Dithering. Should I move yards?

[RHM]

Ok, so a bit of background. I am very happy at current yard BUT there is very restrictive opening hours. This had never been an issue before but I have a new job and have long hours and it means I realistically can’t ride bar three days a weeks. Which as you can imagine is a bit of a shock to the system!
I am hoping to do some arena Eventing this winter and realistically there is not a hope I will get and maintain fitness for that riding three days a week.

I have been offered a space at a new yard with:
Daily turnout
Very good off road hacking
No arena but one hacking distance away with lights owned by someone I know
Completely sole use so far two more stables coming available
15 mins away from house
No water but promised to bring up large water canisters
No opening hours
Very cheap and would save money - could potentially pay freelancer so I could have a day off a week

BUT:
No help and three days a week I work VERY long hours currently have turn out and bring in included
Some politics locally (not ideal and could cause a issue with some people)
Will be completely alone and I have relied on the yard for a social mid week
No arena

What would you do in my shoes? Move on or not? I can’t make my mind up! So hard leaving a yard your happy at!

Or should I keep looking?

 

[mariew]

I'd stay where you are until you have settled into your job and suck up no riding for a few months Without an arena you aren't realistically going to ride anymore during winter as old yard?

Or look for.another yard with better facilities and assistance.

 

[RHM]

I'd stay where you are until you have settled into your job and suck up no riding for a few months Without an arena you aren't realistically going to ride anymore during winter as old yard?

Or look for.another yard with better facilities and assistance.

I don’t mind hacking out with a head torch off road. But, I do feel I might be jumping the gun. I’m being lured by the excellent off road hacking and trying to not let that sway me!

 

[Ossy2]

The new yard wouldn’t work for me, wanting to ride more but a winter with no arena, no water ect I can’t see how your going to do much more than you are now, I’d hang tight for now see how job goes and keep an eye out for something more suitable in the long run.

 

[MuddyMonster]

If you're happy to hack by torch light, I'd move personally.

 

[RHM]

Thanks guys. Currently 2:1 to staying. Keep the opinions coming!

 

[Winters100]

Speaking personally I think I would be riding less, not more, if I needed to do more chores and hack to an arena. How far is it to get there? I suppose if it was a very tiny distance I could consider it, but if not I would feel it the wrong time to make such a move. Of course this is purely a personal opinion, but I would think carefully, as what seems like a short hack on a sunny afternoon might feel a lot longer on a wet and dark January evening!

 

[Fred66]

How long have you been at the current yard ? Could you discuss out of hours access, possibly 1-2 evenings extra ? Being totally on your own if you are used to and enjoy company could get lonely. If new yard has no assistance and something happens you could be totally stuck.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I do long hours so having yard access times doesn’t suit me. My last yard came and went with me due to my job but it started getting mentioned more and more as other people were causing issues.

I moved to a yard with the best hacking and a small arena but with a competition centre a five minute hack away and no access hours as it’s a working farm. I can hack by head torch and it’s very small only 11horses with 7 owners and our own grazing ? it’s much cheaper and much closer to my house.

 

[Red-1]

Could you pay someone to exercise your horse where you currently are, so the horse has 4 days a week ridden? As long as there is also decent turnout, it would be enough to stay arena eventing.

Coming towards December with a new job is not a time I would be comfortable to strike out alone. It may be more practicable in a few months, once you have the measure of your new job and the evenings are lengthening again.

 

[gallopingby]

I’d stay where you are until you’ve been in your new job a few months. Winter can be a difficult time but if you’re happy where you are that counts for a lot. No water could get difficult and promises don’t always happen.

 

[Ratface]

For all the reasons given by Red-1, I would sit tight at your present yard.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I’d definitely not move to the yard you describe.

 

[dreamcometrue]

I would definitely not move. ‘Promised to bring up water’ is not good enough. You get promised all kinds when you view yards. No arena either. You can’t rely on someone else’s arena down the road.
Stay where you are and keep looking x

 

[Hackback]

I brought my horses home in June this year after being on a livery yard with restricted opening hours. I was looking forward to having completely free access to my own horses but am finding in practise I ride less now than I did before. I work 4 long days and have to do the yard chores before and after work and I run out of time or inclination to ride. So I only ride 3 days a week too. Having said that, I really love pottering around my own yard and doing all the jobs myself.

 

[maya2008]

I would find an option 3: yard with arena with longer opening hours so you can ride more, that also offers services.

 

[ycbm]

Frying pan .....fire.

Sit tight, keep looking.
.

 

[Abacus]

I would keep looking for a plan C. I would think the only way planB would work is if you found someone to share the yard and jobs with.

 

[southerncomfort]

'Politics' alone would be enough to make me say no!

I think the idea above of paying someone to ride your horse once a week is your best bet.

 

[Bernster]

Nope, look for an option 3 I think. In the meantime chat to yo to see if anything can be arranged for you.

 

[RHM]

Thanks so much everyone for sharing your opinions! So, helpful getting other people’s perspective. Sometimes when your in the situation it’s easier to not see the pitfalls and just focus on the positives!

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I'm in agreement with most of the others.
No to new possible yard.

Reason? Apart from my own yard having decent water supply, it sounds v similar.
All yr round turnout, access straight onto hacking, friends arena up lane etc.
If I was working FT then I'd not move to my yard unless there were services or I only wanted to ride on non work days.
I rarely get to use friends arena (decent surface 20 x 40) tho offer is open at any time, as by the time am tacked up etc, I'd rather hack out instead, or I'm boxing up to go to bigger/better arena's often to meet others in a clinic.
I'm happy with my own company much of the time, are you?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I wouldn't move I would look for something else it actually sounds worse than where you are currently.

 

[Widgeon]

Could you pay someone to exercise your horse where you currently are, so the horse has 4 days a week ridden?

Even before reading all the other responses, this was my first thought too. I wouldn't want to lose the turn out / bring in support at the current place, particularly with a challenging new job. I'd enlist some paid riding help and take the pressure off yourself a bit (assuming you can afford it reasonably comfortably).

 

[Squeak]

Agree with the others saying don't move to that yard or at this time of year. Guessing there's no chance that there might be more flexibility with the new job than anticipated and you could squeeze in an extra day of riding?

 

[GSD Woman]

Just the lack of water at the new yard would make it a hard no for me.

 

[DabDab]

Personally I wouldn't be interested in the new yard either. No arena is manageable, but there is nothing on this earth that could induce me to keep my horses (or any other livestock) somewhere without water.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Would your current yard owner make an exception considering your hours? That might be a possibility. You sound like you need/like the option of assistance so new yard would be a no no if your going to stretch yourself too thin, you could end up weary from overworking yourself. Unless you pay someone to help you on your longer days? ?

 

[Ali27]

Having no water is not easy!
I’ve got my own field with stables but no mains water! Before stables were built, I had a towable water bowser which I took home to fill (5 mins away). I now have IBCs attached to guttering and we did have a borehole installed in the Summer as I would have run out completely during the hot summer. No electricity either so everything done by headtorch although hopefully installing solar light/ power system soon.
I use arena next door but pay £10 per use so only use once a week. In Winter, I manage to ride 4 times a week as don’t work Mondays. I love being on my own but occasionally it does get a little lonely.
I personally wouldn’t move to a place without water unless it was your own and you could get mains/ borehole installed!