Pro's for moving to single use yard

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Marmi452

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I have an opportunity to rent a single use yard back in my home village 4 stables and 3 acres, just looking for some advice on the pro's and con's of it all really. My DD aged 6 and I have 2 ponies which are currently on a livery yard where things can get tense at times😀 there is a possibility that the yard I am on could be up for sale in near future due to the owners failing health and I know it will the cease to be a livery and revert back to diary farming. I am on Diy with no electric ATM and the new yard is exactly the same so like for like and cost is exactly the same. My non horsey OH is reluctant for me to move as we will be on our own..there is no loo for DD tho my mum lives 5 mins away so that's no issue in my eyes and we are experienced in taking a nature wee as my DD says!! OH is worried about cover when and if we holiday but I am sure I know plenty of people to pay to help in that situation...do you ever get lonley? We are not great mixers as on our livery yard its more hassle than its worth... My DD is the only child on the current yard so won't miss friends.. I think my heart is set on moving but any experiences would be great....oh the hacking is better at the new yard too...tia
 
Are there any other horsey people nearby? Where I am there are a group of fields so I’m able to be sociable when I choose too. The other main benefit is being able to keep them how you choose regarding turnout. The downside is field maintenance which can be time consuming and obviously costs money.

If you aren’t happy at your yard anyway I’d say you haven’t got much to lose, although you have picked the worst time of year to do it.
 
I keep mine on my own (at home) and i do miss the companionship of a livery yard at times, but from what you have put that doesnt seem to be a great deal breaker. It is great to be able to turn out/bring in when and how i want, to make the decisions about which bit of the field to use for what, what bedding to use, where to store things etc. the downsides are that it can be lonely hacking out on your own (or taking oldies for walks as i do at the moment), if i want to go away for any length of time, i have to source cover, if i have a question i have to google it (or ask on here) rather than asking YO or another livery.

If you are planning on moving and not happy where your are, i think you have answered your own question. Good luck:)
 
Would you be able to offer a stable/grazing for another pony? I realise that it depends on the land, and I wouldn't expect to be able to fill all 4 stables with only 3 acres, except with minis but that could give you some company, if you think that could be an issue, or possibly someone tocall on in an emergency.
 
There are probably more pros than cons if the yard you are on is not a happy place to be anyway, I have my own yard and have never considered it a lonely place, I do have a few liveries but they are full so dont come every day, as you are normally too busy to be thinking about it and you have your daughters company.
You will have to consider cover for illness but with that amount of land for 2 I would set it up so they live out and are not so high maintenance from the daily care point of view, obviously they still need seeing to but the odd day of a quick check and hay twice a day can be done so much more easily than when they are in at night.

Can you store plenty of hay, is there mains water? is there a local contractor for the field maintenance? it will probably end up costing a little more if you have to do repairs but you gain your independence which should make it worthwhile, your OH may enjoy being more involved at the weekends if he has any DIY skills there will be plenty of odd jobs to do.
 
I think it sounds like a better option to go for this place as mentioned you can get some solar lights, and possibly rent one stable to someone who would be willing to have an arrangement where you help each other out.

I keep mine at home and have rented one stable in the past it worked well for both of us, we would do each other's horses if either one was away and I put hers out each morning so she only had to come down once a day, I don't get lonely I have got used to doing everything on my own and you won't be totally alone as you have your daughter.
 
How are your two when they are left on their own and what is in adjoining fields?

Currently when you are riding one the other will have horsey company from others on the yard - this will be different on your own.
 
A major pro is no other feckin liveries telling you not to feed your underweight horse too much hay!! (rant alert.....:mad:)

Major cons for me would be loneliness actually. But that's because I work on my own for most of the day so I like company at the yard.
 
I keep my horses at home, so not totally the same but close :)

Pros
- Keep them exactly as I please
- No interference
- Don't have to deal with people - I'll admit I'm anti social lol!
- No travelling, whatever the weather I'm there to care for them.
- Fed/bed on what I like
- My OCD is not affected by untidy liveries lol

Cons
- Need to find good reliable holiday cover
- No one to cover in bad weather - snow etc, ok if yours will be within walking distance
- No one to ride with - if you like that
- Horses can become needy if only small numbers, are they ok to be left if you only take one out/leave one alone?
- Security, needs to be good if no one on site.
- Managing your own land, stables and fencing is VERY time consuming
- Muck removal - do not under estimate how difficult this can be, it's not always as easy as thinking I'll just get the local farmer to take it away, in a lot of cases you have to pay.
- Facilities - does it have a school? is that something you will miss if not?

Despite the fact I have listed more cons than pros I love my situation and wouldn't have it any other way as it suits me and my horses :)
 
do it!!

I now keep mine at home, my own stables and shelter. never looked back, never lonely, have 3 minis for various companion and lawn mowing duties, one oldie 14.2 and my main 16.3 boy, happy herd, easy to manage. Found holiday cover from local horsey friends and neighbours others keep an eye also.

There is only one livery yard I would ever return to which is lovely, if I had to, but generally being on your own is far easier, less stressful and without doubt less opinionated, the only downside if you have ponies and children riding is they miss their friends and may go off the idea!! This was never an issue for me as my daughter gave up long before I moved. For me, occasionally it would be nice to have more company, but come winter when you want to get it done and sorted, its actually nice not to have to be social!! As far as a loo.....stable is ample!!! if not buy yourself a portaloo but most of us horsey types manage!!

