Keeping a horse at a competition venue vs cost of transport?

[Bens_Mum]

Just wondering if anyone could give any pro's and cons I've missed?

Been to look at an amazing yard today it's got everything same distance as existing one from home, indoor, outdoor, walker, solarium, xc. Clinics on site and regular competitions weekly. Only has 25 boxes and yard seperate and private from arenas.

I have no transport currently and am on full livery but on a small yard. The school isn't ideal at all and there is often no one about and no one to ride out with (my horse isn't great alone). I would like to have more lessons, someone to school my horse when I can't but this often isn't done as staff are a problem.

I can't do weekends due to small kids so for me to do more I need competitions/ clinics etc all in the day time which this new yard has. Obviously I would need to buy a box/ change car and trailer to get to places if I stay put but large cost saving..

Where we are YO is overbearing and I don't feel that my horse is really mine sometimes but its suited me for the last couple of years and not detrimental to the horse so have sucked it up.

I won't be riding at weekends or evenings when the big competitions are on so I'm not worried about not being able to use the schools or the place being busy at those times.

Am I missing anything major? New yard is £120 per week where I am now is a lot less £85. We have made some good friends there but I do find it hard to motivate/ worry about riding with no one around.

I am going to meet the yard manager on Monday of the new place I just wondered if there is anything I should ask? Am I bonkers I have had horrible livery dramas in the past and been here a few years and on the whole it's okay.. WWYD?

 

[Michen]

Personally I would hate to be going to the same competition on the same yard week in week out. I think half the fun is getting out and about with your neddie.

 

[Bens_Mum]

Personally I would hate to be going to the same competition on the same yard week in week out. I think half the fun is getting out and about with your neddie.

Never thought of that!! Thank you food for thought I was just getting excited at the thought of doing something!

 

[Vodkagirly]

£35 a week is a big difference, what apart from competitions on site are you getting?
£70 would pay for transport to a local competition in my area. So check comparison of hiring as well. I have a few friends who stable at a competition yard and love it. There is also lot of people who move quickly as they struggle to access the schools as often as they expect as they are often hired out.

 

[FfionWinnie]

I would consider doing it for the winter then reassessing. I compete at a CLY most weeks and also attend for clinics. I wouldn't want to live there tho.

 

[Bens_Mum]

Thanks guys. It's mainly to have people around aswell my horse isn't 100%. The arena is in an agricultural building with a lot of concrete pillars and the hacking is very limited.
I like the idea of the jumps, off
road riding and obviously help on hand.
If I go we won't be welcome back he's a really funny person so maybe should give some more thought..
I'm nervous of making the wrong the choice.

 

[Slightlyconfused]

Did it once and never again

When competitions are on you are in the way when getting horse in from feild, wanting to ride etc...... Also I hated that we were not allocated a school when they were on, we were shoved to the side.

See if you can rent transport, a friend rents a trailer for the summer for £500 ish pound.

 

[Bens_Mum]

Loads to think about thanks guys. Glad I posted I hadn't thought of half of that.
Guess I'm missing the social side of things too but I guess no one is going to be seine much when I am at the new place either ..

 

[Newlands]

Where you are doesn't sound great, so I would definitely look around at other yards. It's a bit of a scary thought I know but sometimes you have to just go for it. I've been on two competition yards and loved it. If the schools are out of use and I haven't been competing then I'm happy to just hack, or use the gallops etc instead. I'm very lucky having a lorry but if I didn't have one I would want to be on a yard that runs clinics and comps or in hacking distance of one. Good luck, but don't be scared!!!

 

[bluebellfreddy]

You don't sound happy at your current yard, so even if you don't go to the competition yard I would look at other yards. Don't forget then factoring cost that if you have extra lessons, or do competition the cost quickly racks up.

But you will hopefully get much better care for your horse at a big yard, and certainly love having a nice school. Good luck in your search.

 

[Mince Pie]

I'd go, if you can afford it. If it doesn't suit you can always move again.

