Really don't know what to do :(

Eriskayowner

Eriskayowner

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I have a horse on loan at a full livery yard. I love the horse and like the yard but the livery is £95 a week excluding shoes, wormers (usual things), tack cleaning and exercise. Basically he is looked after beautifully without any input from me.

I work full time and can't get down to the stables during the week (it's now dark before I leave work), but there are lights covering the school so I could ride even when it's dark. I only ride at weekends with a really good group of friends. However, a lot of the girls are leaving (not due to the yard) - mostly due to the horses not working out, or not having time to do them.

I don't really look forward to going to the yard nearly as much as I used to, and can only really hack out with one or two others as Jazzy gets a bit quick.

Also, the livery bill is generally approx. £500 a month which, although good value for what work is done, is still a lot of money. I hate spending money and can't really justify spending that much money on a horse that I only ride max. twice a week. Jazz also really needs more exercise than that.

I did do a lot of competing with my other horses, but now have no transport and no-one I know has their own transport, and Jazzy doesn't jump or really do dressage so I'm a bit limited in what I can do with him. However, I don't want to give up Jazz as he's had his fair share of problems and I'd feel awful if someone else started screwing him up again.

What do I do?

1. Carry on as I am.
2. Give up horses completely.
3. Buy Jazz and move him to a DIY yard.
4. Something else that I haven't thought of yet!

Sorry for the long post - hot choccie for all that have read through all that drivel!
 
i think if you really love him personally i'd buy him, and move him somewher where you can have part livery so someone to feed and put out and maybe take in then you'd just have to muck out and ride maybe somewhere with floodlit arena or indoor school. x
 
That is a possibility, but the owner has stipulated that he's to stay on present yard but I think it's because she's worried about what happens to him.

There aren't really any other good yards in the area that would do part livery that I know of - will do some research.

Thanks!
 
FWIW, most horses are bad value on a cost per ride basis in the winter!

Also, could you cope with looking after your horse with your job? The grass isnt always greener. Personally i would stay as you are and do what everyone else does- moan about the dark and crap weather and look forward to spring!
 
Would your current yard go to part livery so that you can save some money? It may not be offered as standard, but with people leaving they may be keen to keep hold of you and might negotiate on something like this.
 
They might do - I could always ask. It's a lovely yard but people are leaving in droves at the moment which is a shame. I don't want to upset YO or Jazz's owner as both are really nice, but feel that I can't justify spending that much money each month.

I know that winter time is a bad time of year to be thinking this - winter always sucks, and I'm really lucky to not have to get up stupidly early in the dark and pouring rain. Will keep reminding myself of this!
 
Don't worry too much, it will get you no-where. Whatever happens, will happen for a reason and often it will be the right thing. Winter sucks big time, we all find ourselves cutting back on riding and paying more for extra hay/bedding and feed - it never adds up!
I'd ask the YO if she/he can do you any special deals and ask Jazzys owner what would be the his price tag if she was prepared to sell - simply to know where you could stand finacially.
 
Thanks Ruth. Jazz's owner has already said that I can buy him if I want (I'm just skint!) for £1500 inc all tack (but I have bought him a new bridle and breastplate) and rugs (of which there are hundreds).

You know me - always worrying about something. I'd be worrying that I wasn't worrying if there was nothing to worry about!

X
 
Have you asked owner if you can move him? Obviously owner wants him out on loan and if she trusts you and understands your situation she may not object?
smile.gif
 
I haven't, but YO did say that the only reason owner said he is to stay on present yard is so that she can keep an eye on him and make sure that he's OK. Owner is brill and seems to be happy with what I've managed to achieve with Jazz and I'm sure that she would let me move him if needs be. Hmmm.
 
am i right in thinking that the yard you are on, owns Jazzy?
I don't think that part livery is an option if you can't get to the yard in the winter, or do you just not go because it is dark?
I would go to them and explain that you are finding it difficult and costly to keep going and see if they perhaps come up with a solution.
I think others are right, that the trade off between fun, work and cost isn't brilliant in the winter. However, that is different if you actually own the horse. I never actually think about it, because 'that's just how it is'. However, if i was paying an establishment for the privilege of having a horse and all it seemed to be is paying for the upkeep of 'their' horse, then i may feel differently
 
No, yard doesn't own Jazzy - he's owned by another livery owner. Jazzy's owner has another horse on the yard, and I have got complete "ownership" over Jazzy in terms of I am the only one to ride him. His owner can't afford livery for two horses, so I am paying 100% for Jazzy. Does make things more complicated than if I owned him!
 
