A WWYD thread with regards to keeping a horse near or far...

smanf

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I will try and keep this short, and I completely understand if no one replies to this horrendously boring thread, but I need to talk to someone!

Anyway,
Option 1; Leave my horse where he is stabled currently (34 miles away from where I live), down in the country where the hacking is wonderful, on 5 day livery for £465 per month. I work in London and so would realistically only really be able to see him two evenings a week (plus weekends). I have worked out that I would also be looking at petrol costs of around £180 a month to see him four times a week. The reason I moved him this far away originally (about two months ago), was because the yard is 6 miles from Mum's house, and the idea was that I would stay with her. This hasn't really worked out, as we can't seem to get along without arguing every five minutes and so I have gone back home.

Option 2; Move him back to the more sub-urban yard that I was at before which is 2 miles from where I live, on 5 day livery(ish) for £280 per month where the hacking leaves a lot to be desired (there are places to go but it involves a lot of road work, and not much countryside).

My thoughts are that moving him back home would save me a small fortune and that I would be able to nip down the road whenever I liked to see him, and that it could potentially make the winter easier to cope with (although the place does get rather muddy). But on the other hand, I am worried that I will be fretting about him getting bored and fed up, with it not being such an idyllic horsey spot.
 
Hi, personally if turnout is the same for both option 1 and 2 - I would go for Option 2 and could you not save the extra ££ you will have and buy a trailer or small box and drive to the brilliant hacking when you have time ??

:)
 
If it was me in that situation, I think I would prefer the more expensive, far away yard. I would rather spend more money knowing my horse is happy and content than being stuck in/near the city where turnout and riding will be a problem.

Just my opinion though :)
 
I think the turnout is pretty much the same with regards to size (and if anything he would probably get longer turnout at the nearer yard, as at the far away yard, they start bringing in at 3.30). Can't comment on the quality of the paddocks at the far away place as I haven't seen it in winter, but with it being a sandy area, would probably be not too bad.
 
It very much depends on you and your horse. I merrily kept my horse in London and used to hack him for miles through London to get to the riding tracks in Hyde Park and Hampstead Heath. In the evenings I would hack him out as the street lighting is good in London. I was able to keep my horse hunting fit and when we went hunting he was sufficiently fit that he would keep going all day. In fact by hacking him out each day I supect he was as fit as many other horses kept in the rural areas. During the day he was out in a field so was quite happy munching grass.
 
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