For my situation single use yard at home:

PROS
Incredibly cheap
No injuries to date (touches LARGE bit of wood)
Can keep various special needs horses as I require
Can get in what forage etc I want and use whoever I want for vets/farrier etc
Use a local school and we have small one onsite for basic exercise
Hay and maintain when I want, no restrictions
No opinions
Can put them in or out as I please at anytime to suit
Have had friends horses stayover
Very peaceful and chilled environment

CONS
Having to organize muckheap removal
Costs of maintenance although minimal to be fair
The rest of the maintenance, cleaning troughs and muck picking I actually enjoy but could be a bug bear if you don't have time
Storage can be tricky sometimes for winter forage but poly tunnel works well
Electric supply, I can run it from my house however, if none on site can be a pain (some excellent solar lights available now and rechargeables)
Keeping tack and equipment in the house lol (does take up a lot of room.....)
Horses know you are there, you will be stalked from the moment you draw the curtains!
 
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CJoe said:
Horses know you are there, you will be stalked from the moment you draw the curtains!
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I know this feeling so well! the oldie whinnies the minute the bathroom light goes on, regardless of whether my daughter is doing them before work or not, 5.30am or 7, it makes no difference to her, the light being on means its breakfast time!!! :)
 
Go for it
You will need to factor maintenance time/cost/providers. But easily done.

I would make sure you find a groom for cover soon, so they know you and can easily be booked for holiday and possibly emergencies.

I’m on rented land, but have two other friends in neighbouring fields, so we help cover each other
 
I needed a few years on small DIY livery yards but as I started to gain confidence and started to form my own opinions on how I wanted to keep my two native ponies being on livery yards started to annoy me so when I was offered the sole rent of a big field with stables I took it and I love it. I get to make all my own decisions and everything is where I left it when I go back the next day.
I do miss the use of a school but the advantages of being able to ride on the farm outweigh that one.
I have found people to provide cover relatively easily too. They tend to be horsey friends and we pay in kind - or in wine or biscuits!
Being on my own suits me but you might find that your daughter might prefer other little people being around?
 
Thanks guys for the advice...I know quite a few horsey people in the area so thinking cover won't be an issue... I live about 15 mins drive away from the yard but parents live within walking distance so help always on hand..no school for DD but going to speak to her instructor to see what we can do with a section of field for lessons. There is a large livery yard in the village with a school so might see if we can hire for an hr they also run clinics most weekends so could go there if needed. It has water so solar lights might be the way forward..really excited to be able to make my own decisions re turn out as current yard has 6 month winter turn in with just a few hrs out per day...I can be anti social so if just me and Poppy we will be fine tho I could rent out the stable as suggested. Xx
 
I rent my own yard. No rules or regulations. Its expensive maintaining the fences etc. And it’s very hard to find someone to remove the muckheap. No lights so I have to get everything done before it’s pitch black. It’s lonely and you have to be very self motivated to ride, especially in the winter. And difficult if you have a sharp horse that’s not easy to hack alone. It’s very easy to say, I’ll ride tomorrow or next week.
 
Marmi452 said:
really excited to be able to make my own decisions re turn out as current yard has 6 month winter turn in with just a few hrs out per day
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Given this I would say absolutely go for it!

I now have mine at home after years on livery and people have pretty much covered the pros and cons. I ride much less, partly due to lack of a floodlit school, partly no-one to hack with and partly spending time on field maintenance instead. My horse is much happier and healthier though, I spend a lot less time stressing about his care, I can manage my time much better in terms of when I do things and have far fewer daily "must do" chores since I rarely stable or feed, and for me its much cheaper (I obviously don't have rent though). I have a little MF 35 tractor for field maintenance which IME is a good way to get OH on side (if he likes that kind of thing!).
 
Polos Mum said:
How are your two when they are left on their own and what is in adjoining fields?

Currently when you are riding one the other will have horsey company from others on the yard - this will be different on your own.
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This is what i was going to ask.

If you take one and the other goes nuts then you will need a companion, but you might also need a companion for the companion if that makes sense. Maybe two little ones from a rescue.
 
I am very lucky that they don't have separation issues at all...in fact the 2 mares don't really like each other (possibly a bit harsh) but they are equally happy away from each other... I have sent both away separately to be schooled so have spent time on their own as my field at current yard does not adjoin another field..I have secured the yard today so going to show my daughter tmw...I going to secure a move date and hand my notice in at my current yard sometime this week....eeekkk excited
 
I hire a small yard just for mine, and I love it. I have instant access to amazing hacking and a small school. I had 3 there, but at the moment I'm down to 2. I'll probably look for another companion after Christmas. What makes it work for me is:

1. The YO are really friendly and on top of sorting things (they live on site).
2. Two friends with horses are on nearby yards, so I can ask for help if needed, and my regular horse-sitter lives not far away.
3. I can hack in 20 minutes off-road to the nearest yard, to pick up a hacking buddy.
4. It's only 15 minutes' drive from my place. I had them at my place before, but found that I needed the mental compartmentalisation of having them on a yard.
5. The hay farmer is very close by, and I can also hire him to harrow etc.
 
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