Boring yard a yard b but please help!

P

PeachesD113

Well-Known Member
Joined
21 November 2016
Messages
88
Visit site
Okay I'll try and keep this short as I have a tendency to ramble. I'm a new horse owner so would really appreciate the benefit of others experience.

Yard a
Horse has been here as long as I've had him (just over a year). He's very settled and a firm favourite with everyone. I have him on full livery mon-fri and the YM absolutely dotes on him. It's a small yard with 7 stables but currently only mine plus two, other horses both semi retired so can't always guarantee hacking company. Not confident enough to take him out solo yet so this can be an issue. Nearest bridleway is also a mile down a fast but quietish road. Yard is very well run and maintained and there is an outdoor arena. My only reason really to look elsewhere is that it is 30 minutes away from my house, so after work I don't get a chance to go see him as YM brings him in with hers at 5pm so he's not out alone. Horse is as happy as Larry as gets lots of attention but not a lot of exercise! YO rides him occasionally and is helping me with my general riding and confidence.

Yard b
5 miles from home so a 10 minute drive
Approx 20 horses on the yard
Positioned as a competition yard but apparently people do hack out at the weekends
Has an outdoor and indoor arena, lunge pen, XC course and 5 furlong gallops (need to book in advance)
Included in livery is 2 bales hay a week then have to buy from yard at £5 a bale (currently get big bale for £20 which will last 5/6 weeks)
Seems friendly but more dishevelled than current yard. Horses out on individual 1.5 acre turnout. Would mean I could go and see him everyday as 20 minute round trip is very different to an hour.

Both work out to be the same cost wise and that's not accounting for fuel.

I'm terrible at these kind of decisions anyway and if I could lift up my current yard and put it closer to me with some better hacking it would be perfect. I also would feel awful as current yard has had 3 horses leave recently (one lady got her own land and took her two and another had to be PTS) so if I left there would only be YO's horse plus the one remaining livery. Yes I'm a soft touch I know. But at the moment I'm paying for a horse I only see 2/3 times a week. But horse doesn't care about this and is happy as a clam. I also feel very comfortable when at current yard, there's no bitching (well there are only three of us!) I get a lot of support and encouragement and worry that moving yards might undo what's been built?

I know there are a lot worse things to worry about but if anyone has any experience/ thoughts let me know.

Wine and cheese for anyone who got this far!
 
Haha do I sound young?! I'm 32 and I really just want to enjoy my horse. No major aspirations to compete but if I learnt enough to have a potter about in a ring then id be happy. My confidence is more around general social anxiety as opposed to riding confidence if that makes sense?
 
For me I would want to see my horse more than 2/3 times a week and the second yard does sound nice. However I see your dilemma.
Would you be able to move back to yard A if you didn't like yard B.
Or can you not get up to the yard more often? My horse is 30mins away and I visit him every morning.
 
I would probably just keep the horse at the old yard, especially because 1) people know the horse and its routine 2) they are nice to you 3) you get help from the YO and 4) the yard is tidier.
The consideration boils down to this: if 2-3 times a week is not enough for you, then the yard nearby might be a better option.
 
i dont understand why you cant go down in the evening, its still light at this time of year. if you dont want to ride you can always give hima good groom and pamper him a bit. your yo sounds like a good one and it sounds like you can trust her with your horse. as long as he has plenty of turnout i wouldnt worry too much about him missing out on hacking. as long as he is settled and happy this would be very important to me.
 
Gut feeling , yard A . You seem happy there , the yard managers seems supportive and kind .Could you ride out with her ? Is there a ménage on site ? Could you ride in the evenings after work in the summer ? Where is the yard in relation to your work ? If you got up really early in the morning could you go and see your horse then?

It means a lot to have someone looking after your horse who cares and it's not easy to find someone to take a special interest in you on a big yard ...
 
Nici I think you're right. Horse is happy where he is and if I want to see him more I need to get my butt into gear or accept I'll only see him at weekends. Just stressing about money currently as fuel costs are adding up. Ah well guess it's just another lesson in horse ownership
 
Sorry fire sign and splashgirl I think you've all told me what my gut was saying. Rather than move him I need to look at my own routine. Thank you for taking the time to reply
 
I'd stay on yard A, and go diy during the summer. If they are still stabled over night during the summer get him brought in with the others at 5.00, that way he's ready for you to ride when you arrive.

Is your horse good in traffic?
 
It sounds to me like your current yard seems lovely. I've, personally, never been on a livery yard but from some of the stories I've heard, if you find a supportive, friendly one, stick with it! Would a yard geared towards competition suit you at the moment?

All that aside though. It sounds as though your YO is really supportive and I agree that as long as your horse has plenty of turnout and is well cared for by the YO (which it sounds like he is), he should be fine only being ridden by you three times a week. Maybe, over the summer, you could try to get into a routine of riding one or two evenings a week too.
 
Amymay he's great in traffic, providing there's another horse. And if that horse spooks he goes super sensible 'aren't I mature' and is textbook bombproof. On his own is very spooky but I think this is down to me. We've been working on it and I think I'm on the verge of starting to take him out on his own. I'm actually so relieved that you've all told me what my gut was telling me. Thank you
 
Yard A without a doubt but it's easy to say that when you know what larger yards can be like.

