paddock management

Come on, with a choice of 30 mates and 25 acres of nice grass would Fanny come running?
Sometimes they would ALL come running, that got exciting!!!


3 of my friends 4 horses are perfectly sound and one is only 6 and probably worth about £6k. She doesn't care to ride him but won't sell him because she doesn't want him shut in a stable and dragged around shows for the rest of his life. You can see why she and I get on so well!

nowhere is perfect. Where I am now there is too much good grass and the owners will INSIST on looking after the grass to keep it nice! Although they don't make us put the horses on the fresh grass, they do keep fertilising etc. they are good in that if there is too much they borrow heifers to eat it. Actually thinking about it I'm pretty lucky.
The last place I was at was perfect for the horses. 4 of them had 7 acres of rubbish grass on a nice slope with hedges and sunspots and a stream, the farmer hadn't touched this land for over 20 years and it was full of weeds and herbage and the horses did well on it and never got too fat. Why did I leave? The yard we used to tack up etc. was an absolute tip and got worse every year and was infested with rats, and the yard owner hunts ( I got no problem with that) and treats his own horses like commodities - keeps them in or out to suit him, stables are way too small for them and never cleaned or bedded properly and he is really rough with them. When he put an old mare in foal I couldn't bear to see the way the poor foal was going to be treated so I had to leave before it was born.

Touche! No, she certainly wouldn't come running if she was in those surroundings. In fact, she's ignored or run away from me with less than that! I can only imagine what it would be like to have all the horses running at me!! That reminds me of when I was growing up - my family lived near a community pasture (many acres of Crown land where local area farmers left their cattle and horses to graze for the summer), and I can remember being out there and hearing the thunder of hooves. Over a small hill came a herd of at least 50 horses, coming to investigate us. It was breathtaking.

I can certainly see why you left your previous place!! It sounds like you and I both have the same preference for where we'd like to keep our horses. Around here, most places pride themselves on the lush pastures that they keep. For a horse like Fanny, that's not exactly what she needs.

Oh my...I got kicked out of the barn this morning!!! I asked the barn owner about adding another horse to the field and he exploded, calling me an idiot. Then he went on a LONG rant, listing off all my "faults". He said I don't know which end of a horse the poop comes from, that I don't understand how horses behave "naturally" (when Topper raced up and down the fence in a frenzied state). He said I should spend less time reading books and more time actually watching horses and how they behave. He said he doesn't know who my mentor is, but they don't know anything...or else he said I should get a new one...I can't remember. He brought up every little question I'd ever asked him and so on. He blasted me with both barrels. Then he gave me a time limit. He said that we have to be out of the barn in two weeks. I was UNBELIEVABLY calm the whole time he ranted at me, but now I am crying like a baby.

OH MY GAWD! Where is he....let me at him! Cyndi, move to Saskatchewan and board Fanny with me!

I have been reading this thread with interest, and it sounds like these owners are not very considerate. Heaven forbid that you want Fanny to be as healthy and happy as possible! Oooh, I am just fuming at this!

Quit reading books my rear end! I would have told him - well, at least I know how to read! As for watching how horses behave "naturally" did you ask him if he was blind? Did he not see Topper running up and down and getting stressed when Fanny leaves?

Oh, I am sorry, but I just can't handle people who act like this. RRRR I need a cigarette! My shoulder is here if you need it Cyndi! Hugs to you and scratches behind the ears for Fanny. Give Topper a scratch for me too, because what is going to happen to him once Fanny leaves? Will he be left on his own in that field or will they find him a new friend? If he is stressed now, what will happen to him when Fanny leaves - poor guy! I wonder if this wonderful barn owner has thought about that?!

Thanks HorseHippie.

I called a lady I know this afternoon, to cry on her shoulder, and when I told her what happened, and how I have to find a new place for Fanny to stay, she said, "Bring her to my place!". I had no idea this lady even had a horse at all!! To top it off, she said she won't charge me a thing to keep Fanny there!!! I will offer to pay board, but I don't know if she'll take it. She said I can keep Fanny there for a short time, until I figure out something more permanent, or I can keep Fanny there as long as I want, even through the winter. What an awesome lady.

We're moving Fanny tomorrow!! Hubby is going into work late so he can come to the barn with me. I am too afraid to go to the barn without him.

Oh my gosh. I guess I am coming into this thread late but I am soooooo sorry Cyndi. I wish you were a few hours closer to me so I could help you.
What an asshole!! People who attack people like this are the ones that make boarding barns a pain in the ass! God forbid people ask questions and learn something. This is what makes me not want to open a boarding barn some day. The horrible people like this that have to attack other boarders (or even worse their "customers")
Like I learned in business: The customer is always right. A satisfied customer is going to tell one person. An unsatisfied customer is going to tell ten. If an owner of a horse has issues it's up to the barn owner to sort them out so their "customers" are happy.

