I need help deciding about a new yard (sorry this is so long)

burtondog

burtondog

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 December 2002
Messages
902
Location
SE London/Kent, UK and Devon
www.michellehudson.co.uk
I've been at the same yard for over 10 years.

I chose it originally because it was the riding school where I took lessons and when they decided to close the school and just do liveries I thought it was a good time to take the plunge and buy my own horse.

The yard manager helped me choose first horse and taught me most of what I know about horse care. She's a lovely person, very experienced and great with horses.

My first horse was a lovely low maintenance native cross and and we had 7 trouble free and very happy years at the yard. The yard was busy and there were always people going to shows, sponsored ride, doing team/RC events etc so we made lots of friends and did lots of stuff.

When my first horse died, I took a year off riding before buying my next horse, a slightly higher maintenance warmblood. I didn't hesitate to go back to the same yard. All my friends were still there and it's the closest yard to my home. I can't decide if the yard had gone downhill dramatically between my losing my first horse and getting my second one or if my second horse was just a pain who could get into trouble wherever he was kept. Either way, this second experience of the yard was not as pleasant and following various incidents involving field hazzards, faulty fencing and even a nasty fall as a result of a board sticking out in the school (which was forever getting flooded in winter) I seriously considered moving. All my friends were complaining about the place and threatening to move. I never got around to moving because I decided to sell my second horse instead and took the Winter off.

Now I have a dilema, I've found a lovely new horse (hopefully low maintenance). I'm collecting him next month and I've found a new yard but as March approaches I'm having second thoughts (mostly of the "better the devil you know" variety).

I'm made a comparison list for both yards (not in any particular order). Please can you help me decide which yard is best ?

OLD YARD
Journey time each way - 20/25mins drive
Cost per week - £95
Indoor School - no
Outdoor School - 40x20 and 50x30 not always usable plus lights don't work properly
Stables - 14ftx12ft
Staff on site overnight - yes
Exercise if needed - can sometimes be lunged
Turnout - Summer - with 2/3 other geldings up to 3 hours. bad fencing, rubbish in field
Turnout - Winter - 2 hours most days
Secure tackroom - quite
Additional storage - good size locker
Other facilities - tea room (nasty)
Staff - 2 long term staff I like them both especially yard manager
Other Liveries - mostly nice but not many go out competing etc. Have friends here.
Hacking - 650 acres no roads
Appearance - quite shabby and poorly maintained

NEW YARD
Journey time each way - 30/35mins drive
Cost per week - £98
Indoor School - yes, 40x20
Outdoor School - 60x20 new all weather
Stables - 12x12ft
Staff on site overnight - no
Exercise if needed - yes, lunging, hacking, schooling.
Turnout - Summer - individual P&R 2 hours
Turnout - Winter - individual P&R 1 hour most days
Secure tackroom - very
Additional storage - none
Other facilities - shop & nice tea room
Staff - lots, long term, I don't know them yet so ???
Other Liveries - lots of RC members doing stuff. I don't know them yet ???
Hacking - road work to start then parks
Appearance - good. recently purchased, new owner investing in maintenance.

I think my new horse is good on the roads so the hacking will be fine but he has been used to more like 4-5 hours turnout a day so I hope he can get used to less otherwise I'll need to find somewhere completely different!

Which do you think ? New yard or old yard ?

Thanks M
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tbh I would find somewhere with a lot more turnout, at least all day in the summer, particularly at 98 a week! Wouldn't go back to old yard as seems poorly maintained and asking for trouble.
 
I agree with Triplesand - you need more turnout. But - your location means this may be virtually impossible. I know myself coming from the SE. I would keep looking for now. I recently moved and was tearng my hair out as no yards offered proper turnout (i.e more than a couple of hours a day) but I did finally find something. Try tack shops, local equestrian papers etc.
 
To be honest I would be looking for a third option with more turn out. I know it can be difficult in some areas, but it is so very limited at them both.
 
I've looked everywhere but the new yard is the best one in reasonable travelling time with good facilities. I could get more turnout outside the M25 but the extra journey time would mean I wouldn't be able to get to the yard most weekdays before (or after) work so I'll be limited to just seeing my horse at weekends, which just won't do. My first horse coped fine with this regime, never developed any stable vices, always seemed content and never had a day lame or stiff in 7 years. Obviously I'll need to keep a close eye on new horse to make sure he settles into new routine but all the other horses at the new yard seem well enough.
 
