Advice wanted re. livery yards and distance from home...

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Erehwemos

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We broke the news to my YO last night that we were going to have to move elsewhere, and she was fine about it - she just said that their land is so wet they cant afford to offer anyone individual turnout, and that they cant let one and not the other thirteen people have it. I totally understand, and she has been great about the whole thing - I'm gutted to be having to move though.

So here is the dilemma. My current yard - which is perfect in every way except from the turnout issue - is 2 minutes drive or 10 minutes walk from my house; we really are spoilt
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I had a ring around yesterday whilst at work, and it seems that every other livery yard in the area is either full up, or does not offer DIY livery at all. Then a friend of mine put me onto a place that is 15 minutes drive and 6 miles from home. We went to have a look, and it is wonderful - everything you could want from a livery yard. Turnout is arranged to suit each person; you can group up if you want to, or you can go out individually - whatever you choose, you are assigned a paddock and it is then your responsibility to keep it clear and tidy. The stables are lovely - bigger and airier than where we are now. The hacking - the most important thing for me - is excellent, and there is a full cross country course, a huge outdoor school and a horse walker. It seems as if you are very much left to do your own thing, but the owner is incredibly knowledgeable and even having just met him for the first time last night, I know I would trust him with my horse in a crisis. The rates are similar to where we are now - slightly more expensive but hay and straw are both inclusive (currently pay extra for straw) so it pretty much equals out to the same. Trailer parking is free, and we are allowed to use the farrier and vet of our choice.
So basically, the only downside is the fact it is further from home. 6 miles each way, twice daily adds up to 24 miles a day, so over a week I'm going to be doing 168 miles extra - which would equal about £10 in fuel for my car. The yard is sort of on the way to the train station (which I will be using daily a lot of the time for Uni) so I can keep a change of clothes in the car and do Ellie en route a lot of the time. It may be a little different when I am on school placement - I dont yet know where I'm going - but I guess I will just have to deal with that as and when it comes.
Mum came with me last night and loves the yard as much as I do. I have spoken to my OH, who often helps me out with Elz on nights I am late in, and he is quite against us going to the new place as he says it will be too far, and that it will knacker me in the winter. Having never had to travel any distance to my horse before, I dont know what to think. My options are limited in the immediate local area, and this yard seems absolutely spot on for everything we are looking for.

What do you think? Is 15 minutes a comparatively short distance? Would it be something you'd be prepared to put up with for the sake of the perfect yard?
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I have never been on a yard where I haven't had to travel, our current yard is the same distance as the one you have looked at and this to me is local
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I would go for it
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15mins is nothing! I know some people who travel 30mins plus to their horses!

I travel 10 minutes to the yard where Genie is, 15mins in bad traffic. It's just under 5 miles and it's no problem at all.
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If you LOVE the yard and think you'll be happy there then move, and the yard will make the journey worth it.

Sorry you have to move though.
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I have never been on a yard where I haven't had to travel, our current yard is the same distance as the one you have looked at and this to me is local
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I would go for it
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Oh fab, that's reassuring
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I do think we have been incredibly spoilt where we are now, it is literally on the doorstep
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And almost all the current liveries have to travel at least 10 minutes to get there, so I didnt think 15 was that bad. It's my OH, he's made me worry unnecessarily
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Yes
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So long as you have alternatives to your car. Our yard is 11 miles away - fine when we have two cars, but a bit awkward now when I need mine for work but hubby's car is poorly.

We used to go 25 miles to a yard! Part-livery, lots of facilities, but limited hacking and turn out, so we moved.
 
Gosh, I have recently moved from a yard which was 25 miles away and a min of 30mins in the car if the traffic was perfect and I broke the speed limit on the motorway (which of course I never did
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), to one which is exactly 6 miles away and is to my mind brilliantly close!

I have gone from being knackered at the other yard with all the driving to being in heaven at how close the horse now is!

I think it may be your OH who thinks it is too far for him to help out occasionally (mine would be the same) and is therefore telling you why he thinks it will be a problem for you, rather than it really being an issue for you....

One thing to consider is whether or not the new yard offers assisted DIY - if it does, then on the days you can't make it it may be worth paying them to do it rather than a) your OH spending the money on fuel and b) your OH resenting having to go a bit further. I know I have always worked out which is more cost effective - if what the yard charges is less than the fuel, I pay them to do it!
 
