Is your yard basic or pristine ?? I'm scared of moving

Toffee_monster

Toffee_monster

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 May 2009
Messages
529
Location
Northamptonshire
Visit site
I wondered if anyone on here has moved from the perfect looking yard onto a very basic DIY yard that is a bit scruffy ?

I am at a very neat and tidy yard at the moment, a friends place. We have a school, a walker, great fencing (post and electric rope but done properly), good value for money on grass livery but I don't have a stable or anything and couldn't really afford to have even DIY livery there. The yard is always swept and is pristine looking and has a live in groom

However, it's a good 20 minute drive from home and my son is at pre school 5 miles in the other direction. The road the yard is on is A rat run and very fast A road, not great for taking the carriage out on but there a couple of close villages, no off road driving anywhere nearby though and nobody on the yard is into driving so nobody to come out with me, I am limited to the school most of the time.


I decided it was probably worth a look round and I visited a yard that my friend is on that is right near to my sons preschool. I would save £80 a month in fuel alone, livery is the same price but with a stable. It's very basic and a bit scruffy as you are pretty much left to it. There is a floodlit school and I could drive in my field in summer for a larger area. It is also in VERY quiet village (a no through road) and lots of byways and farmland that I would be allowed to drive on. The hacking round there is fantastic (having been in the area years ago)

My friend there is breaking her pony in to drive over the next yr or so and would love to come out with me more and most importantly the roads are safe. I would have my own paddock (company if he needs it) so can look after my own poo picking, the fencing is mostly electric and I've just been up to redo some of it so it is all safe, it looks a lot better now.

I am all set to move there over the weekend however I am really scared of moving from the perfect stable yard to a real basic place. Before the yard I am on now (when i last had horses 4yrs ago) I was always in basic DIY yards and got on fine so god knows why I am so nervous of moving.

Can you reassure me, have you have done a similar thing ???
 
Last edited:
I went from the opposite- scruffy as you like to a pristine place with a live in groom on site.
I would probably happily go back to the scruffy place as least I haven't got to make sure I pick up every peice of hay I've dropped and stress on the way home about whether I put a brush back or accidentally left a fork in the wrong place.
 
EquestrianFairy said:
I haven't got to make sure I pick up every peice of hay I've dropped and stress on the way home about whether I put a brush back or accidentally left a fork in the wrong place.
Click to expand...

see this is how I feel every day actually as I'm not the tidiest person in the world, but at the ace I'm moving too I'm finding myself tidying up as I move stuff lol
 
I've always been on very well kept yards, my most recent before moving home was pristine. Think sprinklered, graded school (every day) immaculate horse-walker (swept every day) and always tidy and clean all post and rail and electric fencing, rubber mats to every stable... It was blooming lovely, that's how I like to keep horses.
Shame I don't think the same about my house... ;)

As for moving the other way, it'd do my head in TBH! But it depends what you like! Good luck with your move if you make it :)
 
I've never been on either extreme of a yard - the places I've been have always had the middle-ground attitude that you tidy up to the extent that the yard is safe but no one's going to get shot if you leave a whisp of hay on the ground or don't notice some barrow fall-out straight away. Usually we'd be tidy but not perfect all week and have a good clear up at weekends.

The key thing to focus on for you is how much better and safer the new facilities are going to be for working your horses!
 
You'll be fine. As long as it's safe (decent fencing/stabling) etc I wouldn't go on appearances. They never hurt anyone.

Our yard is a work in progress.. slowly moving from rundown disaster area to my idea of 'perfect' (which would include 'pretty' :o ) My two previous yards were beautifully kept with every type of facility from horsewalker to solarium and they looked like magazine features!

However, although the yard is a bit muddy (not got as far as concrete ontop of the hardcore yet) and can look tatty (ever tried sweeping wet hardcore ?? No ? I have. It doesn't work :D) my fields are safely fenced with great shelter and water access. My stables are safe and draught free and have immaculate beds. All the concreted areas and the barn are swept neatly and are tidy with proper storage. I have good quiet hacking and local roads/lanes and a nice arena.

The rest is just aesthetics IMO, and I'd rather safe and of more practical benefit over window dressing.. in ideal world both and that's what I am moving towards :)
 
I should say though..

The muddy bits do drive me 20 different types of mad a lot of the time (muddy yard = muddy boots + muddy dogs which = Muddy cars and muddy house.. I won't go into the Muddy Child issues.. :D A good hosepipe with a spray gun is essential!)

My favourite fantasy is imagining when the concrete lorries arrive and the area of flat, sweepable area that will be available when the concrete is laid!
 
I would say that I am on a middle of road yard, not really scruffy but not perfect. There are times when it drives me mad when people do not clear up their mess, but on the whole its a nice place to be. No one thinks they are better than anyone else.
 
I used to be on a competition yard and it was always immaculate. We then moved South and although the yard I'm at now is just over the road from my house it really is basic and untidy. I don't mind so much until it comes to winter and everything is just minging but then I think "its just over the road".
 
I moved from a full livery yard with 8 horse walker and equine swimming pool to another full livery yard which had amazing hacking on the doorstep and acres and acres of pristine fields to a farm DIY livery because it was close to home. To be honest the mess does annoy me - people don't sweep up when they've dragged haylage and straw down thee yard, there is dirt everywhere, the fields are small and badly fenced and it's a general *****h0le. But it's close to home and I like the other liveries there, so I put up with it. You'll be fine. Sometimes it's nice not to be on a pristine yard because you're not constantly looking over your shoulder to see whether you've dropped a bit of haylage or bedding and you don't get neurotic about picking your horses feet out before they take a step onto the yard. In winter it's worse, especially when it's driving rain, but in summer it's lovely and doesn't look quite as bad!
 
