Londoners....

truffles

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just wondering what you're views are on keeping a horse in/near London? Am currently finding it quite hard to find a yard that has the facilities that I need to just get on and have fun, because I don't actually have the time to dawdle around waiting for an arena to drain etc.... Hopefully going to see a lovely sounding yard pretty soon, but till then I have found it very hard to find one.....and if it has good facilities it costs an absolute bomb, especially for people like me who need to have a horse on Full Livery most of the time. Would you rather the quality of the yard to be bad rather than paying alot more for good ones, or are you prepared to do that? Or would you rather drive further out to a good one, rather than have a worse one closer by?

I supppose not being able to drive because I am too young doesn't help, which rules out any yards which aren't near public transport, which sucks because I would be happy to drive for an hr everyday just to get to see my horse everyday/ nearly everyday? Do you as Londoners feel disadvantaged when it comes to yards? I (well, my parents, who are paying) almost feel a bit 'scammed'....I'm sorry if this sounds stereotypical, but I have always found that a decent amount of people (including me!) in London aren't able to see their horse everyday, whether that is because of time/traffic wise therefore yards can put up prices sky high...

Was thinking about it today, when we were walking through Surrey on a Duke Of Edinburgh field day...I would anything (well, not quite but you get what I mean!) to live in the country when I am on my feet and earning income, even if it meant having a smaller place just to be near a better yard...

I guess what I am trying to say, is that I have so far found London a bl**dy irritating place to live if you want to keep a horse....LOL. My main way of getting to the yard is by public transport, which is just so BAD!! Trains are always delayed or cancelled, meaning I cannot see my horse. Bet you are all saying how can you let such a silly thing get in the way of your horse, but it really is my only way of getting up there! Then have to ring yard and tell them I won't be in, so I get charged double for everything I would usually do if I had been able to get up there.

Just realised how rambling and pointless this thread is, but would love to hear other Londoners views on keeping their horses in or near London, and how you all go about it....
 
i had my horse with me in london when i was at uni there, where abouts are you? i kept hector at a ok yard, was pricey (most of my student loan went on livery) but thats london i suppose, didnt really get on with the woman that ran it, but the yard manager was great, pm me if you want details
 
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i had my horse with me in london when i was at uni there, where abouts are you? i kept hector at a ok yard, was pricey (most of my student loan went on livery) but thats london i suppose, didnt really get on with the woman that ran it, but the yard manager was great, pm me if you want details

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Ah will PM you!
 
I'm just going to pop downstairs to get my BHS mag it's got an article about keeping/riding horses in London, will see if there's anything of interest in it for you.

In response to your questions when looking for a yard the main things for me would be adequate turnout, at least a basic school, decent sized stables and some hacking. I would be prepared to travel on public transport for about 1/2 an hour, any more and I couldn't justify it.
 
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I'm just going to pop downstairs to get my BHS mag it's got an article about keeping/riding horses in London, will see if there's anything of interest in it for you.

In response to your questions when looking for a yard the main things for me would be adequate turnout, at least a basic school, decent sized stables and some hacking. I would be prepared to travel on public transport for about 1/2 an hour, any more and I couldn't justify it.

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Thanks very much!!
Yeah, am looking for that too - my current yard has that and more, but I have to travel four hrs per weekend for it, both sat and sunday....just too much, and the prices are too high to justify that journey!
 
Not much of interest I'm afraid
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, it basically goes on about how equestrianism in London is great.

Only other thing I can suggest is look on BHS website and (as you are doing obviously!) speak to Londoners on here.

Good luck - sorry article didn't do much good!
 
Did deep...you'll find plenty of hidden yards if you look hard enough. there was a thread on here recently, though I can't find it now - was last week sometime - all about London horses. Check it out and pm me if you need any help. Whereabouts in London are you?
 
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Did deep...you'll find plenty of hidden yards if you look hard enough. there was a thread on here recently, though I can't find it now - was last week sometime - all about London horses. Check it out and pm me if you need any help. Whereabouts in London are you?

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Will PM you
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Not much of interest I'm afraid
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, it basically goes on about how equestrianism in London is great.

Only other thing I can suggest is look on BHS website and (as you are doing obviously!) speak to Londoners on here.

Good luck - sorry article didn't do much good!

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Ahh no worries - thanks for looking anyway, was really nice of you.
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Yes, I will continue speaking to london people on here....just realised how many are on here...There MUST be somewhere....!! Well, if anyone sees this and they are in the S. London/Surrey area at a nice yard...PM me LOL!
 
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Have you tried the stables on frith lane?Or arkley view?Frith Lane is near Mill Hill East Train Station..?

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Well I am looking more at Surrey area, because I am a bit nearer to that than N.London! But I will look them up and see where they are, thanks
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Or how far are you willing to go out?There's lots in elstree/borehamwood on the thameslink train?Or if you can get to Chorleywood-they have a good/fast train direct from Marleybone?
 
Well I am looking more at Surrey area, because I am a bit nearer to that than N.London! But I will look them up and see where they are, thanks
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Oh oops-Surrey will prob be easier then!
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come to mine!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I'll get round to taking you down in the next couple of wks for sure
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x

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Woo Wooo....that is my priority right now, to see your lovely sounding yard Lucy!! Mum said she would drive me down to take a look next week lol, so you better be there
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What was the way you went to get there again?? xx
 
i line more or less bang in the centre of london and keep my pony out in middlesex (osterley). Unfortunatly what i want for my pony i had to go a bit further out (24/7 turnout), luckily there is a good public transport link to where i am (another girl on our field was using it for a while until she passed her test). As someone else said if you dig deep you will find quite a few places, i know lots of little yards tucked away in the backstreets of wandworth, kennington etc that you would never know where there unless you knew of them. PM me if you want
 
Our livery is really cheap, but I must say we couldn't cope with a yard that was any worse. It's not particularily run down or anything, it just has minimal facilities, and about 50 owners fighting over who gets to use them...
 
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