Ideas:
* 5-day livery
* ride in the dark - I often don't get to the yard until 8ish but we still have fun. Floodlit outdoors when I'm feeling brave (spooky shadows & cold/rain but can do everything except hacking), lunging or playing in the (smaller) indoor where we can loose school too.

Is there a reason (besides the dark) you don't go in the week? It is actually quite nice to have some quiet bonding time w/out heaps of others around as long as you feel safe enough with the horse/location of yard.
 
I did used to go down after work, but YO always seemed a bit keen to go in (she lives on site) and I felt like I was holding her back. She'd be hovering on the yard doing meaningless things until I was ready to leave and she'd turn the lights out when I was half way down the yard!

I could try again though.
 
sounds like Jazzy isnt really the horse for you and you want to do more? hope your dont mind me saying that.
smile.gif

if your happy with him, I would suggest buying him? putting him on DIY or full livery or even part livery, you could consider having somebody loan him too?
hope it works out!!
x
 
In a way I'd like to do more, but I don't have the nerve or the transport anymore! I know I don't have the time to do the schooling Jazz would need to compete, and he does have nerve damage in one leg that rules out jumping completely.
I love hacking Jazzy out and a lot of people have said that he's a completely changed horse and we get on really well - equally mad! From that POV he's perfect for me really
crazy.gif
 
If you have this horse on loan, and also have it at full livery - why not find a really good riding centre that will enable you to ride every weekend instead?

£500 per month for a horse you don't even own is just bonkers.

Alternatively, if you have the option of DIY or assisted livery at the yard - why not give it a go? Most of us are doing horses in the dark at both ends of the day during the winter and still enjoy our equine endeavours
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If you are not happy spending the money, which I think is reasonable for a full livery. Give up for the winter. I'm afraid doesn't matter what animal you have they all cost time and money and come spring, summer autumn or winter you take the good with the bad.
 
[ QUOTE ]
No, yard doesn't own Jazzy - he's owned by another livery owner. Jazzy's owner has another horse on the yard, and I have got complete "ownership" over Jazzy in terms of I am the only one to ride him. His owner can't afford livery for two horses, so I am paying 100% for Jazzy. Does make things more complicated than if I owned him!

[/ QUOTE ]

Not more complicated, was just thinking that if he was owned by yard and you gave notice, then it would be a massive hassle for them ie. lose £500 per month, have to pay for Jazzys upkeep plus have the hassle of looking for another Loaner.
Was just thinking of bargaining tools really.
As it stands, it's no skin off yards nose, for even if you give Jazzy back to owner, she will still have to pay for him til someone else is found for him.
 
I think the real issue here is that you don't *want* to ride. I have been there many times! As you say, there are lights so you could actually school every night after work and have the weekends to yourself. It's interesting that you only really want to ride with other people who are familiar to you, and I think you have a confidence issue you're not facing up to.

Why not sit down and have a good think about it, write down how you feel? I really don't recommend you move to DIY - if you don't have time to ride you will not have time to do all your horse chores.

I think you need to find your riding motivation again. Why not search your feelings - are you afraid to ride alone under lights? Are you bored? If it's confidence, then there are loads of articles and books to help. If it's boredom, why not enter yourself in an Interdressage competition so you can compete against yourself and give yourself an aim every month?

HTH!
 
I think you may be right - this is part of the problem. I am a bit reluctant going to the yard sometimes, but when I get there am usually fine - especially if I know I am meeting certain girls there.

The issue with riding Jazzy in the school is that he's had some really bad experiences in there, and it takes me a good 10-15 minutes to get him to settle (i.e. not trotting sideways) before we can even contemplate work, so a "schooling session" would usually take 45 mins-an hour which is a long time when the YO is wanting to go inside to a nice warm house after she's been in the rain all day!

I would love an aim though - I hadn't thought of the inter dressage - that's a really good idea!

Thanks!
 
Maybe i am missing something here but if i was paying £500 per month to keep my horse on full livery and I wanted to ride at night after work then i would expect to be able to do so and not be made to feel like i was in the way by the yard owner who wants to go.

Can the YO not go in and then pop back out when you leave to lock up if she doesn’t want you doing it.

It is bonkers that you are made to feel hurried if you go down after work, i have never heard of this before.
 
It's probably me being oversensitive, but it's definately the impression I get! I'm still at work now - just finished marking a load of coursework (taken 4 hours) and just want a G+T! But I never seem to be able to finish early enough to warrant going to the stables to spend some quality time with Jazzy
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