Grass Livery at Tresais Farm
We have a few horses staying with us on grass livery. They are treated as
"members of the family", running with our own horses in small herds and
sometimes sharing with the sheep or goats. We can take Icelandic horses of any age and
either sex, including entire colts or stallions. All the horses live out, but have access
to a field shelter in the summer, and plenty of natural shelter from hedgebanks when
they're in the fields, or trees and bushes if they're out on the common. We have plenty of
grass and don't use artificial fertilisers. In the winter, the horses get ad-lib good
quality haylage. When the grass is growing we may strip graze so they don't get too fat.
They always have access to good clean fresh water (there's a water bowser with a trough,
as well as streams and ponds on the common), and a salt lick. All horses are wormed and
foot trimmed regularly.
All our fields have hedgebanks around them, and we are gradually putting stockproof
fencing on the inside of all the banks. We also use electric fencing. The fields are
mainly fairly level and the ground is quite well drained, though the commons are much
wetter. It is quite exposed here and often windy. The commons have a mixture of stock
fences, hedgebanks and electric fencing, with some barbed wire on roadside fences. There
is no public access to most commons, though a couple have very-seldom-used footpaths
running across them. The only access is via a stile, so there are no gates for walkers to
leave open. Horses can be on the commons from May 1 - October 1, though may be on later if
the weather's good. Although called "common", it's not proper common land ie the
only animals grazing there are ours. We have three commons right next door to Tresais
Farm.
We charge £10 per week, which includes foot trimming and worming, plus costs
(veterinary attention etc). We ask that all livery horses are insured.
We can also offer basic training for youngsters or older horses that need a
"refresher" - but groundwork/handhorsing only, using natural horsemanship
principles. Training costs £35 per week. For training of Icelandics under saddle, we
recommend Smári Steingrimmson in Wiltshire (01980 863130) and Luan Crawford in Herefordshire (01531 670189).