Livery dilemma- which yard

[I don’t like mondays]

I need to move yards and would really like some opinions please. Affordable Yards with spaces are like hens teeth. These are my 2 options

Yard 1
DIY but can pay for various services from experienced YO
30mins drive
School with booking system, gets booked up
It’s in a town so no hacking
Living out 24/7 in pairs, no shelter, gets very muddy

Yard 2
10mins drive
DIY with no services at all (would need to find an external freelancer from somewhere or make friends and swap favours)
New 40x60 school plus lunge pit, no booking system
Hours of off road hacking (this is the main draw for me)
Living out in summer and in at night in winter. Single turnout but surrounded by others

I prefer DIY because I like the control but my I also find if you can’t pay for adhoc services its stressful and takes over your life (I’ve got kids and work). Both yards are similar sized and similar priced. Horse prefers living out but is also fine being in at night. I prefer yard 2 but worried about not having any back up for holidays/illness/non horse life etc. Don’t want to keep moving so need to make the right choice (this will be second move this year)
What would you do?
Thanks

 

[Lipglosspukka]

I would sooner not have a horse than go to yard 1.

 

[I don’t like mondays]

I would sooner not have a horse than go to yard 1.

Thanks ? Do you think yard 2 sounds good?

 

[Lipglosspukka]

Thanks ? Do you think yard 2 sounds good?

Yup. Find a freelancer and you're golden.

 

[I don’t like mondays]

How easy is it to find a freelancer? Nobody at yard 2 uses a freelancer and there isn’t anyone there who you can pay

 

[asmp]

Definitely number 2. I’m sure people would swap duties at the farm or do them for a small payment. However, I have used a freelancer in the past. She was a person who did most pets but also was a horse owner.

 

[I don’t like mondays]

Definitely number 2. I’m sure people would swap duties at the farm or do them for a small payment. However, I have used a freelancer in the past. She was a person who did most pets but also was a horse owner.

Thanks ?

 

[chaps89]

If services are essential to you then do your research first and try and find a freelancer before you commit.
Even if you use them once a week even if you don't actually need them, it means they're more likely to help at short notice or provide holiday cover and they will already know the routine.
If you can't find someone then it can be a slog even if the yard is just 10 minutes away.
I really don't like individual turnout but equally whilst I am all for 24 hour turnout, it has to be in the right setup, a mud pit with no shelter is not a fun existence.
I'd struggle to make this choice if it was me personally due to individual turnout and no services, but equally no hacking and poor field set up would really put me off the other yard. I guess yard 2 would edge it for me if there were truly no other options.

 

[I don’t like mondays]

If services are essential to you then do your research first and try and find a freelancer before you commit.
Even if you use them once a week even if you don't actually need them, it means they're more likely to help at short notice or provide holiday cover and they will already know the routine.
If you can't find someone then it can be a slog even if the yard is just 10 minutes away.
I really don't like individual turnout but equally whilst I am all for 24 hour turnout, it has to be in the right setup, a mud pit with no shelter is not a fun existence.
I'd struggle to make this choice if it was me personally due to individual turnout and no services, but equally no hacking and poor field set up would really put me off the other yard. I guess yard 2 would edge it for me if there were truly no other options.

Thanks ? Good advice about that freelancer, thanks ?

 

[chaps89]

You're welcome
It is doable, I had 2 on diy close to home, no services for a long while last year. The advantage was being 10 minutes away, if I was truly short on time I could nip up, bring in or chuck out and be home in half an hour if needed, which isn't so bad.
It was also doable because I had 2 and the yard had no restrictions on visiting hours or turnout so if I needed to go up at 5am I could or if I didn't get there until 8pm I could, because I wasn't worrying about 1 being left out on its own. Your routine might be a bit more stable than mine though so might be less of an issue but if you just have 1 I'd consider how bringing in in winter might work.
I did end up with a freelancer in the end though and my gosh, that 1 morning off a week made such a difference.