I think we are moving

LankyDoodle

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Those of you who've followed my yard troubles will know why.

Yard 1 - there 6 years, left because builder (who we are in legal dispute with) and his wife liveried there. We'd also lost our mare and had some bitter memories of that. Time to move on sadly.

Yard 2 - Arrive end Sept 08. Leave end Nov 08. The biggest bunch of charlatons I've met. Mistreating and neglecting their foal etc. Things went bad to worse, no school and promises of friend's school a mile away never came about.

Yard 3 - My OH kept his mare here a number of years ago. I came onto the scene and got my own horse, which there were no stables for, and we moved. My husband can be confrontational and stand up for himself but is generally quite placid. He'd had trouble with this YO but she left him well alone once he stood up for himself. So we moved back here on 29th November. Things have been a nightmare from day 1 for various reasons. This week she has taken in another livery (who also kept her horses there when we were last there, and left) with a horse and a pony. The horse is a gelding which will mean there will now be 11 geldings on the tiny field with no grass. We were on 6 acres but the fence was broken, so we are now on about 4 until the end of May
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One of my geldings ended up with a bone-deep wound to his head (between his eyes) due to fights over space and grass; and last week another gelding received a similar cut on his eye - close to losing his eye! Nothing is ever done about it. There is opportunity to split the herd so there are 5 in each, but she won't! She seems incapable of managing the grazing so that it recovers for summer, so she has to set it aside in HUGE amounts. I was also annoyed that on the day my gelding got kicked, she was due to bring them in, which she did, but she smothered his wound with sudocrem and didn't phone me or vet; therefore, a wound which needed immediate vet attention so that it could be stitched, was left open to the elements and bacteria sealed in with sudocrem. This woman then has the gall to lecture me about things as she thinks she knows everything!

So I've had enough and we are 99% going to be moving to a place a mile from our house. It is a bit gutting as the place has no school and the hacking immediately from the yard is pants in comparison (current yard has off-road hacking direct from the yard). However, I would be the only livery, have 2 fields of 1 acre and 2 acres respectively, to use as I like. One field is flat so I can have a grass school and jumps in there; the other field is sloped so I would use it as my winter paddock. There are two stables and not very good storage, but we are able to have our own tackshed up there. It will be £32 a week for both horses, and because it is on our doorstep we will be able to walk/cycle there twice a day, which means no paying the YO for extras. We will save a lot of money, time, hassle and heartache.

We are going to measure up tonight. I just hope we can do it as I really think being on our own for a bit is what we need. We've, sadly, had a couple of bad experiences with YOs in the last 6 months, and while it would be nice to go back to the original yard, too much has gone on there. It will be like having them at home with them being so close by.

So, that's my update for those who have been asking at various points over the last few weeks.
 
Good Luck.
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I wish I had my own field have to share with 14 in a mixed herd in 20 acres, the landowner wont split it into smaller fields. Hope all goes well.
 
Why not just find a yard that is a well run, well organised and professional livery yard - instead of the pokey holes that you seen to end up in??
 
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Why not just find a yard that is a well run, well organised and professional livery yard - instead of the pokey holes that you seen to end up in??

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Sorry, but that made me LOL
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Thanks, Sueyuk. I do agree with keeping horses in herds, which sounds ironic I know. However, I believe the herds need to be carefully mixed and they also need enough space. 11 horses on 4 acres is not even funny! 14 horses on 20 acres sounds OK, but it would depend how carefully the herd has been placed together - I think horses who are known to bully should be placed in appropriate herds.

In the gelding herd at my yard, there are 3 horses (including my 17.3hh) who would crap themselves if a fly looked at them the wrong way. Then you have 3 or 4 who just kick and bite the others for fun. Then the ones in the middle, like my cob, who leave each other alone but won't stand any crap so they stick up for themselves. It just doesn't work, and I've spent so much money on rugs, treating wounds and cuts. I know it happens with all horses, but in this environment (livery) more care needs to be taken, I feel.
 
