ellis9905
Well-Known Member
So when people have posted this question previously I've always thought it very obvious what yard there should b on... Until now and it's my dilemma !! And I talk myself into and out of all the options!! Lol
We have 2 ponies, my daughters first pony- welsh sec a, hardy as they come, no special requirements, can live out, no hard feed etc only really does walk/ trot work and safe as houses to hack, but dislikes proper schooling. Daughter now outgrown him both ability and height wise ( but still hacks him)
Second pony is a finer welsh c x prone to lami, comes in half day or night all year round. This pony is my daughters next step ... There doing way more schooling and jumping etc , planning in the spring to get out and start to show/compete
Currently the ponies are at two seperate yards... Which isn't a long term plan.... So here are the options
Yard 1- ( where pony 1 currently lives)
In the village where I live, very basic , old cow barn divided into stables, section of grazing allocated to each horse. Water and electric. Left to your own devices how you section your grazing, elderly land owner has zero input or interest. I've been there 3 yrs and love the two ladies I share with, we all rub along and help one another out.. Hacking is either roadwork round the villages or almost directly onto the bridle way network. £20 a week per horse. No school.
Yard 2 ( where pony 2 currently kept)
7 mins in the car from my house , straight along a main a road so will be kept gritted/ clear in all winter weather etc. sand school - which rides deep and puddles in two particular spots. Very very muddy . Lots of liveries coming and going..Not very well looked after yard- no one ever sweeps or seems to put anything away. Stables are awaiting a new roof as beginning to leak. Has a riding track the perimeter of the land, so my daughter could safely ride that whilst I'm on yard without being unsafe.. Leads onto bridle way but limited as you have to go a certain route for a lot of it... No smaller round rides so almost a turn for home situation. Can do some roadwork/ village riding but have to cross a very busy a road. Grazing wise - nothing seems to be rested, all horses seem to be on all of the land :/ fencing is going to start to need to be replaced soon. Toilet that I wouldn't use even if desperate... Stable would be a better option!!
£22 a week per horse
Option 3
10 mins in car, thru villages.. Little back roads, tucked away down a lane. Rubber and silica school. Big American barn stables. No mud. Well maintained and tidy. Only two other owners. Seperate summer and winter grazing. Hacking either bridle ways ( links to same hacking as yard 1) or can hack round the villages. Pony club center is a 10 minute hack away. Kitchen, toilet. I have a good friend and one of my daughters instructors keeps her horse here.
Very child friendly for my non horsey son and always a spare space he can go and kick his beloved football in!
£25 a week per horse.
Possible option 4
On the edge of the village where I live, an old farm recently sold, I wrote to new owners enquiring if they would rent stables... Met owner Friday... She will give me a definate answer by Monday. Old stone stables, little quirky in shape. I'd be the only livery , as she was very clear they don't want lots of different people in and out.. Plenty of grazing for me to section as suits.. Rubber and silica school. Hacking directly onto bridle way network, or village roadwork. No toilet. Concerned I may always feel like I'm intruding on there space, also concerned as its not a business to them , as they start to get there own animals ( planning on small holding- sheep, chickens, goats etc) they may decide they don't want me anymore. Ex city dwelling Non horsey owners, so they have limited knowledge over land or animal needs & requirements.
£25 per week per horse.
When trying to decide where to be I'm trying to weigh up
* facilities
* distance
* accessability in the bad weather
* pony 1 will have to go on part loan , so practicalities to do this.
* cost - tho all very similar in £
* where feels friendly and non horsey son welcome on occasion too.
My daughter loves the 3rd yard.
So please point out the obvious and tell me where you would keep them if it was your choice???
Croissants and pain au chocolate to anyone reading
We have 2 ponies, my daughters first pony- welsh sec a, hardy as they come, no special requirements, can live out, no hard feed etc only really does walk/ trot work and safe as houses to hack, but dislikes proper schooling. Daughter now outgrown him both ability and height wise ( but still hacks him)
Second pony is a finer welsh c x prone to lami, comes in half day or night all year round. This pony is my daughters next step ... There doing way more schooling and jumping etc , planning in the spring to get out and start to show/compete
Currently the ponies are at two seperate yards... Which isn't a long term plan.... So here are the options
Yard 1- ( where pony 1 currently lives)
In the village where I live, very basic , old cow barn divided into stables, section of grazing allocated to each horse. Water and electric. Left to your own devices how you section your grazing, elderly land owner has zero input or interest. I've been there 3 yrs and love the two ladies I share with, we all rub along and help one another out.. Hacking is either roadwork round the villages or almost directly onto the bridle way network. £20 a week per horse. No school.
Yard 2 ( where pony 2 currently kept)
7 mins in the car from my house , straight along a main a road so will be kept gritted/ clear in all winter weather etc. sand school - which rides deep and puddles in two particular spots. Very very muddy . Lots of liveries coming and going..Not very well looked after yard- no one ever sweeps or seems to put anything away. Stables are awaiting a new roof as beginning to leak. Has a riding track the perimeter of the land, so my daughter could safely ride that whilst I'm on yard without being unsafe.. Leads onto bridle way but limited as you have to go a certain route for a lot of it... No smaller round rides so almost a turn for home situation. Can do some roadwork/ village riding but have to cross a very busy a road. Grazing wise - nothing seems to be rested, all horses seem to be on all of the land :/ fencing is going to start to need to be replaced soon. Toilet that I wouldn't use even if desperate... Stable would be a better option!!
£22 a week per horse
Option 3
10 mins in car, thru villages.. Little back roads, tucked away down a lane. Rubber and silica school. Big American barn stables. No mud. Well maintained and tidy. Only two other owners. Seperate summer and winter grazing. Hacking either bridle ways ( links to same hacking as yard 1) or can hack round the villages. Pony club center is a 10 minute hack away. Kitchen, toilet. I have a good friend and one of my daughters instructors keeps her horse here.
Very child friendly for my non horsey son and always a spare space he can go and kick his beloved football in!
£25 a week per horse.
Possible option 4
On the edge of the village where I live, an old farm recently sold, I wrote to new owners enquiring if they would rent stables... Met owner Friday... She will give me a definate answer by Monday. Old stone stables, little quirky in shape. I'd be the only livery , as she was very clear they don't want lots of different people in and out.. Plenty of grazing for me to section as suits.. Rubber and silica school. Hacking directly onto bridle way network, or village roadwork. No toilet. Concerned I may always feel like I'm intruding on there space, also concerned as its not a business to them , as they start to get there own animals ( planning on small holding- sheep, chickens, goats etc) they may decide they don't want me anymore. Ex city dwelling Non horsey owners, so they have limited knowledge over land or animal needs & requirements.
£25 per week per horse.
When trying to decide where to be I'm trying to weigh up
* facilities
* distance
* accessability in the bad weather
* pony 1 will have to go on part loan , so practicalities to do this.
* cost - tho all very similar in £
* where feels friendly and non horsey son welcome on occasion too.
My daughter loves the 3rd yard.
So please point out the obvious and tell me where you would keep them if it was your choice???
Croissants and pain au chocolate to anyone reading
