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LastSerenade
Bronze Member
 England
195 Posts |
 Posted - 17 Sep 2012 : 9:21:18 PM
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Hi guys, basically I'm just after some advice from you knowledgeable lot and I need to get it all off my chest too. Jay is approx 27 and has been ill since late Feb. First he was diagnosed as arthritic... Later this was changed to Lammi (to be fair to the vet, being the awkward pony he is he didn't have very obvious lammi symptoms for a long time even though we hedged our bets and treated him like he had it). The vet gave us a free cushings test which confirmed he had that so he's on Prascend and he seemed to be improving, his little bit of a crest has gone etc, but we seem to be having set back after set back. I feel like all I do at the farm now is cry :'( . Anyway, we were obviously soaking his hay and giving him very restricted turn out with a muzzle as the vet wants him moving around and he gets a cough when stuck in for too long. long story short, our farmer seems to have had a break down.. A few on the yard were soaking our hay for various reasons and he's decided we can't soak hay at all, not even for 15 minutes. We took it home to soak but one of the girls was told if we take it home we can take our horses home too and not bother coming back! To add to this he's been asked repeatedly if he'll cut the grass in my field and just hasn't bothered =/ . There is a possibility of us renting a small field with a couple of stables on, no electricity or water but I think we'd cope. The main thing I wanted opinions on was whether you think it'd be a bad idea to move him while he's still ill? He's not the best at loading to put it mildly (we've pretty much hacked him from one yard to another up to now!). Sorry for the huge post and thanks in advance for anyone offering advice or opinions :D
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LadyLuck1
Gold Member
England
730 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2012 : 9:42:43 PM
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I don't understand why farmer wont let you soak hay or at least take it home to soak. Will he not listen to reason, personally I would move my horse but the choice is yours. Good luck with whatever you decide. Hugs to your pony.
Mary |
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ali bali
Gold Member
Scotland
641 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2012 : 9:44:45 PM
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Oh dear poor you, rock and hard place 
You dont say how foot sore your boy still is? Would travelling him cause significant pain?
I think a lot depends on how adaptable and laid back your boy is, will he settle quickly or fret for weeks? Will he be moving with an established friend or two?
I guess you need to decide if the short term 'pain' for him would be worth the long term gain of being better able to manage his environment and how easy or hard the move is will likely depend on your boys personality as much as anything else.
Electricity you can work around but I'm a bit concerned about the lack of water, particularly if you need to soak hay daily.
I'm sure more knowledgeable peeps than I will have good advice for you but wanted to reply, you're post rang a chord with me as my boy is 27 years old too and also starting to show his age. Im sure you will make the best possible choices for him, wishing you both the very best of luck. Alison |
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LastSerenade
Bronze Member
England
195 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2012 : 9:50:52 PM
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| Sadly he won't listen to reason, he's just not interested. He's changed so much in the last couple of months even people who've been on the yard for years ate talking about leaving. I just worry about making Jay worse by stressing him out by moving him now. I guess I just worry about everything with him at the minute :( |
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LastSerenade
Bronze Member
England
195 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2012 : 9:58:46 PM
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| Thanks for the reply, he's not too footsore at the minute and apart from the actual travelling stressing him out he's quite a chilled out guy. He'd be moving with my sister's section D who he's been with first least 15 years so I know that will help him settle. The water wouldn't be too bad, we've got containers and don't live too far away. I suppose I've answered my own question really, it's a case of stressing him once to get him somewhere where I can manage him better. Thanks :) |
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Pasch
Platinum Member
2277 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2012 : 10:11:42 PM
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| You are already stressing yourself on his health problems,I don't think you need the added stress of having to deal with a farmer who's not helpful (to put it mildly) in times of need.Doesn't seem like he would be too stressed by the move.If you can manage with water,moving will at least solve one problem. |
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Mrs DJ
Gold Member
632 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2012 : 10:41:44 PM
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I think if you are forbidden to soak hay, and are struggling to deal with grass, and the farmer is being unco-operative in the extreme - move him, for his healths sake.
I would LOVE to have my own field to manage as I wanted. Issues like water and electric can be dealt with.
He'll be fine, especially if he has a friend going with him.
Our old YO used to get twitchy about water usage too - one of his favorite moans was... "don't they realise that EVERY DROP goes through the meter!!!!!". He hated electric fencing with a passion too - could never understand why people wanted to restrict their horses on all that fertilised, rich, rye grass dairy pasture.  |
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triple velvet
Bronze Member
Scotland
120 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2012 : 07:33:44 AM
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Hi It's Jo of Brookhead with Kira. Sorry to hear about Jay, hugs to you both.
I had same problem with John and soaking hay plus other problems. I have just made the hard decision of turning mine out in a field (currently building shelters). The freedom is bliss.
Good Luck.......Jo |
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Callisto
Platinum Member
6905 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2012 : 07:59:14 AM
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I would definitely move. We periodically use a field without a decent water supply and we have a big plastic tub with handles (the type you can use for hay) that we fill up with jerry cans - not too much of a problem, only need to do it every second day with three in the field. Also if the new field has stables can you install a rainwater barrel on the front and back guttering? I've used this successfully too - particularly through the winter for filling water buckets/soaking hay. If you have a very dry spell then it gets a bit low, but generally there is enough for day to day needs. As for electricity, did without that for years - headtorches are invaluable  |
  Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta)
Linda
East Sussex |
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glo
Gold Member
England
1297 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2012 : 08:57:34 AM
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As Callisto said, you can buy very large water containers they are about 4ft x5ft my friend uses them and you will not run out of water very fast.
It will be stressfull for your horse to move, but if you are finding it hard, you don't want to make rash decision's, think long and hard, is your horse trying to tell you that the time may be right to consider putting him to sleep!!
If you decide to move I would electric tape a long thin strip for him so he has to walk up and down for his grazing.
Make the right decision for both of you, it will work out right in the end, be brave and go for it. |
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SuziQ
Gold Member
England
922 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2012 : 11:59:14 AM
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Sounds to me like you've answered your own question. Moving to a quiter yard was the best thing I ever did!! Lacks facilities but thats only occasionally that I miss them.
I'm not the biggest fan of sedating to move horses but if you dont have far to go perhaps this would be an option for your boy to make the move a bit smoother? |
Everyone in my life brings me happiness, some by arriving others by leaving. |
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basbob
Gold Member
France
1356 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2012 : 12:22:48 PM
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Oh how awful for you - if it were me I'd move. I managed for a long while carrying water containers morning and night, and electricity was never an issue.
Wishing all well with pony! |
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LastSerenade
Bronze Member
England
195 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2012 : 1:31:49 PM
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| Thanks for all the replies, I'm going to ring the guy with the field in a bit and I'm just waiting for the vet to turn up to do his x-rays again so I'll ask her about moving him. Jo- it's nice to hear yours are out and happy too. :) x |
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advice please (and hugs for my pony)
