Loan on Full livery or Buy on DIY ?

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Pluto

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I am interested to know people's opinions on the following dilemma,

Which would you go for ?

Option 1

Loan a 16.2 ex racer on a busy yard for £60 a week. Everything done for you (full livery) hacking not great from yard .
But yard very strict and not hugely child friendly and horse a bit too big and might not be suitable as has had a year off due to injury, now sound.

Or

14.3 tb x perfect size temp etc on DIY at a freindly family arm with excellent hacking. Very child friendly 120 PCM plus hay. But time is an issue as busy family. Farmer has offered to help out with horse for free but may not realise I need help virtually every day to bring in and turn out.

What would you chose ?
 
I would personally go for the smaller horse at the DIY yard. I've always preferred smaller yards (remember owning a horse is supposed to be fun!) and usually there is someone who is happy to share chores. At the moment, I get one lady's horse in on the evenings she works and she puts out mine on the mornings I work. I've never been at a small yard where there hasn't been someone. The one time I went to a big yard, I found it was a lonely place and only lasted a couple of months! (plus too many rules)
 
Asmp - you've hit the nail on the head. 14.3 is my perfect height. I love hacking and at the farm the farmers daughter wants to hack out too. At yard it's VERY strict so find myself not wanting to go ther or do anything in case I am told off . Also with loan horse, who belongs to yard owner I don't feel I can do what I want as he's not mine. I have to turn out when told and have to get staff to get him in etc etc

Family farm would be a million times more relaxed.
 
I would go for option 2 aswell - you never know you may manage more than you think! I work & have 3 kids that all need to be somewhere every night aswell as being fed but usually manage to sort pony out myself (with daughter) although I can ask yo if I get stuck xx
 
Although option 2 sounds like the best option, clearly the biggest issue is turning out and bringing in.
You cannot rely on the farmers good will when you already know this is an issue... If you go for option 2 you need to be up front from the outset, and offer to pay a bit more.
I'm assuming your child friendly comment is because the horse / pony is for one of your kids?
However if you are a first time owner option 1 may be better as you'll have back up and support, however if it's a first horse for a child then I'm not sure the Hirse would be suitable.
If I'm honest i don't think either of your options suit your needs. You admit time is short, therefore DIY is not an option or you could end up in a right pickle if you don't have the support of other liveries or the farmer and it would be unwise to hope you can rely on other people because ultimately the buck would stop with you.
Can't the 14.3hh go into full livery, or is it a financial decision? If it is, option 1 would be a better bet so yu don't over commit yourself and can get out if time / costs are more than expected.
Maybe you need a 3rd option??? No idea what it could be but maybe back tombs drawing board :)
 
Sorry just seen your replies... Makes more sense.
Option 2, but discuss bringing in/ turning out with farmer before moving there. I'm sure you could get a rota going with some other liveries, or offer to pay one of them...'they'd probably bit your hand off.
Good luck :)
 
The farm owners are a lovely family who have offered to help with my horse when I can't. They too have 3 children and understand totally my time restrictions. I have offered to pay £5 a day for them to do my horse so they are fully aware of my offer to pay them but may or may not charge me but either way is fine. They already turn out and put away their pony do said they are happy to do mine too. The children issue is just knowing that I can take the kids there when they aren't at school and the farmers family are young children like mine and would love for me to bring mind along including the baby . Livery yard does not encourage children and say that they must not make noise, or run on the yard which is fine but it means I can't relax when I'm there. The horses I have mentioned are for me not the children but at the farm they are also going to get a Shetland for their son and have already said my children are very welcome to comd and ride, groom and play with the Shetland.
There will also be one other livery at the farm with two horses who also might be happy to help out do I should be able to manage cover for myself.
 
Deffinatly option 2. Where I keep my pair,I have the field to myself BUT when I cant get up there (bad snow/no buses,xmas/easter) the man who owns the field happily gives them hay.
It will be better at the farm because your children can play with theirs. Sounds perfect solution.Go for it!!!
 
Option 2! I keep my horses at home and have since had a daughter. Looking back to when I was on DIY livery at a large busycomp yard I don't think I'd have coped with my young daughter in tow! Plus everones attitude towards kids there was they should be seen and not heard! If I was looking for livery, option 2 would sound perfect to me! Somewhere that's laid back, small and quiet and child friendly!!
 
I would go for option 2. If the first yard does not encourage children it seems fairer on you, your children and the other liveries. If the farmer is happy to help our when you can't make it up then it sounds ideal for you.
 
I'm sure option 2 sounds best. They sound much more your sort of people (and mine ;) ) and, as long as they understand your difficulties (which you say they do), and you offer to pay for extra help, I see no problems.

The other place sounds too stressful for me (and the horse isn't the right one for your circumstances) - go for No 2!
 
But just from another perspective .- why do you think it's ok for your children to run around and be noisy..? That's unfair on the other liveries and dangerous - surely you would always be supervising your children? We have children up from time to time who are lovely and mosey BUT you will not find them shrieking or running around!
 
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