Tips on moving to a big yard from small private fields? Prepare me please! :o

[Ashleigh_]

Hello everyone,

Myself and my friend had some really shocking news yesterday which has left us in a bit of a sticky situation. Our farmer gave our field owner notice, as despite the fact she was a good tenant he needs his fields back - we think he's sold it to developers We have until the end of July, I'm pretty sad because our field owner is an amazing lady who has helped me a considerable amount with Ronnie as he was my first horse.

I had planned to stay there until September/October time before moving Ronnie up to university with me but it seems we will be moving somewhere else first before then, I hope he copes with the changes okay - i'll be doing my best to make it as stress free for him as possible.

Anyway, my friend and I went to see a yard today down the road from where we are currently which have part livery spaces. The yard owner there seems quite positive, the area we would be in is of american barn style and it has an outdoor school which is nice as i'll want to have regular lessons to get my confidence up again.

Personally, my only worry is going from our small, private field where there is only a few of us (7 people who have access, including myself) to a huge livery yard I'm not used to having people I don't 100% trust around my equipment etc and so I'm wondering how to adjust to it. What's the running consensus with locking stuff away? Will I look like a complete weirdo if I've got everything locked away/labelled? I don't want everyone to think i'm some over protective wet wipe!

If anyone has any tips, 'must have' equipment or just general etiquette info on what it's like being on a big yard then i'd be really grateful to hear it, no matter how small. It will be a massive change for me and my friend and I just want to gather as much info as possible so we can be as prepared as we can! It's exciting times, but also slightly daunting as well as sad to say goodbye to our current field set up which we both loved so much.

Thanks everyone xx

 

[Ginger Bear]

I've been on both large and small yards.. I'm now on a yard with over 70 horses! Biggest yard I've ever been on.. You get to know people very quickly and haven't had any issues. Everyone labels stuff with names on, brushes, barrows, forks etc. Tack is locked away in our own tack rooms but we all let each other use our stuff..some people do put plz do not touch on their stuff just so it doesn't get moved about.

 

[Happy Hunter]

I did it a year ago - For 23 yrs Mum and I shared a rented field.
WoW your in for some change!!!

LABEL EVERYTHING!!!! Haynets, buckets, rugs, boots, numnahs - Not that everyone is a theiving monkeym but helps if ever there is a lost item - You wont be a wet wipe, You will be the only one with all your stuff! - Try spray paint template (Cut from a cereal box or somehting) - or unique insulation tape stripey patters. - My friend has purple,yellow,blue. Actually if your moving with a friend - you might find your sharing a tackroom or somehting - handy!

Be prepared for the spanish inquisition - Its like changing schools in year 8 - Everyone will want to know everything!!! - but equally, they may not want to tell you anythin! - Nout strange as Folk!

I did find that actually previously I was a messy bugger - My sweeping skills have improved emmensely!

Enjoy!!! A school will revolutionise your pre uni training and get you going in no time - i didnt know what I was missing! (even for me, a hacking, hunting, XC I DONT "DO" dressage rider!!!)
Company helped me progress emensley - I was just bimbling along, now I love planning comps with mates.

THe one essential tip - Buy a shield to bat off comments! - Some will be misguided 'advice', some will be nasty, some will hurt and some will be just stupid!
Mind you - some will be genius well placed and perfect!

 

[Izzwizz]

Hmmmn - grow a thick skin first and foremost.! Smile sweetly and say hello and be polite to others. I think your wise to label all your tack, start as you mean to go on. It can be fun on a big yard, you will learn whos who and what people are like. You will also no doubt pick up lots of useful tips from others there whether you want them or not... I am on a big yard and actually like it, must do Ive been there 8yrs now. Never a dull moment, a new circle of friends to have a cuppa with and share stories. Could introduce you to competing if you dont do so already, people to go with and read a Dressage test or two.

Enjoy it, a change is as good as a rest and if you dont like it, look elsewhere. Hope that helps a little.

 

[Walrus]

Firstly...don't panic!! I moved my boy from a tiny private yard where I was the only livery and there was a grand total of about 12 horses to a big yard with about 60 horses. I was worried that he wouln't settle, that I wouldn't settle, that we wouldn't cope with the traffic and the hacking. Well, I needn't have worried, he has settled in really well and so have I. The really good thing about this yard is the routine that it brings - I like it.

