Need Suggestions - Overcoming an Obstacle

[Hosscrazy]

OK, I'm very level headed, very sound in my judgement...very reasonable, etc.

Until it comes to the care of my horses - then I become WAY too over protective, overly sensitive - they're my kids!!! There is truly a string that goes directly from my horses to my heart, especially with my 8-year old Cody (first horse I ever delivered, son of Misty who I recently lost).

Anyway, I really want to move north, about an hour north from where I am now. The one thing holding me back is my horses. I work close to my house, so I do not have a commute and I see them at lunchtime. If I move, my horses will be alone roughly from 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

What are your objective opinions? Would you feel comfortable leaving your horses alone for such a long time? Any suggestions that you can give to help ease my fears? I do not know people in the area that can check on my horses daily.

Liz R.

 

[Mona]

Well, I only work in the Fall/winter months, but I leave home at 4:00am and don't get home until almost 6:00pm. So far, nothing has ever happened while I am gone. Last year though, in January, one mare aborted, but thankfully, it was on one of my days off, as the vet had to be called to get the foal out. It scared me to death to think what might have happened if it had happened on a day that I was at work. Someone was watching over us!

Hubby doesn't leave for work until about 7:00am...maybe earlier some days, but mostly around that time, so he feed them their hay(and grain is fed to weanlings at that time too) and then we have an agreement that the first one home in the evening feeds the night feed, of both grain and hay.

 

[ChrystalPaths]

Well, it's just me but I couldn't do it. For years I had to board large horses and now owning the hollow and having my kids here is a dream come true. I just couldn't imagine not being here for anything that came up. Like just now, I'm here reading and I look out the window and the kids are galloping flat out. My first instinct is "danger" so I jump up and run to the window to look. Turns out they are just "running" galloping and spinning and rearing and bucking from one paddock to the other through the break aways I took down today.. Just made me grin I tell ya. It's really cold today only 8 right now so I figure they get kinda cold and run! Gosh I love to see them fly.

 

[Miniv]

If it were me? I'd try to figure out a way to either find a job closer or move my horses closer to my job. And during our foaling season, there would be NO WAY I'd be gone for that long!

MA

 

[Jill]

I sometimes am away that long, and am comfortable with it when it happens in regards to the horses being "alone" that long. You can make sure you have safe fencing that keeps out dogs, make sure they can't dump their water, make sure there's nothing you think they can hurt themselves on.

It is not something that I would worry about, and I am a very gifted worrier...

What I thought of more was if you will be happy spending what could be your free time, to enjoy the horses or do whatever you want, in commuting. I commute 1 hour each way (so 2 hours a day), but I often work short days and usually go in only 4 days a week. The 2 hours a workday in the car would bother me more if I had to do it 5 days a week or worked a lot of long hours.

 

[Hosscrazy]

My 3 broodmares are at my business partner's ranch, so they have 24/7 watch. The two that live with me are non-breeding horses.

There are so many pros and cons to this situation. I did just email a pet sitting service (with equine experience) to see what their weekly rates would be to stop by, feed lunch, and do a quick check. That's the only thing I can think of at this point!

I've just never left my horses alone for long periods of time.

Liz R.

 

[Ashley]

My horses are at my moms, but they are left alone like that every day. From about 8am-4-5pm. When she goes out of town I go out and feed them, but they are still alone, as I cant stay there with my pups(moms allergic so they cant be in the house).

Foaling time, its that way as well. IF its a maiden mare or a problem mare I will send her to my aunts, other then that they are here.

We have split rail fence and electrice inside of that. All of our gates are locked shut. This comes after the horses busted a gate one day during a strom. Somebody did put them back in for us, we dont know who but are thankful they did. Also thankful they went out the back yard and not the front to the busy road.

The only ones that got out were the friendly ones, so I know they werent a issue to catch. THe more timied at the time ones, stayed in thank god.

 

[billiethekid40]

Well, I know that I wouldn't necessarily hear if something was wrong at night with my horse, so what is the difference between leaving them all night without checking on them, and leaving them all day? Something could happen just as easily the minuite you leave your drive for a couple of hours as during a whole day away. The best we can do is make their surroundings as safe and as comfortable as possible, give them access to shelter and lots of hay and water and spend what time with them that we can. Many many horse people are also working people, and many of them are forced to leave their horses for long periods. Maybe you could set up a web cam that you can access from work so you can check up on them through the day? Or make friends with a neighbor who will at least call if they see anythign that worries them?

I'm with Jill though, I think what would make you the unhappiest would be spending so much time driving when you could be playing!

 

[minimama]

Oh Liz, it is so good tha tyou take such good care of your furry kids. But, I think you will be fine to move that one hour away. Think about horses in the wild, and horse ranches, there are a lot of horse ranches where there is no one there during the day. The mares are the only real worry and they are being watched, so you will be fine. Move and enjoy the new digs! LOL

Hey, you will be an hour closer to me!!

 

[Marty]

Liz, you have to keep in mind the reason that you want to move. It's got to do with your neighborhood going down hill, correct?

OK well, first off I wouldn't borrow trouble until you have looked around other areas and see if there is any place that catches your eye. Take one step at a time and if it was meant to be, all the rest will fall in place.

