Going back to a yard?

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poiuytrewq

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I'm seriously wondering about moving back to livery.
I keep my horses at home. 2 horses, 2 ponies. I ride almost solely with my neighbour. for the past few years this has kind of worked, especially when I had a horse happy to go out alone as she doesn't ride in cold, wind, rain etc so Its a lot of time out over winter. Neighbour doesnt ride alone and I was reliant on her a few years bck with one that was awful alone so I do feel obligated to ride with her when she wasnts too.
New mare (6/7 mths) was doing great. We started going out with neighbour and she had started hacking out alone round the village and quieter areas. Then for one reason and another we havent really ridden since the end of October/November time regularly. Mare really annoyingly had a scare from a very fast car on a narrow road and that set her back. Friends horse and her are not really compatible at all and I'm finding the whole thing quite hard going, She is fast, forward, really likes to walk out well, but can be reactive and a little nappy. Friends is slow, never really seems to be going forward properly, He's looking and snorting at everything but a mile behind us, so I find I'm constantly having to hold back for them to catch up which isnt ideal with a horse who I want to encourage and keep going forward past things she finds scary. It also means she's on her own passing anything as he has completely backed off. So alone or with the very rare other horse we have gone with she will pass stuff but I think when he starts stopping or dropping even further behind it confirms danger so isn't ideal or conductive to gaining hacking confidence for her.
Now they have not been ridden in a while regularly coupled with the fact she became a bit nervous about traffic means I'm not wanting to put her in the position of being alone on the road until I have rebuilt that bit of confidence, this I'm certain will not be a problem but equally I don't want to rush her and scare her further.

So i wondered if I could come to some sort of deal with a friend who runs a yard, its full livery really but I help out a bit and she's in need of staff. I wondered if I said something like I'd muck out "x" stables each morning in return for a DIY box - I can provide my own hay, bedding and feed etc. No idea if she would go for that but it would give me a school, lunge area and the options of several people hacking out daily in what ever weather. So I feel like I'd be able to actually get on with things and start properly with her. If someone came along wanting to pay full price for the box of course I'd have to come back home.

However, she has moved from Pre training to a racing yard back to pre training then here to me, Had a load of dental work carried out and then lost her friend who she had become quite attached too, got palled up with another horse which went well but he's been on box rest so can't go out with her at the moment. This must have all been quite a lot for her to deal with and she seems really quite happy and settled at the moment so I am very wary of more upheavel not being good for her.


Due to the fact my other horse is on box rest she is spending most of her day stood eating hay in the turnout pen next to him. She has the option of going out to the field (open gate so entirely her choice) but rarely is. I put one of the ponies with her but they both seem to just want to stay with the other stabled 2.

At livery she would only get a few hours T/O a day and not every day. Now this would be a no from me usually as mine are turned out a lot, however a few hours solidly out is more than she is choosing now (but that's not forever)
I was told when I got her she gets upset being stabled too much so this is holding me back.

I suppose the alternative is to sit tight and ride when I can, do a bit of ground work in the mean time, a break isnt hurting her (just makes her nuts to get back on!) and as soon as the twinkle s out of her toes and she's back "in work" crack on with the lone hacking and just dont stop!

Sorry its all a bit waffly and rambled amd just an idea going round in my head. I'm not sure if its a bonus for me or her or either ot neither!
 
Would this mean you have horses in 3 different places? Sorry I seem to remember you had a couple in a field away from home. How would this work logistically for you?

I'd be tempted to go for your plan B and give her (and you) a bit of time off and then crack on when the weather is kinder. I'm itching to get back on my 2 but I'm hanging on for a few more weeks until I know I can be more consistent when the lighter nights and (hopefully) calmer weather is here.
 
poiuytrewq said:
Two, There were two somewhere alse yes but lost one and the other is the box rester. He will stay here now.
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In that case it depends how much of a hard core/ride in every weather kind of person you are. We've got constant rain forecast for at least the next 2 weeks - I won't be doing anything more than keeping mine alive in that sort of weather.
 
Even with lots of riding buddies and and hard core riders this time of year is a challenge to ride. I would keep her at home take the pressure off yourself. Have a good chat with the neighbour about how difficult you find holding her back is and see if you can come up with a solution that suits everyone. Maybe some in hand work or long reining or do some agility or other binding training to get her more confident. Best of luck.
 
All good points.
I’m not hard core no, but I do work mainly from home and totally to my own hours give or take a bit, so most days there is a dry spell at some point. A day or torrential rain and strong wind would be a day off.
I don’t think there is a solution to the speed difference. She did go through a period of really nagging at him but he is just a backward horse.
I see everyone at said yard chucking on their waterproofs and going out hacking when ever I’m there and just feel a bit depressed.
If I didn’t worry more disruptions and about the turn out I’d be there like a shot.
I’ve never really liked being alone here. I miss the social side of things, when I was at a yard we just did ride every day whatever the weather and because it was all a pre arranged thing there was no backing out. Then we had a coffee to warm up. I miss that so much!
 
Plan C. Lots of yards in beautiful places and great hacking do holiday livery. Find yards that will let you come for a week or two. You may even find one you like that will do hacking schooling, ie they ride out with you, but on your terms!
 
