Have I made a mistake

J

jenmac_85

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Last week I moved to a yard that is 10 minutes walk from my house. The previous yard had everything you could wish for, but was a 20 minute drive plus £85 a week full livery. The new yard is £55 a week full livery and less petrol.

However I am starting to wonder if I was a bit hasty. The horses get around 2 hours turnout over the winter during the day, possibly slightly less than that. The stables are smaller than my last yard but big enough for a horse.

I started to feell very claustrophobic in it tonight, although it is a lovely yard and the YO is very flexible.

I feel so bad as I was excited and confident I was making the right move, but now I am starting to wonder. The horse has settled in so well, but I am hoping he is still as happy in the middle of winter.
 
If he's being ridden most days as well as the (limited) turnout he should be fine.
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If your horse is happy I wouldn't worry. Smaller stables can be more cosy, can be cheaper on bedding or matting and as long as they can turn around they will adapt to pretty much anything.
Sounds like you have a much better deal.
 
I wouldn't worry. You'll see more of your horse & have more money each week to spend on him (or heaven forbid, yourself!!)

Horses can just as easily get cast in large stables as they can small ones.

Give it at least a month and see how you feel, then you can really decide whether you've made the right decision.
 
I think everyone goes through this "doubting stage" in everything they do. I know I did when I moved yards. I had been on a yard for 8 years. Handy, cheap, near show, large stables, individual fields etc etc. But moved as I needed something extra for my horse. Within the first two weeks my horse rolled over into the electric fencing, paniced (obviously) and ended up lame and with a massive punture wound, then we started to turn out and I did it very slowly with only an hour each day and gradually extending it. But then she got really bad colic. /It took my horse ages to settle. She became bolshy, a cow and I hated her. Now 6 months down the line I love it. Horse has really settled and is the nicest she has ever been and even backed her. Lovely people on the yard who will do anything for you. A fab YO and moved to a bigger and better stable. As I mentioned I think this doubting is human nature. Leaving a job = have a I done the right thing, dumping a boyfriend - what if he was the one. Buying a very expensive pair of shoes - will I have anything to go with them. Just give it a bit of time and if you still feel like this 6 months down the line then have a rethink. Sure you will be fine though.
 
the first coupld of weeks in a new yard always feel strange. just think about all the time you can now spend with you horse. if it doesn't work out and you feel the same in a few months theres nothing to stop you moving
 
Give yourself some time hun - it will take time to adjust to the different atmosphere and routines.

However 2 hours turn out is not a lot - C gets about 6 - 8 in the winter and even then I'd like more TBH.

Can you ask for him to be turned loose in the school for an extra hour? While turn out at my yard can be limited, last year there was only 4 or 5 days when they were kept in and on those days we were allowed to turn them out in the school and we're also looking at converting the hay barn into hard standing - not a big space but lets them stretch their legs.

Has T ever been stabled for that length of time before? Time will tell how he adjusts to it - some horses are fine with it as long as they have plenty of hay and other horses around them.

Give it some time and see - could you also speak to your old yard and possibly reserve a stable for a month so that if you do want to go back you're quaranteed a space?
 
Put all the money you'll save into a jar for a couple of months and buy something nice. As the evenings draw in the advantages of being closer will soon become obvious. 2 hours turnout may not be ideal but when the weathers shite where would your horse rather be. If he seems settled and happy, be led by him, give it a winter before doing anything rash - it may be the best move you could make.
 
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