see who'd cover if necessary.

MayDayHelp - our old boy is 26 now. Has a touch of arthritis in his shoulder too so he wouldn’t cope with 24/7 turn out at the moment either. He definitely feels the cold more now and it’s harder to keep the weight on him, despite being a ‘hardy’ cob type (part Clydesdale / part Irish cob). 10 years ago he would have coped fine with 24/7 turn out. He was always hard to catch any time of year and hated being in his stable. Now he’s at the gate wanting in after 30 minutes of being out.
We will all muddle through and help each other out as best we can. I’m more than happy to throw in feeds / haunted and top up water buckets for people. It’s not like I would have much else to do if we are in lockdown. My concern will be mainly petrol- so long as I can get my tank filled up I don’t mind a few extra yard trips (might help me shift a bit if weight too if I’m doing some yard work!)

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