Livery yards in Devon??!!

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tusc2

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Hi all

Need a little help! My OH has decided that we should move to Devon from Lincolnshire :o. Having just spent the last few days in Exeter and Tavistock, I can see the benefits of moving to such a beautiful county including riding on Dartmoor :).

Is there anyone on here that hails from this part of the country?? I would like to know if you would recommend Devon for horsey people and activities. I have one horse on full livery at the mment who I want to showjump and dressage (with the occassional xc attempt!).

We have looked at a house about 5 miles west of Tavistock in a place called Sydenham Dameral, so would be looking for livery around that area.

Everyone seems friendly down in that part of the world. If you had the choice where in Devon would you want to be based with your horse??
 
Hi and welcome, I live just outside Okehampton and have a livery yard, about a mile outside the National Park www.ballhillequestrian.co.uk. We moved here about 5 years ago and love it. The riding is fantastic, I can be up on the moors within 10 mins of leaving home, and the moors here are lovely and open with fantastic grass. I know what there is in this area, loads of XC, plus dressage and Sj at the Grange, Tall trees in Cornwall, Loads of riding clubs. most places have good grazing as loads of open land in the area. Not sure about tavistock area as although we originally looked to move to Lamerton we eventuall decided against it as we decided Tavistock was rather cut off from the main roads, over the moor from Okehampton, or up from Plymouth and we wanted to be able to get onto the M5 without it taking us hours. In bad weather the road from the A30 down is the first to get covered in snow and fog and in summer it can be really slow with caravans and holiday makers

Personally we are now based in the best place for us. We can get to the M5 in 25 minutes, we are on the A30 in 4 minutes so can go wherever we want to with ease and getting the lorry out is easy. Our hacking is fantastic and we can go xc schooling about 15 mins up the road
 
Come to Devon PDQ: you'll never wanna live anywhere else. There's a lot of variety within the County tho' - people like "Bosworth" are lucky to live on Dartmoor, which is superb; I'm from the East of the County where the hacking is either brilliant OR its total cr@p!! Its fair'ish where I am; could be better, could be worse. We have to cross a dual carriageway (using over-bridges) TWICE on any one hack, and there's a bridlepath so close to the main carriageway that if you had a lunging whip in your hand you'd be tickling the windscreen's of the lorries that go past - its mega close!!! But nice riding around it.

A county of contrasts I would say.

You obviously know where you want to settle - I don't know any yards in that area; but should you fancy a day in some nice riding country in an eastwards direction then give us a yell coz there's some open common land (loads of it) called Woodbury Common. Nice for a breeze!
 
I'd agree that it depends where in Devon you move to. I relocated here 14 years ago (to the East Devon area) and find there's a real lack of good yards with decent facilities within a 15 miles radius of where I live. When I first relocated, I lived and worked at Bicton College and kept my horse on livery in Exmouth (a private yard, now closed) and it was literally 'over the road' from Woodbury Common for riding. However, having moved away from that area 12 years ago, I'd REALLY REALLY like to move to a yard with facilities and good off-road hacking, but simply cant as they're all too far away from where I am now. :( :(

I grew up near Ruislip in Middlesex (a very built up area in Outer London) and had MUCH better riding around there: Ruislip Woods, Mad Bess Woods, lots of yards, etc. Deep sigh.... Who'd have thought having moved to rural Devon, that I'd actually prefer to be back in Outer London?!
 
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In Devon - moved from Middlesex a few years ago - definitely best thing for the horse......... Is a really horsey place, with lots to do with you want to with your horse - lovely countryside, etc........ So if you get a chance to move down here - do! Am sure my horse is happier than she ever was before (though maybe because I'm looking after her myself rather than livery!).

but can't recommend it down here enough!! :)
 
Thanks everyone for your replies. Think we will definately have a serious think about moving down there and see how far the budget will stretch!! :)
 
Hello to all,
could anyone recommend me a livery yard near Tavistock? Would be really happy, if you knew of a good address!;)
What about Cholwell? Does it have any facilities?
 
I don't know what Cholwell is like as far as livery, but I do know they have an indoor school and run local level show jumping ad dressage. I haven't been myself as its a bit too far for me but have heard these events are usually pretty friendly.
 
I live on dartmoor very near Tavistock and its awesome! We love it here. There is a big yard in crapstone called crossways. I think they have a Facebook page that you could check out. I used to ride there as a child when it was a riding school. Alternatively you could do what I did and leave lots of notes around on field gates and stuff asking if they have or know anyone who could home your horse. You will not regre moving here and if you do then we should hook up as we are so close. I can show you around! Lol!
 
Just to add if I was goin to recommend for riding then where I am now is totally amazing. Everywhere is moors and it's not just boring flat moor. You can go for miles through rivers, over logs etc there's also plenty of stuff going on with riding clubs etc and the lady up from me who offers livery has a full size arena and round pen etc and she runs clinics there. Look up yelverton on google maps and check out the area. It's awesome!
 
I also live and keep my mare at Yelverton in a private yard. Chowell is also nice. My ex lives very close to there and many moons ago I used to have my horse on livery just up the road from them. Feel free to contact me if I can be out any further help.
 
@claribella: Where do you have your horse exactly? I didn't get that... At a private yard or an 'official' livery yard?
Best regards
Chagall :-)
 
Hiya, im on a farm which is an official yard although there's only two of us but when I moved out here I just put notes on field gates and things as the farm didn't have room for me a that point. Hopefully that makes sense now:)
 
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