Spotted Cat - you have hit the nail on the head, I think my OH is the naughty one
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LOL! I shall have to take him along and prove to him that actually, its nothing
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The new yard does have an 'extras' system - the YO will turn out, rug or muck out your horse if you request (and it can be short notice, eg. if your car breaks down) and he just notes it all down in the book in the office and you pay at the end of each week. So yes, that would be an option if we were really stuck
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Spotted Cat - you have hit the nail on the head, I think my OH is the naughty one
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LOL! I shall have to take him along and prove to him that actually, its nothing
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The new yard does have an 'extras' system - the YO will turn out, rug or muck out your horse if you request (and it can be short notice, eg. if your car breaks down) and he just notes it all down in the book in the office and you pay at the end of each week. So yes, that would be an option if we were really stuck
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There you are then, even your OH can't moan if they will help out
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The yard sounds perfect in every way, and although you are worried about the extra time and expense in travel, I am sure you will quickly get used to the new routine.

It is quite obvious from your posts how much Ellie means to you, and her safety and happiness is worth a few minutes extra in the car.

I hope it all works out for you.
 
6 Miles is nothing!!

I drive 17 miles to go to mine although they are now on part livery so if i can't get there it doesn't matter.

I take clothes to work and go there on the way home etc.

I've just moved from a yard 7 miles from home to this one and so far the travelling is not a problem......it seems to be the best place for me and my horse so i'm happy!
 
I moved my horses closer to home a few months back and it was the best decision ever. I used to drive 30 mins to the yard (if the roads were clear) and was dreading the Winter routine starting as the roads could be quite hairy at times.
Now they are 5 miles away and it takes me only a few minutes to nip down the road
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the freedom is unbelievable, means I have more time to play
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I'd go for it! I'm not sure you've got much choice anyway!

15 minutes drive is nothing, and if the yard is perfect in every other respect, I'd grab the vacancy there while you've got the chance. Perhaps you could team up with some of the others there once you've got to know them, and you could share some duties occasionally.

Good luck with your girl and glad she's making progress. Like her pink sock!
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I agree with everyone, i dont think 15mins is much at all, thats the time it takes for me pretty much to get to my yard without traffic.
I could keep my girl 1-2mintues away but they do not offer what i would need so i keep her almost 15mins away instead.

ETS: I work full time and have 6hours college a week on top at night time, plus study and i am on DIY, i cope
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I live 20-25 mins away from my yard traffic depending and you get used to it. Old yard was 10-15 mins away traffic depending, but I hated it. Even though it can take me up to half an hour extra travelling per day, I spend a lot more time at my new yard than I did at the old yard.
15 mins is nothing! Go for it!
 
I'm with everybody else.

I moved from a yard 2 months ago that was 3 miles from home to 7.5 miles. It takes me 15 mins either way.

Thing is, the yard suits our needs much better, I know she will be cared for when I am not there and the facilities are also better. This seems to cancel out the travelling iyswim.

Plus, I get to put my CD's on and rock out in the car for longer!!!!
 
That's nothing :-( Mine is 22 miles away and 25-30 mins drive away :-( But it's only 5 miles from city and i work in the city so technically I'm only really driving 5 miles extra during the week!
 
15mins drive is nothing! Mine is about 8 miles away which usually takes 15-20mins. Is also 20mins from my work. Go for that yard. Facilities sound amazing. Similar to my yard minus the xc course.
 
Whoa, thanks everyone! You've really put my mind at ease, I couldnt sleep last night for thinking about it, but having spoken about it over and over with Mum, we are 100% certain it will be the right place for us. It just seems wonderful, and if I'm honest, we'd have probably chosen it over the current place when we were looking last year had we known it existed!

We've just rung the owner and told him we'd like to take up his offer of a place
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Obviously we want to get Ellie sound before moving her so we've provisionally agreed a moving date of 24th October - I cant wait! I just have a feeling it will all turn out fine
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Thanks to everyone for your posts!
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ilovemarmite - I will PM you
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6 miles is nothing really not if you are happy there. I'm sure when you get to know people you will be able to help each other out so maybe you won't have to go up twice a day every day.
 
QR My new yard is 12 miles away and takes up to half an hour to drive, then its another twelve miles to work afterwards. I pay for assistance (TO in the morning) so I only go once a day and it does cost a fair bit in petrol.

BUT its 100% worth the travelling time and expense when you find a good yard though
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That's all I have to say on the matter.
 
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