livery yard or private stabling?

noblesteed

noblesteed

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i have the choice of keeping my horse at either a 'proper' livery yard OR at a friend's 'private' stable yard.
i wonder if anyone on here can offer any opinions/advice on which option to go for -

Option A - smallish livery yard with all-weather surface, floodlights, jumps. lessons available. quality haylage, shavings and rubber mats, good hacking, 5 min drive from home. BUT limited turnout (daytime only in summer, down to 1 hour of mud in winter), allweather surface freezes up in winter, indoor soggy stables without a 'view' and the usual, unavoidable YARD POLITICS

Option B - friend's field behind her back garden with her own horse, turnout 24 hours in summer, 12 hours in winter. transport available to shows, quality hay, nedsbed and matting in big stables, good hacking with my friend, field with jumps to ride in, across the road from work (i work 9-5) and NO yard bitching or backbiting. BUT no all-weather surface.

Given that i enjoy dressage though will never win anything, and my horse is highly strung, good doer and needs regular work, what would you choose?
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without a doubt B for me... you can do schooling whilst hacking or in the field with jumps you don't have to have an all weather surface to compete! Oh and the thought of no yard politics.... BLISS!!!
 
B - definitely. That is very similar to my situation and I consider myself very lucky to be in this situation. I am so pleased I don't have to tolerate all the bitchiness and politics that often go with livery yards.
I don't have an all-weather surface but I can hack to a local yard to use theirs occasionally.
I do quite a lot of schooling on hacks, you know, transitions, lengthening and shortening strides, so you don't always need a school.
 
thanks everyone, you have been a big help!
i am just a bit worried as i've never kept a horse at a yard that doesn't have an all weather school. but my friend's place has 2 massive fields to use, so it shouldn't get too churned up from just 2 horses. and yes i guess i can school as i hack, that would keep my cheeky boy's mind on me rather than scary objects!
 
I'm going to be Devil's Advocate here and suggest A.

Having kept mine at a friend's place (almost the same as you're describing) I speak from experience. It will be okay when things run smoothly, but it can get awkward if things don't. And sometimes the silliest of things can get blown out of proportion and upset people sharing facilities. Especially if 'yard rules' aren't clearly established amongst the friends sharing.

At least option A is a business and you wont have any issues complaining about anything or asking them to do any extras for you, should the need ever arise.

The menage freezing in winter would not necessarily put me off since if it's frozen, so would the ground outside presumably. So riding anywhere in those temperatures would be difficult. Long hours of winter turnout is great if your horse likes it, but all of mine (well fed and rugged, with haylage in the field) still lurked by the gate after an hour or two in mid winter - begging to come back in.

I'd not discount the livery yard option out of hand....
Although your friend's yard does sound lovely.
 
I too would say 'A' like ever_hopeful said and for the same reasons. I allowed one of my friends to stay on my yard and it changed the friendship, not a fall out, just little reasons. Depends on the relationship you have really, if its one you can say what you want and they wont be offended and have a sense of humour over things, then it may be ok. Its a tough decision for you to make, good luck x
 
See the main problem with the livery yard is getting them to do things for you on the odd time you can't get to the yard. They just don't want the extra work! Either that or they're not too keen on me!
At least being at a friend's we can work it out between us. We're both professional adults and (i should hope!) mature enough to sort out any issues that arise.

It's just the riding that i'm concerned about really. I don't want to find that I can't get enough work into my horse without an arena.
 
From personal experience, when you have 2 horses, and they pair bond then that can be a nightmare ..... bear this in mind
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I can take one of mine out and leave the other at home, but try the other way around and WW3 breaks out
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I would always go for option B though .... as I could not deal with yard politics
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option B, as long as the fields at your friends place don't easily get waterlogged then I dont think you will find ridding in a field to much of an issue.
 
Invariably you'd find another livery at the new yard to help you out once in a while, if you'd return the favour. Particularly if the yard staff aren't terribly keen. Failing that, I expect someone would help out for a fair remuneration on the occasions you needed it.

Eaglestone makes a genuinely valid point. Two horses kept exclusively together, can make for trouble ahead....

Mind you, no harm in trying option B, and moving to option A if things don't work out is there? Just as long as your friend is understanding, of course
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Although its a nice to have, a menage isn't the bee all and end all. We have a rotten menage. Floods in winter, deep in summer and I barely ride there. I tend to do all my schooling out hacking and we have had the most amazing year competition wise. You also find that if you can school your horse whilst out hacking and in filds etc, when you do get to ride on decent surfaces at competitions its a doddle but even better, when the surface is rubbish at a competition, your horse doesn't mind as its used to it. I'd def go the frind route - sounds like you'll have a happier horse!
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