Another yard dilemma thread...

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Remi'sMum

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A long one, sorry!!

Current DIY yard...
- been there almost 6 yrs, I love the yard and people, am very emotionally attached
- HUGE stable (12x18). My horse is almost 17hh and I love that she has so much room
- loads of storage space for general paraphernalia
- lovely people including 2 of my best friends, who have helped me through divorce, the deaths of 2 horses and a multitude of other smaller dramas in recent years
- one friend fetches in for me in winter (I work full time). She doesn't charge me, I help her out in other ways in return.
- a very supportive and friendly atmosphere despite being a large yard with around 35 horses
- fairly good hacking
- small, very poorly maintained, floodlit ménage (has been flooded and/or frozen almost constantly since Oct/Nov and even when it's useable the surface is terrible, they don't look after it) And yes, we've asked for better maintenance and it just doesn't happen
- average grazing (individual turnout) but poorly drained and has suffered this winter. Access to field occasionally impossible in winter if the tarmac yard access is iced over.
- cheap!! (As DIY livery goes)
- dog friendly, the boys come with me and we can walk round the fields and they can be out on the yard with me. Always supervised, that goes without saying.

Possible new DIY yard...
- 20x40 floodlit rubber&sand menage, perfectly maintained (YO has dressage horses so it needs to be)
- horse walker
- excellent grazing (no mud!!!), turnout in small groups, access to fields never an issue even when icy
- one of the girls who has her horse there offered turnout/ fetch in but charges £3 each way. Apparently very competent although only a teenager, but my mare can be a tit so I'd need to know just how competent if I was to use her.
- In winter several of the horses stay out till at least 6pm so I'd have the option of leaving mine out till I got there from work, although she's used to coming in mid-afternoon currently and might not be happy stopping out in bad weather.
- standard 12x12 internal stables (I worry she won't have enough room after being used to something so much bigger)
- less storage space, although perfectly adequate (I'm spoiled with how much room I have currently, which encourages me to hoard!)
- fairly good hacking
- smaller yard, only 10 horses with 6 owners I think
- more expensive (almost double what I pay now) which would make it a squeeze money-wise. If I was paying for regular fetch in during winter, it would stretch my budget even further at £3 per day.
- within hacking distance of my instructors yard so I would have the choice of lessons there or at 'home', or just a poddle up to his for a change of scene.
- new tack room and a wash bay currently being built
- dogs would have to stay in the car, they don't want them on the yard.

The condition of the ménage at current yard has been a source of constant frustration over the winter and my primary motivation in looking at other yards. I ride early in the mornings (when it's often frozen hence unrideable) and I want to progress my horse and myself, but months of intermittent schooling has set us back. She also struggles in the small space, even when it's vaguely useable, she's big and unbalanced and there's just not enough room to work effectively on balance and straightness.

My instructor has advised me to examine my motivations. Do I have a burning desire to train, progress and compete? If so, facilities must come first. If I do it for fun, pleasure and the social aspect, then facilities are less important. It's not clear cut in my mind, it's a combination of all those factors. Yes, I want to train and progress, but realistically competing would be low level and not that often. The fun and social side is also important, and my 2 close friends on current yard are a huge support to me...

Nice yards with decent floodlit ménages are a rarity. Am I daft not to be jumping at the chance??

I'm so torn. I was hoping writing it all down would give me some clarity but it hasn't....
 
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Better the devil you know! Stay where you are happy.

Could you not get all the liveries together in the spring and do some work on the manege? Pull the edges back in/get rid of the tracks and thoroughly rake it? Would only take a morning and make a big difference. If the yard has enough liveries then why not contribute a tenner each toward the upkeep of the manege... even save up for a while and get some new surfacing to top it up. I know people will shout that this would be benefiting the YO but TBH it will benefit all who use it and will prove cheaper than moving to a new yard where you, and your horse, may not be as happy.
 
I wouldn't move, although the grass often appears greener, it often isn't, and a yard which is nice and pleasant is worth it's weight in gold. As is having someone you can rely on to do your horse. If the school is only unusable for part of the year, do your schooling out hacking. And think, if your horse can cope with the small arena, how easy will it feel when you go out competing? Why don't you put your extra money towards transport, then you can take your horse out to hire other arenas for training.
 
