jimbojones
Well-Known Member
Hi - I'm looking to get some advice on moving yards. I am an active user on the forum but as there are a few people from my yard who use this forum I didn't want to post using my normal user id.
I've been at my current yard for a year - I really like it, it's small, has good facilities (indoor+outdoor), hacking is not great unless it's really dry, otherwise you need to hack on quite a busy road which is not fun sometimes.
I had been putting the feelers out a few weeks ago just to see what was available but recently a couple of things have happened at the yard which has made me think more seriously about moving! Firstly, the yard although small can be cliquey and everyone bitches about everyone else - I'm now trying to keep out of everyones way - although I like them, I'm there for my horse and don't want to get caught up in long conversations our go out for lunch etc - that may make me seem antisocial but that's the way I am.
My second concern is around fields/turnout. Nags have been out all summer (since May) which is great but we'll be bringing them in for winter soon. We have 5 fields - one large one which is in pretty good nick, and 4 smaller ones, 3 of which are really wet and boggy even in summer. Last winter was horrid - the fields were trashed, there was little grazing and the horses were miserable although they are not turned out for very long which is another issue - Y/O has 2 young kids who she needs to sort in the morning - by the time she gets them sorted and out to school/nursery it is sometimes 11 am before they are turned out and they often they come in again about 4pm although sometimes they are out til about 6 but this year there is talk of giving them one day in then one day out!!For this assisted DIY I pay £140 per month but obviously hay and straw will be at least £60 per month if we have to keep them in!
I am going to see another yard today which is slightly further from home (13 mile instead of 6) but it is part livery Mon - Fri then DIY at weekends. For £200 pcm they feed, rug, turn out, muck out, bring in and provide hay/haylage. They have a large outdoor school and excellent hacking. I'm thinking that if the fields are good and they provide better winter turnout I may move.
I am just worried though that I move and hate it as I know the grass is not always greener and I was very lucky when I moved to my current yard as it is so much better than my last one! I also worry if I could cope with part livery - what if it's not up to my standard etc?
Can someone please give me a good shake and tell me what sounds best!
J x
I've been at my current yard for a year - I really like it, it's small, has good facilities (indoor+outdoor), hacking is not great unless it's really dry, otherwise you need to hack on quite a busy road which is not fun sometimes.
I had been putting the feelers out a few weeks ago just to see what was available but recently a couple of things have happened at the yard which has made me think more seriously about moving! Firstly, the yard although small can be cliquey and everyone bitches about everyone else - I'm now trying to keep out of everyones way - although I like them, I'm there for my horse and don't want to get caught up in long conversations our go out for lunch etc - that may make me seem antisocial but that's the way I am.
My second concern is around fields/turnout. Nags have been out all summer (since May) which is great but we'll be bringing them in for winter soon. We have 5 fields - one large one which is in pretty good nick, and 4 smaller ones, 3 of which are really wet and boggy even in summer. Last winter was horrid - the fields were trashed, there was little grazing and the horses were miserable although they are not turned out for very long which is another issue - Y/O has 2 young kids who she needs to sort in the morning - by the time she gets them sorted and out to school/nursery it is sometimes 11 am before they are turned out and they often they come in again about 4pm although sometimes they are out til about 6 but this year there is talk of giving them one day in then one day out!!For this assisted DIY I pay £140 per month but obviously hay and straw will be at least £60 per month if we have to keep them in!
I am going to see another yard today which is slightly further from home (13 mile instead of 6) but it is part livery Mon - Fri then DIY at weekends. For £200 pcm they feed, rug, turn out, muck out, bring in and provide hay/haylage. They have a large outdoor school and excellent hacking. I'm thinking that if the fields are good and they provide better winter turnout I may move.
I am just worried though that I move and hate it as I know the grass is not always greener and I was very lucky when I moved to my current yard as it is so much better than my last one! I also worry if I could cope with part livery - what if it's not up to my standard etc?
Can someone please give me a good shake and tell me what sounds best!
J x
