To move or not to move ?

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Lauren1993

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Hi all , I need help deciding whether to move yards or stay put !

We currently have our own little yard just my horse & my children’s pony where we have made our own little yard. Rented & limited to what we can do but make use of what we have. Land isn’t ideal & gets very muddy soup in the winter but have just about 2 acres for my horse & a 11. Pony.
Located between home, kids school & my work so nice & easy. We have no school, obviously alone - which is a pro & a con. Please ourselves within reason of owner who lives on site but is not horsey. (Basically someone’s back garden)
The kids have freedom to
Run around, play etc.
I ride out alone most of the time, girls ride their pony around the block or around the grass on the yard.
We have decided to give the girls this summer to see how they get on with their pony & if they aren’t interested she’ll be sold & I’ll just move my horse anyway.

The yard I’m thinking of moving to is at my work - spaces come up very rarely ! 2 stables coming free in May - so I need to make a decision & put my name down & give notice at my place.

Obviously it is very convenient that I can pop & do my jobs on lunch etc.
it’s a diy livery yard with about 5/6 other owners. School on site, people to ride with. Give the girls the best chance of riding for the summer with their pony. Another pony on the yard we can ride so my girls can ride together.
Help from friends on the yard where as at the moment I’m paying someone to come & do mine when needed.

Obviously we’ve spent a good amount of money on our little yard we’re at currently & a big deal to just walk away & cut our losses. Some things I can sell or take with us but the stables we’ve built in the barn, fencing etc. can’t come with us.
I just don’t want to regret leaving our own little haven but I think there are a lot of pros to moving.
It will be an extra £30 per week in rent to move but Hay is slightly cheaper on the livery yard.

What would you do ?
 
Just to add at my little yard I’m responsible for all maintenance, hedge cutting, harrowing, rolling, seeding, fencing ! So all of that adds up & takes my time away from riding …. I oftern have to pick doing a job or riding !

Obviously at the livery yard there is none of that to do just my own yard jobs & riding.
But our little yard is so lovely in the summer & like a little secret haven.

Such a hard decision!
 
I would move especially as you are not sure if your kids will remain interested. Having other children around plus an additional pony they can ride may well keep their interest up.

I have my horses at home and as you mentioned, maintenance is an on-going cost and time stealer.
 
Thanks both, yes if the pony does go towards the end of the summer then I will be moving my horse anyway & would just have to go where there is space as I can’t keep my horse at our yard on her own.
I think I know what’s right but need a push !!
 
I think it depends on how much longer I can envision staying at that job, as if you move work or it goes sour you lose both your livery and work all in one.. Can you afford to move them but keep your little yard on for an extra two months maybe? It sounds like a great move, but I am naturally risk averse
 
Usually I'd say avoid livery as have mine at home but if you sell pony you'd have to move anyway.
What's the turn out like at livery? Any restrictions? Would your kids be able to run and play like they do now?
Sounds ideal with friends and another pony for girls, no maintenance or groom required and facilities!
 
I intend to stay here until I retire 😅
Both yards, my work, the kids school are all in our small village we could walk to all of needs be !
I couldn’t afford to pay for both but I think the owner would happily leave it free for me for a short while - TBH I highly doubt she will rent it out to anyone else anyway.
 
Nicnac said:
Usually I'd say avoid livery as have mine at home but if you sell pony you'd have to move anyway.
What's the turn out like at livery? Any restrictions? Would your kids be able to run and play like they do now?
Sounds ideal with friends and another pony for girls, no maintenance or groom required and facilities!
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I obviously left livery to be at my own place so I get that.
Losing a form of freedom but gaining friends & more of a social aspect too.
grazing is good, well managed only daytime turnout in the winter but summer 25/7 if you like. 2 paddocks - summer & a winter.

They will definitely have less freedom & would have to be more contained than they are currently but lots more people to keep an eye on them & keep them entertained.

Basically I work for the family that own the livery yard too - hence why I work there (their son owns a tractor repair company where I’m business manager) my bosses Wife & dad runs the livery yard & farm business.
 
Nicnac said:
Usually I'd say avoid livery as have mine at home but if you sell pony you'd have to move anyway.
What's the turn out like at livery? Any restrictions? Would your kids be able to run and play like they do now?
Sounds ideal with friends and another pony for girls, no maintenance or groom required and facilities!
Click to expand...

This really!

If I had my time again with my daughter growing up with her ponies I go onto a yard rather than keep away from people which is my natural instinct. I think her riding would have come on much quicker with others to ride with and socialise with. Just a few questions I want ticking off the list first.
 
dorsetladette said:
This really!

If I had my time again with my daughter growing up with her ponies I go onto a yard rather than keep away from people which is my natural instinct. I think her riding would have come on much quicker with others to ride with and socialise with. Just a few questions I want ticking off the list first.
Click to expand...
I do think us not having a school & the social aspect for my eldest has held her back & been very restrictive. Scheduling lessons is a nightmare & expensive when the travel & school hire is involved.
She’s very social & loves having people around so I do think she’ll want to be at the yard more knowing people are there.

The girl I pay to do mine when we’re away is at the livery yard & my daughter loves her ! So she will be very pleased to be with her & be able to ride together.
 
Lauren1993 said:
I do think us not having a school & the social aspect for my eldest has held her back & been very restrictive. Scheduling lessons is a nightmare & expensive when the travel & school hire is involved.
She’s very social & loves having people around so I do think she’ll want to be at the yard more knowing people are there.

The girl I pay to do mine when we’re away is at the livery yard & my daughter loves her ! So she will be very pleased to be with her & be able to ride together.
Click to expand...

I love my own place and space, but I do think it's an adult thing. In hindsight my daughter missed out on that interaction.

also it's not like your walking on to a yard full of strangers and not knowing the status quo, your already familiar with the people and the dynamics
 
Move, I have an 11yr old and we’ve always been at livery but she has really benefited from the company at other yards. Boxing up to pony club etc is an option but honestly I’d move to the DIY yard.

Now she’s older I’d love my own place as have been through the ringer with rubbish yards…and she’s old enough now to manage without company as we box out most weekends…but when she was younger we found livery so useful and helped push her too.
 
Definitely move as children need others to inspire them. It wasn't just about having a pony when I was a child it was the friendships made and the fun had with others that made it such a brilliant hobby. I do love having the horses at home but miss having people to ride with hence I had to buy another to pimp out for friends to ride with me :)
 
I’m another who agrees, move to the yard, as an adult I would have liked to have my own yard but there are many advantages of having other people around especially for the children. You know the people and the yard so you are more aware of what it’s like rather than moving to a strange yard
 
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