Opinions. Priority - yard distance from home or hacking

I'm just about to move from a yard 3 mins away to a yard 5 mins away and I'm worried about the extra distance!! 🤣🤣 current yard, ok school, not great hacking but have coped for many years. Moving to a yard with huge well maintained school and hacking directly into woods. I used to be very competitive at dressage so a decent school was very important but now he is relatively established at my level and the fact I'm loosing interest in dressage then the hacking for me would be my first priority.
 
Neither would be my choice. I love hacking but driving 1hr 20 a day every day for DIY would not be something I’d want to do especially working full time. If you can go once a day then it might be ok. Is it 20 min on a good day? What’s it like on a bad day?

The hacking at the nearer yard sounds poor not mediocre to me.
 
I moved from somewhere 2.1 miles away to somewhere 4.5 miles away. On a good day it's only another 4 minutes (13 minutes instead of 9) as the first 2 miles are along the same roads, 80% of which have a 20mph limit and the extra is along a straight, main road but, if there's an issue, it can take as much as an extra 30 mins. Luckily that's only happened once. We had to move as our yard was on the market and to begin with I hated the extra, especially as I had to drive past the old place to get to the new one. Now I'm used to the timings though, the better hacking (well, it's the same hacking but we don't have to go along busy roads to get to it as we access it from the other side) and much better school make it worth it. I still miss the old place but am very happy at the new one. The hacking is more useful to me than the school but I don't do loads of dressage. Having said that, having an indoor (albeit one that get hired out most weekends) has been a godsend this winter, even if it was just for walking Archie when he had to stay in with mud fever!

Your replies to people about the school makes me think that subconsciously you're leaning towards that one which is absolutely fine. I think if dressage was really important to me, I'd go for that one and box up somewhere better for hacking.
 
Muddywellies said:
We currently hack twice a week and my horse loves it. But we are competing at adv med so really need a decent school. The hacking is definitely far safer at the yard 20 mins away (but with the small school)
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Small school or 40 by 20 with the other bigger and giving you the option for long arena tests. I would choose the one with better hacking but I wouldn't want a school smaller than 40x20.
 
Focusing solely on the distance you have stated, my yard is 15-20 mins away from home with the most amazing hacking. I never find the journey an issue and the hacking makes it more than worth it
 
I’m 22-25 minutes away in no traffic.

But I’ve well draining all year turnout, horse can live out, two schools I can hack to, and amazing off road hacking that’s canter-able all year round.

Lots of closer yards on clay with rat run roads to access hacking.

You take your choices.

You learn to be efficient too. I listen to podcasts in car. Ride before work & start a bit later.
 
Sussexbythesea said:
Neither would be my choice. I love hacking but driving 1hr 20 a day every day for DIY would not be something I’d want to do especially working full time. If you can go once a day then it might be ok. Is it 20 min on a good day? What’s it like on a bad day?

The hacking at the nearer yard sounds poor not mediocre to me.
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Yes I’m DIY & 20 minutes or more from home, but I almost never go twice. I either don’t leave yard all day (or go out in lorry etc), or pay freelancer to do pm feed or work in office which makes a triangle.
 
Muddywellies said:
Thank you all so much for your opinions. I think the 20 min yard will be better, and we'd be happier there. Really appreciate all the comments.
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Sounds good. Have you checked time journey takes at times you’ll drive?

My yard is 50 minutes from home if I leave 5-6pm on a weekday. 22 minutes at 6am.
 
I go 15-20 mins to DIY twice a day. I’m lucky though normally if I’m just going to feed the YO or my friend will feed the boys. But I cover the yard when needed and my friend works shifts so it goes both ways! My preference would be the hacking and I think a lot of horses benefit from more time schooling out hacking!

Accessibility to transport makes either option completely liveable as there’s always arena hire, clinics etc or fun rides, local routes etc! Honestly I would pro and con it to where you think your horse will live their best life!
 
I went with known yard close to me with crap hacking and bought a box so we could get out.

I'm not sure it's the right decision, a 1 hour hack takes at least 3 hours and actually there aren't many places I can park so end up paying for farm rides. I am happy to hack out alone locally but I wouldn't want to go out out without another horse and person so I need available friends.

Horses are very happy where they are and it is convenient, very useful with the bloody awful weather. If I was choosing from scratch I'd go with good hacking.
 
The other thing people need to consider with regard to distance is if your horse is sick or needs rehab of some sort. Recently my horse colicked and other liveries rang me it took me only 10 minutes to get there. He ended up having colic surgery and over the last two weeks I've had to hand-graze 3 times a day and being nearby is much easier.
 
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