Moving to west Wales!

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Tiddlepiddle

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I am looking at the possibility of moving to west Wales.

Are there any considerations to take into account from a horsey perspective?

Also, what is the hay availability/cost like currently?
 
How far west are you going? I live in south west and have fantastic riding out but now it is limited in some areas. I love Pembrokshire and spent a lot of time there but the riding out is much better here.
 
Hi Tiddlepiddle :)

One thing you must be aware of, if moving to West Wales, is the amount of terrible off road riding,
being forced to use beaches more often than not ;)
We have 2 within 10 minutes hack and another 2 or 3 about an hour or so quiet hacking pace.

West Wales has very different areas. Some parts have hills and moors for off road riding.
Some areas are Welsh speaking ,but you will still have a warm welcome.(I did).
There is a first class Equine Hospital in West Wales
plus horse sales venues, plenty of shows, good bridle paths association
Easy distance to ferries for Ireland
.
I have just bought some small bales of good hay for £3 a bale.
.
Downside, I'll have a think and get back ......
:) Teg
 
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I have just bought some small bales of good hay for £3 a bale
:) Teg[/QUOTE]

Where is that from I was paying £5.50 a bale 3 years ago, buy big bales now but they are a pain to store.
 
Crugeran Celt said:
.
I have just bought some small bales of good hay for £3 a bale
:) Teg
Click to expand...

Where is that from I was paying £5.50 a bale 3 years ago, buy big bales now but they are a pain to store.[/QUOTE]

.................................................................

Near St Davids :)
We normally make our own, but it didn't happen this year.
.
 
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Hi tiddlepiddle!

I'm in West Wales. near Haverfordwest. lovely riding, quiet-ish roads,and two good competition centres nearby.

I have two suppliers for hay, one charges £3 and the other charges £4 for small bales.

Chwarae teg - whereabouts are you? pm if you like. I'm always looking for friends to hack with!
 
Near St Davids :)
We normally make our own, but it didn't happen this year.
.[/QUOTE]

Thats a little too far unfortunately they obviously take liberties here and charge to much! I priced some small bales in local feed store and they were charging £6.50 per bale last week! I will be down St Davids over half term with a horse trailer I might try to pick some up while I am there, picking up a new miniature down your way.:)
 
myhorsefred said:
Hi tiddlepiddle!

I'm in West Wales. near Haverfordwest. lovely riding, quiet-ish roads,and two good competition centres nearby.

I have two suppliers for hay, one charges £3 and the other charges £4 for small bales.

Chwarae teg - whereabouts are you? pm if you like. I'm always looking for friends to hack with!
Click to expand...

......................................................

I am about 1/2 an hours drive from Haverfordwest. :)
Have just seen your post asking for company, and remembered one downside of living so far from civilisation ......
some people seem to prefer to stay in splendid isolation -
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=561816

However, this area has more riders here recently, plenty of company if sought.
:)
 
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Crugeran Celt said:
Near St Davids :)
We normally make our own, but it didn't happen this year.
.
Click to expand...

Thats a little too far unfortunately they obviously take liberties here and charge to much! I priced some small bales in local feed store and they were charging £6.50 per bale last week! I will be down St Davids over half term with a horse trailer I might try to pick some up while I am there, picking up a new miniature down your way.:)[/QUOTE]

:( Crumbs CC, £6:50 a bale . They're taking the biscuit :(
A mini , sounds interesting :) Perhaps they will know the place where you can get the hay.
Failing that, pm me and I'll give you the telephone number.
Teg
 
Tiddlepiddle said:
I am looking at the possibility of moving to west Wales.

Are there any considerations to take into account from a horsey perspective?

Also, what is the hay availability/cost like currently?
Click to expand...

depends really where abouts you are moving to - west wales is classed as anything from Swansea onwards!
I have just realised i live scarily close to some other HHO members....:eek::eek:
I thought i was the only one from this end!!:o
 
Thanks for he replies.

The search area is roughly Lampeter-Aberaeron-Cardigan-Llandysul. It looks very pretty around there although I don't know it personally. Will be going over there this weekend though :)

We'd also love to go to Devon but not sure that we could afford to get a house with land and buildings... and some riding, like we could get in Wales?
 
Tiddlepiddle said:
Thanks for he replies.

