Another Yard Dilemma - Thoughts

[Skye24]

I have been on my current yard for a good number of years however the turnout for my boy has got so limited (in short due to the number of horses there and land availability) that I have looked around my local area to see what else was available

Long story short, a yard which is 5 minutes from my house, is smaller in terms of the number of horses and has more regular turnout now has a stable.
I have spoken with the owner and I am visiting this weekend but they have said the hacking leaves a bit to be desired and is mostly roads.

Now my boy is good on the roads, I have no issue with that but, I’m wavering on moving as my current yard, although a lot of the hacking is also on roads, they are, in the main, quiet lanes.

What im trying to reconcile is whether having more on road hacking is worth living with for more regular turnout for my boy who is in his 20’s and has arthritis and so needs to be out more than he is .. thoughts?

 

[SadKen]

Yard 1 will be better for you, assuming you like to hack. Yard 2 will be better for the horse, as he’s older moving more consistently, free choice, with turnout will be better for him imo. Id go with yard 2!

As an aside I hate hate hate on road hacking regardless of the quietness of the road and box up to hack off road now. Not sure if that’s an option for you?

 

[JBM]

Turnout would definitely be more important to me
My girl 22 now and even being in overnight leaves her stiff so I have her out 24/7 when possible

 

[ycbm]

I moved to somewhere with no safe hacking at all without boxing out to safe roads. It really affected my enjoyment of hacking but I would do it again tomorrow if a horse I loved needed it.
.

 

[paddi22]

I would definitely prioritise turnout for a 20year old arthritic horse. the difference in their quality of life is hug when they can move more.

 

[Highmileagecob]

If he is in his 20s now and you know there is arthritis, then hacking isn't really top of the list. Restricted turnout and over large herds can be difficult for older horses. Go with your gut feeling.