A which yard question.

[I don’t like mondays]

I have yard dilemma (for my kids’ ponies)

Yard 1- current yard, 10mins drive from home, stables and own designated fields (total 1.2acres between 2 horses- not ideal). One field is partially flooded 9months of the year. Not much grass so feed hay year round. Clay soil (mud). Arena, thin surface, not harrowed and membrane coming through. Off road hacking (1x 30min route). Fencing falling apart and always trying to patch it up myself. Gates often broken. No electricity. No tack room, Very quiet, small yard. No help on site. Cheap

Yard 2- 20mins from home, indoor stables, electricity, 10 acres between 3 horses (if we move), post and rail, large arena regularly harrowed. Tack room. Very smart and tidy. No hacking, need to box up but can ride in fields. £90 per month more (2 horses). No help on site but can buddy up

My main reservation is being further from home and the extra travel time and higher cost. Plus not being able to hack straight from yard. But really boy happy where we are, Yard options here v limited sadly

Thanks

 

[Abacus]

Depends on what your kids to with the ponies. If they are highly competitive and need the arena more then yard 2. If they’re more into hacking and doing stuff at home, yard 1. Assuming that the money and driving time aren’t major motivations for you.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Sometimes better the devil you know. Yard 1 has positives in that you can easily control food intake, but the fences will become more of an issue unless you tackle them properly. Our yard has the same problem, and we are patching the patches on a 40yo fence. Is yard 2 very smart and tidy because the YO is always out sweeping up? Or always out telling the liveries to sweep up? I would not entertain indoor stables for my lad, he would be coughing within a week, but really it boils down to whatever suits your way of keeping your ponies. Good luck, hope you get it right!

 

[Glitter's fun]

Depends what they like to do. "No hacking" would be a deal breaker for me.
Can you negotiate for some improvements to "1" ?

 

[Wishfilly]

How much do your children care about hacking? I think for me, I'd probably go for Yard 2, but if they spend most of their time hacking it won't be ideal.

I don't think 20 minutes each way is too difficult in terms of transport, but it's worth taking into account increased petrol costs as well.

 

[Bobthecob15]

We have a pony on livery for my daughter who’s 9, I’d not consider yard 1 as the arena is essential for us for all year round riding x

 

[I don’t like mondays]

Thanks all. Kids like the odd hack but not massively into hacking (they prefer to box up for an adventure rather than same route). They like messing around in the arena (schooling, poles, riding bareback), they also like riding in the field

Yard 2 doesn’t have yard manager, just 1 other livery (hence why tidy)

 

[Merry neddy man]

I'm sure you know your area well, but have a look on these. www.*******.co.uk and www.*******.com

 

[TheChestnutThing]

I would go for yard 2. But that’s personal preference.

I’m also currently in the same boat. Have decided on a similar yard to yard two (there is hacking with some road work though) BUT it is also a devil you know as I have been there before.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Yard 2

 

[SantaVera]

Yard 2

 

[pistolpete]

No hacking also means no where for in hand walking or cooling down/warming up in a straight line. Definitely a no for me but we’re all different! Yard one doesn’t sound very appealing either! No other options?

 

[dorsetladette]

It really depends on your motivation for moving. If your kids always have access to the school when you/they want it where you are - would it be the same at yard 2. Are your kids old enough to be left 'playing with ponies' while you get on with jobs if you do that now but can't at yard 2 it could make life a bit tricky especially in the winter/dark evenings. I get the crappy grazing and bad fencing is an issue but ponies often need restriction which sounds manageable at yard 1. would you be able to strip graze etc at yard 2? 10 acres maybe to much for ponies in summer.

 

[Jenko109]

I would question how happy the horses can be at yard one. Sounds pretty miserable.

 

[ihatework]

Yard one sounds like my idea of hell.
Yard 2 only if there wasn’t a better option with hacking. £90 extra a month with decent school and much more grazing is a relatively small increase. So if you could up your budget even more would it open up nearer and hacking?

 

[Muddywellies]

Erm, yard 3 ?? I'd keep on looking personally.