Itchy feet... What yards are in the Glasgow area these days?

[Caol Ila]

Sadly, the yard where I keep my horse has put their livery prices up again, and it is getting to be a bit beyond what is easily affordable. It's true that the care at the yard is second-to-none, and my horse is happy, but my livery bill this month didn't make me happy. While the facilities are quite serviceable, the price doesn't reflect what they actually are anymore. Sort of alright, but not amazing. Quite a few liveries have already jumped ship. It sucks. I like the yard, but yowza!

I haven't yard hunted around Glasgow for about five years. Is there anything good?

My horse has a nervous breakdown if the yard doesn't have a standard routine and timetable, so she can't be at one of those chaotic DIY yards where everyone is doing their own thing. The routine must include coming into a stable at night. She has a view on 24/7 turnout; it is not positive. She also requires individual turnout because she doesn't play nice with others, but her field needs to share fencelines with the others. I want her turned out in the winter, preferably all day. My horse does not always share that point of view; she thinks Scottish sideways rain is pants. If the yard brought them in at 2pm in the winter (many do), my horse would therefore think she'd gone to heaven. I could live with that, so long as they weren't in stalls all day. In a perfect world, she would have a field shelter, but I'm convinced those things don't exist at livery yards in this country.

I want some kind of all weather riding arena. Ideally, an indoor, an outdoor, the bigger the better, miles of off road hacking, a beach, and a hottub (don't we all). Realistically, I'd look at any combination of those things. If the current yard had all of those things (especially the hottub), I might not be looking to move in the first place.

I also want to win the lottery so I can buy land and create a dream yard that has everything me and my ridiculously picky horse want.

Did I say I hate yard hunting? A yard that makes my horse happy and makes me happy is the impossible dream. Does it exist within a sensible driving distance of Glasgow? Preferably towards the southeast side, as I have to travel in that direction regularly.

 

[atropa]

Will be following this with interest. I know a few names but probably just the usual suspects, and I couldn't help with availability/routine. There's the new yard beside Chatelherault, West Sunny side I think, looks nice!

 

[blood_magik]

on the south side you have Hazelden and Busby.
Hazelden doesn't do individual turnout and you'd be lucky to get into the indoor school half the time because of lessons.
Busby I'm not too familiar with but they have an indoor and an outdoor.

Then further out, you have Thornhill in Stewarton. There's a place in Fenwick that I can't remember the name of (but can find out), and then you're out towards Morris at Kilmarnock, and Muirmill.

on the west side (Paisley end), you have ford bank, gryffe, Ian couttie's in Kilbarcan, ingliston...
Not too sure about the East.

I live on the south side (newton mearns/clarkston area) and it takes me 30 minutes to drive to Ingliston.
we have individual turnout where the horses can see each other over the fence (although mine are now all in together).
four arenas - two in, two all-weather out (one floodlit). Hacking is mostly roadwork, although there are a few fields we're allowed in over by the golf club.
We box up and head to Irvine for the beach.

Hope that helps.

 

[Caol Ila]

Your yard sounds like it is worth looking at. How long does it take you to get into Glasgow?

I know of some of the bigger, longstanding yards like Busby and so on. Probably looked at them when I first moved to Glasgow in 2009. The individual turnout part of things is a pain -- it's a hassle to find yards who do it and who have a good setup for it.

 

[blood_magik]

I'd say about 20 minutes if the traffic isn't bad - it's pretty much straight down the M8.
it only takes 2 minutes to get onto the motorway from the yard.

 

[Caol Ila]

Can you PM me with info?

Anyone know of anything else? The more the merrier.

 

[blood_magik]

Will do.

 

[Flora]

There is a small yard in Houston, about 10 horses and very friendly. No Diy as the owner likes the horses to be in a routine. Nothing fancy, like Ingilston but then its expensive to reflect the facilities.
The yard has an indoor school but Im afraid no hot tub but all year round turnout. The horses are accommodated to their own individual needs. Only 10 mins from Ingilston and near to both riding clubs.
My horse is there and I really like it as its nice and quiet, but then again, quiet doesnt suit everyone.

 

[Caol Ila]

Can you PM or post info? I want as many options as possible.

I've actually never boarded at a barn with a hottub, but when I was in Colorado, one of the places that held a couple dressage shows per year had a swimming pool!

The three things I can't compromise on are routine, an arena that is usable year round, and individual turnout. On top of that, hacking that doesn't suck would be brilliant. I miss that in my current situation.

 

[atropa]

Hmm let's see. Out the east end there's Roundknowe riding school but that doesn't sound like it would suit you (chaotic, not much hacking, no individual turnout), I think there's another private yard up that same road, Greyfriars around that same area, I know of a few private yards out Larkhall/Quarter way, Broomfield and Avalon, there's Mid Drumloch up behind Hamilton, Bluefaulds in Chapelton has nice facilities, Blackfaulds in Gartcosh.
I'm out North of the city, heading towards the Campsies, there's Easterton Stables, Milndavie nearby, Dullatur, Meadowside in Kilsyth, a couple of smaller places too.
I don't know of anywhere with individual turnout as standard unfortunately, but I do love the hacking out there.
ETA: Woodend in Kilsyth too!
ETA #2: Ahh sorry Caol Ila, just read your post saying individual turnout non-negotiable..sorry I can't be more help! The yard I'm at would probably try to sort something out for you individually if they could but unfortunately full atm.