It might be hard, but if you try, you will find a way to be able to get there more often and one trick I've given people in your position regarding hacking alone is to walk the horse in hand until your "turn for home" point, the find somewhere to hop on and ride back. After a while, you won't even think about it anymore, it's great exercise and wonderful time spent with your horse. I personally LOVE solo hacking, just me and my boy (whichever one I'm on) and nothing to spoil our alone time. X
 
I would stay at yard A, as you are a relatively new horse owner and the YO is so nice, it is good to find your own confidence and ask questions and learn without feeling silly etc. Is there any chance that new livery will be taking the empty stables?
I am in a similar position but two years further down the road. It has been great for me to gain knowledge and confidence without the feeling of someone looking over my shoulder or being bitchy. I have an instructor who comes to the yard, which stops us from getting bored, we also now hack out on our own. I am often on the yard on my own and feel I am now ready for a busier yard.
 
Well my current plan was for with YO or other livery to take him out on his own with me baby sitting so I can see that he *can* do it and then reverse roles. Most of my problem is that if I don't get pushed I won't push myself but it needs to be in the right way and that's what I was worried about with a yard move.
 
Yard A definitely, I've seen a number of friends move to yards where other liveries are competitive and it destroy their confidence in themselves. If you are the sort of person to be made anxious by others then definitely stick to where you and horse are happy.
Maybe move closer to yard A :p
 
I would definitely stay where you are. I think where you are with your riding, your relationship with your horse and your YO it would be better to have that support network around you that you trust. I would just work on your schedule and make sure your YO is happy for you to be up there in the evenings. I don't get to mine until 7.30pm earliest and so by the time I've mucked out and I'm on it's often 8.15pm. Its easy when you're in a routine, especially in these lighter evenings.

Good luck!
 
I really feel yard A is better!

Be more proactive in visiting him and budget for the fuel - I know its expensive and a hassle but thats horse ownership for you!

Hope you get to see him more now the days are lighter :)
 
Ive just done the opposite after a bad accident with my last horse, nothing to do with the yard but I just wanted a complete fresh start, so I left a bigger yard where I had lots of friends to go to a smaller yard, knew no one, similar facilities on a smaller scale but much quieter and Im loving it. My new horse is young and unbroken so hacking buddies arent an issue atm. Distance for me doesnt come in to it thankfully as they are both very close but I do know where you are coming from with that as a few years ago I had a 20 min drive to the yard and it was a bit of a drag, especially when I was going twice a day. My feelings would be to stay where you are but it is a difficult one as I also moved from the yard that was 20 mins away because I just had no one to ride with. I loved it there and wouldnt have moved otherwise. I prefer smaller yards tbh, but owning a horse is about enjoying it and if you will get more fun and riding at the new bigger yard then Id seriously consider it too! Not much help am I lol. Id check they do ride out though as I found on the big yard not many did!?
 
I would stay at your current yard, it sounds lovely.

Either try and find a hacking buddy, or do you have your own transport?
 
STAY at YARD A!

You say your horse is happy, the people are good with him, its close to home, then its no branier. If you want to go out further etc... borrow a horse box and make the effort. Moving to a bigger yard does always bring joy.

I moved yards and now on my 5th vet bill since Feb 2017 !
 
I'd stay and persuade any horsey people you know to move there so you have more company. Tell everyone how wonderful the yard and the owner are!

Half an hour isn't that far to drive really - go straight from work so you don't have a chance to sit down and not do anything all night. You could still be home comfortably by 8pm - even if it's just twice a week that's 4 times a week your horse will be ridden.
 
Re: fuel costs adding up - I totally get you! I've had to make cuts to save on fuel as it was really stressing me out. Is there any way you can cycle to work once or twice a week? You'd be surprised how much it saves. It takes me 40 min to cycle in and it's about 7 miles away. I shower at work and it's actually lovely breezing through avoiding all the traffic and you get that lovely post-exercise feeling all through the morning.

Re your yard decision... I would stay at yard A if I only had the choice between A and B. But you could look at the things you aren't happy with at yard A and try to change them (improve fuel economy, start hacking alone, get an instructor in etc). If you can change them then great! If after a while you realise it's still not working you could casually look around for other similar yards which are closer and only move if you find something perfect. Because it's not really a decision between A and B, there's plenty of yards and if after a pit of perseverance with yard A it's still not working out for you then remember there's (probably) more than 2 yards in your vicinity to choose between
 
Are there lights at yard A? Why does your horse coming in at 5pm stop you riding him in the evening? Can a friend come with you on foot / pay instructor to come with you on foot at first. Book regular lessons in school?

I have 2 on part livery 35 minutes from home / 30 minutes from work.

But because of the care and facilities the yard offers (night turnout, well managed, well draining, good lit 60x20 school with mirrors, good care, great off road hacking) the drive IS worth it. And not being DIY is saving some time.

I go 5 times a week, and resign to not going on a Monday and Friday.

I was 15 minutes away, on clay, with a scary road as part of hacking, and limited assistance.

Further away is working much better for me!

Maybe change car to be more fuel efficient?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top