Re: Move yards or stay where I am?

[Gooby]

Thanks to everybody who replied and/or voted! Today I went to look at a few more yards close to home, not quite as close as the one I looked at yesterday but the final one we went to both my OH and I got in the car feeling quite pleased!

It is a a small DIY yard of 20 horses. Breeze block stables built in the last few years, smaller than what we are used to but clean and dry. The yard is very clean and tidy and the owners seem very nice. It is also has a riding school where they teach wed/thur nights and saturday and sunday.

It has a massive indoor school which they are putting a new surface down on in the next few months, 2 outdoor sand schools and a field with small jumps course. The 'tack/feed room' atm is a bit higgldy piggldy but they are going to put down a new floor and have properly set out bays for each person. The hacking is great and if I don't want to touch a road I don't have to but if I do there is a special horse crossing for a busy crossroads!

The mares and geldings are mixed but have 50 acres to roam on. The turnout is all day everyday but in at night, including winter! (My current yard is 8 hrs split in 2 on allocated days!)

Although I won't be saving as much as if I moved to the closer yard, I would still be saving more than if I stayed where I am.

I have asked about stables, turnout, field maintenance, worming, farriers, hacking, feed/bedding and if I would be able to bring on my own instructor. Probably asked other things too but can't remember lol. Any other questions I need to ask??

Thanks!!

 

[saddlesore]

Sounds nice!! You've probably already asked but if its DIY will someone be available to hepl look after your horse if you are unwell or he becomes injured and has to stay in 24/7? Always good to know that help is at hand!

 

[SNORKEY]

Hi, it sounds fine, ive worked on a livery yard / riding school which sounds like a very similar set up to what youv'e discribed, and it worked fine, the only thing id ask is how busy it gets at the weekends, and if the use of the schools are restricted at the weekends with lessons going on.
When thinking of yards I always think of my horses point of view and as you said they will have good turn out I think thats the most important thing.
I was worried when I moved yards and it took my boy 2 months to settle but now he seems so much happier, and the people there are lovely, thats another important point, I always ask what they do with bitchy people/trouble makers!

 

[welshied]

sounds nice i also ask if you can use your own farrier, vet and dentist etc and what they do with bitchy people etc

 

[Gooby]

If i cant get to the yard or on holiday I can ask permission for him to stay out 24/7 or I will hopefully make some friends and they can help me out like I do with my friend atm. Otherwise it'll be a job for my dad! lol.

If the weather is bad the school uses the indoor if its good they use the outdoor so I can use whichever they are not. Apart from lessons nobody else really uses the schools apparently which is good for me if its true!

I can use my own farrier which I have already found (my friends OH, very good at his job and setting up n his own in march but has a few clients atm). Vet and dentist you can also use your own, both of which I have already and they will all travel to where I am going.

No idea what they do with bitchy ppl but have been told everybody is very nice and have formed 1 big happy group! So we will so how that works out but I hope its true

It is quite a small yard and riding school atm but they are building it up slowly. The owners both have jobs aswell as the yard so thats why they dont offer livery.

I have put my name down, told my current yard owners and my friend. I cried when I told her!!

lol very embarrassing but she has been there helping me since the day I found out I could get a horse.

Thanks for all the extra info to think about!