Horses during lockdown

[Noideawottodo]

We have two horses, kept at home. Last lockdown was fine as dd was at home and the weather was great so they got plenty of exercise. This time dd is not around so I'm considering just turning them away for a month, bringing them in at night. Can't see what choice I have really. One of them events so I've considered a month away at a livery being exercised but can't really afford it.

What are you doing with yours?

Mine is on part livery and the yard is staying open, but it's a small yard and unless I seek out company there I can go and see my horse without seeing anyone. He's retired so his routine and mine won't really change. Horses I exercise for private clients it's a bit different. Welfare of livestock and a job I can't do at home mean potentially I can keep going - but it will depend what the client wants.

@MilerVino you’re right it depends on the owners but I think you should be able to continue. If stopped by police and asked the reason for your journey I would say “animal care” as horses being out of work could cause health issues.

First lockdown (DIY yard) all the horses were chucked out and they didn’t really want anyone on the yard except for vets and farrier visits. You don’t have to enter the enter the yard to check horses in summer fields. This time they’re in over night and in winter fields only accessible through the yard so it will be business as usual with guidance on not sharing tools etc and not loitering for chats!

This is sad news, to answer the initial question I would have absolutely no qualms about turning them away. Does most good to have a rest, all the pros do it. You can get them back when they have a job to do, in the meantime no need to clip and farrier may take shoes off. They will enjoy being horses. I used to be more bothered about this and worried they wouldn’t come back to work easily but after having to do it a few times I think it’s improving. Best of luck

OP I would turn yours away.
Complete change for me, as last lockdown I kept my old mare in full work ( as advised by vet due to her conditions) but sadly she deteriorated rapidly over the summer so I had her put down down at home 😢 So now I have a ( sweetly) mad 3 year old.
This is the BD guidance, lessons with your trainer definitely allowed if this is correct

OP I would turn yours away.
Complete change for me, as last lockdown I kept my old mare in full work ( as advised by vet due to her conditions) but sadly she deteriorated rapidly over the summer so I had her put down down at home 😢 So now I have a ( sweetly) mad 3 year old.
This is the BD guidance, lessons with your trainer definitely allowed if this is correct

This is what horse and hound have to say

www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/coronavirus-horse-riding-equestrian-businesses-grooms-riders-710146?fbclid=IwAR37tAGzcWFgf420nZpFabfjmvSjdX70TQMeq7ijPhpU-0BQUOYdIv4iFhk

This is the horse and hound take on the rules;

www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/coronavirus-horse-riding-equestrian-businesses-grooms-riders-710146?fbclid=IwAR37tAGzcWFgf420nZpFabfjmvSjdX70TQMeq7ijPhpU-0BQUOYdIv4iFhk

@Loshad I don't think that BD guidance has been updated yet, they are waiting until today

It’s on their website as update from 2 November so one would hope it is currently relevant

Yes, it's correct, a trainer can come to your house/yard as long as it's your private yard. But you can't go to your trainer's yard (which is what we do).

I'm turning both mine away for 4 weeks.

@Polkadotties that sounds like a miserable existence for the horses in the winter at your yard , we have all year daily turnout

Not all horses like to go out in rain/mud, and will wait at the gate to come back in if put out.

I've started turning mine out in the day and bringing in at night (do it the other way round in summer). Yesterday I was pottering around at the stables and they both just stood at the gate waiting to come in.

@Ariela I’ve been a horse owner for 40 yrs + I know that not all horses like standing outside , my last thoroughbred wouldn’t even stand in a puddle but I still think hard standing and a horse Walker sounds miserable for an entire season . Each to their own as they say .

Not all horses like to go out in rain/mud, and will wait at the gate to come back in if put out.

It's a shame really that we've conditioned nomadic animals not to enjoy being out. In an ideal world they'd have plenty of turnout, with shelter and good drainage. Of course we don't live in an ideal world and sometimes have to compromise so our turnout is less than ideal, meaning no, they don't enjoy it. But I tend to think that's because our turnout is poor rather than because horses don't like being out.

I've only known 2 horses really not settle to turnout - both highly bred mares from the Netherlands who had just not had the experience of being out as youngsters.

Ours are kept at home on the farm,so no other liveries. One is 26 and semi retired,the other is 6 and only arrived last week.
Dd2 is self isolating as a child on her school bus has tested positive. She was overjoyed that she'd be able to spend two weeks at home, getting to know her new pony,until I told her that she's not allowed to. The poor little chap keeps looking for her whenever I go down to the field,he must wonder what on earth is going on.

@TheFnozwhowasmirage why can’t she if they Re at your home?

@TheFnozwhowasmirage, of course she can if they are at your home.

We will be carrying on as normal, share horses with siblings, our instructor will still be coming out.

It’s outdoor, on our land, socially distanced and the horses come first so fuck the rules to be frank.

DIY livery so will carry on as normal. I didn't ride during the last lockdown but intend to ride this time round.

So it IS okay for an instructor to come to you, but you can’t take your horse to them?

theFnoz why can’t she play with her pony if it’s at home???

She has to walk up or be driven up to the other bit of the farm to get to him,and there are vulnerable family members there. Plus there are footpaths all over our fields and someone would be bound to grass on her. The rules say not to leave the house unless going for a test,so I'm going to have to stick to them. Seems ridiculous but there you are.

I would let dd ride all day every day it were me. Surely easy to aboid vulnerable family members

You can get them back when they have a job to do, in the meantime no need to clip and farrier may take shoes off.

I got my horse's shows taken off at the start of the last lockdown - big mistake! After the storms of Feb and March, with soggy muddy fields, lockdown was dry as a bone and the fields were rock hard. My poor horse's feet got more and more sore till I had his shoes put back on again.