Please can i ask for some advice.

[Plenty]

I know this is my first post but i need to jump straight in as i am in abit of a dilema.
I keep my three horses at a small livery yard,me and three other owners,i have my own stables,store etc and use of paddock just for my three (most of the time).The monthly charge is very cheap as no school or anything,so whats the problem i hear you say,well i have been offered a paddock with one stable nearer home for an extra £20 a month.It has water but no electricity.I can keep two of the three horses out all year round and just stable my old boy as he feels the cold in winter.where i am now i really like but do have to share grazing/facility's now and again even though i pay for and do the maintinance of the upkeep of the paddock,fencing,ragworting etc.If i move my lot it will be all down to me with no sharing or nobody to aggrivate the pants off me.So should i stay or should i go?.

 

[Ashtree]

I would say depends on the distance. We keep some of our horse at home - great you say - we have the stables/land etc. But we keep our daughters one competition horse at a yard because of the extra facilities but also becuase there are like minded people there to talk to, do things with etc etc.

 

[Plenty]

Thank you for your reply.The current yard is about 10 miles by car and the poss new place is about 5 miles.There are no facilities at either yard as in school,xc,walker and so on.I love where i am but would also love ruling my own roost so to speak.

 

[teddyt]

Write a list of pros and cons and then make a decision. Although you have to pay more per month for the closer yard you will save money on petrol for example.

 

[Tinypony]

I own living-out ponies, and I would say that it's handy to have some shelter for them, with a bit of hardstanding. When the weather is really dire, or we get constant rain and they are standing in water, it's good to be able to give them a bit of respite with some hay in a dry area.
I love having my own place by the way, I share at a great place at the moment, but if I was offered a suitable place where I could rule the roost I'd bite their hands off. I've had that in the past and just loved it. It can be nice to have just one "livery" in with you, as backup in times of trouble.

 

[NeilM]

My advice would be: Just think about what the work load is in the middle of winter. As you are well aware, this is the time of year when feeding, poo picking and rugging can really be hard.

Also look to see if the new paddock will drain well when things turn wet, or if there are areas that could potentially become water logged. Most places look great at this time of year, just consider what they will be like in November.

 

[Plenty]

WOW thanks for your help.Sorry for the delay in getting back to you all,i was puting the kids to bed.
I have taken all of your advice and weighed up the pro's and cons.
Present yard cons,
Further away,
Shared grazing sometimes,
ragwort,

Pro's

Good security for tack/trailer,
three stables,
electricity,water,
good storage,
£20 a month cheaper,
good outriding.,
Help if i'm stuck.

New place cons.

Only one stable,
No electricity,
No security,
Hardly any storage.
no decent outriding.

New place pro's
Nearer home,
My own place


Opppps it dosent look so tempting on paper does it.Ok i think i have talked my self out of it but thank you so much for all your help.