Can you help me choose a yard?

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Irishbabygirl

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I've got two horses which I currently keep on a small private yard on a DIY basis.

I have two acres for my two (but no natural shelter), one stable for my ridden boy, a field shelter (which I bought) for my retired boy, use of a outdoor school (but the surface is rubbish) and pay £120 p/m for both horses (worked out at £10 p/w grass for the retired one and £20 p/w grass and stable for the ridden one). Average hacking but a lot of road work.

I've just moved to great grazing with lots of natural shelter and good draining chalk land on a local farm with amazing hacking only for two months to rest my current grazing, as its clay and took a bit of a battering with all the rain at the beginning of the year.

The farm owner has asked me if I would like to stay - he's just built four brand new stables and there is stacks of grass so I would save on hay/feed but he wants £35 p/w per horse plus there is no school, which I feel is a bit steep as its only on a farm so not a smart looking yard which I currently have. I think I could knock him down to £25 p/w per horse which is still a lot more than I currently pay, but the hacking is fab and the grass is even better!

I could leave them out 24/7 all summer at the farm if I wish, something I don't get at my current yard due to the clay soil and lack of natural shelter, so they need to come in for the day in summer and overnight in winter.

What would you do? Decisions, decisions!
 
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I'd say it's a bit pricey considering theres no school. Round here (w.sussex) it's about 25pw for DIY with a stable, grazing and school.
 
Depends where you are. I pay £133 a month for DIY (the YO brings in/turns out and feeds though) and we have no school on site although the YO does have a school at her other yard which is 15 min hack away.
 
That was my thought, I think £20 p/w per horse is fair for farm livery with no school, but doubt he'll go for that! I'm in West Berkshire by the way.
 
The way I try to look at it is what would your horse prefer? All they want are large grassy fields with shelter from the bad weather.
2 acres isn't a lot for a big animal to be running around in. I pay £150 a month for 5 acres with 3 stables and rubbish riding and no school. We have a small bridleway and I have a flat area of the field to school in. But it's next to my house and its very secure and the elderly neighbours keep an eye on them all the time.
Id make sure your happy with this farmer before you give up your other space and id ask if he'd reduce the rent for your other horse as its retired.
 
The horses are so settles and happy here at the farm its untrue! Am I am too to be honest, I've loved having them out and they have loved being out 24/7 this summer!
Agree, two acres is not a lot, which is why I need to bring in so much and feed hay all year round - the farm has so much space, shelter, grass, decent hacking...but the price! Hummmm....
 
Another factor I'll need to think about is the farmer knows a lady who would like the other two boxes. I spoke to her earlier and she said she could only move to the farm if we could come to an arrangement where we could help each other out. Not a problem over summer when they would live out, but winter, where she would do all four horses in the mornings and I would do them all in the evenings.
I've only ever done my own all the time so not feeling 100% happy to hand responsibility of my two boys on her "shift" to someone I don't know!
Now, this could work really well for both of us, or be a complete disaster! Am I over thinking this too much!?
 
It worked a treat for me when I was on a private yard, have feeds made up for morning and YO/friend would feed, rug and t/o. In the evening I'd go and muck mine out, make up feeds/nets etc, bring the horses in, feed and change rugs. However you need to make sure that she doesn't take the mick and you end up doing more than her.

The other thing is that the money you're saving on hay/feed would go towards the higher livery, if there is enough land can you not school in the field? I actually find it better as there are more distractions so horse focuses on you - then when you get to comps you don't have so much of an issue. Also the uneven ground is great for balance and you really feel them move out more when you finally get back on a surface :)
 
Broke_But_Happy said:
It worked a treat for me when I was on a private yard, have feeds made up for morning and YO/friend would feed, rug and t/o. In the evening I'd go and muck mine out, make up feeds/nets etc, bring the horses in, feed and change rugs. However you need to make sure that she doesn't take the mick and you end up doing more than her.

The other thing is that the money you're saving on hay/feed would go towards the higher livery, if there is enough land can you not school in the field? I actually find it better as there are more distractions so horse focuses on you - then when you get to comps you don't have so much of an issue. Also the uneven ground is great for balance and you really feel them move out more when you finally get back on a surface :)
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Yeah, that's the type of arrangement we could have, and yes, there is enough space to make a grass school. I would save on feed/hay. Hummm...sounds like I may have made my decision! Sometime it just helps to write it down and for others to agree with your gut instinct! Its always such a worry moving yards though isn't it - the grass isn't always greener! Excuse the pun! In this case, I think though that it may well be!
 
Well there you go! When I first moved to my yard I was a bit sceptical about the whole hacking to the school (and bear in mind I've a 15 minute hack) but I've found it's actually great as the horse is warmed up by the time you get there so you can just start straight away, and you've cooled down by the time you get home!
 
Broke_But_Happy said:
Well there you go! When I first moved to my yard I was a bit sceptical about the whole hacking to the school (and bear in mind I've a 15 minute hack) but I've found it's actually great as the horse is warmed up by the time you get there so you can just start straight away, and you've cooled down by the time you get home!
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Yes there's always that! :)

I'm just a bit anal when it comes to my boys (aren't we all?!) and like them out first thing, if she's going to do the mornings, I wont know what time she's turning out! :eek:

I'll also need to dismantle my field shelter - or sell it...
 
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