OMG...been offered my own yard/grazing...what to do??? help

Hippona

Hippona

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OK....cant quite believe this, but out of the blue someone has just offered me a field with 3 stables....about 1/4 of a mile from my house.....to rent, cheaper than DIY livery I am currently paying.

Drawbacks....no school, but I spose I could ride in field/put jumps up now and again.

Pros....can get big bales in for winter.....some of you may know my hassles with ending up feeding others horses at the yard, cos they wont/dont put hay out.

Also....my horse was kicked and had a broken leg a couple of years ago and I think this is less likely to happen on our own land with just our horses.

We have 3 horses, but I may have to get another as a companion if 2 of us go out riding together....

Only thing is if we go on hols, but I could pay a friend to keep an eye out and do them for me......


Stuff to think about really, but I am quite excited....

So....opinions please....drawbacks to being on your own place V livery yard?!
 
It's what we did. Much prefer it
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there is always pros and always cons

However, my gut reaction to this post was ....... you are thinking about this because?????

there are always schools that can be hired if needs be
 
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I would not stable/keep my horses at a yard with no house on site - that would be my reservation I'm afraid.

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Can I ask why AM? Do you mean for security reasons?
 
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I would not stable/keep my horses at a yard with no house on site - that would be my reservation I'm afraid.

[/ QUOTE ]

Can I ask why AM? Do you mean for security reasons?

[/ QUOTE ]
Basically. You read just too many horror stories. I'd never sleep
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I have a driveway alarm that goes off in the house if the beam is broken outside my stables at night, so I do know if anything is coming or going. My trouble is I sleep too well so even if the stables were outside my door I'd hear nothing!!!
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I am going to shout - GO FOR IT!

Has a simlar opportunity myself a couple of years back (although in my case it's 4 miles from home). Took the opportunity and have never looked back (and I haven't got a school either).
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I would not stable/keep my horses at a yard with no house on site - that would be my reservation I'm afraid.

[/ QUOTE ]

Can I ask why AM? Do you mean for security reasons?

[/ QUOTE ]
Basically. You read just too many horror stories. I'd never sleep
frown.gif


[/ QUOTE ]


This is my main reservation.....but we have 2 big dogs and I could go check the horses at night.....plus theres a big gate which can be chained up. Its just a bit scary cos Ive never had my own place before.....

The girls thats on there now is giving up horses, so I may have to wait until she's sold up.

I do like my livery yard, but I have certain issues with the amount of horses currently, plus there are 12 new stables being built and these are as well as, not to replace the old block...so that would have an impact on the grazing/horses per field etc......plus actually the school at the yard is pants anyway, its either muddy/bone hard or frozen.


Hmmmm....sems to be more pro's than cons.....
grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
I have a driveway alarm that goes off in the house if the beam is broken outside my stables at night, so I do know if anything is coming or going.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've been thinking about this, my stables are about 500 yards from my house, would the alarm work at that distance?
 
We did the other way - when I bought my youngster moved my 2 other horses from a privately rented yard with stables and a school, 12 acres etc - all moved to a livery yard. In our case the circumstances meant we had little option, the only thing I would say is that having people to ride with at the yard and to talk to about things, plus people at the yard all day rather than just morning and night all a bonus of moving. I am not saying livery is better - I loved having the place to ourselves - I guess it depends how much you like your livery yard at the moment!
 
Go for it! I was in the same position just over a year ago - stables, summer paddock and separate winter turnout with access to a stream on offer 5 minutes walk from my house. It really was a no-brainer. I liked my livery yard but it was 15 minutes drive away on a single-track road that got blocked easily in the winter, the fields were all barbed wire, and the YO was laid back to the point of being horizontal, which meant sometimes she allowed things to happen that bothered me somewhat.

Having (almost) complete control over how my animals are looked after is worth all the minor drawbacks. My landlord is happy to chuck hay at the horses if I'm away overnight; any longer than that and I have horsey friends locally who are happy to feed and check.

Good luck!
 
Well I do like it generally, but it has changed and can be bitchy ( nothing new there I suppose!)
I just feel that for the welfare of the horses in generally the 3 of them in a field would be better than the current 9 in a field....which may be more when the new stables are built.....

Plus I wouldnt be far away from my old yard and I could still meet up to ride, but actually I mainly ride on my own anyway.

