Another what would you do? I am so torn..

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Welly Boot

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Surviving the winter, which left me questioning my lifestyle choices and sanity!! I'd really love your help...

I have a lovely 3yo who is going to be super but I am not in a rush to back him until he is 4 as he is an irish draught and their frames mature so much slower...

I have found a yard which offers full livery but am now hearing a lot of alarm bells about hidden extras from current liveries and there seems to a negative atmosphere there (although I am not there to confirm it) and concerns over horses being left on their own... It's not a cheap yard but also in same breath, not a smart yard with all the facilities you could ever wish for...

I have looked for alternative options, but decent yards seem to be scarce and those with spaces have a lot of negative feedback / are over priced for the service / facilities or over run with children (no offence meant for anyone who has kids - but having been on chaotic yard before with out of control children running and screaming everywhere, it's not something I want to repeat).

I planned to move him to new yard to start his education and then turn away for the winter and let him grow & start to fill out more etc..

He is currently on decent grass livery in a herd and I just have this niggly feeling that I should leave him where he is... and move him next year and start his education then.... this would mean I would then still be tasked with looking for a yard BUT I would have time to find exactly what will suit both of us...

Cost wise - it is MUCH cheaper to leave him where he is ... but no facilities or help....

I think I am probably answering my own question by writing it all down... but am really torn so would love some objective thinking...
 
I assume you are planning on doing the work yourself?

I have no objection to starting 3yo and all of mine do a bit at 3, but equally I don’t think it’s essential. So absolutely no harm waiting until you find the right place and doing him at 4.

Alternatively you could just send him to a starting yard to do the basics for 6 weeks at some point later this year. But that is obviously a bit more spendy than doing it yourself.
 
Stay put and the money you save you can pop towards his education when the time is right :)

I have a 2 year old on a lovely livery yard which is small, friendly and everyone is happy to help/ give advice when asked. There isn't a school, but we do have a field that we can ride in and in terms of facilities it has stables, shared tack room, shared feed room and shared storage (your space is allocated on how many horses you have) and the turnout is rotated and topped - most people wouldn't consider it a good place for a young horse - however my lad has come on in leaps and bounds in his training and when I start to back him when he is ready, there will be someone around to lend a hand if needed but I also have the opportunity to ask my friend who freelances to come in and help.

If you are happy where you are and don't really want to move - I would say stay put and the money that you save in terms of not forking out for all the whistles and bells on a livery yard, can be popped towards arena hire sessions/ borrowing a lorry/trailer to get to said arena hires, and you'd have the bonus of your lad getting used to going into a trailer and lorry too. Alternatively, if the shows are in walking/hacking distance you could also always make your own way there when the time comes :) x
 
The fact that he is an ID would totally convince me to leave him where he is. I would be keen to do some mental stimulation with him from time to time, if that were possible, but physically I would leave well alone so that he can continue to develop slowly as his breed needs.
 
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