Having no facilities, how is it?

[Sol]

I'm currently debating myself whether to ask whether I can move my horse, Dante, onto the field I rent for my two ponies. The field has one field shelter & a tap, that's it really.

Dante is currently on livery 7 miles from our home (the pony field is 3 miles away, but I sort them on the way to/from the yard). He's on a sort of 'assisted DIY' thing, but I have to go down twice a day in winter as he has to have his rugs changed, and this isn't included. The yard has a fantastic arena & lots of jumps, which is the main thing I like, but also the stables are good, the fields are ok, he has turnout with 2 buddies who get along with him well and lives out 24/7 in summer. Bedding & haylage are also included in the livery so I don't have to worry about running out which is handy.
The downside is that the prices are going up, not much, but it's going to weigh on us quite a bit. I do like the yard though, it's very quiet & as I say, the arena is fab & Dan is settled.

If I move him to the field, I will save a lot on fuel & livery. I'll also have to do a lot less driving, which will be great, as I'm having problems with feeling very tired & driving takes a fair bit out of me. It will mean I can put more money into improving fencing & things at the field, maybe buy some jumps/poles (which will be great for training my older pony & youngster too) and it will mean that when I take the youngster, Peanut, showing, the other pony, Dimples, can stay home & not be alone. It also means that they can all get to know each other as I hope to have them all at home one day!

However, my main priority is schooling Dante. It's what I enjoy, it's why I have him in a sense. The field is fairly level though it is sort of triangular, with the shelter at the wide end. I am hoping to fence off a decent section at that end, as Peanut is an escape artist, so I can shut the ponies off up there if I want to ride. The field is quite dry (we have had no mud really all winter) and level, though there are a few random trees in it. My main worry is if it gets too hard? I have no transport so chances to box up to an arena will be limited to twice a year or so if I'm lucky One major benefit though would be Dan living out 24/7 - he's had problems before with getting quite a bad cough if in much, especially on hay, I think living out definitely helps him.

It would also mean I would have to buy in more haylage, and probably put up another field shelter, and store all rugs/tack in our tiny flat And then we don't even know if we will stay there long (my boyfriend is at uni, there is a small chance we may end up moving for his placement year).

My mind keeps coming back to the money though, we could save quite a bit, even with making improvements for the ponies which would be nice. It would mean we could put away some savings, I could put more money back into my business, and we could maybe even go out more/not have to eat pasta all the time! I think it would be less stressful too (only one payment going out, only one place to go, everyone in one place!) and if push comes to shove, if I'm not well enough to drive, the field is within reasonable-ish walking distance.

I guess the most scary thought is not having an arena Even when the ponies lived out we used to have the use of one. I'm sure it can't be that bad though? After this winter, I've already decided it will probably be easiest to let Dan fluff up & live like a real horse & not ride for a bit over winter. Does no harm.

Should I go for it? I'm so used to Dan being on livery that the idea of having him 'rough it' is a bit odd! Think I'm just being soft though... or an arena snob!

 

[Copperpot]

I just moved my horse. I was on 7 day livery, had a school, solarium, got wash etc. now he has a huge field, a shelter and a stable if I need it and I do it myself. In loving it and so is he. Tbh I rarely ride in the school so don't miss that. We do have a grass school sectioned off with markers and jumps etc. He's closer to home, I see him more, he lives with my other retired horse and there only other person there is my good friend. He's so much more chilled out too. Plus I save shed loads of cash

 

[horsesatemymoney]

Could you use the money you are saving toward hiring an arena? It won't be too bad in the summer, I suppose you'd just need to take things easy, but how poached does the ground get in winter? I'd give it a go now, coming into spring, but leave on good terms with the yard, so that you could always return

 

[maccachic]

I have only had an arena for about 1 year in my 17 years of owing horses, so long as you have a reasonably flat paddock you can make do really well. I compete in all disiplines and break and train my own and can still win ribbons

An arena would be wonderful but the expense I just couldn't justify maybe win I win the lottery.