I'd move. Without a useable arena, you're spending a lot of money for no tangible benefit in the winter, and if the grazing is poor, individual and occasionally inaccessible, that alone would be enough for me to move.

Even if the arena surface was fixed, you say the arena itself is too small - that certainly won't change.

It ought to be possible to leave and remain on good terms, so that there is always an option to come back if you hate it - but the only drawbacks seem to be more costs, a slightly smaller box and no dogs, so you'll probably love it. And you can still arrange to hack out with your friends, or just see them for wine :D
 
I would stay put and only because of the size of the stable, I have a 14 x 16 stable for my 15.1hh welsh d and I wouldn't keep him in a smaller one so I really can't imagine a 17hh in a 12 x 12, but I would keep looking for a better yard. Or as someone has said if there are 35 horses on your yard perhaps you could get together to improve the school at your current yard.
 
I'd stay, for the support and the large stable and use the extra money to travel to the nearest arena. It has been dire this winter, for most people.
 
I'd stay put, you have a friendly supportive situation at your current yard which IMO is worth putting up with some frustrations.
Most people will have had to limit turnout at some point over this horrendous winter we've had, and there are options for schooling as others have said.
The deal breaker for me now would be the dogs being allowed, I made a similar move a couple of years ago and now feel guilty about time spent with either horses or dogs, as both are now effectively separate activities. If yours are happy to stay in the car without looking mournfully at you every time you pass you might be ok 😩😩
 
Nativelover said:
I would stay put, a yard you enjoy being at is hard to find. If you are wanting to compete, could you box to a nice arena?
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This - If it were me, I'd stay on your current yard but use the additional money you would be spending to be at the new yard to transport to an arena a couple of times a week.
 
I moved last year, after a number of years at my previous yard. I loved my previous yard, but with a new horse I needed better facilities and hacking. New yard was a lot further away from home and more expensive, but with better facilities our dressage is coming on in leaps and bounds. Im sure we wouldnt have made the same progress at our old yard. So it is entirely down to what you want to be doing ? Everything seems rubbish in winter (grazing, frozen school etc) and spring is just around the corner.
 
Would the YO at the current yard let the deliveries do things like level the arena? If someone has a 4x4 all you need is on of the heavier pallets to drag along behind it & you can usually do a passable job. Keep on top of it & it only takes a few minutes.
 
I am another who'd be inclined to stay put, both yards sound perfectly nice but having supportive fellow liveries is a big part of happiness on a yard (for me anyway)
 
QUOTE
Possible new DIY yard...
- more expensive (almost double what I pay now) which would make it a squeeze money-wise. If I was paying for regular fetch in during winter, it would stretch my budget even further at £3 per day.

If moving yards is going to put you into a squeeze money wise, then I would Stay at the current yard.
 
I would stay, mainly for the larger sized stable and particularly if the new yard is a stretch financially.

I'd put the extra money towards lessons/hiring schools/competing - then on a 'bad' money month, you can just cut back as and when needed.
 
If I were in your situation I'd stay put. The social support, trusted help with your horse, and the suitably large stable are all super valuable. I also wouldn't want to put myself into potential financial difficulty just for a better arena and better winter turnout.

You could always use the money from the financial difference to hire an arena, or you could get the liveries to band together to improve the arena. You can also do some minor schooling while hacking. I'm sure you can figure something out, good luck!
 
Another vote to stay. If you can, use the financial difference to hire an arena once a month or so. And in the summer, work on the yard's arena. I moved from a yard with a school to one without, but now I school while hacking where I can. Two years on, and only missed the school half a dozen or so times.
 
Thanks for all your comments.

The frustrating thing is the YO already has all the necessary equipment for levelling the school (quad, proper grading equipment etc) it's just it never gets used 😡. And we've asked if one of us can do it and they always say no. And extra surface was added last year but it hasn't improved the drainage, or lack thereof, obviously.

Really useful comments all, very many thanks.
 
Remi'sMum said:
The frustrating thing is the YO already has all the necessary equipment for levelling the school (quad, proper grading equipment etc) it's just it never gets used 😡. And we've asked if one of us can do it and they always say no. And extra surface was added last year but it hasn't improved the drainage, or lack thereof, obviously.
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That does sound incredibly frustrating. I wonder why they don't just use the equipment or allow someone else to use it. Maybe you could all approach the YO in summer to try reason with them and get the arena maintained so it will be good for winter in the future.
 
