Finally had it with my yard

[Penny Less]

Have decided I dont want to be on a yard anymore, but its so hard to find a little place to rent just for me. There seem to be bigger yards but then I would have to rent out and Ive had enough of other liveries! Just need 3 stables and storage, (grazing of course)not much to ask is it. Think I need to spend a week or two touring round the countryside peering over peoples hedges to see what I can find !

 

[ThePony]

That is my dream too, am terminally antisocial so a lovely little yard with a couple of fields would be so perfect! Seem to be tricky to find though. Have you found a good place to look for ads for them?
Good luck living the dream!

 

[spotty_pony]

Whereabouts are you from? Have you looked on Preloved? A lot of private yards are advertised on there.

 

[Penny Less]

I look in the horse shops and Horsemart etc. but sometimes I think people dont know they want to rent out a small yard until you actually go up and ask them, its finding them in the first place ! I have thought maybe finding out about parish magazines and advertising in there.

 

[MosMum]

I hope you find the perfect place- I didn't realize how lucky I am 'til now. My horse was the only 'livestock' (Land owner has a couple dogs) on 10 acres, fenced as 4 fields with 8 stables and a paddock (no school though). Then I borrowed neighbor's filly to keep Mo company, and now one other woman has put her gelding up there but she's an older woman, quiet and up there every day to check her horse. The three horses have made a happy little herd, the LO keeps to herself apart from occasionally feeding the horses an apple or carrot and the surrounding countryside will be perfect for hacking out once Mo is backed.

I'm sure there are other places like this, hope you find yours x

 

[jasmine123]

try your local council they normally have land for rent!, where are you as i know one or two places.

 

[Hippona]

Keep looking- you will find something.
I've got exactly what you describe- only 200m from my house. Would not go back to livery now unless I was desperate....even though I have no leccy and have to make do with a head torch- the pro's far outweight the cons.

Good luck

 

[Llewellyn]

Try the church, mum used to rent land off them they just had a random field was good because the vicar used to let me go to church in Jods so I could go straight out to do my ponies on Sundays and Thursdays (evensong) (I was little)
Also a couple of local farmers had small fields that weren't used. But mum spoke to/cornered them in church!

 

[siennamum]

Google earth is useful for spotting unused arenas and stable blocks. I know of a few locally (such a waste) then you just have to pluck up the courage to go and knock on a few doors. It's also worth ringing local farmers and seeing if they would entertain a few horses.

 

[Chestnut mare]

There was a yard advertised in Borden on the notice board at the shop down park road! Not all yards are bad my yard in stockbury is lovely only couple of liveries and the owners horses! We have spaces if you are interested. Maybe you'd be happier somewhere else? Don't forget if you are on your own you will have no help if you are sick or on holiday and will be very lonely not having anyone around (I would anyway ).

 

[Penny Less]

Chestnutmare, someone has taken that I think. Ad disappeared. Also if its where i think it is there is a public foot path running by and a friend who had horses near there had local kids jumping over the fence trying to ride her horses !I have thought about help if Im away etc. so am looking for somewhere in a quite close horsey area. I know the exact place I would like but its not for rent ! Fed up with yard politics now. Google earth is a great idea !

 

[Penny Less]

Chestnutmare, out of interest which bit of Stockbury are you in, the Hartlip side or Oad Street side? Need good quiet hacking area

 

[Slightly Foxed]

Dunno if this is anywhere near you http://www.preloved.co.uk/fuseaction-adverts.showadvert/index-1033214212/83030361.html

 

[CeeBee]

I can't ever imagine going back to a yard after being on my own. Like others have said, my facilities are limited and I live in a head torch in the winter, but (although rented) it's mine, all mine! No bitchiness, no 'helpful' advice, no feeling you need to follow the current trend/fashion, have the latest gadgets etc.!
And hope I don't get smacked for advertising, but I saw a leaflet for Kirsty's Horses professional horse sitting service in my local tack shop so decided to give it a try and I'm really impressed. I met the lady who does my area and she is lovely, so now I don't have to worry if I'm going away etc., I just give her a ring and problem solved. And not expensive either.

 

[Feathered]

I too would hate to have to go back to a yard or even sharing after time on our own.
I started out on a livery yard then downscaled to a small private yard then sharing a field and now we have a own field and it is soooo much better.

Even just sharing a field theres all the things like when do we move the horses round, sorting out poo picking rotas (and sticking to them!) people wanting to feed at differents times etc. Being able to just feed your own horses when you want to, move the grazing, and most of all just be able to stand in the field and scratch your own horses at your leisure, you can't beat it.
The only downside is it's always my turn to do the poo picking! But then OH and my mum will help out if needs be.

We had been looking for a field in all the usual ways, searching online, local paper and horse mags etc The best way we found though was just being out and about in the lanes, my mum is an avid cyclist so is always out and about spotting signs people had put out, grazing etc. We saw a couple that weren't suitable then one day she spotted a for sale sign up on a 3 acre field and we never looked back!

Of course buying might not be possible for everyone but if you get a loan or mortgage for the money hopefully you'd only be spending what you would have been putting down for livery anyway only now it's towards your land rather than just going in someone elses pocket.

Sorry for rambling on!