Easily done and if it gives you more hours in the day and more $$ for any unexpected occasions then go for it

 

[horsesatemymoney]

I have only had an arena for about 1 year in my 17 years of owing horses, so long as you have a reasonably flat paddock you can make do really well. I compete in all disiplines and break and train my own and can still win ribbons

An arena would be wonderful but the expense I just couldn't justify maybe win I win the lottery.

Easily done and if it gives you more hours in the day and more $$ for any unexpected occasions then go for it

How do you get on with really muddy ground and no lights? Do you not ride in the winter as much? (I'm considering doing the same as OP but am a little worried!)

 

[Sol]

Could you use the money you are saving toward hiring an arena? It won't be too bad in the summer, I suppose you'd just need to take things easy, but how poached does the ground get in winter? I'd give it a go now, coming into spring, but leave on good terms with the yard, so that you could always return

No, box hire = £100 + fuel, and getting my mum down here (1hr drive each way) to drive me. Would work out waaaay more than I was saving! Would be talking near on £200 an outing by the time I'd factored in fuel & arena hire... which if I went once a month would be all the money I was 'saving' gone.

Ground was not at all poached despite the snow (was in the original post I think). Yard owner already knows that I'm thinking of trying Dan out next winter with the other two.

 

[Sol]

I have only had an arena for about 1 year in my 17 years of owing horses, so long as you have a reasonably flat paddock you can make do really well. I compete in all disiplines and break and train my own and can still win ribbons

An arena would be wonderful but the expense I just couldn't justify maybe win I win the lottery.

Easily done and if it gives you more hours in the day and more $$ for any unexpected occasions then go for it

How do you get on with really muddy ground and no lights? Do you not ride in the winter as much? (I'm considering doing the same as OP but am a little worried!)

Lights wouldn't be an issue for me, I'm self employed so can go whenever I like, and even at the livery I'm too tight to pay £1 a time for the lights - I just ride in the dark if needs be We don't really compete (as no transport/money) so I'm not worried about that. I will be hiring a box a couple of times to take the baby showing, but I'm sure by the time we've driven god knows where, we wont want to box Dan out somewhere else!

I didn't ride from Nov-Jan this winter anyway... arena froze in the snow, and my busiest work period is Nov-Jan so I was 'snowed under' with that! Clipped & faffed with rugs for nothing Shropshire has no mud compared to Cheshire anyway so I feel very lucky here - I'm used to having clay all the way up my legs & back in chesh

All sounding good so far though... eep. Will be sad to leave if I do as I do like the person I share our 'block' with & it's a lovely yard. Hmm.

 

[Sol]

I just moved my horse. I was on 7 day livery, had a school, solarium, got wash etc. now he has a huge field, a shelter and a stable if I need it and I do it myself. In loving it and so is he. Tbh I rarely ride in the school so don't miss that. We do have a grass school sectioned off with markers and jumps etc. He's closer to home, I see him more, he lives with my other retired horse and there only other person there is my good friend. He's so much more chilled out too. Plus I save shed loads of cash

This sounds very positive I would be on my own (all 3 are mine), and would have to build another shelter I expect. I school/lunge probably 6 days a week - detest hacking generally! but I think we'd cope. Just have to hope he would be put in his place by Dimps as he can be a bit 'rough' at times. Fine with the big boys keeping him in check but he is silly.

 

[madmav]

Just recently had a marvellous day listening to the gorgeous Mary King who says she always schools in a field as most tests are done on grass at events and doesn't want to confuse horses by suddenly placing them on a new surface. So if it's good enough for her, go for it!

 

[Sol]

Just recently had a marvellous day listening to the gorgeous Mary King who says she always schools in a field as most tests are done on grass at events and doesn't want to confuse horses by suddenly placing them on a new surface. So if it's good enough for her, go for it!

haha, I guess for eventing they usually are. I often feel arenas feel 'sticky' too (not the arena at the yard, just a general thing) which doesn't really happen on grass?