OMG Cyndi! Well, it looks like the BO did you a massive favour, WOOHOO! What a twat! Hope the move went well, and don't you DARE listen to a word that guy says, you really know what you're talking about when it comes to horses, and when you don't know you ask! Fanny's so lucky to have you as an owner

I wish you both the very best at your new place, and do let us know how you get on

People are unfathomable. I just lost a client today, because a couple of weeks ago I enquired if they'd mind me working for them at the weekend (I'm a cleaner by trade atm), as I'm looking for work to boost my hours and income, and its possible a fulltime job might come along. They hummed and haaed and said no that wouldn't suit them, and I thought that was the end of it. It was only a possibility and I'm more interested in part-time hours to make up what I've got atm to fulltime.

Today I went in and they sat me down and told me they'd been having sleepless nights worrying that I might come in one day and say I had to leave their employ immediately (their previous cleaner did that) due to getting a fulltime job. They are in their 80s and this so upset them that they told me even though they had noone else lined up to replace me, that not only were they going to sack me effective immediately (they gave me 2 weeks pay), but that they wouldn't even want me to keep working for them til they found someone else!

THEY'VE EFFECTIVELY CHOSEN TO MAKE THEIR NIGHTMARE COME TRUE IMMEDIATELY. THE NIGHTMARE THAT WAS IN FACT, ONLY A REMOTE POSSIBILITY. WHERES THE LOGIC????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I DON'T UNDERSTAND!!!!

Good to hear that you found a place to take Fanny! Hope the move goes well for you today!

Lightertouch - sorry to hear about your job loss. I am sure that something better will come up soon!

People drive me crazy!

Hello all!!

Well, I am emotionally and physically drained. Totally!! And I have to go to work in an hour. lol

I am happy to say that the move went very well. The BO didn't say a word to me, but watched me like a hawk, even partially closing a gate on Fanny in his eagerness to get me out of there. This guy has major underlying problems. I don't think it was just me that set him off. I've walked through the barn when he and his wife have been fighting, so I think that the "pressure" I added with my requests was just too much for him.

Thankfully, it was a busy morning at the barn. Topper's owner was there, getting him ready for the farrier (same guy that does Fanny's feet), then the farrier arrived, then we left, so there was no opportunity for the BO to try to continue with his ranting. He was still indignant this morning. My husband arrived at the barn just before me, and got all my things out (he drove himself so that he could go straight to work from the barn), so I didn't have to do much inside. Then shortly after that my friend arrived with her trailer, so we were gone quickly.

I felt kind of bad because I didn't get to at least tell Topper's owner that we were leaving. She was all chatty and friendly, but I kept my answers pleasant but short because the BO was hovering. All I wanted was a private moment just to let her know we were leaving, but I guess I'll pass on any messages to her through our farrier. I just wanted to say goodbye, not badmouth the BO.

My friend had to park her truck and trailer along the road, so we weren't sure how well Fanny would load. In the past, when things were "good", we were allowed to drive into the yard, but in order to do that the laundry line had to be taken down beside the house, and I knew that BO would not be accommodating to do that for us. BO leaned against his car by the house, watching to see how much trouble we'd have loading Fanny (he commented on that to me too yesterday)...no doubt with a smirk on his face. Bad news for him, though, because Fanny loaded like a champ!! She traveled really well too.

At the new place, she met the other horse over the fence with absolutely no screaming or any fuss. We put her inside the pen and nothing happened. I hung around for quite a while, with the guy who takes care of the other horse, and all went well. There is a little donkey in the pen too, and Fanny was fascinated by her. She followed the donkey around, trying to sniff her. Miss Donkey wanted nothing to do with her, so she kicked out at Fanny a couple of times, but that's it. I don't know how long Fanny will be where she is right now, but so far, so good. I don't want to give her an ulcer by causing stress from moving her all the time, so I really need to find the right place for her.

Lightertouch, sorry to hear that those people decided not to use your services anymore. Isn't it true, though, how people think the worst and then their own behaviour causes it to happen? I've cleaned for elderly people too, but stopped when I got my part time job. One man I worked for would like me to come back. Maybe someday I will. Right now I am helping out an elderly friend by driving her home from the hospital, where her husband has been for almost two weeks. I just like being there for these elderly people, because they don't have a lot of people to call on for help.

