Help - moving to Leeds!

[SillyMare]

This should probably be in NL, but I know more people in here (and it is relating to my competition horses...).

I seem to have managed to bag an amazing new job - hooray! The problem - I need to relocate to Leeds by January and I have absolutely no idea about the area!

The office is in South/Central Leeds - my plan is to find somewhere good for the horses and then find somewhere to live that fits with them.

At the moment I am on a small family yard which I absolutely love - don't really want to go onto a big yard (and definitely not a riding school or a competition centre - like being somewhere quiet).

I am looking for part livery for 2 well behaved event horses - knowledgeable YO essential (new job will involve quite a lot of time away from home). Other criteria - year-round turnout, decent hacking and some form of arena.

Next thing of course - will need to find good vet / farrier / instructor... one problem at a time though.

Any help would be massively appreciated!

 

[Gamebird]

Gosh - that's big news, and very close to us. Congratulations, Can't help with the livery, but you're close enough for regular YRC lessons and I can certainly help you with competition venues

 

[SillyMare]

Exciting to be heading back up North - not quite far enough North to actually know my way around though!

Will be looking for a BSJA buddy after Christmas!

 

[stencilface]

Think I have already pm'd someone close to you about this!!!!

But if I was no help, I can try harder.

Yorkshire Riding Centre is not too far away (40 mins or so), can have lots of good lessons there. My sj instructor is good - has helped out with one of Nicola Wilson's horses before, but then there's lots of sj instructors in Yorkshire - shouldn't be hard finding one

Can tell you nice places to live though!

 

[SillyMare]

All help very welcome - I think you did indeed PM someone close to me (wasn't letting on that it was me who needed to know at that stage - job wasn't in the bag).

I love the YRC - definitely an option for lessons but wouldn't want to keep my horses there. Too far anyway I think - not that I have much idea.

Planning a trip up on Sunday so I need to line up a few yards I can look at.

 

[chunklovescooks]

We are at Grange Farm Livery in arthington, its large and is a working farm so not exactly picturesque but is a nice place, 3 knowledgeable staff who are always willing to help! But for somewhere you are describeing i guess YRC, but make sure you find the right place! S

Find Below:
www.grangefarmlivery.co.uk

 

[H's mum]

Wikefield used to be a comp centre but this changed a few years ago and they just do livery now
http://www.wikefield.co.uk/

Kate x

 

[chunklovescooks]

We looked at wikefield, its a bit close to that main road i felt, looks a nice place though.

 

[redmerl]

You will be in my part of the world, I'm Leeds too!

I'm on a yard I'm happy with, doesn't fit all your requirements but has indoor and outdoor school, turnout all year round and off road hacking. YO V good.

Or a friend of mine has a small yard outside Leeds.

PM me if you like.

 

[Booboos]

In general you will find that there is a 'golden triangle' in Leeds, within which everything (house prices primarily but also everything else) is much more expenssive. If you draw an area from Wetherby to Harrogate to Ilkley, all that bit down to Leeds is much more expenssive than anywhere else. Towns on the train line to Leeds like Guiseley, Burley and Ilkley will be more expenssive and Harrogate is extremely popular. Roads in that area, e.g. the A61 that goes through Harewood are a nightmare. So it can be expenssive to live there and a nightmare to drive there on a daily basis from Leeds.

Wikefield is on the A61 which is very busy, but I think there is plenty of hacking on the Harewood estate and if you cross the A61 directly from the yard there is more hacking on the other side of the road.

You may want to try around the Tadcaster area. Tadcaster is, lets face it, a bit of a dump, but being outside the 'golden triangle', it is a lot cheaper but still has lovely rural 'pockets'. There is a nice yard in the village of Stutton just outside Tadcaster (go to the village and ask for directions, it's at the end of a dead end road). The A64 is not too bad either for getting into Leeds, but there are no train connections.

South of Leeds the area is a lot more built up and it can be difficult to find a nice, quiet spot.