Also...just a thought...with the money we would save, I could buy a trailer !
smile.gif
 
YAHOOOO LUCKY YOU!
yes go for it.
when I was first in this position I thanked my lucky stars and grasped it with both hands.
the only downside is you can occasionally feel lonely and if you need another pair of hands it isnt there. So, joining a riding club or hacking group at least helps in part with this. other than that enlist a friend to help with horses in return for a ride or something, if you can.
its just fabulous having your own plce.
Best Wishes
N
 
Wow - then I would jump at it - sounds like all of the benefits and none of the drawbacks! Hope it works out well for you. Our horses still only in field together - at a much older yard there were in a bigger field (12 horses) and had lots more injuries - especially with horses coming and going. Good luck
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I have a driveway alarm that goes off in the house if the beam is broken outside my stables at night, so I do know if anything is coming or going.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've been thinking about this, my stables are about 500 yards from my house, would the alarm work at that distance?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, I will {M you the details of the one I have if I can find them!
 
I did this last year - rented 4 acres and 3 stables for my 2 horses.

Pros - no crazy livery problems. We pretty much did what we liked, field and turnout wise. Could buy in whatever hay etc we wanted. Horses knew one another and we never had kicks or fighting/bullying problems.

Cons - the mud. Check your field isn't too muddy. In the end we had to move just before Xmas as the field was becoming totally unusable and infested with buttercup which meant that we only had about 1 acre of grazing that the horses would actually eat. We had a trash paddock but it just became a mud bath. It worked ok for about a year and then the cost of feeding them hay all year just got too much.

Also no school. Because the fields were so muddy, we simply could NOT ride as it churned up the ground and was so poached and unlevel in the summer, I daren't risk it. So you either have to designate a part of the field for riding which can't be grazed or have a lot of spare acreage. Boxing the boys up twice a week to take them schooling got expensive and tedious.

Security. Our yard was broken into in the first week. They smashed through the gates and stole the tractor, leaving the horses free to get out onto the road. Fortunately they stayed put but it doesn't bear thinking about and the yard was not close enough to a house for anyone to notice. We never kept tack there and nobody seems to steal TBs but you never know.

So in conclusion, yes go ahead but check the drainage carefully and consider the acreage needed for 3 horses. We had to move in the end but the people who moved in after us are now keeping 4 horses on the wettest smallest paddock (which we saved for summer grazing) and don't seem to realise that they're destroying their grazing for the summer.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I would not stable/keep my horses at a yard with no house on site - that would be my reservation I'm afraid.

[/ QUOTE ]

Can I ask why AM? Do you mean for security reasons?

[/ QUOTE ]
Basically. You read just too many horror stories. I'd never sleep
frown.gif


[/ QUOTE ]


This is my main reservation.....but we have 2 big dogs and I could go check the horses at night.....plus theres a big gate which can be chained up. Its just a bit scary cos Ive never had my own place before.....

The girls thats on there now is giving up horses, so I may have to wait until she's sold up.

I do like my livery yard, but I have certain issues with the amount of horses currently, plus there are 12 new stables being built and these are as well as, not to replace the old block...so that would have an impact on the grazing/horses per field etc......plus actually the school at the yard is pants anyway, its either muddy/bone hard or frozen.


Hmmmm....sems to be more pro's than cons.....
grin.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

I think you've answered your own question - like I said, go on do it!!!!!
grin.gif
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I would say go for it, I have never been on a livery so have no experience of them but I think its far nicer to have your own land - esp if you have 3 horses. 1/4 of a mile is no distance as far as security goes, and how many yards with houses on them get broken into - quite a few round my way.

Just don't keep your tack there (we haven't done since it all got stolen twice
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) and make sure everything is bolted down. Nosey neighbours are great, we look out for the farmer and people living near our field, and they look out for us so it works both ways.

Also don't rush out and get a companion, we have a horse that gets left on his own sometimes when we go hacking for an hour or two, and apart form the odd neigh he really isn't that bothered, depends on the horse but I'd see what happens before you commit yourself to feeding/looking after another one. And yes not having a school cna be annoying, but you do get used to it
smile.gif


Good luck, it'll be great!
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I would say go for it!

I used to rent just a field - now I'm on a farm so I have stables too but I hardly see anyone and I've got my own field and do my own thing - I love being my own 'boss'
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Obviously you have to think about more things like sorting out your own hay/bedding and field maintenance etc and security issues (I had mine freeze-marked when I moved to the field but houses did over look it).

I'm lucky that I've got friends within hacking distance too so don't miss having company. Most of my friends have horses at home.
 
I dont keep my tack on the yard anyway.....got stolen last year, what a pain....I would prob buy (another) shed for home for all the horsey stuff and drag it down the road..... my parents just live down the road also.....plus theres not much gets past the old folk down our way!!

I am pretty excited really....I hope it comes off and this girl doesnt change her mind....anyway, I have first refusal so my OH wants to go and have a look around ( as they do) and see whats what....


Will keep you all posted, thanks guys
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