Thoughts on new yard...

[rhodes1029]

I think i have made my mind up but just not sure on what to do!!!
I have 2 horses that have been at the same yard now for 15 years. It's about a 10 min max drive from my house and i have loved it there... The field is however on a rocky slope and has a few patches where they push up against the fencing and trees....
Now that my pony is 19 she is becoming athritic and the field is now unsuitable really even though she seems to go out happy and enjoy it she is becoming stiff and i know that tthe field won't be helping... And i have just spent £100 on a new rug for the other which he has already ripped the front off... ANNOYING!!!! This is a private yard and i pay £20 per week each and buy hay in bulk off the field.
I have found a new yard - nearer to my house, flatter turnout and a max of 5 liveries, again another private yard, has a horse walker, not a propper school like mine more of a sand ring, somewhere to store my hay and is £20 per horse. The yard isn't quite as nice and tidy as the one i am at now.
Am i doing the right thing moving? I might not like the way the owner runs it or the people there and then i'll be stuck! Plus just all the stress of moving and turning them out in a new field with other horses when they are happy where they are it's just me worrying about the athritis in my pony and my horse ripping rugs!!

 

[mightymammoth]

I think i have made my mind up but just not sure on what to do!!!
I have 2 horses that have been at the same yard now for 15 years. It's about a 10 min max drive from my house and i have loved it there... The field is however on a rocky slope and has a few patches where they push up against the fencing and trees....
Now that my pony is 19 she is becoming athritic and the field is now unsuitable really even though she seems to go out happy and enjoy it she is becoming stiff and i know that tthe field won't be helping... And i have just spent £100 on a new rug for the other which he has already ripped the front off... ANNOYING!!!! This is a private yard and i pay £20 per week each and buy hay in bulk off the field.
I have found a new yard - nearer to my house, flatter turnout and a max of 5 liveries, again another private yard, has a horse walker, not a propper school like mine more of a sand ring, somewhere to store my hay and is £20 per horse. The yard isn't quite as nice and tidy as the one i am at now.
Am i doing the right thing moving? I might not like the way the owner runs it or the people there and then i'll be stuck! Plus just all the stress of moving and turning them out in a new field with other horses when they are happy where they are it's just me worrying about the athritis in my pony and my horse ripping rugs!!

tricky one I would go with your gut feeling, to me the fact your posting this suggests you should move..

 

[rhodes1029]

Yes thanks... I think the fact i have posted and the fact that i have even looked for somewhere means that i am not sure and should move....

 

[WandaMare]

I would try and find out more about the new yard before you make your decision. Is there any way you could talk to one of the other liveries and see if they are happy there? Its a big move esp for your oldie after 15 years in one place, so I would want to be 100% sure before unsettling them. Also if it were me I think I would miss a proper school.....

 

[rhodes1029]

No don't think i'd really miss the school that much as i tend to be a happy hacker really and there is good hacking! There is a school 10 mins away i could hire if i wanted a propper one and in summer i can use the fields and have a good gallop etc which i can't do now... Plus there is also a place that foes competitions etc in summer that is a quick hack to.
My main concern is just my field - there is an all year round bog, a hill that they could fall down if there was to be an accident, and the fact that it is a rocky hillside... Plus no one helps do ragwort picking etc in summer... Having said that i don't know how the people are at the new yard! I got a nice feel for it though....
As for unsettling the older one... she's pretty chilled and used to compete loads and have her stabled at competitions all over the place so she would be fine i would have thought! It's the younger one that would prob be a dufus!!!