I would stay put if I was you. I would move personally but I want to compete at higher levels. You aren't bothered really and although you want to progress do you want to be going to high levels? It doesn't sound like it so I would stay. You will miss your friends if you do move. Is it really worth the extra money spent?
 
zebrahorse said:
That does sound incredibly frustrating. I wonder why they don't just use the equipment...... Maybe you could all approach the YO in summer to try reason with them.....
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Oh, believe me, we wonder, we really really do. 😕 And we've tried talking to them, time and again. When I ask for it to be harrowed, it does sometimes get done but it needs to be dry before they'll do it, which it hardly ever has been over the winter. If only they'd get in there once a week and just do it, it'd be soooo much better (still small but at least not like trying to ride on the surface of the moon!!)
 
I do sympathise - our school surface isn't great, although it's a 20x60 metres so at least we have room, but it's still frustrating. Particularly as like your YO - it could be easily improved with a bit of maintenance. But, we only do low level schooling & dresage and the yard suits us in most other ways, so we just do what we can.
 
rachk89 said:
I would stay put if I was you. I would move personally but I want to compete at higher levels. You aren't bothered really and although you want to progress do you want to be going to high levels? It doesn't sound like it so I would stay. You will miss your friends if you do move. Is it really worth the extra money spent?
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Yep. When I get a glimpse of what she might be able to do, then serious competition seems like maybe less of a pipe dream. But the glimpses are rare, or certainly have been rare this winter. So I don't really know what she might be capable of, I suspect a whole lot more with a better rider than I in the saddle and more ménage room to manoeuvre in. There are other limiting factors at play with competing too, such as finances, but mainly I think I'd like to train and progress us both to the best of our combined abilities for the satisfaction, rather than the (possible) competitive glory...
 
Stay put and buy a trailer/small box. The doubled livery in the new place would soon account for either purchase! You can get out and about and go to your instructors for useful lessons and school while hacking at other times.
 
I am another stay-putter! For me it would be having to leave the dogs in the car that I couldn't stand!

Perhaps you can start another thread on how to improve your horse's way of going without the use of a school? I'd imagine there are some things you can do in hand that could be very helpful. Even, sometimes, just physio-type stretches as she will be able to work better if she has good joint mobility. I am very lucky as my wonderful RI is only a mile from our yard so i get lots of lessons, but I still school out on hacks, doing lateral work and trying to improve my own riding (ha ha, not sure anyone will have noticed!).

As others have said, maybe you can save up some money and get yourself some transport so you could get out and hire an arena or have lessons off the yard. Even one lesson a week with a really good instructor will do you both the world of good. Or, maybe as all the liveries are fed up with the school, could you work out a way of maybe hiring some transport once a month and going to a decent arena.

It does sound frustrating though!
 
I'm in a similar position to you atm OP..thinking of moving from small friendly DIY yard where all my friends are to a larger, full livery yard with much better facilities. We have two schools but they are terrible in winter, and recently I've found myself longing for a proper all weather surface to get the best out of winter schooling. I'm not really able to school out hacking during winter either, as I choose not to ride in the dark through the muddy clay fields. I'm sure a more hardcore and talented rider than I would manage it, but it's not for me.
 
Remi'sMum said:
Yep. When I get a glimpse of what she
might be able to do, then serious competition seems like maybe less of a pipe dream. But the glimpses are rare, or certainly have been rare this winter. So I don't really know what she might be capable of, I suspect a whole lot more with a better rider than I in the saddle and more ménage room to manoeuvre in. There are other limiting factors at play with competing too, such as finances, but mainly I think I'd like to train and progress us both to the best of our combined abilities for the satisfaction, rather than the (possible) competitive glory...
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Remember most horses don't care if they are in the spotlight and at lots of shows. They are fine with being schooled and fed. My horse does love the attention he gets from a crowd and while others will disagree i know he would be bored in a hacking only home. He could do it but he would be bored. He loves to show off he is a drama queen in general in every habit of his life. Today i couldn't school him well because he had a hissy fit when he couldn't have his dinner early.

And yeah our horses probably could do better with more professional riders. I have no doubt in my mind that i am holding my boy back drastically. But we are happy and that's what counts. We will get there it's just going to take time. If you guys are happy where you are why move? I think the friendships you have made are worth more than a better arena. They sound like really nice and helpful people i wouldn't give them up.
 
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