The main tips I can give you from my experience is:

smile and say hello to everyone - ask about their horse (everyone wants to tell you about thier horse!)

ask lots of questions - don't be afraid of looking silly by asking questions - I asked if I was allowed to tie up with a haynet and which of the 2 muck heaps I was supposed to use!

keep your stuff tidy and contained - I don't lock any of mine away but I do keep most of it in big plastic storage boxes so it's all together. Nothing of mine has walked so far

finally, you know your horse so always do what you think is best - I think I'm the only person on my yard who doesn't shoe, I wear three times more high-viz than anyone else, my pony has more hair than the rest of the horses put together, the yard manager laughs at me for weighing my hay - but it's all in good humour, no one is nasty and everyone is really nice - pony is getting his own fan club I think!

Good luck!

 

[GypsyGirl]

Hello I'm the friend that is moving aswell.. I have also just added up my livery costs including part livery/feed/hay/bedding to £300 a month!! So if anyone has any money saving tips then please let me know lol

 

[Ashleigh_]

Thanks everyone for your advice!

It's nice to know being on a big yard can be fun.. I am excited just feel a little unprepared!

What does everyone do with feed? Do you lock it in storage bins or just hope nobody takes a fancy to it?

 

[Ashleigh_]

Hello I'm the friend that is moving aswell.. I have also just added up my livery costs including part livery/feed/hay/bedding to £300 a month!! So if anyone has any money saving tips then please let me know lol

I still think this must be wrong Danni!

thank god for cobs..

 

[Izzwizz]

We have our own private tack rooms attached to each stable so feed bins are kept in there. You will have to do a reccy at your new yard and see what the others do. Go and have another look round, it doesnt all sink in the first time you visit.

 

[GypsyGirl]

I still think this must be wrong Danni!

thank god for cobs..

Nope its right! but im wondering if I would get away with feeding hay instead of haylage as the fields are better grazing anyway, then im wondering wether to go instead of shavings to straw but im worried incase she eats it.

Your lucky your boy can live on fresh air but weve got over the hard part now building her up now etc so hopefully i can cut down on hard feed etc at some point.

Typical Tb aye!!!

 

[Cliqmo]

Big yards are fun! Locking everything away is a good idea, and if you're going to label everything do it now so the labels don't look brand new when you get there ;-) My only advice is to be really smiley with everyone at the new place, as neutral faces can sometimes give the impression of being frosty (not that it looks like it will be a problem from your sig )

 

[QUICKFIRE]

I agree, don a tin hat and grow a thick skin, I have always tried to rent a field, and a few stables, always have payed over the odds just to have sole use, sharing, even with friends can be tough! call me, but I hate people useing my tools, and not putting them back where they found them, or even worse put back broken!!!! good luck..

 

[JessPickle]

Just make sure stuff is labelled apart from that I always liked the having people to hack with etc.

Where you off too?

GypsyGirl, we moved both ours to straw 2 weeks ago, they are both greedy buggers and neither of them has eaten it

 

[bumper]

I am repeating other advice here, but:

Label everything. I use a permanent white marker, it shows up on dark coloured items, like buckets/trugs. Get tags for your nets, you can use luggage tags, or order ID tags in batches online.
Keep your stuff tidy and contained. I have stacking boxes which open at the front. People are less likely to borrow stuff (and they will!) if it's "away".
Be friendly, smile, say hi and bye. Never offer unsolicited advice, but be prepared you may get plenty! Be able to grit your teeth, smile once more, and carry on regardless. Your horse, your rules.
Feed bins..that's a tricky one, you may have to play that by ear. Some yards you'll be fine with normal bins, on others you'll find you have to buy a locking feed container. Look at what others do re this, and if not locking it up, watch your feed levels for a bit to see if you need to. Mostly you won't.
It usually helps to leave your contact details on the yard. One yard I was on had laminated posters on every stable door with contact info for the owner, also vet and farrier, in case of emergencies. Once you get to know your neighbours you'll prob swap numbers anyway.

It'll be fine, you'll make some new friends I expect!

 

[Ashleigh_]

Thanks for all the advice
I'm sort of looking forward to it now, just want to go and have another look around at everything It's just going to be so different!