Final time I post about this – moving yards? Help!!! (Long!)

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jimbojones

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Firstly, I’m sorry that I’ve posted about this so much but it’s such a hard decision to make!

I have been considering moving yards since about August – at one point I had decided to move and then I panicked and changed my mind. I decided again a couple of weeks ago that I wanted to move but the yard that I wanted to move to sadly no longer had spaces so I’d put my name down on the waiting list and prepared myself to stay at my yard for another few months.

Then, almost accidentally, I found out about another yard which is just opening and sounds as though it’s going to be excellent when it’s all up and running although for the next few months it will be pretty basic.

I’ve spoken to the owner of this new yard, asked every question I could think off and so far it sound like it will be perfect. I drove past it at the weekend and the location is fab – lots of forestry, quiet hacking on little country lanes etc.

I’m going to see the yard this weekend and will then be in a better position to decide.

In some of my previous posts I’ve listed the pro’s and con’s of both yards but I think it’s difficult not to be biased towards the new yard as I don’t have any gripes with that place simply because I’ve never been there! I also think that sometimes I blow things out of proportion and make those small, niggly things seem bigger and more intolerable than they actually are!

So, this is where I need your help!

I've listed the basic details of each yard - all fact, no opinion from me to keep it fair! So which one would you prefer?

It would help me to see what others think is really important and make a more informed choice rather than leaving for a very stupid reason that I’ll one day regret!!


Current yard:

24/7 summer turn out,
5 - 6 hours a day winter turn out,
14x14 internal stables,
Small indoor school,
Floodlit outdoor school,
13 acres of grazing although its quite wet and boggy,
Sheepwire and barbed wire fencing,
Good summer hacking but poor winter hacking - quite busy roads!

New yard -
24/7 summer turn out,
9 - 12 hours winter turn out,
12x12 internal stables,
no sand arena but floodlit grass school, possible use of floodlit outdoor at neighbouring farm and 40x70 school planned.
11 acres of grazing - fields quite hilly but much drier by the looks of things,
Post & rail fencing and electric fencing
Excellent all yard round hacking & quite roads,
Wash bay with hot water and heat lamps.
 
Has to be the new yard for me, longer turn out in the winter would probably swing it on its own but also excellent hacking all year round would help as well.

Hope it is as good as it sounds when you visit.
 
New yard for me also.

Plus sides, longer turnout, post and rail fencing (safer) also hacking quiet roads which ok isnt a sand school but you can still ride if the grass shcool isnt an option. Plus if you could get use of the school at neighbours farm that would be a bonus.

Go and see it and fingers crossed it will be as good as it sounds.
 
Would have to be the new yard for me as well -

No barbed wire
grin.gif

Longer turn out - although your existing yard has good winter turnout.
Hillier ground - so able to get out of the mud

Only thing your current yard has better is the sand school and larger boxes - but to be honest the barbed wire and sheep fencing would leave me running for the hills anyway
 
If it was me I would certainly prefer the second one. There doesn't seem to be much difference on the turnout times/hours and although there is 2 acres less grazing at the second yard the fact that they may be drier speaks volumes.
My last yard had two fields that got very wet. The winter one was hilly but had an area that got flooded at the top, also the gate got very muddy too. The summer field was a bit of a joke. Loads of buttercups and the field was strip grazed as the grass was very long in places. We were also delayed in being able to turn out in the said field as part of it had been under water. In fact even in the height of summer part of the field that the horses were not on was still boggy and there was a pool at the bottom of the field. Wet and boggy fields are not very good in my opinion. The mud creates havoc with legs, ie mud fever or slips, twists and sprains on joints etc. It is also a breeding ground for midges so if you have a horse that suffers in the slightest with sweet itch then it causes loads of problems. My big lad does and I had forgotten his owner had said he did because at my first yard he didn't suffer with it at all. It was only after moving to a place that had wet fields that he suffered.
I did like the hilly winter field though because it helped to build both mine up and they toned up as a result especially around the shoulders.
I would miss the indoor school to some degree though from the first yard you mention though if I did use it a lot as it does offer schooling and riding away from the elements. It does depend on what you use the school for though and what you and your horse do.
However if the second yard does have a school and there is the potential to use a neighbour's and a further one is planned then I cannot see a problem.
The post and rail fencing and electric fencing is far better than wire anyday. I don't like barbed wire fencing. It can rip rugs and can injure horses and livestock and if it gets damaged in any way then unless it is repaired properly it can wreak havoc.
The wash bay with hot water and heat lamps is a gem. How many yards can boast hot water like that. At my first we couldn't even use a hose and at the second it was cold only and a kettle to get warm water. At my present yard it is cold and there is access to a kettle etc, but there are also heat lamps as well so it can make the drying process so much more quicker.
Again it all depends on how often you would use the facilities. But I would much rather have those to hand and not use them very often than to not have them at all, if you follow me.
So far as the hacking is concerned and this is the major plus for me. If the second yard has quiet roads and excellent all year round hacking then that would be enough to sway me. That said I do prefer hacking than schooling though and I don't like busy roads and traffic to be honest.
If it was me in your position I would most definitely give it a go
smile.gif

