Another yard choice

holeymoley

holeymoley

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 November 2012
Messages
4,819
Visit site
Gah. I feel like I’m caught between the devil and the deep blue see again with regards to yards. I’ll say no more at this stage other that do a comparison. I think more for my sanity to see it written down as it is playing on my mind. I do apologise if layout is sketchy as I’m using a phone.

Yard 1
Pros-
-assisted diy so turned out 7 days per week and brought in 5 days per week
-location is 15minutes from home and 5minutes from work
-indoor barn stables(keeps out the weather)
-buy in own bedding & hay(no restrictions)
-trailer storage

Cons-
-turnout time is roughly 4/5hours max unless in Summer
-arena surface degrading, very deep then stoney in places
-hacking slim to none, hacking accessed through riding through other field of horses which can be dangerous at times and other times fine, and also use of A road to get on a ‘decent’ hack
-no lunging
-limitations on arena use if owner is teaching and not allowed other instructors
-general lack of upkeep/lighting etc at hose areas
-stable size could be argued as too small
-field in use is more ‘swampy’ that others

Yard 2-
Pros-
- relatively new stables, all standard 12x12 with individual light switches(easier to replace than whole barn)
-out the gate and onto oodles of various hacking without coming across many cars, straight single road if you do
-relatively new arena with no restrictions and various instructors allows on site

Cons-
- straight diy, only a worker during Winter that you can pay if require extra help
-15minutes from home, 25/30minutes from work
-buy in hay when the yard has a delivery, also restricted to bagged bedding(not bales of straw) and it’s up to you to buy it when needed
-no trailer storage

I can’t remember if there are any other ‘biggies’ I’ve forgotten, my brain is mush with it all. For context, I have 2 large ponies, one in their twenties that’s still in light work to keep him ticking over and the other is a youngster who is still too young to break in or start anything serious, more in the early stages of ‘seeing’ everything in life in-hand…!

Which sounds better to you?
 
Yard 2 definitely, the first one sounds a pain with no hacking and can’t have your own instructors. I wouldn’t mind so much about the reduced turnout as long as they actually do go out for some time, but the other aspects would put me off that one. Yard 2 sounds great.

You’re lucky you have the choice especially of DIY!! 😂
 
Another vote for yard 2, easy one for me as I'm a happy hacker with no trailer, hopefully there are some fellow liveries you can buddy up with and share turnout/bring in?
 
Abacus said:
I’d go yard 2, assuming the turnout is at least equivalent and that you can get the person who does services to do as much as you need. And if overall cost is comparable or at least affordable.
Click to expand...
Cost would be approximately £80/£100 cheaper at yard 2 than yard 1. But the savings would be used for any services I would need.
 
I catagorically would not stay at yard 1.

Yard 2 sounds much better. If those are only two choices, yard two, hands down.

Assuming winter freelancer will help you in winter, and cost is do-able, and you can swap with another DIY to do only one summer visit a day. .
 
Yard 2 without a doubt.

Our arenas need redoing, have done for a while, and it does limit what you can do. (that said, the yard still stacks up better than all other options in the area.)
 
Worth working out what the difference will be in fuel costs and the cost of paying for the services throughout winter.

But personally, assuming turnout is equivalent or better, then yard 2.
 
Out of interest, is it mainly the lack of turnout that is swaying most of the posters down the thread to yard 2? I have to say I'm getting cheesed at the lack of turnout. Everything is mounting up and I'm getting really fed up. To the point where I love my horses to bits but the 'passion' for it all is slowly diminishing. It's one thing after another. The turnout time won't be budged, I've asked. The hacking isn't going to change either. Yes, the assistance is great and I'm concerned how I will manage on a sole DIY Yard but at the moment, I feel like I'm paying for the 'luxury' of assistance yet actually being unable to do a thing with them! I have a decent storage area, and I can nip round to feed if I'm at work, but these are the only bonuses in comparison to being able to do zilch in terms of riding/training/hacking.
 
I haven't commented yet, but I'd say yard 2 as well, based off your lists. I have had a couple of horses that would feel 4 hours turnout is too much, but the rest of it would be something that would make me unhappy. Sounds like it is making you unhappy. I'd look to trying to find someone to help out at yard 2 either in trade or some reliable teens that would like a bit of pay to help out.
 
Yard 2 mainly the arena and hacking actually although more turnout is obviously great too. Without a decent arena or hacking how do you ride? So your horses are in more but will be exercised less. Not ideal with a youngster.

Yard2 driving wise is the same as me ISH I'm 17mins to the yard from home 38.mins from work which is doable but I do get assistance.
 
holeymoley said:
Out of interest, is it mainly the lack of turnout that is swaying most of the posters down the thread to yard 2? I have to say I'm getting cheesed at the lack of turnout. Everything is mounting up and I'm getting really fed up. To the point where I love my horses to bits but the 'passion' for it all is slowly diminishing. It's one thing after another. The turnout time won't be budged, I've asked. The hacking isn't going to change either. Yes, the assistance is great and I'm concerned how I will manage on a sole DIY Yard but at the moment, I feel like I'm paying for the 'luxury' of assistance yet actually being unable to do a thing with them! I have a decent storage area, and I can nip round to feed if I'm at work, but these are the only bonuses in comparison to being able to do zilch in terms of riding/training/hacking.
Click to expand...

It was the hacking, not allowed own instructor and (in)ability to ride easily at yard A for me. For the right yard, I think you can make other non ideal things work - I wasn't looking for DIY (assisted DIY as a minimum, 5 day livery preferred) when I moved but had got to the point where I didn't want to go to my old yard so moved to current yard temporarily. I love the hacking and turn out so much I've made it work where other things are on paper much 'worse' than other options but we get by.

If I couldn't ride because of the yard facilities, it would hugely affect my enjoyment - and they are an expensive way to be unhappy- so that's swaying my decision.
 
Definitely not yard 1. That sounds awful. But no 2 wouldn't work for me either. If I HAD to choose, I would go with 2 temporarily till I found something more suitable.
 
holeymoley said:
Out of interest, is it mainly the lack of turnout that is swaying most of the posters down the thread to yard 2? I have to say I'm getting cheesed at the lack of turnout. Everything is mounting up and I'm getting really fed up. To the point where I love my horses to bits but the 'passion' for it all is slowly diminishing. It's one thing after another. The turnout time won't be budged, I've asked. The hacking isn't going to change either. Yes, the assistance is great and I'm concerned how I will manage on a sole DIY Yard but at the moment, I feel like I'm paying for the 'luxury' of assistance yet actually being unable to do a thing with them! I have a decent storage area, and I can nip round to feed if I'm at work, but these are the only bonuses in comparison to being able to do zilch in terms of riding/training/hacking.
Click to expand...
Yard 2 but not because of the turnout. The not great school or hacking would be why
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top