That would be a wonderful idea if they actually existed, Quirky! Old yard was lovely, but we weren't enjoying the horses there because of the builder's presence, so we moved. The next yard would have been great if what they'd told us had been true and not a heap of lies. The yard we are at now has three schools - indoor, outdoor, grass - a jumps paddock, off-road hacking, good stabling and would have decent turnout if she sorted it out. She is also a bit of a sly person as she's all nicey nicey until you are there and then treats you like crap. So this yard WOULD be professional and have good facilities if she wasn't the owner!

The only other yards with a school are one in the next village which is full and has been for months, and another up on the hill which is part livery at £85 a week, which we neither want nor can afford.

Therefore, we have chosen to have our own fields and stables.

I'm glad other people live in areas where there are lots of empty yards to choose from, all of which having a range of wonderful facilities, great yard owners who don't spin you a load of rubbish as soon as you get through the door. Sadly, that is not the case here, so I am doing what is best for me and my horses. I hope that is OK by you.
 
I dont think OP is looking for pokey holes. The last one was meant to be a professional yard run by a BHS instructor!

I am sure you will make the right decision. It is a nightmare trying to find a decent yard that will offer the basics (decent turnout, decent sized stable and school) plus hacking which I no longer consider a basic requirement!

As long as they have turnout and a stable you will be fine. You can always hire a school, and can school on hacks etc. Being on your own will also boost your confidence which current YO is trying to eat away. Just make sure that the field etc is secure - check to see if they have had break-ins/vandals in the past etc.

I would be inclined to use the field with the slope as the summer paddock, purely because I hate the thought of my horses sliding down slippery hills to a muddy mess at the bottom, but then both of mine have ligament injuries so I have to be careful about their legs.
 
Yes in the real world we would like the perfect place. I like some bits of mine and some I hate, like the long walk if she is in the back of the field ( 20 acres). People tell me to move but it is on my doorstep and If i cant afford to run my car I can walk there in 10 mins.
 
Thanks, CBAnglo.

Maybe I do end up in pokey little holes, but rather than stay in them and let it affect me and my horses I am getting out. As you say, current yard is not a pokey little hole, but the person running it is a bully who, it seems, is trying to squeeze as many horses in as possible; and in doing so pushing a number of current customers out the door.

I see what you are saying about the sloped field. I was thinking of it from the drainage point of view. The lady does live on site, but she has nothing to do with the yard (apart from paying for and hiring in maintenance).

Thanks
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Sueyuk, no place is perfect I don't think. I tend to move when it is my horses' safety and well-being at risk, which is currently the case. Not even professional yards are fault-free, actually. There's a huge yard near here - a riding school with a livery attached - which has no winter turnout. Great, but not for me! My horses come first. My needs for a huge, professional yard come last.
 
Yes I have a huge livery yard near me with a school but most of the time their horses are in 24/7 my horse would hate it .
You have to do wants best for them.
 
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Sounds like you'll soon get used to having your own place, the lack of stress and wounds will be worth it alone !! Good luck
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Thank you catdragon. I missed your post there.
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Like you say, the lack of stress will be worth it. I just want happy horses, and that is not what I have at the moment. I was so excited to move here - a choice of schools and fantastic hacking, friends we've known for years keep their horses there, teacher on site, on the edge of Exmoor.
 
AmyMay, there are hardly any good yards like that around here and the few that exist have huge waiting lists. In fact, I would have to travel 40 minutes just to get to one and that is full with a wait list. Luckily I keep mine at home but would have few options if I didn't.
 
Exactly, LizzieJ.

You would think, with the amount of horsey people in this area, there would be a lot greater choice of yards, but what choice there is (that has spaces) tends to be ex-farms. My 6 year stint was at an ex-farm, so no problems there, but I would argue that big, professional yards are not always the best places. They can be, especially if you have lots ot choose from, but not always. Our first mistake was being in too much of a hurry to jump ship from 6-year yard, so we ended up with the eejits. Our next mistake was not being superhuman and detecting troubles that lay ahead at yard 3.

I used to live in South Wales (Llantrisant sort of area), and I don't remember there being a huge choice there, either, to be honest.
 