Decide what you MUST have and what you'd LIKE to have and keep looking.Don't feel you only have the choice of two yards and don't worry about moving on.Good luck!
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I would go to the second yard if they are the only two options avaliable. Just to mention, I also live in London so know that it's difficult but from what I've found frim looking around going just outside the M25 does mean more turnout and it isn't much further then just inside the M25. Hopefully you can find somewhere.
 
If they are the only two options available, then I would definitely go to the second yard, but keep looking in case something with more turnout came up! Good luck
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QR:

Congratulations on your new purchase.

I'd be looking for somewhere the horses can be out as much as possible 1 to 2 hours a day just isn't enough in my own opinion. But then I've always had horses who live out all year round clipped or not.

Good luck!
 
I managed Hector in London for a year, with very limited turnout as just couldnt find anywhere near enough that offered decent grazing, he coped ok and he was an outdoor sort of horse, just needed alot more exersise than normal! He was easier when I moved him though, but understand your problem, I would go for yard 2
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Of course, I agree it's generally better to have more turnout.

I'm guessing that most of you who wouldn't consider a yard with limited turnout live outside the city (but I can't be sure because not everyone's indicated their 'location' in their profile).

There are yards I could travel to yards with longer turnout but their fields are either really poached, badly fenced or don't actually have much grass so the horses get bored, run around and do themselves injuries. My old yard could do more turnout but every week my friend's horses come in with cut legs etc.

The best I can do at the moment is ensure my new boy gets an opportunity to stretch his legs each day. I'm glad that 'turnout' aside the new yard is getting the votes.

I've visited almost 20 yards over the last 4 weeks and the new yard seems the best of the bunch.

I'm very excited about my new horse but this decision is stressing me.
 
oh oh which is the new yard ??? (pm me) !!

And there are a few places with good grazing and good facilities in that area !!!!!!!!

I wouldnt to be honest only having y horses out 1-2 hours - especially in the summer !!
 
I would go for the new yard.
Turn out isn't everything as i have recently found out by moving to a much nicer yard!
Horse seems happier even though we have no winter turnout and
his last yard was 24/7 turnout!!!
Infact he seems a lot happier!
 
I am from the same area and there are some yards, nice yards even that do offer a lot more turnout.

Can I be nosey and find out what area you are looking in/around as may have some ideas. My horse has always been kept around this area and has never been on such limited turn out so it is about I promise!!
 
I too would go with the 2nd yard if they are the only choices you have, but I too would want more turnout. I left my previous yard because the turnout was poor (and the YO's partner mad!) and although my current yard only has 7 acres and 10 horses they can go out all day in summer and until dark in winter (unless very wet or icy).
 
I would go with second yard but I would worry about such short summer turnout- your going to be doing a lot more excersising. Do they let you turn out in pairs or something in the arenas? so the horses can interact with their buddies?
 
I live in London SE26 and need a yard within 40mins drive max. Full/Part livery NOT DIY or assisted. Good surface - all year. Well maintained fencing pref P&R. Busy yard preferred so I can usually find people to ride out with. I posted on here last year for suggestions and checked out all the ones posters recommended which is how I found NEW YARD which ticks the most boxes - turnout aside. But if anyone has another suggestion that fits the above description I'll check it out. PM or post. Thanks M
 
I think that many of the issues with old yard wouldn't bother me too much (regarding appearance/lighting etc.) Your old YO may be prepared to be more flexible as well, which might mean more turnout & good electirc fencing etc.
The most important things for me would be trusting the person doing day to day care & you get that with yard no.1. I also like yards where there's no bitching & silly rules & sounds like you get that at old yard.
Maybe express some of your concerns with old YO & try to sort it, esp if people have been moving on.
 
Unfortunately, the Yard Manager at my old yard doesn't own the place and she's as frustrated as the liveries by the owner's failure to maintain the property. I've told her my reasons for going to the new yard and she understands. Worst case, I can always go back there if we don't settle at the new yard.
 
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