am I doing the right thing?

[tashyisaudrey]

ok opinions please

The yard I'm at the moment I pay for:

all year round turnout
No stable - only a barn which is for emergency only
a very small outdoor school
Good hacking
Very poor security
I get lots of help with my horse
I can have lessons on my horse
fully licensed and insured

Ok - and the yard no.2 which I'm thinking of moving to:

Summer turnout only - but there's a place for them to play in if required
Stable
Lessons on my horse
Large outdoor school
Small indoor school
horse whisperer pen
Some off road tracks - so fairly good hacking 27 acres
It specialises in troubled horses and therapy
fully licensed and insured
hay and bedding included
help with hacking my horse

I pay the same price for both places - 25 pounds.

 

[Murphs_Mum]

I couldn't live with out year round turn out that would be a major issue for me.

 

[tashyisaudrey]

I should probably mention - I don't know what the security is like at yard 2 yet as havn't visited yet but am visiting next week

 

[tashyisaudrey]

yeh - that kind of bugged me a bit but they said there was somewhere they could turn them out if required - so guess I'd have to see when I visit.

 

[tashyisaudrey]

oh and hay is included with yard 1

 

[clipclop]

I think they weight up quite evenly, it just depends on what you and your horse think is more important.

I bet you will make your decision once you have visited the other yard.

The most important thing is whether you feel confortable when you walk in to the other yard.

 

[the watcher]

there will of course be more associated costs with the second place as you will have to pay for bedding and possibly more hay or other bulk food to make up for the lack of grazing, and you should take this into account. there is also less flexability with a stabled horse..if they are out you can be a couple of hours late and they will cope..if stabled routine becomes very important and is a fixed commitment at least twice a day (possibly more if you have to hang around for an hour's daily turnout)

 

[AmyMay]

On balance Yard 2 sounds better. However, no all year round turnout would be a big no, no for me I'm afraid.

I'd keep looking.

 

[ladylisa]

I like the sound of yard 2, but the turnout might be a problem as you said that your horse lives out at the moment, it will be a big shock to horses system going from 24/7 turnout to living in a stable for all those hours.
But everything else at yard 2 sounds spot on!

 

[Dogbetty141]

I have no all year turnout put there is a bit of a paddock they can play in and a section of the feild that they can be turnout for a hr however many times you want i have been told this year. Is a mud bath but fun for them.

My horse is fine with no turnout in fact it makes him work harder and concerntrate more as in summer he is like a donkey and doesnt want to do anything as he would rather be out.

You just have to decide whther it would suit your horse??

 

[0]

[ QUOTE ]
I couldn't live with out year round turn out that would be a major issue for me.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ha - I was just going to say I couldn't live without a stable!!!!!
Mine is only out for an hour a day in winter anyway so although not at all would bug me (and her) it wouldn't be quite the shock that it would be to your horse who is out all the time att (if I understand correctly!!)

Suppose it is up to you what is more important and what you think is most important to your horse.........I could not have no stable even in the summer!!!!

 

[not_with_it]

I personally would go for yard 2, the facilities won me over.
Is there anywhere for you horse to have a leg stretch at Y2? My horse isnt in the field at the mo but she still goes out for a leg stretch all day.

 

[Christmas_Kate]

yard one. If your horse is happy to live out then you only need the stable in an emergency anyway. The cost of stabling at night 'just because you can' will soon mount up. Other than that the only extra point i would be interested in is the indoor school, and I could live without that. The help you get, the hay included etc is the best option. Most people can only dream of year round 24/7 turnout!

 

[0]

[ QUOTE ]
Most people can only dream of year round 24/7 turnout!

[/ QUOTE ]

I find it interesting how many people keep their horses out 24/7.......I could do but don't (hour ish per day in winter and out from 8am til 3pm summer). Until I came on here I didn't really realise that working horses were ever kept out 24/7. I'm not saying that i think there is anything wrong with it, just that it really never occured to me as no-one I know does this!! I thought it was something just for companion horses!!!!

 

[FMM]

I wouldn't go for either! I like having a stable, and I like having year round turn out. Some of our show horses only come in to ridden or be bathed before a show and live out the rest of the time. I wonder how many of the horses in the yard specialising in troubled horses, would be less troubled if they were allowed in the field year round!

 

[EllieBeast]

I couldent do with no turnout. my mare wont be stabled at night, proof -
(after just one night in that particular stable, 1.5 inch thick kickboard)

so i have no choice but to turnout. she is in full work and fully clipped and loves to be out. she is much better in her current alocated stable, will happily stand in during the day, but wont settle at night.