 

[maccachic]

How do you get on with really muddy ground and no lights? Do you not ride in the winter as much? (I'm considering doing the same as OP but am a little worried!)

Never had lights so don't know what I am missing (lucky if my grazing has had power connected over the years) - I get to my paddock by 5pm after work which gives me up to an hour I think in the middle of winter before its too dark - wrap up in reflectors and road ride harder work at weekend but generally in depths of winter my horses and myself get a break.

Paddocks get muddy you just cope with what you have - normally more hacking for me. I find if I get them fit heading into winter a couple rides during the week and harder at the weekend keeps them ticking over sufficiently (I hunted a bit).

By winter I need a break anyway. You get good night vision and I know of people that put lights on their horse and hack out.

 

[Burmilla]

Sounds as if you would manage, generally, in proposed new set up: however, what would you do if you needed hands on help/support if one or more were ill/injured? I use livery to ensure just that, as we are a bit remote. I'm reasonably experienced and knowledgeable, but have been really pleased to have the help and support of YMs, YO's and other liveries when horses have been ill/injured in the past.

 

[tafyx]

I also moved from a lovely yard to field and shelter to save money. its hard in the winter but my horse is chilled I spend loads more time with him and its only ten mins down the road. I school in the field when the ground is okay but its amazing what schooling you can do out hacking. good luck, you will be pleased with how much money saved, to spend on horses but thats not the point!

 

[glamourpuss]

I was on a lovely yard with 2 arenas but I just couldn't afford to have 3 there.
We own a derelict farm (which we are rebuilding) so I've moved them there.
It has been very difficult. My planning permission for stables & arena was delayed by a dodgy architect so we had to cobble together some stables in an open fronted barn - which the horses absolutely adore & I'm now going to try & keep
A problem with a trench has meant I've had no water or electricity. So it's been headtorches & rechargeable lights all round. I've also been lugging containers of water in the back of my car at least twice a day!
I ride every morning about 6am. I have access to an old airfield so I hack & school on there in the dark. We're on clay so this winter my schooling field has been getting very wet....mind you a sharp frost usually makes the going perfect
It's not ideal & a couple of times this winter I've wondered why I bother but I have a good friend who got to 3* without access to a surface in fact manège's are a fairly recent thing & remembering that keeps me going. I always think that at an event if the going is less than perfect at least I will be at an advantage
I hope this theory works we are out at BE the end of March

 

[touchstone]

Lights wouldn't be an issue for me, I'm self employed so can go whenever I like, and even at the livery I'm too tight to pay £1 a time for the lights - I just ride in the dark if needs be We don't really compete (as no transport/money) so I'm not worried about that. I will be hiring a box a couple of times to take the baby showing, but I'm sure by the time we've driven god knows where, we wont want to box Dan out somewhere else!

I didn't ride from Nov-Jan this winter anyway... arena froze in the snow, and my busiest work period is Nov-Jan so I was 'snowed under' with that! Clipped & faffed with rugs for nothing Shropshire has no mud compared to Cheshire anyway so I feel very lucky here - I'm used to having clay all the way up my legs & back in chesh

All sounding good so far though... eep. Will be sad to leave if I do as I do like the person I share our 'block' with & it's a lovely yard. Hmm.

I think you've answered your own question here.

I've done all my schooling, including breaking in, without an arena. I know you say you detest hacking, but you learn to spot a good track for practising leg yielding or shoulder in, gates are great for rein back and turn about/on the forehand etc. Once you spot the potential in your hacking I'll bet you enjoy it more. I know one of the top eventers (can't remember which one!) doesn't have an arena, so it is doable!

 

[Shadrid]

As you've already got two ponies there I expect you've got the basics covered.

However for anyone going down the field only route I would recommend you have some sort of hard standing/grass mats - useful for washing legs, farrier, treating foot ulcers/poulticing and ability to turn field shelter into stable for emergency/dentist etc.