Caz
 
The second sounds much better, but you may think i am throwing a spanner in the works, but how much of the work that needs doing has been done?
I am only asking as I have had two experiences of 'new' yards telling me what they are going to do. I have moved to them, then to my cost found out very little has been done, and I am left with basic facilites and empty promises and unable to work my horses.
I am now at a yard that has everytning I need, but it was all insitu before I moved there. I really wouldn't move anywhere again based on promises.
 
im not sure where you are so it might not be but is the second yard highfields? wellingtons newest yard? if it is pm me ,
 
Mez - no it's neither of these yards (I'm in Scotland)

Bennsboy - spanners are welcome
laugh.gif
. I need to be realistic and not get carried away with everything. I moved to my current yard last December and they only had the small indoor but I was told the outdoor would be ready by January - it was June before it was finished and although it was a bit of a pain I more than managed to keep my boy fit although it was very frustrating at the time as the date just kept getting moved back again and again!

I have spoken at length with the new Y/M - she has just bough the place and apparently has big plans and the money to do everything she wants.

TBH, all I'd need is a 20 x40 outdoor school as with the hacking available I probably wouldn't school that much.

Also, the manager competes a quite a high level so is emphasised that she personally needs good facilities and therefore the school is essential and not a nice to have.
 
I would probably choose the new yard - no more ripped rugs, (or worse) on the barbed wire, more turnout in winter and better hacking.
The thing that would make me decide though would be the people. You can have the best facilities in the world but if the YO or the other liveries are a pain then you could end up being miserable.
I think you'll know when the time comes what the right decision will be.
Good luck!
 
Yes the fencing is a worry - they made some attempt to electrify it and then kind of gave up!

I have several ripped rugs and pulled shoes as a result which is annoying!

Have just found out that the horses have been kept in today (it's wet but not cold or windy) - this is another issue - they do get kept in over winter more that I'd like and it feels like lazyness rather than doing it for the horses - this means more hay and straw costs for me! It also means I HAVE to exercise him tonight as well as cleaning out a manky stable!!
frown.gif
 
It would depend what your personal circumstances are in the winter. If you can do lots of hacking (and this is your preferred activity) then definitely the new yard. If you work and can only ride in daylight at weekends then I would be tempted to stay at current yard at least until the new one is up and running, as you have access to a floodlit school on site.

Although post and rails are preferable as long as the wire fencing is in good repair then your horse should be ok.
 
I was mid first response when you posted about the turnout.

I can imagine that not allowing turnout could be very irritating and I would discuss this with the current yard, along the lines of "you are concerned that they already restrict turnout hours in the winter, but could they let you know if they are going to be regularly stopping turnout due to inclement weather, as if so you may need to think about looking for alternate livery facilities as this is very important to you".

It might be worth asking why they cancelled turnout today, as our yard tends to restrict more in high wind than in rain due to the horses tending to be more prone to whizzing round and breaking fences when it is windy, which thereby causes more damage to both field and horses than mere rain !
 
Lizzie66 - I work Mon - Fri all day however Y/O also works all day and has a fizzy TB to exercise so she is promising a lit schooling area by mid December but there may already be a floodlit school available for our sole use a few minutes walk away so although initially I may have to just work him at weekends I don't mind as much as he will be out in the field for so much longer.

With regards to the turn out at my current yard - I am often amazed when the horses are kept in as to me, yes although it is horrid it's still find for them to go out even for a few hours and I have this real thing about horses being kept in - this is the 5th time since September!!
 
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