Small private yard vs small livery

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Ginn

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As the title says really!

Trying to decide what to do re Tilly.

Livery is twice the price but there will be more people, school, hay and straw inc in cost but less space, less grazing and smaller stables.

Or small yard with just one or two others, same amount of grazing as atm, decent sized stables and I can keep myself to myself a little more. But no school unless I walk a mile there and a mile back (not ideal).

Just interested to see what other people prefer and why. I love the fact that with the odd exception I have pretty much had the yard I am currently at to myself and so had plenty of space and have been able to do things in the way I like, but then livery does have a social advantage in that I won't have to spend cold winter evenings mucking out on my own!
 
I would prob say livery only because there is more people about to help out if you need them to seems you work the hours you do. however if stables and grazing is not right for you go to the small yard.
 
small yard because i think plenty of grazing is important for a youngster, and if it had to go in a stable it would be nicer for her if there larger.
 
small yard in that she's only young and not being ridden much the school wouldn't be that important to me in those circumstances, much better to go for more turnout. A quieter atmosphere might help her as well with less people on the yard
 
I would stick with private yard. prob find more restrictions at livery and I would dread the nit picky gossip or at worst the nasty abuse. Granted not all are like that but some are.
 
The decision seems to be school vs better stables/grazing. IMO opinion for a youngster the garzinf/stables would be more important, and pay more attention to other facilities like a school when your young lady is a bit older. Hopefully by then you will have found a yard with both.

Good luck with your move.

Fiona
 
personally i prefer a small yard.
Ive been on a livery yard and when it was first set up it was great as there was only about 15 horses. We all got on with each other and helped each other out. After a few years the yard had grown to over 60 horses. There was so much bitching and back biting
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, I left.

Im on a private yard now with only 5 horses. We help each other out and dont have any problems
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. We keep ourselves to ourselves but theres someone there if we want to have a chat, go out riding or go shopping. We dont have an arena like the big livery yard however there is one at the bottom of the road which is all of 2 mins walk so I have it quite good.

youve got to seriously think what you want for Tilly in the long run. Why not do a pros and cons list for both of the yards and see which come sout best???
 
Only advantage of the school is for backing her in the summer as I want to avoid sending her to another yard to be backed and having a second upheaval.

Re stables and grazing: Private yard is essentially farmland so she'd have 1 big field with everyone vesus smaller 2-3 acre paddocks with just 2-4 other horses. Livery stables are 12x14, private yard 14x14 (currently has a 16x16).

I also would really like to know that I can hack out with people when we start going out, and the private yard is more remote with only one other horse (an exracer) in work.

But then it would be quieter at a private yard....

Arghhh!
 
bit of a dilema really. Is there no other yards nearby?
the stables in the livery yard arent too small. Yes i know quite a bit smaller than shes got but she'd cope. At least she'd have more friends around rather than geeting attached to one.
I can understand re the backing of Tilly. I moved all my horses 2 years ago to a yard that was on a quieter road and had better hacking but no school. Chantin turned 3 in the summer after we moved. I didnt have an arena so lunged/rode her in a flat area of the field I had, then long lined her on the trail along with hacking her.
Dont know what youve got planned for her however I back mine rode her for 2 months or so then turned her away for the winter, and brough her back into work this year when she was physically more capable.
what im trying to say is you can back a horse without an arena - you just have to be careful.
I sent Chantin away for professional schooling - she never batted an eyelid. It was my others that missed her more. She couldntve given a damn!!
 
I am on a private yard. Have been on plenty of livery yards and know which I prefer.
There are currently 4 other horses, and a girl my age who grooms, so it's nice and quiet. As it's private I have to be more respectful of the fact I will wake the YO's if I go down too early, and other little things. I tend to do any repairs myself, but can keep myself to myself and don't have to put up with yard politics.
I have no menage ATM, limited turnout (though it's not a great prob), but hay etc is much cheaper, and I have ample storage.
Costs are kept to a minimum and it's only a minute walk from the house.
I don't mind mucking out on my own, and i still have horsey friends so the social aspect doesnt bother me. But I think if I was totally alone and didnt have the access to the riding in fields I do (and NEEDED a menage) I'd go on livery. The only reason I would like to move at the end of this year is for the turnout, and because we are getting a second horse and I only have one stable ATM.
 
Having been on a livery yard and now being on a private yard, I would say go for the private yard.
However I do miss the whole social aspect on being on the livery yard but certainly don’t miss the bitchiness and ‘my horse is better then yours’ attitude.
I'm sure Tilly will be more then happy with whatever you go for!!!
 
Small Private Yard

I am at a private yard that has 6 horses and 2 of those are liveries (1 is me!) It still has regulations in terms of what horse in what field and when, but it is lovely and quiet.

I come and go as I please, there is no bitching and just nice.

We have a school, so that makes life easier. I wouldn't want to go back to a livery yard, too much hassle.

Good luck.
 
Go to the livery. Still good turnout, more than adequate stables, (average size is 12x12) and the advantage of having the school, which for backing will be invaluable. Also people to help you out if need be, and the added advantage of not having to get hay/straw in. Also, having someone to hack out with in 6mnths time when she is just starting to go out will be very helpful!!
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