Sydney, I wish you were closer too .

Thanks for thinking of me, all! I do appreciate you. I'm really not as scary and incompetent as this BO makes me out to be.

Hope you all have a great day!!

Oh, good show! Happy to hear that the move went well! And you get to hang out with a donkey - they are too cool! Is it a mini donkey!?

Yes, she's a mini (her back is probably a bit lower than my hip, and I'm not exactly tall). She's a cutie.

I went to check on Fanny this morning, to see how she was faring as the new kid on the block. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Fanny and the other horse were sharing the manger, munching on hay...with the little donkey standing between them! It was so nice to see.

So...despite this being a very busy week at work (one of the people I work with is on holidays, so the other employee and I have been working every day - plus I have to work this Saturday), I have to get on with finding a permanent barn for Fanny. I am so thankful for my friend's generosity in letting me keep Fanny with her horse Preacher (and little C.K. the donkey!), but the area they are in is quite small, and I have nowhere to work with Fanny. I don't want to become a burden to my friend either.

I have a place in mind, that has like-minded people there, but more importantly, the horses are all in one big herd and have LOTS of space. I've told you about the place before - I'm very familiar with it. I will check out some other places too.

Hey Cyndi this reads like a soap opera. I can't believe what you've had to put up with just because you want the best for your horse. Good luck with the search for a new barn. At least you had a friend to help you out.

You were right that placing Fanny with Topper was unacceptable. Call me a cynic but do you think they were trying to get you to move away? Seems like they reacted very badly to a reasonable request.

I used to keep my pony at livery and am so glad I don't have to anymore because I can control how I keep my herd. I never had any unreasonable behaviour like that to put up with though! I've been busy for the last few weeks so came late to this post. You certainly keep the forum active! Love the new photo to.

Hi Fin.

Yes, I do feel like I've been living a bit of a soap opera. I am really ready for things to slow down.

I know what you mean about them wanting an excuse for me to leave the barn. I think there is more going on in their private lives that made them very "testy". There have been times that they'd be in the barn, cleaning it, when I've passed through and they were having 'civilized' arguments. One time, the BO's wife was commenting that she hasn't been out with her friends for a long time. They also have the added stress of having the BO's elderly parents living with them. His mom has dementia and a heart problem, which is also stressful.

I never went about making my requests in a rude manner, and I never nagged them about it. I think that just having a difference in opinion was enough for them to resent me. Funny, there was one day earlier this spring that I arrived at the barn and felt really anxious and had a heaviness within me. I guess I should learn to heed that feeling.

I think the BO is a bit insecure (and by the comment made by his wife, perhaps he's also a bit controlling?), because there were few times that I'd be at the barn where he didn't show up, even if it was to just walk through the barn. He always seemed to need to make his presence known (very obvious when he tried to intimidate me with his presence when I was removing Fanny). It's like he didn't trust anyone. Even when I would write down that the farrier was coming, the BO would always make sure he walked through the barn.

I also know that the BO has a temper problem. His parents are living with him because he is unhappy with the care his mother received in the hands of healthcare - which is a viable complaint - but one day he started telling me about it and he really worked himself up into quite a dither, using very harsh language. I was looking for an excuse to walk away, but he just kept on ranting. Guess I shoud've clued into that too.

As far as our difference of opinion goes, the BO gets his advice from a traditional equestrian trainer, feels that what she tells him is the only right way, and has no desire to learn of anything else. It's unfortunate that he'd criticize my desire to learn more about horses and a more natural way of keeping them, but that's his choice. I'm just glad to be able to move on, even though there are times that his words do haunt me. Wounds from "sticks and stones" go away a lot faster than words that never "hurt" me. Who made up that rhyme anyway?? LOL

I'm glad that you and others in here are able to keep your horses the way that you want to. Perhaps someday I will be able to too. I'd even be happy keeping Fanny at a place that looks after horses the way I would, and I have a place in mind. I've contacted this barn and am working on eventually moving Fanny there.

Wow don't things just happen when you are away for a few days? I've been busy organising and riding on a clinic and had Len staying here so have been offline for a week and , honestly, Cyndi, can't you behave and be good while I'm not watching you?
Seriously, sounds like ths BO (har har good name for him) has anger management problems, I had the same at my last place I would be one day a great livery and another yelled at for something really tiny, you have to put up with that if your horses are happy but if they hate it as well then get out of there. Maybe you should have a talk with the lady that is boarding you now, tell her your concerns, ask her if it is OK for you to stay until you have sorted out a really good place. She sounds a nice horse loving person and won't mind you being there a while if she knows you are looking.