 

[Sterling]

Years ago when I was working out of the house, I had a 9:00 to 5:00 job. My commute was about 45 minutes one way and if traffic got backed up which was very often on the Atlantic City Expressway, then it could turn into a nightmare of 2 to 3 hours!! No kidding! Anyway for many years my horses were alone during the day along with my other livestock we had at the time. Both me and hubby worked 8 hour days and sometimes longer...except if one of us had to do overtime, the other would make sure they were home at least by 6:00. I always made sure the horses had their routine, everything such as fencing and gates were safe and secure, never left anything out they could get hung up on and plenty of water and especially hay. I think this is an exciting time for you.....I think you, being the responsible horse owner that you are, will be just fine. Looking into that horse sitter is a good idea...and checking out your neighborhood and meeting neighbors is cool as well. It's a scarey step, I know, if you feel excited about it and the only thing stopping you is the horses, could maybe you leave your little ones for a couple of months over at your boarding barn, until you get a good feel of the neighborhood and get your place together? Just a thought.

 

[Equuisize]

Liz, I've had horses for going on 29 years and for all those years they have been boarded out.

I have a 'major' in worrying......but have to say that in all these years I've never had a sick horse or a injured horse. This spring was the first time I ever even had a horse get the sniffles.

I've had some scuff's from them playing to hard but never anything serious.

I do spend as much time with them as humanly possible. We own our own business and that makes for some freedoms but there are times of the month we're pretty captive.

Our place is as well set up and safe as we can make it......I've multiple water buckets out in different places. Fences and gates are secure......

My major has been wasted except that I believe that it's made me more alert to their surroundings... Pastures are cleaned daily, as much for cleanliness sake as anything but it also puts us out there walking and looking for anything that possibly might have popped out of the soil, blown in, drug in by the peoperty owners dogs. We check fences for protruding nails and/or snags regularly....

If this is where you want to be living and will be happy I think you'll be able to make it work.....won't be the same but it can work....... Good luck on your decision whichever way it goes.

 

[Jill]

My 3 broodmares are at my business partner's ranch, so they have 24/7 watch. The two that live with me are non-breeding horses.
There are so many pros and cons to this situation. I did just email a pet sitting service (with equine experience) to see what their weekly rates would be to stop by, feed lunch, and do a quick check. That's the only thing I can think of at this point!

I've just never left my horses alone for long periods of time.

Liz R.

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Oh, that would be great if you could get that kind of thing set up, where they get checked on and get lunch! I know that would ease your mind and would also be great for the horses to have more meals spread out!

As a side note regarding worrying about them getting loose, that has only happened one time to me and was my fault and I was here. I'd gotten into the stupid (what was I thinking???) habbit of leaving the gate to this pen open when I fed one of my mares who I was keeping in the pen. I'd let her walk out and eat a little grass then she'd come back to the pen. Actually, her butt never left the pen, she just kind of would reach out until one day when she took off loose into our then unfenced yard. I was scared to death as she ran around and towards the road, but luckily she came back to get her breakfast because I cannot run as fast as she can.

And another time on April Fools day, Priscilla thought it would be funny to call me at work (an hour from home...) and tell me my horses were loose. Luckily, she told her boyfriend first and he told her he didn't think that would be a good idea, so she only told me she thought of doing it and she didn't really do it.

Loose horses is probably one of my biggest fears in life!

 

[Hosscrazy]

Thanks, guys - reading your replies definitely makes me feel better...

The petsitter - getting to know my neighbors is a great idea. And I just received a quote from the equine petsitter - her rates are very, very reasonable.

Thanks again - glad to hear others can do this, too!

Liz R.

 

[wannabecowgirl]

Wow what a dilema and yet I must remind us all that this is Christmas and having been in the vet medicine business for too many years .... I can tell you I believe!! The good Lord has his purpose for us all and for our many four legged blessings. Sometimes we are faced with impossible situations and we must leave. I was a wreck worrying myself until one day I said a prayer to ask God to be my watchman when I could not be there. Well I must say he is a by far perfect caretaker than anyone could find here on earth and what his will is will be. As this year I was blessed with 8 wonderful healthy babies and could not have been more thankful for all safe deliveries with my presence inspite of my work away from home. Ask him and he will lead you to a resolution that will continue to give you peace and great joy!! Bobbi Illusion Farms Texas

 

[Sue_C.]

Maybe you could set up a web cam that you can access from work so you can check up on them through the day?

What a genius you are Mel!!

Between a web-cam, and the pet-sitter...I can't think of anything better, than actually being there.

And it won't hurt for the sitter to KNOW they are on camera either...

 

[billiethekid40]

Or even just to *think* they are on camera. Hmm, wonder if everyone should install a fakie cam in their barn when they go away to help motivate the help?

 

[Sue_C.]

I have a camera in my barn that is only on during "mare-stare", but no one else knows that.

Actually, I even forget it's on most-times when I'm in the barn, and when I get into the house, Alden makes fun of me; on TV, slobbering all over my mares and foals.

It made me almost cry one afternoon when I glanced at the camera to find the young man who helped in the barn, leaning over and hugging and kissing the foal on the nose. THAT is when you KNOW you have someone worth their weight in gold. Too bad he went off and Joined the Army, (at my coaching) but as you know, Mel, the young lady who works for/with me now, (Dano) is just as precious.