Having where to keep my horse issues... appreciate your opinions

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Hi

Last season I kept my horse at a friend's farm.

The good points:
24hr turnout
use of small menage and xc course
son would turn out for me
friendly terms... go into house for a cuppa etc
reasonably priced

Bad points
My horse regularly came in with big bites even if i asked him to be separated
My dog always gets attacked by theirs
Dogs jump on car
No one to ride and compete with so often on my own when there = a bit boring


So at the huge risk of upsetting what could be lifelong friends I could move him to a competition yard with a good instructor and loads of like minded people

However, they are really strict with turn out times, charge extra for facility use and have liitle or no room to store hay
( I bring in about 15 bales as we make it at home) they would also charge me to store trailer and bring in my horse etc

What would you do??
 
depends on whether the money would be an issue i guess...also the things that upset you could happen again if they have dogs and who knows they might have nibbling horses too. Sorry I just like the sound of the hot tea on a cold morning !!!
 
No livery yard is perfect... the bad points i have at my present yard are similar to yours, noone to ride out with, little turnout (not like you) and scary dogs... however if i went to a big yard again i would find it hard to share the school (used to having choice of 2 to myself), having people 'borrow' my stuff always annoyed me, oh and not individual turnout - my mare isnt very sociable. (and crazy yard owners- my present one is very normal and sane)

anway, my point is, wherever you are there are always going to be faults... its just whether you can honestly say it will be better to risk leaving the devil you know...?!?!

some days i think aaagh i need company... then when the other livery is there (very rare at same time as me) im like noooo... you're in the way! So despite the faults im sticking where i am as i know it and my mare is happy!
 
This is similar to what I am going through at the moment. I have horse who is at a yard where I have been for over 14 years and I am just in process of buying another horse but for a couple of reasons, I dont want the new horse to go to same yard, so she is going down the road to another livery yard. At the present yard the bad things are: Manege is always booked in the morning and I can never get in unless I book 3 weeks in advance, and the manege isn`t very good, bit of rain and it is so boggy. And another reason is the usual livery yard rivalry. Some people are so competitive, it spoils friendships.
New yard has bigger, better manege with seperate bit for jumping, better hacking, etc, but present yard I love the owners as I have known them for years and they are like family.
So I am keeping the horses at seperate yards to see which one I prefer. It will be bl00dy hard work but it will hopefully all be worth it in the end.
In your situation, I would be inclined to be with others (as long as friendly), but better facilities is a big good side, but the downside is the limited turnout as I like turnout every day, summer and winter. Good luck with what you decide.
 
I keep my horse at a friend's farm where there is just my horse and her's. We have no facilities except good hacking and often I'm the only one riding as she only hacks out occasionally. I have thought about going up the road to a big livery yard with loads of facilities but then again I love the fact that my friend's house is like a second home, can go in for a cuppa, she will do my horse on days I can't and vice versa.
I wouldn't want to give all that up, especially since I have read about some of the problems people on this forum have at livery yards!!
 
colwyn bay.......... but used to live in rhosneigr
grin.gif
 
i'm in Dwyran. stables in newborough (2 12x12 + feed/tack room) not sure if thats too far for you but your more than welcome to have a look and see what you think. be nice to have some company.
 
Hiya
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As someone said, no yard is perfect (I would love a menage
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) but I personally prefer a quieter/friendly place.

However, new place does sound better for your competing etc. Is there anything to can say/do to improve things at friend's place?

Is LV off the cards now?

C xx
 
In all honesty I'd probably stay where you are...
You probably wouldn't be able to take your dog onto the new yard - you're lucky to be able to take your dog onto the farm.
Kate x
 
I think stay - better the devil you know and all those silly quotes

The grass isn't greener on the other side

Out of the frying pan into the fire....

NO seriously, you move, pay more and then, there'll perhaps be a devil tyrant neighbouring-box woman, or some horrid dog, or people nick your stuff, you seem to be on to a relatively good thing now.
 
good god, swings and roundabouts!!

I personally have been around (in terms of horses & livery!)

There are times when i crave for the competition yard to spur me on with my horse etc... the professionalism, the facilities the company, but lets face it: other horses bite, most horses don't like being on their own in a paddock, there is generally always one person who rubs you up the wrong way, i have always found myself yearning for the simple life. I am now at my partners farm, no school, no one else, company is coming for my horse on sunday in the form of a little rescue pony. Far better the devil you know (in this case myself!!)

The point i am trying to make is that this alternative yard already has downsides that you have pointed out (mainly that they will try and eek every penny out of you, there will be more that would only be apparent once you have moved. you sound like you have a good set up where you are, not perfect, but where is? you would come to begrudge paying for and having to do things that you didn't.

I would stay put, you can't put a price on a good cuppa, if your a bit lonely, try advertising for a hacking companion in your local paper.
 
At my previous yard all horses had to be in by 6.00pm in the winter - it wasn't a problem for most, but for those that needed help there was assisted livery.

You said that you make your own hay - can't you keep the horse at home?
 
I could keep my horse at work(beautiful country estate) but I still keep her at livery. This is for a number of reasons one of them being company. Its miserable having to motivate yourself into getting anywhere with no help and support, God knows its hard enough to be competitive with help and encouragement. If you have ambitions and you think your horse would still be safe and happy I'd move somewhere where you will get alot more enjoyment out of having a horse. That said, I'm on a yard with about 18 liveries and a brilliant YM, very big yards often present a whole new set of problems. Good luck whatever you decide.
 
Have you got transport?

That's how I justify it to myself in renting land with no facilities - because for peace of mind, my horses are safe and no one interferes, but it does get lonely and is hard work on your own.

But I've got my trailer and have riding permits for various places so make loads of arrangements to meet friends and hack or school with them elsewhere.

Winter is extremely difficult - can't go out in the evenings after work, but summers are just bliss.

I'd stay where I was if I were you.
 
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