 

[SillyMare]

Thanks for all the help so far - I am scribbling all this information down!

Heading up there on Sunday for a bit of a drive around - aiming to try to look at a few yards then (and also have a bit of a general look at the area).

Looking forward to meeting Yorkshire H&H onliners out and about!

 

[Gamebird]

BSJA - Richmond, Northallerton (up the A1) and Port Royal (along the M62) are my usuals but I think there are a couple of spots in the Doncaster area too. See you there!

 

[BBs]

Congratulations honey

But **SOB**

 

[Ludi-doodi]

If you are working south of leeds city centre, you might want to consider Wakefield area - whilst the M1 into Leeds is a bit of 'mare it's pretty much the same into the City from any direction. The M62 from Huddersfield (where I am is just as bad BUT rail links are very good and even if you don't manage to get a seat, the journey is only about 20 mins (less than 15 from Wakefield).

 

[chunklovescooks]

If its hacking on harewood your after, Grange Farm is surely the best? we are like.. 2 miles away! lol

 

[SillyMare]

Thanks - the Wakefield area looks good on the map - is there much countryside to the South of the city?

 

[not_with_it]

Agree with Ludi_doodi I would move further south, just outside Leeds. South Leeds has a lot of rough areas so you are best off looking no closer to the city centre than Rothwell / Morley. Anything south of that border is a lot nicer. Im Wakefield and work in South Leeds. In rush hour it takes me about 20 mins to get to work, and takes me about 10 in normal traffic so isnt that bad.
PM me if you would like more info

 

[Oaksflight]

I live Guiseley/Ilkley area, if you want any advice for yards round there just pm me!

 

[Solstar]

[ QUOTE ]

You may want to try around the Tadcaster area. Tadcaster is, lets face it, a bit of a dump, but being outside the 'golden triangle', it is a lot cheaper but still has lovely rural 'pockets'. There is a nice yard in the village of Stutton just outside Tadcaster (go to the village and ask for directions, it's at the end of a dead end road). The A64 is not too bad either for getting into Leeds, but there are no train connections.



[/ QUOTE ]

the yard in Stutton has recently had some bad reports- although i had many a good year learning to ride 'proper' there!
Im near Tadcaster- the yard is Stockwell Stud- it is lovely- miles of off-road hacking, xc course (small tho) only an outdoor school tho. PM for more details if you want to be in our neck of the woods!!

 

[millimoo]

I live in Ilkley and about to move to Burley In Wharfedale - on the Wharfedale trainline to Leeds.
I had a horse on Loan at Wikefield and I loved it, it's also a working farm and there are Mares/Foals yearly. Barbara Harrison Bland teaches and is a Dressage judge.
There's an indoor school, and I think the outdoor schools may return (long story)
Liveries are a real mixture, most being happy hackers with the odd competition rider. Hacking is fab, straight onto a track from the yard and over a small hill through woodland on the Harewood Estate, you can get down to the main parkland in front of the House in 15 minutes. In the two years I was there I went on the road once.
The yard isn't the smallest, but to be honest the stables are pocketed around the farm so you can be as sociable or not as you like.
Another yard is Fearnleys at Stead Hall Farm, Burley in Wharfedale. They have 20x40 indoor and outdoor schools, plus a 20x60 for hire. Darryl Thicket does lessons every fortnight. They are also a working farm and smaller than Wikefield although she's full at the moment which is a shame as there is an Event rider based there who also teaches in the area.
I would recommend both in terms of year round turn out and routine. Both owners are very experienced and knowledgeable - I also think the people are really nice.
Finally there is an Eventer based down the Road from Beavers Tack shop in Harrogate. PM if you need to know more as I'd have to do some digging, but looked a nice small yard when we went to try a horse.
I can also give you names of some good Farriers / Vets.
In terms of where to Live, Otley is also close to Leeds and not as expensive as Ilkley, Harrogate etc. Although to be honest its a great time to be buying as there's loads of house not shifting and prices have definitely dropped.