 

[honetpot]

I would take your horse there for a clinic or something that lasts several days and see if it would actually work before doing anything, that way you would not have to give notice and probably will get a better idea of how the yard runs.

 

[GirlFriday]

It isn't just cost of transport, it is also time and timings. I'm assuming you're not working so are riding during the day which gives you a reasonable amount of time (not heaps, but a fair amount to get somewhere, do something and get back?) but in very set hours?

In those circs I can see the appeal of being on-site. You just want to be somewhere with other stay home mums/retired people around too. You can ask what time other liveries come up in general/view at the time you'd tend to be there I guess?

 

[Bens_Mum]

I do work full time but as I'm
self employed I have a bit of flexibility during the day. I have no childcare other than school/ after school clubs so the being onsite appeals to save time getting to places. This is why I can't do evenings or weekends.
I'm not happy where I am I help them out a lot (my choice) and there was also some unpleasantness over a horse I and wasn't treated as a friend which was how I saw the relationship. Totally my fault but this business setting is lost not that it's easy to have one here as opinions are rather strong.
There are no other venues near us for a lot of miles too so unless you were to spend the day out this is about it.
Maybe I will send the horse for a couple of weeks schooling I can't ride in school holidays anyway and see how it goes?
Things could settle back down here in time but the idea of a proper school and descent hacking is quite appealing.
I will do some research today and find what else is available but full seems quite hard to come by.
The new yard owner did say it could be negotiable so maybe there is a deal to be struck we will have to see....

 

[Red-1]

I would move to the comp arena with bells on!

Mine is at home, but we are only 100 yds from Comp venue, and when I am getting started with a new horse it is fantastic! I can have a lesson every week, go to a competition, socialise....

Once a new horse is up and running then I do use it surprisingly little as a competition venue, as I do like to box out, but still love to use the arenas for training. As it is so close I would have 2 X 1/2 hour sessions a week. 20 minutes of this would be warm up and 10 minutes popping a fence and cooling off again (as the remainder of the cool off is the hack home the long way around the village).

I find that my horses have all appreciated this little and often approach as a jump session is merely part of a hack. Seems much healthier for a green horse than traveling for an extended session.

I have even been to a dressage competition, had the 9am slot, and been at work half an hour's drive away for 10am! Same with a BS show, whip round the clear round at 9am, at work for 10am. Or at a clinic, leave work at 4pm, half hour drive and in the arena at 5pm! It really does expand the small and progressive experiences my babies can have, all part of everyday life, no diesel expenses.

The option to travel for shows and training is still there, in fact we regularly travel 1 1/2 hours to 3 different XC venues.

Also, we often pop there to watch a few, amazing what you learn.

TBH, I would move just for the better hacking, and to lose an unfriendly YO. Other people to ride with would not be important to me, I like to go out alone and sing (ha ha), but that is a bonus for you.

It is true that with shows etc at the venue over the road, the arenas are not always available to hire. TBH though I just put on beige breeches and a jacket and enter whatever is on if I am hell bent on trotting circles, or join a lesson. Or, just go for a ride that day.

 

[Bens_Mum]

I need people my baby horse doesn't hack out alone and is very green so all the experiences for would fantastic for him i'm sure.

I think il see if there is room for negotiation we might be able to haggle a bit the new place sounded quite flexible mine doesn't need a lot of hard feed or hay so maybe we can do something 😉

 

[oldie48]

I'd also move to the comp yard provided I was happy with the turnout arrangements and i could afford the extra cost.

 

[zaminda]

For me it sounds like you need to move regardless, so I would look around and see what is about. I think it would be useful to be somewhere else. Is there any grass livery available nearby? Turnout may also be an issue at a comp venue, and it is something I would look at closely.

 

[Bens_Mum]

Thanks all will mention about turnout. There was a big show on yesterday and the horses were all out but definitely something to ask.
We are so limited locally to either very basic no arena or very expensive full doesn't seem an awful lot in the middle. I would love to do mine but time just doesn't allow and he's not safe with with kids to lead etc so can't do him weekends. Will have some
Investigating I think and see if anything else pops up.