Eeeeek!!! I'm going to be a DIY!!! Am I just being silly??

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Wapsie

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After years of running my own yard I have sadly had to give up - Landlords are eldery and no longer wish to have the upkeep of so much land etc so are selling up. Yards to rent around here are like goldust so I am very begrudgingly giving up and getting a 'proper' job, which pleases the OH immensly and saddens me hugely!

Scariest of all I am moving my horses to a DIY yard close to home.
It worries me! How will I cope not being 'the boss' and having to do as I am told rather than telling others what to do! What if the other liveries are not nice? I have been to the yard twice but only the yard manager has been there......


I am probably just being silly, the yard seems fabulous, very quiet, only 10 horses, great YM etc, butt he thought of it gives me a wobbly lip.....:eek:
 
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Sometimes change is scary to start with - but look on the positive side, you can just turn up and enjoy your horse without all the responsibility!
 
Iv literally just moved my horses from being at home to a livery yard! They were even on full livery for a few weeks until I got moved myself etc! I was so worried beforehand as obviously I used to see them all day, everyday and did everything myself. However, I'm absolutely loving it! Don't get me wrong, I miss popping out in my pjs at night to check on them and give them a carrot but they don't seem to! They're totally settled! Plus I won't miss doing it in the winter!! I actually have time to ride now and don't take them for granted like before. It's also nice being able to plan for holidays and days out, without thinking iv got to get home to do the horses as I know someone will see to them if I can't! They're happier also now as there's other horses, again it's a small, quiet yard but at home, having the two was difficult as they got attached and I always had to bring both in etc or else they'd get very stressed and injure themselves!
I think you'll enjoy it, you get to still spend lots of time seeing your horses but without the hassle of field maintenance, stabling repairs, frozen pipe worries, security issues!
 
You are not being silly, my old YO became a 5/2 semi DIY and it was/is a tough transition. Try to make sure that you are not one of the nightmare ones!!:D:p

It may be very different but it doesn't mean it is wrong and the weirdest thing will be having to let people know about things to do with your horse that only you needed to know before :)
 
Meant to add, i'v chilled out loads too since they're on DIY. I used to worry all the time in the night if the weather was bad, or how many neighbours were going to have fireworks, 5th nov week and new years. There was always problems such as ragwort that needed spraying, poached fields, flooded manège! Now I just pay someone else to take the worry on and enjoy my boys!!
 
I am really looking forward to having quality time with just my horses, I have a very sensitive gelding and I feel we have lost our bond of late, so I am realy hoping just one to one time will get it back.

The yard I am moving to is DIY but the YM will cover when needed so just being able to have a morning or evening off will be a real treat!

I think more than anything finances are worrying me, my yard has always paid for my horses, soon I will have no income - If I knew I had a job to walk in to I would feel more settled. I placed a few 'freeance groom' ads locally and so far have had no response. I plan to hit job agencies etc once the long weekend is over.



I am just being a silly arse - I am pretty sure once I am there I will love it!
 
I too have just moved from having my horses at home, to a DIY yard - been there 3 weeks and wish I did it years ago! It's so lovely not having to worry about paddock maintenance (other than poo-picking!), or security etc...

I love meeting other people at the yard and having others to ride out with, plus having an arena (never had one before) - there is always someone around if I can't for any reason get there, others on the yard will bring him in if I need them too..its great!

You will not regret it, stress-free horses!

Good luck :)
 
I have a very sensitive tb and was worried about moving him and settling him in but he settled immediately! We too seemed to lose our bond, but it's coming back now! I think he took it for granted always seeing me, as I did him when at home. Now, he sees me arrive and comes to the gate and follows me around poo picking! I'm so much happier and they seem to be :)
 
I am a freelance groom and it did take quite a while to get established locally. All my work comes by word of mouth and recommendation. When things were really quiet in the winter months I did 12 weeks working nights in a call centre..

Good luck with being DIY, you will enjoy the free time!
 
Thank you all SOOO much - You have told me exactly what I wanted to hear!

The watcher - Totally agree, I have a few clients, all through word of mouth but not enough to keep me going, I've literally just applied online for weekend nightshifts at M&S! :D
 
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