Sounds like you are going to be alot happier with them all in one place as well and a happy unstressed owner is always good for their horses

 

[Spottyappy]

We only have a grass arena,which we used all last winter as was a dry winter. This winter,have not been able to use it since October. We do have two local ones we can hack to,literally ten min. Costs £5 half hour to hire,no lights though. I work part time and my daughter at college 3 days a week,so we generally ride 4 or5 days and try to school while hacking. Can't afford to hire manage too often either,so like many others have backed horses without one!
We have solar lights on the yard which are brilliant,but use head torches for anything else,but you probably already do that!

 

[Molasses]

No arena for us and field is on a slope
But i have excellent hacking so i cope fine in summer and do all my schooling on hacks. In winter i'm a raving lunatic with a headtorch strapped to my forehead wishing i could ride

but hey spring is almost here and i'm getting out already in the mornings before work - hurrah

 

[FfionWinnie]

I have no facilities. I hire an arena once a week and I'm slowly building up my collection of jumps for the summer when we can ride in the field. The fact you can be there in daylight will make all the difference. It sounds like it could work for you.

 

[Rockchick]

I moved my horses from a yard to a private place (only me and owner there) thats closer to home (6 miles each way as opposed to 12) theres good grazing, decent sized paddocks, owner on site, 2 decent stables. I have them on part livery which is full care mon-fri (not exercise) and DIY at weekends, all feed/haylege (or hay)/ bedding is included in the price and is unlimited. This is the same package as the yard i was on but is £25 per horse per week cheaper, so i save on livery as well as fuel.

We dont have an arena or anything although there is always a spare paddock to ride/lunge in if i so wish, however i have use of on 5 mins ride down the lane that i use a couple of times a week (have to ride to it after work including during winter but the road is quiet and very well lit and i have tonnes of reflective stuff) we also have miles and miles of hacking both on and off road (so i can choose ) and there is always someone to ride out with - most of the village have horses lol
The land is well maintained, we have very little mud, running water and my dad has rigged me up a stable light and i have a shed for storage

I was absolutely convinced i wouldnt cope without a yard and all the luxuries that yards bring with them, however I have never been happier, horses are happy and settled and well looked after too. I am pretty much left to get on with it, help is on hand should i need it, as is a cuppa and a biscuit.

 

[Sol]

If I was ill/injured (I was ill pretty much all through Jan... And I do mean quite ill not just sniffly) I would probably just call up a competent person to help out. I've already made some plans for a friend to come & take care of the lot when I'm away later this year if it goes ahead, and push comes to shove my mum is usually happy to help if it's more long term. Also, my boyfriend should soon have his driving liscence so we should by the end of the year have him driving, and he's more than capable of seeing to the ponies if for any reason I'm confined to the flat!
The field is also overlooked by 3 houses (at the 3 corners more or less) so I have less worries about being alone there than at the yard which is very quiet & we are tucked away on our side, so chances of me being noticed if anything happened are quite slim tbh.

We're already planning to put in grass mats & solar lighting for the ponies, though the ground is fine so far. The only thing stopping me from doing this is money!

Perhaps it will get me out hacking more... somehow I doubt it! Though we are opposite an airfield which I know some people hack around, so I could look into that. I don't feel safe hacking, even on sane horses - too many idiots on the roads these days.

Really think I might go for it

 

[Dizzydancer]

Good luck to you.
I am moving my lad come April to a yard 5 mins walk away from home- i need an arena.
Moved him a year ago from yard with good facilities but i miss it so much- we have loads of land at current place but the owner has sheep that she spreads all round so i only had about 2 months last year where i could ride in a field.
I can hire an arena down road for 8 per hour but i miss just nipping up for 10min lunge session or quick ride.
So as now taking horse on full loan i am moving him closer to me- it means i save fuel as will just walk down to him which will make up for the 5 pound increase in livery.

 

[ester]

Its a pita quite frankly! To the point that (and I know this winter has been reallly bad!) my mum has said if I move Frank to Wilts with me she will likely just put hers on livery so she can have a school (I was actually quite surprised at this-we have had them at home for 9 years).

We do try and see an arena once a fortnight in winter.. and then again in summer when the ground is like concrete... adds up though.

