Do I stay or do I go now.

Caol Ila

Caol Ila

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Aren't those the lyrics to a song?

I've whinged on here before and will probably do so again. Until I make a decision. As ever, I'm on the fence about whether to move yards. I'm bored where I am, as I only have one friend to ride with, and I think her being out of town for three weeks has brought it on. The hacking sucks and the outdoor arena is small. The hacking is, in fact, getting worse, as it's on trails in private forestry and no one maintains them or keeps the dirt bikers out. So the trails you could canter four years ago have gotten so rocky and rutted they are walk-only now. My horse would love to go on a good gallop up a trail, but I would love to keep her sound. These are incompatible things.

Then, bring on a couple, gruff snippy comments from the YO yesterday, which is his SOP but hasn't happened to me in a while. It's trivial crap, but it gets to me.

Horse had a lost a shoe, so I arranged with the farrier to meet at yard at 12:30 to get it put back on. I show up at 12:29 to find farrier already there finishing up. He'd shown up early (what farrier does that?) but he seemed happy enough and shoe was on. I ride the horse and have her back in her field by two, and then shoot the breeze for about an hour with another livery I haven't seen in months, but was at the yard that day due to the vet coming out to float her horse's teeth.

YO walks into the barn at ten to 3, as I'm getting ready to leave following my schmoozing session with the other livery. He snaps, "You were lucky [my son, who also works at yard] was there to catch your horse. Farrier was waiting for you."

I showed up at the time the farrier arranged. I have to schlep in 40 minutes, sort out work things, and can't be psychic and know the farrier would (unusually) show up early. But I blew this one off. Whatever.

Then, annoyed my horse was out and probably assuming I had just put her there, he snapped, "Horses are just about to come in." Horses come in at about 3:45/4-ish, but nevermind.

I replied, "My horse has been back out for an hour and I've been catching up with L."

He ignores that. If he'd answered, "Oh, sorry, fair enough," that would be fine. But he didn't, because he doesn't do things like that.

The downside of moving is that every alternative place I have looked at so far as (a) been run by even crazier people or (b) had turnout set-ups that would not suit my neurotic horse. Admittedly, I've not looked that hard. I'm thinking of looking harder. But sometimes, better the devil you know.
 
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Aaah I sympathise, I'm also sat on the fence too. However what is keeping me is all my lovely friends, who I feel particularly attached to as they're some of my only friends since I moved to the area!

I think if you are able to breath and let go the YO comments by the next day and everything else is fine I would stick where you are. Your hacking sounds similar to me, in theory lovely but in practise horrible surface and bikers. It makes hacking for me pretty miserable! The rest of the facilities have disintegrated, I think my stable will flood this year, not great value for money.

Keep looking, I'm going to look at some this weekend to see what sort of vibes I get.
 
That's the other thing. I don't want to leave my lovely friend, but we live on opposite sides of Glasgow and all the yards that look okay (in theory -- looking at websites) that would be a lot closer to me would be impractically far for her. I haven't found any viable place suitable for both of us.

And the third thing, driving almost 60 miles round trip to see my horse puts a ton of miles on the car.
 
I have to agree you were lucky his son was there. Lucky in the true sense of the word, not that you should have been there earlier. If the farrier was early I assume he was happy to wait but he didn't need to as horse was caught in for you and that meant you could ride too. I'd make sure to say thank you to the son and ignore his father - as you say, it's trivial crap so don't let it get to you. This means hacking is the only issue. I'm in a similar situation, in that the hacking in my areas isn't great but that won't change unless we move a 1/2 hour's drive away. As the boys are on DIY, I'd rather have them close by for day to day stuff and then box up at weekends for hacking in nicer places. I think you posted about a lovely hack you had the other day in a country park. Could you do more of that sort of thing or keep an eye out for local fun rides etc?
 
No, wasn't me who posted about the lovely hack in a country park, lol. How I wish! I don't have a trailer, nor even a tow bar on my car. So trailering anywhere isn't going to happen.
 
