Another 'which yard'

A

archiesmum

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I am in a bit of a pickle of which yard would be best for my horse - stay put or move?

Yard A - current
* 5 day part livery, 2 miles from home
* All year turnout - small paddocks, paired with another, rotated frequently, all weather pens when wet
* Arena
* Some hacking from but not great
* Good value, small number of liveries and nice people
* well maintained

Yard B - possible option
* DIY, walking distance from home
* All year individual turnout in a large paddock, next to a herd, can manage how I like
* No arena
* Great hacking on doorstep
* Pricier for DIY as it is sublet, only 5 other liveries, people seem nice and assistance is available
* Down to liveries to maintain and pay for muck heap removal

We are very low level, no great ambitions, horse has had time off whilst rehabbing injury so will hopefully be getting back on soon, confidence depending. I would like to get back to hacking, maybe the odd lesson or riding club session, possibly try some low level dressage.

Horse is a good-doer so I worry about small paddocks and regularly rotating on to rested grazing, my horse is normally better on a larger area of more sparse grazing to promote movement. Yard B would offer better grazing options that I could manage how I see fit, but not sure how my horse will cope being turned out on their own as they have always been with at least one other or a herd. Cannot join the herd in the next paddock as my horse has back shoes on.

Both yards have similar number of people to hack out with. I have transport and arenas to hire near to yard B.

Yard A is definitely easier and an arena onsite will be better for my confidence in the immediate future, but once I am back onboard the hacking will be restricted without boxing up off the yard. Others do box up off the yard so I would have others I could join.

Yard B would work out approximately £250 per month cheaper in summer and £150 per month cheaper in winter.

I am currently leaning towards trying Yard B and hope I could go back to Yard A if it doesn't suit my horse. And then I flip back to staying at Yard A where horse is settling in well and see how it goes. I only moved to Yard A in the winter 2025 due to the horse's injury and needing an all weather pen for turn out whilst healing and rehabbing. I wouldn't have chosen to go to a yard without year round field turnout until they had this injury. I just want to do the best for my horse and I am going round in circles - WWYD?
 
Yard B, we are in a similar situation and similar yard to your yard A and I’m trying to go back to Yard B after leaving last autumn! Was a mistake leaving really I miss the option for all year turnout and being able to do what I want!
 
No arena in winter is really tricky for motivation. That and individual turnout would make me stay unless horse is someone that can't be turned out with others.
 
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I would say yard A only because you have to be honest how much DIY would impact your riding/just enjoying your horse time.

I had my last horse at an amazing DIY barn with an arena and field with cross country jumps. Eventually it got to the point where the time and energy I had for the barn was eaten up by all the chores.

Both places sound great but time is what you need to really think about.

Prior to my example as a teen I had my horses at home and it was a breeze to do chores and ride two a day. Of course I thought I could do the same as an adult with no mucking and just a full time job……. I moved to the place like where you’re at now.
 
Id say A - you say you need the arena to get back in the saddle and the individual turnout on B would put me off. I like that A has a provision in place for winter turnout if its to wet. A recently rehabbed horse doesn't need to be in deep mud in the worst of winter.
 
Thank you all for your comments, it's a tough one when the horse can't tell you what they would prefer!

I wouldn't take hind shoes off as a lot of the hacking would be on hardcore tracks so I wouldn't want her to get sore. She has had them off before at a yard without hardcore and was sore just from going to and from the field.

The individual turnout is what is making me question yard B. Its not like she would be sandwiched between others, she would be on one side of the field, the herd have the rest and they could end up a fair distance away as it is a 5 acre field even though she would be able to see them. I just don't want to make the wrong decision 😕

Turn out in the winter pens is individual in Yard A but they are all in the same area and she resource guards so it worked quite well. But it is a small area and nothing like having 'proper' field turn out year round. Granted this winter I would be able to work the horse more in theory.
 
With the extra turnout information for yard B I would absolutely not consider moving there.
Stay where you are and keep looking for another yard option.
 
Have you factored into the cost assessment the price of muck heap removed and maintenance? These can add up and are a pain to deal with. I’d go for yard A personally.
 
I’d opt for A.

Having moved to a yard with all year turnout but no arena, it’s tough in winter. Hacking was fantastic however when it goes dark at 3.30 in winter I had nowhere to ride. I also don’t like individual turnout as it wouldn’t suit my horses. Take it from someone who knows very well, the grass isn’t always greener. It may seem a better option but it isn’t always that way. I learned that the hard way.
 
Yard B sounds a bit crap tbh! I wouldn't even consider it. I wouldn't keep a horse on individual turnout, especially not one who's never been alone and with that set up. You're probably going to end up with a very stressed horse with the potential aggro of trashed fences.
 
archiesmum said:
Thank you all for your comments, it's a tough one when the horse can't tell you what they would prefer!

I wouldn't take hind shoes off as a lot of the hacking would be on hardcore tracks so I wouldn't want her to get sore. She has had them off before at a yard without hardcore and was sore just from going to and from the field.

The individual turnout is what is making me question yard B. Its not like she would be sandwiched between others, she would be on one side of the field, the herd have the rest and they could end up a fair distance away as it is a 5 acre field even though she would be able to see them. I just don't want to make the wrong decision 😕

Turn out in the winter pens is individual in Yard A but they are all in the same area and she resource guards so it worked quite well. But it is a small area and nothing like having 'proper' field turn out year round. Granted this winter I would be able to work the horse more in theory.
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Your last sentence is why I say yard A. Turnout isn’t ideal at either yard but that’s what we get when we don’t have our own place.

With regards to hind shoes, my last horse needed them so any place that required the horses to not have them was an immediate no for reasons beyond my not wanting to pull them.

Herds can be managed without asking for horses to be barefoot behind. The places with that requirement, IME, aren’t bad but they are not as good.
 
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