 

[NeverSayNever]

it really depends on what you mean by no facilities.

To explain - I do a lot of schooling and keep my mare and a pony at home, with no facilities at all. Ive always managed fine as my field was dry and i had an arena marked - just a rough thing with cones, but I had somewhere to school and a few jumps. Yes there were times it was too wet or frozen, but by the time I was getting hacked off with it, it became ok to ride again and in the meantime I can always hack.

However this winter has been the worse ever and my field is
t-r-a-s-h-e-d There is nowhere dry to school and I was stuck with hacking all the time. I got more and more fed up and my mare's behaviour got more and more irate as she needs that discipline. Ive ended up going to yard until spring as I just couldnt cope. I am loving having a school now whenever I want it and pray my field dries up ok for summer as I will have to bring her home either way.

 

[ester]

yeah, we have always managed well enough previously too, to the point that my lad made his BD debut (at novice) in the winter but the field is no good for that at the moment and the second paddock is going to need some serious rolling before it will be rideable on.

 

[Jingleballs]

I was at my current yard for a year before the arena was put in. I coped well enought - lunging by head torch, hacking, trailering out to hire arenas. Personally though, it's not something I'd do again.

In the winter you end up spending so much time slogging away to look after then and there is no enjoyment as you can't ride due to poor weather/wet fields etc. The idea of trailering out to hire arena's is good in theory but I found it a faff - turns what should be a 1 hour schooling session into a 3 hour struggle by the time you sort tack, pony, load etc.

I know plenty of people who cope find in those circumstances but it isn't for me.

 

[mulberrymill]

Mine are kept as home, and no arena, just an area of field marked out. I have solar lights round it so I can use it for part of the winter. The area itself stays fairly dry, but getting across the muddy field to it makes it impossible at this time of year, so for 3 months of the year I hack when the weather allows it. Most of my schooling is done on hacks anyway.

Hopefully it will be dry enough soon to let us get to it, but if not, I will box to a local indoor school. My lad has lost a lot of top line through lack of work, but has kept his condition well, so once we start back riding 6 times a week, shouldnt take too long to get him back on track. We always coped before the days of arenas everywhere, and due to logistics, not to mention cost, I cant justify building an arena for myself. If I hired the indoor school once a week, every week for 10 years it would still be cheaper than building an arena.

 

[Highlands]

You do have facilities,water. Have shown for 20 years, grey highlands no water so bathing has been water carriers. Really hard.

Never had electric, honestly head torch and battery clippers. Stables yes but mobile ones. We have coped. School we are now lucky enough to borrow one a short hack away.

 

[flow]

I moved my mare this winter from a riding school with two arenas great hacking to a yard with supposable an arena which you could rode in but mo lights. However the surface is useless sp no arena. I moved to one save money And two better turn out. Iv loved the fact that my mare can be out every day however iv not been able to ride her at all no one to hack out with and ground just too wet in a selfish way I wish I stayed at riding school but for her it's better as she is out more. But I know she has itchy feet too. I keep trying to tell myself ark east give it the summer see how we get on but I'm so fed up with no school. It just depends what you like to do with your horse and what is priority. Iv even considered moving her to a yard on a very busy road but still want to hack too.

 

[Dubsie]

We keep daughter's two at home, and I have to say despite a very well drained top field for schooling, this year it's been impossible for best part of 3 months. Hacking out is also impossible after school (very busy urban roads, dogs off leads on bridleways, we truly are the edge of urban not suburbia now - plans afoot for another 600 homes opposite the estate at our end of our road) so we would have been lost without the trailer and pony club/riding club training sessions. We sometimes hire an arena but at £10 per pony per hour it's almost as cheap to do some of the pony club sessions £10-16/hour shared lesson, often indoors, or riding club from £16/hour)

Having said that it's great for the summer, hacking improves as the dogwalkers spread out their time of walk, and the car drivers have to content with more horses and cycles so are a bit more considerate in summer. I think you should at least try it, and save the ££ .