Does anybody...........?

J

jacksmum

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Am sick to death of the bitchiness and back biting politics on yards! Have just moved due to the bitchiness between liveries and new yard is as bad! Have just been offered a lovely field with stables but there is no school
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so my question is does anybody manage with a grass paddock to school on (seperate to horse field) or is it a no hoper? Need to decide by weekend, cheers guys
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I thought I would manage with flat grass paddock to exercise but my horses seem to get bored or take the piss when I school them in their field! I miss the use of an on site menage!
 
I school and jump on a field, there isn't much difference. Main points are, you have to check the grounds not to hard/boggy. Make sure that its not slippery if it's rained! Make sure the field you'd be using is well drained. Other than that i don't really see much difference
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Also make sure what the field has been used for in the past. We have a decent sized padock for riding - only the farmer has used it for donkeys years to have bonfires on and I keep finding nails and broken glass so don't ride on it
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Never had a school - would like one have sloping field so not great for schooling but can jump on it - only diff is horses tend to be giddier in their own field! Fortunately I can pay to use a school at a yard just opposite. £5 for half an hour rate but i only tend to use that if an event is coming up to refresh my horse's mind!
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I've been in the situation of only having a field, at the time is was absolutly fine for me as in the winter BSJA was in hacking distance and I used the one there. But now having a floodlit all weather I could never go back.
I spose its what you're use to and whether dressage/jumping are your No 1 priority.
 
I would say it depends on the ground. We are on clay so there are about 4 weeks a year when it's fit to ride on otherwise depending on the weather it looks like the Somme or has as much give as concrete.
 
It's perfectly fine to school with no arena. However I found it really difficult this winter because of the risk of ruining the ground and the slippiness of the mud, and now I am finding it difficult because Berlin is full of himself and I have never been confident on grass, hence I can't persuade myself to ride properly in a field! We are however getting a school put in this summer, and Berlin will be in for a shock because I ride much better with a surface underfoot. It's all psychological on my part though, it wouldn't be an issue if I was less of a wuss!
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If you're happier avoiding yard politics then it's worth the compromise. I've just left a yard with fantastic facilities (menage, indoor school plus sandschool), and while I miss the facilities I have far far better hacking, and share the yard with my mother and sister and so avoid the yard politics. Of course there is the family in-fighting....
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We now have to school in the field as well, and you get used to it. :
 
I've just moved on to my own bit of rented land (more for financial reasons than politics) and so far *fingers crossed* loving it!

I'm learning to cope without stables/yard rather than a school but it is worth the hassle. I have a trailer so can get out and about easily enough and I'm really just a happy hacker.

I would say go for it - I'm so glad I made the move and you could always move back to a yard if it doesn't work out.

Good luck
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Intresting replies, thanks guys. I do love my school
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BUT the thought of being my own boss is very tempting. Still a bit fuzzled bout it
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Have never had horses on a yard, and don't have a school at home, but have never struggled with it! But I'm now going to start taking my horse once or twice a week to the school thats about 10 mins away...it does make a difference, but not a big one! TBH not having the bitchiness is TOTALly worth not having a school...at first it won't be easy, but you and your horses imo will be much happier
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