to move or not to move

fankino04

fankino04

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As title says really, we are at a lovely yard at the moment that's 15 mins from home but is quite expensive as it includes ad lib hay and bedding and as I am very busy with work my boy is pretty much living out so not using any of this so I looked at a different yard last week and don't know what to do, have listed pros and cons...
Current yard..
Pros
Close to home
Lovely people - although I don't see them that often!
Horse is happy and settled
Big new stables that are do nice
2 outdoor all weather schools.

Cons
Costs up to 120 pet month more if horse is out
Promised indoor school is still not done
Hacking is ok but not great
Other livery compete more and I feel a bit inadequate that I often don't even ride let only ne serious enough to compete - all in my head though, no one has ever said anything.

New yard
Pros..
Indoor school all be it not great.
Cheaper
Amazing hacking
Lots of happy hackers

Cons...
Twice as far as current yard but still on way to work so won't cost more in petrol
Horse may not settle, can be a bit odd
No outdoor school, but there is a designated schooling and jumping paddock
Would have to organise own hay and bedding and only storage for a month at a time.

Please advise, I am rubbish at decisions and feel guilty about leaving current yard as yard manager is so nice
 
can your horse still live out as much at the new yard? It might be that he has to live in a lot more which could end up costing a fair bit in bedding and hay.

Although the hacking would swing it for me! Where I used to live the hacking was fab with lots of bridleways, now where I am the hacking in mainly all road work, the only bridle way is a fair way away so a bit too far to hack to on my old nag :(
 
The second yard sounds better from my view. Lovely hacking and indoor school but I'm not a competitive person & hacking is my main enjoyment.
Your horse would settle in time & if your relaxed in your new environment he will soon relax I'm sure.
 
I would stick to the first yard unless you absolutely can't afford it.

The thing that puts me off the second yard is having to organise own hay and bedding. Unless suppliers are prepared to deliver/put undercover when you aren't there, it can be a pain. If you have to fetch stuff yourself, it's an even bigger pain :eek:.
It might work for you but I seemed to be forever going to the feed/bedding merchants.
 
It may help to think forward to horrible winter conditions -
how do the pros and cons look then and are there any deal-breakers

ie check all costs of getting your own hay and bedding including storage, delivery, the sheer hassle-factor of reordering each month and how you will manage if you're snowed in; will the schooling paddock be out of bounds at any time of the year and is the hacking usable in all weather conditions; although the extra distance is on your way to work is it going to be a nuisance if you have to deal with emergencies etc etc
 
Thanks for replies, yes he can stay out all year if I want at the new place, and I can buy hay and bedding from them but then I can only have what they use or I can source my own if I prefer
 
The second yard sounds lovely. Especially if there are other people there that just enjoy their horses and not serious about competing. The hacking would swing it for me and it really isn't that hard to organise hay etc. We have just done the same at our place. A group of us have had a hay delivery split between us. You will find that the people at the 2nd yard will be able to point you in the right direction for hay etc, as they would already be in the routine of doing so
 
fankino04 said:
Thanks for replies, yes he can stay out all year if I want at the new place, and I can buy hay and bedding from them but then I can only have what they use or I can source my own if I prefer
Click to expand...

Well that sounds better :)
I have been on a yard like that and it worked well and would be tempted to move if I was you.
 
I would stay where you are as £120 is a very good deal with ad lib hay and bedding. I know your horse is out at the moment but livery yards price and AVERAGE throughout the year rather than changing the rates according to what the liveries decide to do. Your horse is settled and not too far from home should you be called in an emergency.
 
Erm 120 a month is just one of mine, stable, grazing, wormer and full use of facilitys hay and bedding is on top so that is a very good price.
 
Current yard is 200 per month inclusive, new one would be 80 but then have to pay for hay and bedding on top so in the summer when he is out it will be 120 cheaper at the new place
 
For me the hacking would swing it, as thats what I enjoy about having a horse. I'm sure he will settle, but if you don't like it, as long as you leave on good terms you could go back.
 
how much do you use the school? how many liveries are on the new yard? I wonder if its worth going somewhere that has an indoor school that isn't great is going to be better for you? and if there is only that one school, will you get the chance to use it if the other liveries are already in there?

or would you say hacking is what you do mostly? I hack all the time, hardly ever school, so going there wouldnt be a problem for me as I would prefer to be somewhere with amazing hacking but if you need the school then I would say, stay were you are and maybe keep looking for something better?

okay the new yard is on the way to work but what about at the weekend and when your on holiday and if you have an emergency? i would prefer to be as close as possible! or when it snows, is it going to be difficult to get there etc?

i wouldn't go moving yards unless you are 100% convinced its going to be better! I moved mind miles away once and it was the worst decision I ever made!
 
So OP you currently pay 200pcm to keep a horse on a competition type yard where you feel too intimidated to ride. But you could be paying 80pcm to keep the horse on a happy hackers yard instead. Even if you have a poor doer who is messy in the stable, its unlikely to cost you more. If horse lives out 6mths of the year saving you 120pcm that gives you 240pcm for the 6mths of winter. I can't see it costing you that much for hay, feed and bedding. If it was me I'd move.
 
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