Need to make a decision......

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Parkranger

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Been looking at yards and have found a stunning one - based in someones back garden - 4 stables, new arena and unlimited turnout. The cost would only be about £50 less than what I'm paying.

My fear is that at such a small yard i'd feel quite isolated and wouldn't have anyone to compete with. On the plus side the boy would be out all summer and be able to be a horse again.

I'd also be worried about leaving my present YO - she is so experienced and has really helped me get Ty on the right track with his schooling.

Such a big decision and I don't know what to do! x
 
Have I missed a previous thread? Why do you need to move? You've said that the new yard 'would only be £50 less' - so is cost not an issue? If location and cost are not really a problem and your happy at your present yard then I would stay.
 
Really difficult choice - I moved recently from a great yard with a fab YO and made some great mates (who I still see even though we now live 2 hrs away from each other). I have to say I really miss the atmosphere/help/support and would go back if at all possible (moved house so sadly not possible).
Having said that unlimited turn out is a real bonus so I appeciate your problem - how much turn out does he have now? Does it bother him?
x
 
Hmm - you say you've been looking at yards . Without being nosey , are you not entirely happy with your current one ?

I'm a great fan of turning out horses , so can see the atttraction . Is there a riding club nearby you could join ?

I hope your yard owner understands should you decide to leave ( some of mine did , others were not best pleased
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)

Maybe you could return to her for schooling lessons now & again ?

Hope some of this made sense !
 
I'm assumming that the 'new' yard is going to be fairly local to your current one? If thats the case can you not sweet talk your current YO into carrying on with your lessons at the new yard?
If she's as wonderful as you say she is then I'm sure she'd understand that you feel Ty needs more turnout than he is getting presently, and not take offence...
 
£50 less a month adds up over a year - so not that silly really. Question is if it would be cancelled by need to pay more for schooling/lesson.

£50 less per week is a huge amount!
 
My present yard is amazing - the people are great, YO is great, facilites are really good too.

I need to keep him on assisted DIY or part livery as I work in town so when I get to the stables I'd have time to either ride or muck out so riding takes precendence!

My only problem about where he is, is the fact the the turnout is rubbish and he's starting to get really stiff all the time. He's also getting quite bolshy in the stable - he's ridden everyday and we've started putting him on the walker but it all adds up!

I just don't want to be somewhere that I feel isolated with him (if that makes sense!)

x
 
[ QUOTE ]
I'm assumming that the 'new' yard is going to be fairly local to your current one? If thats the case can you not sweet talk your current YO into carrying on with your lessons at the new yard?
If she's as wonderful as you say she is then I'm sure she'd understand that you feel Ty needs more turnout than he is getting presently, and not take offence...

[/ QUOTE ]

I think she'd be fine about us moving - she understands that the turnout can be a problem at the yard. I just feel that I'm staying there for selfish reasons and not for Ty's best interests....
 
How many horses are on the new yard? How often are they turned out? Is he likely to be turned out by himself for any length of time?
Are there any other liveries, or is it just the YO and their horses?
 
Your boy needs the turn out doesn't he. I would go and give it a try. at least you have facilities, which is more than I had when i moved ( and was a factor in going back)
 
He'd probably move with his best mate! They'd also probably be turned out together - there's 2 horses but I don't think that either of them belong to the yard owner...
 
I moved from a small yard with poor turnout to a larger one with better turnout, and had a much happier and saner horse as a result of it. However I'm also happier, as I was a bit bored and lonely at the smaller yard. Here there is always something going on! My mum on the other hand loved it at the small yard because it was so quiet and peaceful... If you've got doubts then can you keep looking for something that suits both of you?
 
I'd move. I moved from a yard where there were always people to ride with and chat to and help out to a place where there is just me. I love it, it's like my sanctuary! You get used to it, and have happier horses
 
Personally I prefer smaller yards. there is a danger with big yards where you make lots of friends that it becomes a bit of a 'social club' for you and that is secondary to the needs of the horse, in fact some of the more expensive yards sell themselves as exclusive country clubs, where the staff do all your horse stuff and you just have to turn up and mingle in the club room and occasionally get on your horse to justify membership. Not suggesting your current one is that extreme
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but you may find that a quieter yard with less distractions and much more turnout may result in a chilled out and happy horse.
More turn out takes the pressure off you too, if you are working long hours and can't get back a night out in the field will do no harm, even in winter
 
I'd move, from what you've said before he really does need the turnout - he will be more relaxed and life will be less stressful for you. I'm on a small yard and it's great, really friendly.

Plus if this one you're looking out has an arena and only a few stables the arena won't always be busy!
 
Definately move as its in the best interests of the horse.
You're worried about not getting any help at the new yard-am sure there are loads of freelance instructors about who would come and help you/train you, why not ask your current YM?
 
Move, turnout is is what your horse needs, this yard has it, if a friend is moving with you it wont be too awful and it sounds like there will be a couple of other horse owners where you are going so you and your horse wont be lonely. Book some lessons and keep in contact with people from your old yard so you can ask for advice when you need it.
 
I've never been on a large yard so i don't know the advantages of it but i do know there are lots of advantages to a small yard. I'm lucky that my mum has three stables and fields in the back garden and so it's just me and my sister with our horses. It's lovely to be able to what you want when you want. I would say the best bits are the school is always free to use and there's no rules over turnout. Also you can worm, feed, do stables etc etc when you want. In fact the only rules we have are to remove droopings from the school and keep the fields clear of dung.

The disadvantages are that if you have the vet, farrier, physio etc then you'll pay more callout as you can't share the costs amongst so many people. Also you can't always ride in company (although this doesn't bother me).

Have to say i wouldn't want to be on a big yard as i always hear so many bad stories about people interfering, bitchiness etc

Competing wise - before my sister joined me on the yard i hardly ever competed, i really needed the push to get out but now there's two of us we encourage each other to do competitions.

We use a freelance instructor who comes every saturday so we don't miss out on lessons, in fact it's also a social occassion as we ride then spend ages having tea and chatting!! She'll also come and school them if we can't make it for a lesson
 
I moved from one yard to another because I thought the grass would be greener (so to speak). I ended up moving back to my original yard after 3 months as I didn't like the new one. I moved for various reasons. But moved back for the main reason in that I missed my friend and didn't have anyone to help me or hack out with.

Happy owner - happy horse I say. I am paying all this money to enjoy my horse and I just wasn't enjoying her at the "new" yard. I have to say I only moved back on Saturday and I have been very happy and the reasons I left in the first place seem small compared to my being happy.

I know our horses have to be happy but whats the point in having a horse if it makes you unhappy with where he is stabled.

I am not saying don't move to the smaller yard but just wanted to put a fresh out look on it as everyone seems keen to advise the move.
 
There are a couple of us looking to move from separate yards....one of them is into competing too so it would be nice to move with her....but want the best of both worlds and move with my bezzie mate and Ty's bezzie mate too.

Dilemas. Hopefully we'll find somewhere we can all move to! x
 
I'm also worried that he's started weaving when I'm not around....he's got a massive cut on his head where he's obvioulsy bashed his head....taken all the skin off. Being blind in one eye he's probably not the best candidate to start weaving!

He's also getting bitten and kicked quite a bit - I know that horses can be like that but just worries me that he's never going to settle into a 'herd' environment - he just needs a mate (preferably his boyfriend Mr Winks) and he's happy.
 
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