Potential move to another part of the country

3OldPonies

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So, for various reasons the OH and I are thinking of moving to a new area next year, probably west Berks. I'll need to move my two old boys as well as the house. Just tentatively wondering how other people have managed to do a house and horse move at the same time. It won't be a money is no object move, just an ordinary couple of people and horses.
 
Many years ago moved from Sussex to Yorkshire, only one horse then and was lucky that he went half way to a friends yard who kept him for nothing as long as she could hunt him whilst I got settled, paid a professional transporter, worked well for me. Not sure what I’d do now but possibly put them into livery for a few weeks either side of move, it’s hard trying to juggle both. Good luck!
 
Are they at home? or livery? if livery I would leave them there on full livery for at least a couple of weeks while you move house stuff.

If you have land at home and buying a house with land then it's just moving them on the day - like the kitchen table and the sofa - you just have to be a bit more organised

We moved small holding to small holding - with 2 kids, 4 horses, pigs, chickens, dogs, parrot etc.!

My OH rented 7.5 tonner for the outside stuff only, he went the day before so he could be there ahead of the rest of the arrivals - stayed in local travel lodge
We got professional movers to move the house contents (the cheap version where we packed everything but they loaded, drove and unloaded into a massive junky pile!)
Horses went with Gillies - who were brilliant and well worth the cost vs. any DIY option, I was there for loading and he received them on arrival.
I took all other pets (inc. pigs in horse trailer) and breastfeeding daughter in 4x4 and trailer.

My son stayed with his grandparents and missed the whole lot!
 
Thanks both of you. Glad your moves went well. My boys are currently at DIY grass livery and probably look to move to similar. Wish it would/could be to a home with land, but that's all a bit of a dream!
 
We moved from Hampshire to Wales (246 miles) with 4 horses and contents of a house and kit from a small holding 15 years ago and now in the process of moving from Wales to Shropshire (105 miles) with house and smallholding kit and just the one horse this time.
There are specialist removals companies that can do this .The one we used the first time is no longer operating but we have found another company who will do it this time.its local to us in Wales but I think they operate all over the country.
 
I moved 180 miles a few years back. Essential to have someone at one end to load the horses and someone at the other end to unload but other than that fairly straightforward.
 
Not quite as far as others but I moved from Hampshire to West Sussex 13yrs ago, about 60 odd miles? I moved myself first and paid someone to look after my two horses for a day or two (they were out 24/7) then I brought them down here in the trailer.
 
All I would say is stagger the house and horses - probably move house first, and then horses, even if you have to move to full livery or pay for services in the short term. Unless you find a place where you are moving that will have the horses and look after them for a couple of weeks while you sort the house stuff.
 
I have done this a few times, move house, leave horses where they are with someone looking after them or else find a livery yard to put them on. Arrange for a transporter to pick them up. My last move, the transporter was flat out due to the yearling sales in the NI, so picked my two up 10 days early, they kept them in their transit depot free of charge for me, until I was moved in and ready for them at my new place.
 
I think the livery hunting is the bit that's worrying me the most. You're right, lots of good houses! Looking for livery from a distance I'm finding a daunting proposition.
 
So, for various reasons the OH and I are thinking of moving to a new area next year, probably west Berks. I'll need to move my two old boys as well as the house. Just tentatively wondering how other people have managed to do a house and horse move at the same time. It won't be a money is no object move, just an ordinary couple of people and horses.
When we moved within the same county, our horses stayed on a friend's farm and joined us at home a week or so later when we had secured all boundaries and gates.
 
Thanks both of you. Glad your moves went well. My boys are currently at DIY grass livery and probably look to move to similar. Wish it would/could be to a home with land, but that's all a bit of a dream!

I would start now on finding a reliable freelancer or services from the yard (if they offer them) and expect to leave the horses where they are when you move for a month or more. Trying to find both home and yard is too stressful.
Focus on your home, once you know where that is (offer accepted, survey passed etc.) then you can search for yards.
Once you exchange - so the house is guaranteed then you can put deposit on yard and get moving dates all sorted.

We were moving 150 miles, into our first small holding, all agreed. Sellers were moving to another house they owned - so no chain as we rented out our house. My job move was agreed, we'd let our house etc. then a week before exchange the sellers decided they didn't want to sell after all !!! We were homeless! So don't commit to anything until exchange - would be my advice.
 
I would start now on finding a reliable freelancer or services from the yard (if they offer them) and expect to leave the horses where they are when you move for a month or more. Trying to find both home and yard is too stressful.
Focus on your home, once you know where that is (offer accepted, survey passed etc.) then you can search for yards.
Once you exchange - so the house is guaranteed then you can put deposit on yard and get moving dates all sorted.

We were moving 150 miles, into our first small holding, all agreed. Sellers were moving to another house they owned - so no chain as we rented out our house. My job move was agreed, we'd let our house etc. then a week before exchange the sellers decided they didn't want to sell after all !!! We were homeless! So don't commit to anything until exchange - would be my advice.
That's some really good advice there, thank you.
 
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