Looking for good yard in/around Swanley, Kent area?

Porkie

Porkie

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Friend of mine is looking for a yard with good reputation in or around the Swanley area of Kent any suggestions?

It needs to offer an assisted DIY service (ie, yard turns out/brings in , rug changes and puts feed/hay in - owner does everything else like muck out and make feeds and supplies own feed and bedding etc.)

Having probs as finding lots of small yards don't advertise and we don't know they exist!!
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Thx
 
I am actually sat at work in Swanley as we speak!!
If your friend can stretch a bit price wise then The Arrow is fantastic, they do Hunter or Full livery and have brilliant facilites. I'm stabled there and for the first time in ages there is a space.
If not there are loads of decent yards in the North Cray area or Warrigal Farm which is near The Arrow.
I have lived and stabled round here for a long time so if you need anymore help just PM me.
 
Have you thought about the Old Mill Equestrian Centre in Swanley. I got there regularly for dressage comps and the facilities are lovely. I don't know the prices there, but they do have a website (just google them)

Fantasia - do you know what Warrigal Farm is like? I am going there this Sunday for a dressage comp and have never been there before.

Ta!
 
What are your priorities? Arrow is a lovely place for facilities, but the hacking isn't great - I used to be there and going along the Darenth Road can be... interesting. Old Mill has that lane to be negotiated before you get anywhere. But, both have indoor and outdoor schools.
Speedgate is great for hacking of course because you go straight on to the ride, but they do have a lot of horses in a field together sometimes, and turnout can be very restricted in winter. However, if you look at the little yard almost opposite the bottom of Speedgate Hill - I think it's called Whitehill stables - they have a lovely outdoor arena, and are close enough to the Speedgate rides for you to have good hacking. They do full livery weekdays, DIY weekends, although I think some of them pay someone to help at weekends too.
Someone said there is a new livery yard opened at the bottom of Manor Lane - the metal barrier right on the corner. Now, that has nice facilities too, I used to rent the place myself. A really lovely big arena. Downside - to get anywhere you have to either brave the nutters racing up Manor Lane, or venture out on to the Fawkham Road - which is why I moved!
Personally I'm not keen on Warrigal, but see what you think when you go.
I made the decision to travel a bit further - straight down the M20 - and now have mine near Borough Green, in Crouch. There are a few yards that way and the hacking is fantastic. At the yard where I am there is no school, but we ride straight out the gate and go for miles without hitting a road.
Or... what about Preston Farm near Shoreham?
Do you get the impression I've gone into all this in some detail??
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Hi HayMarket

Warrigal is ok, i have only been once to do some judging the other weekend, im afraid i didn't see the arena as i was judging out in the fields.
 
I totally forgot about Preston Farm, that is a very nice yard too and the guy that runs it is great. My mare went there for training for a month and it has two arenas and plenty of hacking. I know they do all sorts of livery and if i hadn't have got into Arrow would have gone there myself.
 
I could not recommend the Old Mill the owner threatened to tie my horse outside the gate when we had a falling out. Preston Farm is great but you may struggle to get in as he is full.
 
Sorry, I don't have the number of Preston Farm, I expect they are in the phone book. Alternatively, drive through Eynesford and out the other side towards Sevenoaks. Go under the railway bridge at the end of the village, past the lavender farm on your right, and just before you go under the next railway bridge you can see Preston Farm on your right.
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You can see the arenas, buildings and fields from the road.
 
I am at Frieslawn in Meopham, excellent, but spaces come up few and far between. Hollywell is good also but a bit quite at night.

Tiny pony where is this new yard exactly?
 
You'd need to check that it is being used as a livery yard, that is just what I've been told. It is on the corner of Manor Lane and Fawkham Road. There is a gateway with a metal barrier and a wooden gate, it's up there.
Personally I'd go for something not right on that road, probably the one near Speedgate Hill, just because it is so horrible riding out along that bit of the Fawkham Road.
 
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