So am I doing the right thing - Livery yards..

Meandtheboys

Meandtheboys

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I am currently at the most fabulous livery yard with absoloute no issues, the only slight minus points are hacking is ok'ish on mainly lanes and in winter they only go out in the 2nd sand school.
Previous my horses were always out 24/7 but they adapted very well last year with the new yard routine with restricted turnout ( too much mud !! )

Anyway we have decided to make some changes in our lives and we are putting our house on the market(down sizing) and I have recently decided that I am not going to compete seriously anymore - basically a happy hacker / fun rides / local RC stuff ( too may falls / injuries )

So we have decided that we love Cannock Chase so that's where we are looking to buy once we have sold our house - in antisipation I though about enquiring about livery yards especially as I was advised that I would be on a waiting list at the good ones.....

So to cut a long story short I am off to see a yard tomorrow ( one of the recommended ones ) that offers 24/7 grazing all year round with direct access to the chase, stables, arena, lunge pen, no mud issues and most of all NO ROADS.

The issue I have is that they have immediate vacancies for my two boys but I haven't sold the house yet ( not on the market!! ) so it would mean travelling 17 miles rather that 3 miles until the house is sold.

The thoughts I had were they could live out, pay someone to check them daily, feed hay etc Monday to Friday over the winter, so I am only going on weekends mainly to ride, also hacking will be fabulous...........with no scary drivers!!

Basically if all goes well tomorrow do I move straight away or wait until my house sells and take the risk that there will be future vacancies?
 
If I was in your shoes I would do nothing yet. You have to sell your house and then find another one and all sorts of things may happen in the meantime.
 
I think i would go if i liked it too, the horses would probably prefer to be out over winter than in a school, plus 17 miles eachway isn't the end of the world.
If you can get someone reliable to check on them during the week and if you go over when you have time to make the most of the good off road hacking then i think you are on to a win win situation.
Good luck
 
Thank-you all I am meeting the owners tomorrow morning and I am quite excited in a way, I would be so nice not having to box up and travel to the chase just for some nice hacking.............
 
only thing is... do you know how quickly property is moving? and have an idea of how long it would take for you to sell/find and move? then weigh that up against how much of a pain it is to find a good yard with 2 spaces on it at the same time..!
 
If things didn't move along quickly it may be asking at this yard you are viewing tomorrow whether there may be any good riders that may be interested in riding your horses for you for a while in return for checking they are ok, that way they will be kept fit and it wont cost you so much.
Just bare in mind if the house sale doesnt go through or takes ages whether the cost of paying someone to check the horses for a longer period is do-able.
 
17 miles isn't another country...i do 19 miles to my yard and takes me about 15 mins (when traffic is good!!)
It sounds a really nice yard and has everything you need especially over winter which we are nearly in.

Get up an extra 15 mins earlier in the morning and tell OH to keep the dinner in the oven and enjoy the hacking around the beautiful Cannock Chase.
 
It all depends on your work committments and lifestyle really. Personally I couldn't cope with 17 miles each way because I have to be at work by 8am but only you know if that will work for you. I would love to be able to hack directly onto the Chase, will definitely be boxing over to join you if you do move there :)
 
TBH I am probably going to be a happy hacker over winter months ( weekends ) and in the spring / summer I have a friend that works 4 miles from the yard and I pass this yard from work so I will be able to ride midweek aswell.

My competing career will be limited as I am carrying too many injuries from a fall 2yrs ago.....so horse fitness requirements are not so demanding.
 
Its only 17miles away. I dont think that is a totally unreasonable distance to travel. If you can cope with driving that distance each day then move them now. Your house may take a while to sell etc but at least your horses will be getting turnout and you can de-stress by going out on the Chase!!

ETA: If you cant ride everyday it is much better for your horses to get adequate turnout instead I think. Otherwise they dont get any exercise if in 24/7 and not ridden.
 
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