Although I have had a stable the last few years to accommodate for Tissy’s need for mash as a haylage replacement. I haven’t had to have her in and I’ve had other horses on full grass livery, so it’s been very flexible.
This year as part of the livery changes and in an effort to preserve the fields both my horses will be stabled daily for half the day. Now I still have lots of flexibility in terms of timing, it can be overnight, in the day and there are no set hours or timings.
This means I do have a new stable, so it was time to get everything prepped and ready for the switch to the winter routine. I’m actually quite excited in terms of the routine of it, a little apprehensive about the horse management side, ideally I would love to have my horses somewhere they can choose, in a field with others and a big barn/field shelter with ad lib forage and access as they wish. This is how our horses were kept at home when I was growing up and it’s how I believe we can keep them happiest. However, when you don’t have your own land it’s just not practical and there are many situations where it’s not possible. So fingers crossed Estrid settles into stabled life fairly quickly and we make it through the winter happy and healthy!
Beth Endurance 