Sounds like a no brainer! I would be so happy if I were you to move! My yard is a bit 'tired' but its safe, local and quiet. Wouldn't have it any other way and you can keep your bit nice and tidy?
 
as long as its a safe and functional place where the owners and horses are happy, why does it matter?
personally i like everything really tidy and clean, but ive got my own place so i keep it how i like.
 
Having been the live in groom for a while I can be very obsessive about picking up bits of hay etc. but to be honest I would not sacrifice the driving/riding opportunities you stand to gain for the sake of aesthetics. You don't have a horse to look at his stable and go aw doesn't it look picturesc (I always think a pristine yard is one that has no horses on it or a seriously worn out anally retentive lacky and twitchy liveries :p)

I am sure as long as it is safe for you and pony your pony will not care less and you will get more enjoyment out of your driving :)
 
I'm at a riding school, so it is generally a bit chaotic no matter when you go.

It does drive me nuts when people don't sweep up after themselves, especially at the grooming areas, and although there are reminders posted, no one is going to have a word with you if you don't sweep up.

I agree that it is worse in winter when it's muddy all the time, and in summer it can be a bit dusty, but I've been there 6 years now, and probably wouldn't change unless something went desperately wrong.
 
Have never been on any yard either scruffy or dead pristine, in fact have onlyu been on two yards. The first was ok, a bit tatty, but very clean and tidy, with full time staff and good facilities. I did go and look at a top of the range yard when I was thinking of leaving, but it didnt feel quite right, even though it had an indoor school and a horse walker etc.

Our current yard is clean and tidy, but what I like is the fact that the driveway and the entire yard is concreted, so its nice and clean. Its also got 24/7 turnout, great hacking and its onlu 5 minutes from home.

I would say its really up to you, as appearances really arent everything, but good luck if you do decide to move.
 
I don't wish to sound rude, but, you must be a busy lady with some far more serious things to worry about other that this. The horse will not give a monkeys where it lives as long as it is looked after, doubt they would care if the yard is not swept perfect! Stop worrying and enjoy.
 
GGRider said:
I don't wish to sound rude, but, you must be a busy lady with some far more serious things to worry about other that this. The horse will not give a monkeys where it lives as long as it is looked after, doubt they would care if the yard is not swept perfect! Stop worrying and enjoy.
Click to expand...

Thank you GGrider, just the kick up the butt that I needed, time to man up and stop being stupid !!
 
My rented yard is basic and a little run down; its kept tidy and organised, but I'm not OCD tidy. I have a small area of concrete hard standing (about 4m X 10m) in front of an L-shape block of 3 stables + tack room, chalk in the gateways and post + rope fencing. I have a fenced off grass "arena" which is on the best draining part of the field, but I don't use it much through the winter, and a small XC field (thank god for carpenter OH!). I have access to a sandschool 5 minutes hack up the road for schooling in the winter if I need it.
It isn't always ideal, I don't have proper running water as such, we have a cattle trough but no taps on the yard, and no electric point - the lovely people who live next door let us run an extension lead over for clipping. But its mine and its my escape. I'm so lucky to have 12 acres between 3 horses, and they have never looked better for living out and grazing the big meadow at the back. Its in a good location for hacking too - quiet lane with only the occasional lunatic driver, with access to decent off road hacking, and about 3 miles from the beach.
I could move to a nearby livery yard with amazing facilities, horse walker, indoor school, full XC course etc, but they don't allow 24hr turnout, and my mare would cause quite a stir by climbing over her stable door in protest (plus I cannot be doing with yard politics)!

Just think - less time spent driving TO the yard = more time AT the yard!
 
I'm sure it'll be fine :)

My current yard is immaculate, but not to the point where anyone feels uncomfortable. It does motivate everyone to sweep up after themselves and keep things tidy, but I like to keep horsey stuff looking smart anyway. It's nice that it's a group effort though.

My previous yard I also loved and only moved as I was off to university. It was a bit more shabby but the turn out had excellent fencing so no problem there. Only difference was the stables could have done with a coat of paint and a good wash down - something I had planned but never got round to doing myself so can't have bothered me that much! Only thing I did find was that I seemed to be relentlessly sweeping, but possibly because my stable was right near the entrance passage.

Can't say Ronnie was fussed either way and we are equally happy at either yard.

Good luck whatever you decide :)

x
 
Been on a yard that was pristine, the owner used to hoover the yard, it was very stressful, constantly looking over my shoulder in case there was a strand of stray hay floating around. And now on a once was pristine yard but is looking its age and couldn't be happier.
 
Ours is a covered area, and a small stable block, all covered, so pretty basic. Hay and straw stored in the covered bit by the stables. But we keep it pretty neat and tidy, and it works perfectly for us. Horse does eventing and the set up works really well despite the lack of anywhere to school, and it's much more chilled on the whole :)
 
scruffy or pristine as long as you and your horse are happy does it matter??
you can always keep your part of the yard nice and tidy!
My yard atm is probably in the middle , but both me and my girl are happy!
 
I had my horse on a perfect pristine expensive yard, £110per week in 1998! I worked there. I'm at a nice yard now, its got scruffy but its safe. That's the main thing. Safe andfunctional. Enjoy your new yard!
 
I went from a yard with a huge indoor arena, massive outdoor arena, beautiful hayledge brought in, bedding provided, a lean to for winter turnout, to a very basic DIY yard with wet land, less horses and a scruffy outdoor arena. Horse loves it and I love it! YO is lovely and so helpful, other livery is just so funny and my horse is so settled. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top