out of interest...yards

[oliviacharley]

Wondering what people can suggest....
I have been offered to move my horses to a yard which has 15 acres of good grazing, which has sheep on it from time to time...(my horse has never experienced sheep before and im a little nervous how he will react with them) to help keep the grass down. The yard is very small with only three other people, hay and straw is included and it is a really good price...my horses will be out in the field most of the time with access to stables if I need them....there are miles and miles of bridleways too.
The field does get fertilised in the spring and im a little worried about lami....I am also worried about grazing my horse with others as my pony was kicked/bullied so badly she broke her leg and it took ages for her to get sorted....what are peoples views on grazing their horse with others...?

At the moment I am at my own yard solo, but it is right next to a really busy road which limits my riding and the grazing is quite small so I often have a rent a bigger field across the road to rest my smaller field and for my horses to get some goodness from the grass...the bigger field is really poor quality and to be honest I dont really like using it.....I do have to pay for my own hay and straw but do have stables which I can use too...in all it prob works out the same as what I would be paying for the new yard.
I love being solo at the yard, not being watched and doing my own thing....I hated being at a yard before as some many people were horrible, bitchy and caused trouble...

I just wondered what people would do if they were in this situation...move to a nicer yard, with more grazing, but your horses have to be out with others and you have to share things again with others OR stick with a solo yard, with limited grazing and riding and pay for hay and straw but have the freedom to do what you like, when you like...?

 

[Nudibranch]

Catch 22 really, I like having my place more or less to myself, didn't like my old livery yard. Now its just me and YO, and his horses aren't ridden so it's like my own place - and i wouldn't change!

But they might be nice people and if the hacking and grazing are better that's a big plus! Have you spent any time there?

P.s. electric fencing is the answer if you're worried about turnout or lami - I bought a 200 metre kit for about £120, it runs on 2 D batteries and can keep a 17 hand gypsy cob out of my lami paddock, no problem!

 

[debradley]

Hi I know what you mean. My mare is a real bully, so I would be very worried about letting her in with other peoples horses and the damage she could cause! I don't have my own land now, but am lucky that where I am it has dedicated individual paddocks, so it isn't an issue. The other thing you need to think about is that in some cases if you are on a yard with over 5 horses your insurance my go up! However, on the other hand sometimes it's really nice to have some company and someone to double up with for a ride. I don't have that at the mo because I'm the only one left were I am as the owners are selling and I like it so much I'm hanging in till the end.

Soz just realised I prob haven't been much help.

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

this other place does sound good if you can get electric fencing perhaps to keep your horse separate if needs be, all that off road hacking sounds fab, cant beat nice safe hacking IMO
i would seriously consider moving if i were you

 

[happihorse]

Would you have your own secure storage space at the new yard? This might make sharing a yard a little easier.

As a previous poster said, could you keep your horses seperate using electric fencing?

I'm sure your horses would get used to the sheep in no time.

If you can overcome the slight problems with the new yard, I think you might be better off moving.

 

[oliviacharley]

thanks for the comments everyone :0)
I havent been to see the place just yet, just waiting for the farmers number to be sent to me and then I can organise going up there and having a good look around.
I cant really use electric fence due to my old pony running through it all the time...no matter what the current...!!
I thought maybe stabling them through the day sometimes and letting them graze at night...this will help with the lami...I also have muzzles for them...
You are all right in what you say...the main things I am concerned with are my horses being bullied or injured and sharing things again...
I dont get my own area unfortunately but I do finish work at 1pm which means hopefully most people will be at work and I wont get to see them...
Just had enough at my last yard from people telling me how I should do things etc....Im a real individual and love my privacy when it comes to my horses im afraid..once I can afford my own small holding I will be in my element....ahhh...come on lottery!!