Getting local knowledge??

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Zebadee_1995

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30 December 2014
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Hey!
I am moving come July/August time to a completely new area. I don't have my own horse.
However I lack confidence with people and large yards. Due to yard bullies at a yard where I previously loaned a pony which caused me to give up the horse as he couldn't move yards.
I am curious what is the best way to gain local knowledge of yards and gain new friends.
I am thinking the best way to do it would be to look for a share horse for perhaps a year or so because I know nothing and no-one horse wise where I moving to.
I am wondering how others have settled into new areas.
 
I rode for a few years in my area and joining one of the local riding clubs has been a revelations in lovely horsey friends, outings (horsey and not horsey). Most of them have facebook pages so you could introduce yourself and get to know people on their first too :)

Are you moving away from North Yorkshire? (or if not where are you going)
 
Yes I am moving from North Yorkshire to Dorset, I feel there isn't a lot of opportunity job wise for me here so I am going to move in with my mum as she lives near Bournemouth.
It is scary, I don't know how a northerner will be accepted in the southern horse world. :D

I do feel finding a steady loan horse/pony will be the best way to go, to build up confidence after not riding for a while and just have some fun. Then maybe buy my own in a year or 2.
 
Why not post on the appropriate regional board...I guess it would be the south west one.....ask there about best places to get into thr horsey scene...I'm planning on moving to Devon/Cornwall border and asked about best riding areas and got some lovely and helpful replies...good luck.
 
A young girl moved near to where I live a couple of years ago. She was totally unfamiliar with the area. She spotted me out riding and stopped me for a chat. I introduced her to local rides and things like tack shops. We are not firm friends as there is a huge age gap but we still hack out. She is going to play escort to me and my youngster once he gets through his latest naughty patch.
 
Ideally find a share that the owner will let you take to a local RC - that would be the quickest way to do it! Also I find volunteering as a helper / committee member for your RC will get you a lot of knowledge very quickly.
 
Thanks and Sukistokes2 that was a lucky girl to run into you :)
Probably a silly question but what is involved with RC. I did a small amount of PC with an old pony but never any RC experience..
I will look into the local RC though.
 
Another to encourage you to get involved with a local Riding club. FB pages will give an idea, but clubs do vary, so a phone call first to ask if they would like help setting up/stewarding/making teas at their next event will give you an idea of how welcome you will be, but really non-owner/competitors are gold dust! Good luck with the move, :)
 
Find local tack shops to where you are/hope to go and ask them, preferably when there are no other clients in case they feel they must give a slightly false answer!!
 
Volunteer at your local RDA group, you will find lots of friendly people there who will introduce you to other stuff in the area. Just watch out for getting roped in to every local show :D
 
You need to go on www.nfed.co.uk. It stands for New Forest Equine Directory and covers all around the area you're going to. It has ads as well as all the local events. I've seen people advertising for riding buddies on there before.

Agree with above post about joining the local RDA group. That's how I made horsey friends where I am now.
 
Where in relation to Bournemouth does your Mum live? Town centre, north, east or west? (There being no south, except for the sea) This would help us point you in the right direction.
Do you have your own transport? Essential for just about everything outside of the town imo.
Bournemouth, as you know, is a tourist area so welcomes millions of people each year, so no probs with Yorkshire emigrants, but you may notice a certain reserve whilst people get to know you and how you tick. Just remember its got nothing to do with you personally, its just them taking time to adjust.
 
She lives in like east Christchurch not far from New Milton, I have done a little research and there seems to be quite a few horsey places within biking distance or a short car ride. I don't drive but my mum does. I plan on taking my test asap when I get down there, another reason why I would like to loan for a while first. So she doesn't live in Bournemouth centre which would make anything without my own car near impossible.
I don't know if anything will work out but I'm not giving up.
 
Yes, New Milton does have options as others have said. Tack shops are few and far between these days, thanks to online shopping but Scats is still around on the outskirts of Lymington and has tack, feed and a very small noticeboard.
 
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