The search area is roughly Lampeter-Aberaeron-Cardigan-Llandysul. It looks very pretty around there although I don't know it personally. Will be going over there this weekend though :)

We'd also love to go to Devon but not sure that we could afford to get a house with land and buildings... and some riding, like we could get in Wales?
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Well im about 3 miles from Llandysul :) Be careful where you pick, some places the hacking is shockingly bad!! LLanllwni gives the impression of fantastic hacking but you do have to run the gauntlet of the rogue shetland herds up there.
Villages im my locality with great hacking are as follows:
Croeslan,
Maesllyn
Coedybryn
Rhydlewis,
Brongest,
Ffostrasol,
Bwlchygroes,
Tregroes.
Pontsian

Llandysul itself is terrible for riding with hardly any bridle paths at all. If you see anywhere you like near Llandysul drop me a line & ill let you know what its like (well provided ive ridden there). We also have Only Pets & Horses in Horeb, just out of LLandysul which is great for getting your straw, haylage (big & small bales), hay & animal feed. Plenty of horse shows & hunting going on in the area as well :)
 
That's great Navaho. We will be in two of those looking!

Now I have heard, and before it starts an argument :), have heard that in some areas further west that English folk are not so welcome. Is there any truth in this at all? Sorry if it sounds as though I'm worrying too much:o
 
I'm in Aberystwyth, fab mountain hacking, plenty of off road riding but there aren't many "proper" bridle paths. There are signs but we pretty much make our own routes up. Beaches are great to ride on, lots of horsey happenings and livery prices are pretty reasonable :)
 
Tiddlepiddle said:
That's great Navaho. We will be in two of those looking!

Now I have heard, and before it starts an argument :), have heard that in some areas further west that English folk are not so welcome. Is there any truth in this at all? Sorry if it sounds as though I'm worrying too much:o
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Lol no arguments here, & its a valid question! You will find yourself made to feel very welcome here, anti English people are few & far between & usually you will find thats because they've had a know it all English person move in next door who looks down there noses at them. Ive lots of welsh friends, just make sure you make an effort to fit in & get to know your neighbours & all will be good :) Just be prepared for everyone knowing your business....you wont be able to fart with out the whole village knowing :)
 
Tiddlepiddle said:
Now I have heard, and before it starts an argument :), have heard that in some areas further west that English folk are not so welcome. Is there any truth in this at all? Sorry if it sounds as though I'm worrying too much:o
Click to expand...

Our village and area, while a wee bit north of where you are looking is predominately Welsh speaking. Many of my friends children don't speak English at all until they go to school and learn, and the teaching medium is Welsh. As an English couple I thought we would struggle, but the locals have been nothing but welcoming and friendly. We go in the pub and if they are chatting in Welsh they immediately start chatting in English so we can take part in the conversation. They appreciate that do sort of try to learn and speak Welsh, and are always happy to correct (and laugh at!) our pronunciation of Welsh words.

I have moved around lots and can honestly say that this the friendliest place we have lived.
 
We also moved to a Welsh speaking area in North Pembrokeshire, and were told we would not have a warm welcome
as we spoke little Welsh (even though we are Welsh).
I can only say 100% , we had the same experience as MrsElle .Warm,friendly welcome.
.
Try to fit in and you will I'm sure.
Am sorry I do not know your proposed area of Cardigan very well at all,
(except it is very beautiful and has some fabulous horse events)
but hopefully someone soon will be able to answer more questions .
Happy hunting,
Teg :D
 
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wiz07 said:
Where in Pembs are you??? My riding is not limited at all - abundence of quiet lanes ,bridle paths and feilds??:D
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I am not just visit the St Davids area frequently and have friends there with horses who moan about the lack of riding out. I am just west of Swansea and have fantastic riding out with open mountain rides and lanes. Gower peninsular also has great riding with beaches and common riding. Don't know the area OP is interested in for riding to be honest. I think we are a friendly lot although saying that we moved here over 19 years ago and all the people who moved into our lane since we came don't even say hello very odd! all the original people in the lane are lovely and yes they are mostly welsh speaking but myself and OH are not but our son has gone through a welsh medium school so they all speak welsh to him but english to us.
 
I am a little bit off where you're looking, I'm in Llandovery, more or less :)
Hacking round here is alright if you know where to look, and even better if your buddy up with some farmers :D
But sorry i can't help with hay prices as we get ours in return for shoeing (Step-dads a farrier) :D
 
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