should I move to livery?

[buddylove]

I have never been on a livery yard before, but it is something I am considering, has anyone made the move and give me an insight?
We moved house about 9 months ago, horse has a field shelter, hard standing and decent sized paddocks. Sadly no school or stables and no hope of building (not our land), lovely hacking but horse won't hack alone and shortage of people to ride with. Have transport and can box to local schools but my motivation is lacking.
I am wondering whether the routine of being on a yard would suit me better, as I would have to go up at least once a day (thinking part or assisted DIY), and would be more inclined to ride with better facilities and more people around me.
I also feel a bit guilty going out to do the horse as the kids are always around and it is never the "me" time I need it to be.
I would still have the pony at home (probably get a second or borrow one for company), so always the option to move back home if it didn't work out.
Has anyone else taken the plunge and did it work out, or not?

 

[FairyLights]

Go for it. As you say you can always move back home if it doesnt work.

 

[Jnhuk]

There are downsides to moving to a livery yard as well as positives. If you find the right yard, it may help motivate you but you may find not being able to do things your way more frustrating.

It is a give and take and tbh, having the horses at home and livery surely would take more effort and more time away from kids as well so won't you still feel guilty about that?

I think at the end of the day, if the right yard is fairly local to you go for it and see if it works for you. As you say, there is always the option to return in things go pear shaped.

However, having a horse that wont hack on its own must be a pain to have in a home set up. Is this something that you cannot work on and improve?

 

[Rudders74]

I am constantly having this debate with myself too. Having my girl at home is so much easier to fit in around work, as I would have to go onto 5 day full livery if she wasn't at home. This would up my bills massively, but I don't currently have anyone to ride with and it gets de motivating as I always liked the social aspect of hacking with others. It's really difficult because what you gain on one hand you loose on the other. If you don't have to give up your paddocks to try it you've got nothing to loose in trying I guess?

 

[marmalade88]

I would say having had my first experience on a livery yard over the past 6 months - adjustment and compromise are two words which are still ringing in my ears.

My horse is happy and looking well, but I would prefer him to be out more (not possible with yard and options in area), I have had to compromise to be on a yard with excellent hacking and an arena.

I love the social aspect, although some people you WILL want to sock in jaw with a Himalayan salt block at some point.
Everyone has a opinion, don't listen. I keep my mouth shut about others and people have slowly stopped offering me 'advice'.

The facilities are great to have but be prepared to share with people who lunge while you ride, ride while you lunge (I have serious H&S views on this but these seem to vary widely between people!), cut you up, don't poo pick after themselves, leave fences up and don't harrow the school. But when your on your own it's lush.

If you do move what I would say is be prepared to tough it out until things bed down a bit, it's like moving to a new job: new people, new politics, new routine. I would say this takes 6 months + and depending on your horse they may take this amount of time to settle to new routine and people as well.

I find relinquishing control hard, the yard is run very differently to how I would have it but it seems to work for people so I've adjusted.


Like others say you don't really have anything to lose. If you don't like it move home! If I had a choice I would always be at home though.

 

[wills_91]

I had my mare at home for a year, like you it's not our own land so although we have stables we have no school - I lost a bit of confidence after having my son and decided to put my girl on livery for 6 months to get my confidence sorted etc and leave the shetlands at home, that was 3 years ago and she is still there and it was the best decision i have ever made. If you can move back I would say go for it, notihng to loose.