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I left my last yard for similar reasons and I'm SO glad I did - there will be the right yard out there for you, you just have to look really hard...
 
I moved to a new yard in August and I have to say I am really glad I did but I also hope it is my last ever move for my ponies (we've moved a lot for lots of different reasons).
The mileage alone would be enough to entice me to move to a new yard. I would say maybe have a proper look at what is available as you might find something you think will be perfect for you or you may find there's nothing else out there suitable. Just because you look doesn't mean you have to move.
 
Currently in a similar position. I love my yard but it has gone slowly down hill over the years as the YO has aged less is getting done. The school is now a mess and virtually unsafe to ride in, There is a fair degree of bitching going on with a couple of liveries that are leaving, but the worst bitching is done by the YO so could just be sour grapes. However what's really getting me down now is my horse has got progressively worse to travel to the point now he's finding it really hard to stay upright in the trailer even without partitions. I have the option to move right next door to one of the show venues I use regularly which will enable me to continue competing and the potential new yard has a lovely school and great hacking and current liveries speak really highly of it. I'm so tempted to just move and tbh I really don't know what's stopping me except my horse is happy where he is.
 
The oncoming winter also makes me twitchy. My horse is perfectly happy with her summer turnout, but she hates her winter turnout and come 2pm, she looks at her watch and starts fencewalking until she is a sweaty mess. It's a management thing and I feel there are things that could be done to improve it (give her a field shelter, find her a more sheltered field), but YO won't. The only thing that stops it is someone, who is usually me and sometimes a friend, fetching her two hours before bring-in time. The 60-mile round trip drive isn't much fun on a day when the weather is too pants to ride and the roads suck. Yet the worse the weather, the more imperative it is to bring the horse in. I also can't get there seven days per week, and neither can my friend who helps me out as much as she can. That's why the horse is on full livery. YO won't fetch her early; he'd rather her pace and thinks rescuing her is "pandering." Which it is, I get that, but believe me, she won't stop if you ignore her, and she will end up looking like a rescue case by the end of the winter if the pacing isn't semi-dealt with.

So there is also that.

But as I said, I haven't found a place less crazy, but I have found some that are even more crazy.
 
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I would only do that sort of commute for *perfect* - and it doesn't sound like it is for either you or your horse. However, your challenge is that you haven't found anything better. Do you have enough contacts to get any word of mouth recommendations? Round here the good yards rarely advertise. Good luck.
 
No contacts. I keep meaning to talk to my vet, but he's pretty pally with the YO, and when he was out floating my horse's teeth the other day, YO was about and they were chatting. So I never got a chance!

Anybody know of any good yards with individual turnout within 20 miles in any direction of Glasgow? I'm in the far west side of the city. I've got a list a few near Helensburgh to call but I'm open to suggestions!
 
Its not "pandering" to bring in a horse who really doesn't want to be out.! It just poaches the ground anyway. With that attitude you would SO be better off somewhere else! If you aged not happy, your horse won't be. Its a hell of a commute too, so I am sure there is a yard nearer to you with your name on it!
 
I think Aileen Craig and Trevor Nicholson's place does individual turnout but it's possibly a little far for you?
One of mine is there for schooling just now and he's really settled. Also used them to sell one last year and he was happy as Larry there as well.
 
You're in my area but I think you'd struggle with the individual turnout . Grazing is scarce just now with the weather as it's been . Would be interested to know where you are ? You can Pm me if you want, I know a few out my way towards you more over the milngavie way or have heard of a few over Renfrew side.
 
I would leave - that situation might be tolerable if you were only a short drive away but not for a 60 mile trip!

I think ingliston do individual turn out and you'd have good facilities but there are other limitations to liverying there.

I think you'll struggle to find many places offering individual turnout these days.
 
It sounds like you are just having a few bad days.
Little things getting to you that shouldnt.

If the other yards are worse than why would you move?

Or look properly, research and then weigh up the pros and cons.
 
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