2ndtimearound said:
Given that you can easily just return her to being at home if it doesn't work out, why not just give it a try for a few months?
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I just worry that would be even more upheavel, that's a lot of moves then in the space of several months. I need a crystal ball to see how/if it works before doing it! ;)

canteron said:
Plan C. Lots of yards in beautiful places and great hacking do holiday livery. Find yards that will let you come for a week or two. You may even find one you like that will do hacking schooling, ie they ride out with you, but on your terms!
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Don't think my budget would allow that! She also really needs to chill and be grounded. I want her to know "home" and feel safe and chilled there long term. Sounds lovely though- somehting to consider when she's more established perhaps.

Highmileagecob said:
Is the new yard within hacking distance? Could you hire facilities for a schooling session, then hack home? Your set up around turn out sounds better for her.
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Yes, we ride past fairly regularly. I'm sure I could just use them for free. Owner is a friend and I do a morning at least a week helping out there already. I was covering one of her FT ladies day off. So I'm fairly sure I could just ask to use the school or whatever. The problem at the moment Is I'd just not get her there alone easilly , or It would really take some battling which I don't want to do. She's a keeper not a project. I want to do things slowly and let her enjoy the process rather than over face her.
 
Given that you miss the social side of the yard I would consider taking your mare there. It might well be that it will suit you both and she stays there rather than going back home. Never underestimate the pull of others to keep you riding when the weather isn't too great (too hot/wet/cold/windy...).
 
I would speak to the yard owner to see if its possible. Having others around you helps so much with motivation. Plus you never know whats round the corner with horses, so seems a shame not to make the most of riding if you're happy to in all weathers
 
poiuytrewq said:
All good points.
I’m not hard core no, but I do work mainly from home and totally to my own hours give or take a bit, so most days there is a dry spell at some point. A day or torrential rain and strong wind would be a day off.
I don’t think there is a solution to the speed difference. She did go through a period of really nagging at him but he is just a backward horse.
I see everyone at said yard chucking on their waterproofs and going out hacking when ever I’m there and just feel a bit depressed.
If I didn’t worry more disruptions and about the turn out I’d be there like a shot.
I’ve never really liked being alone here. I miss the social side of things, when I was at a yard we just did ride every day whatever the weather and because it was all a pre arranged thing there was no backing out. Then we had a coffee to warm up. I miss that so much!
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Sounds like you need a solid, reliable nanny to hack with, day in day out, to get past the apprehension about whizzy traffic, and back into a (rather boring, everyday, this is what we do and it’s no big deal) routine for your mare.
Obviously your neighbour’s is quite unsuitable, so maybe politely explain why, and decline.
But could you guarantee such a willing nanny / rider combo at this livery yard? A lot of people don’t ride their horses positively through the winter, and quite possibly have very different ideas on what constitutes a decent hack with a forward going TB.
If you could hack her in reasonable safety to the livery yard, meet whoever for a hack out, then ride her home on a regular basis - that might be less upheaval for you all?
Large / fast vehicles in narrow lanes = nightmare; these days I tend to halt and stand a nervous horse while whatever passes, rather than keep riding it forwards and risk any ‘dithering’ or wiggling about with moving vehicles in a narrow space; maybe lean forwards and post a small treat to distract?
Good luck.
 
It's really tough. I think i know in my heart that she is probably going to be better off here. My other horse won't be on box rest for ever, in fact I *hope me may be allowed to start going out next week, I'm sure decent turnout will also benefit her and how she is to ride and her reactions to things.
I know she goes out into the field as she is always muddy by night time but I never see her out there so its not often or for long. Here, usually they are out every day or night all day or night regardless of any other factors. I know I'm lucky in that respect.
No I can't guarentee the perfect person to hack with but, she doesnt seem to need perfection really, just someone along side or close to her. Last time we did ride with someone from there we, in fact had to give him a lead past a fallen log! I think if the other horse is there and has a not too nervy outlook (-ie isnt snorting along behind us and jerking back at everything) she doesnt even think about being silly. We had a few lorries pass us (in gateways) and she didnt bat an eyelid really.
 
poiuytrewq said:
It's really tough. I think i know in my heart that she is probably going to be better off here. My other horse won't be on box rest for ever, in fact I *hope me may be allowed to start going out next week, I'm sure decent turnout will also benefit her and how she is to ride and her reactions to things.
I know she goes out into the field as she is always muddy by night time but I never see her out there so its not often or for long. Here, usually they are out every day or night all day or night regardless of any other factors. I know I'm lucky in that respect.
No I can't guarentee the perfect person to hack with but, she doesnt seem to need perfection really, just someone along side or close to her. Last time we did ride with someone from there we, in fact had to give him a lead past a fallen log! I think if the other horse is there and has a not too nervy outlook (-ie isnt snorting along behind us and jerking back at everything) she doesnt even think about being silly. We had a few lorries pass us (in gateways) and she didnt bat an eyelid really.
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Well, that sounds far more positive!
If sufficient gateways for confidence between yours and the livery place(!), try striking up a friendship with a suitable buddy on your mornings there, and travel over as often as possible. The exercise is even more likely to settle your mare. Hope the box rest one improves.
 
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