The few yards I know of don't do DIY either
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I am on the Quantocks so loads of good riding but hardly any livery yards. In fact I can't think of any within half an hour of me that would fit the bill of 'professional livery yard'
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ETS When I lived in Poole for a bit, there were loads of yards
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Same here. I have Exmoor one side (10 miles away), Blackdowns the other side (a few miles away) and then the Quantocks a bit further (I think when I worked at Spaxton it was about 16 miles). All that beautiful countryside and idyllic riding, and yet no ideal yards.

There is a nice girl here - oofadoofa - who has a yard beyond Taunton, but it would take me ages to get there. I keep trying to persuade her to move it to, oooh, just outside Nynehead would be ideal!
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She won't, though.
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Heazle is the place I was talking abotu with no winter turnout - nice enough place, with good facilities but my horses have basic needs which do not include a school (that comes into my needs, so comes near the bottom). There are a couple of part livery yards, but like I said, at £85-90 a week, then farrier, insurance, vets, worming, lessons on top (x2 for two horses), especially when you want and are willing to do your horses yourself, is unjustifiable. The place I said was full is a yard in Langford Budville which is about 3 miles from my house, but they are eternally full - no surprises there!

I want to move to the places where perfect yards with perfect owners and perfect facilities, are lined up waiting to take in customers!
 
At the school last winter. I did some of my teacher training there.
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I now work in Bridgwater, which is uber classy!

Edited because I felt using the name of the Bridgwater suburb I work in, was too specific - prying eyes and that!
 
Nooo, they're not social people them teachers.
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Not the Spaxton ones anyway, particularly the head. All she wanted was to be in my placement partner's pants!

There was a girl in year 4 at the time whose mum used to ride her horse to school (with pony on lead rein) at 330pm and then they'd ride home. Quite a good way to get to and from school I think! Can't remember her name, but I want to say Grace. Hmmm.
 
Our friend is called Jenny. She has her own land and stables just outside Spaxton. Can't remember the name of the house, but she used to have a nutty mare called Jem and a couple of geldings as well. Her husband is called Robert. Maybe you know them..?
 
Sorry, completely nothing to do with your question, but how is your cat? (I do so hope I have the right person here otherwise will look like a crack pot!! Or even more so than normal!).
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Didn't you have a cat with an ear problem?
 
The PTA all come to the pub
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I have seen a couple leading a pony back from school in the morning! I used to ride down to the school bus too
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Teehee, yes you have the right person!

Flossie is doing fine! I posted a pic on original thread but can't find it on quick search atm. She had the operationa nd they sent the huge tumor for biopsy. He thinks they removed the whole tumour as he was able to go beyond it where he found a few grains of dirt that he could not reach! The biopsy showed that the tumour was most likely to be benign (although could not 100% guarantee it). She had the operation about 3 weeks ago and has had her lampshade on since then, having stitches out at one week intervals. She was sedated to have the stitches out of the inner ear yesterday, but still has a scab so still has the shade on for another 3 or 4 days. She is a bit mopey as she still can't go out, but when her hair has grown back and she has the shade off, I am sure we won't even know there was ever a problem.

Well actually, she is struggling with balance because of the ear thing (and a few years ago, part of her tail was removed due to a car accident), but apart from that she is fine.
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Thank you for asking.

Now may I take first prize for most diversions in thread topic since post 1?!
 
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The PTA all come to the pub
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I have seen a couple leading a pony back from school in the morning! I used to ride down to the school bus too
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Sally is OK really. Just acts a bit 'youthful' for her advancing years.
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That would be a wonderful idea if they actually existed, Quirky!
Therefore, we have chosen to have our own fields and stables.
I hope that is OK by you.

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Think that particular post should've been directed at AmyMay, I just tittered at her customary directness
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You've got to admire her for it
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As for moving off first yard because you didn't like a livery appears a rather shallow. If we all ran away from things/people we didn't like, there'd be a good number living in tents.
What's that saying "you can't like all the people all of the time"
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So true!
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