To move yards or not-WWYD?

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FBDD

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My horse is settled where we are and I don't like moving for the sake of moving but would like your thoughts/suggestions. It's a large yard (40 horses) grazing not rotated and fields not fertilised. Hay/haylage quality very hit and miss I.e too wet/dry/dusty but still paying £1.43 per day. We are allowed to put some hay out in the field during the day in winter, which is a good point imo. Facilities are basic, 1 x 60x20 outdoor and 1 x 20x30 which floods and has no lights. If you want a lesson you can only advise people but can't expect them to vacate the arena, which is fair play, but it always means I go off site for my lessons, so extra fuel/ costs associated. I probably only use the school 3 or 4 times a week at the most. If I'm honest, I don't enjoy riding there, young kids, etc...

So in all, I'm not particularly happy there but then who ever is at there livery yard? In the past I've experienced yard owner grumpiness when he didn't allow when he didn't allow winter turnout for 6 months or extreme bitterness and the most unpleasant and bullying behaviour ever - worse than a school playground! Yes I've been at two yards previous.

I love the idea of moving to a professional yard, but the nearest one is forty minutes away. Is that too far? WwYD?
 
Go have a look at a few, you may find the grass isn't greener or you may find it is! Took me ages to move, now wish I'd done it sooner as mare and I are coming on leaps and bounds. I loved the people at my old yard but was constantly worrying about my mares care and as a result stressing her too. Thankfully had the push of my job moving too far away that made me chabge yards. You will never know until you go so don't burn bridges just in case. Go with your gut instinct.
 
Great idea. I have found a lovely yard but it's a good 35min drive away and I would have to go part livery. Do you think this is too far away?

Alternatively, I could move back to an old yard which is pure DIY, 10 mins away. However, and here is the catch, it was horrendously bitchy and why I moved. All the nasty people have now left but the owner couldn't control the situation. I got along with the owner very well. Is it worth risking again?

Sorry just voicing out loud as sometimes it's hard to make the right choice being so close to the situation ;)
 
I would have a chat with the old yard owner. If she has got rid of/all the nasty ones have left things could be very different. The lady I rent land from had problems with some right dragons previously, they have now left, and her attitude to trouble makers has changed hugely.
 
I've recently moved to somewhere even further away - but now each and every minute I spend with my horse is a pleasure.

I used to "get in, get out", wheras now I enjoy hanging out with him. So yes, I spend more time in the car - but as the environment isn't toxic I get more quality time too.

You said you just don't enjoy it where you are - so I'm wondering if you're doing as I did, turning up, doing the bare minimum and then getting the hell out of Dodge. Can you go visit the lady 10 mins away so you can see for your own eyes how it is now?
 
FBDD said:
Great idea. I have found a lovely yard but it's a good 35min drive away and I would have to go part livery. Do you think this is too far away?
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My boy is on a part livery yard 35 minutes away. I held back on moving there for a good seven months because of the distance - now I think it was the best thing I ever did. I only have to go once a day, horse is ridiculously happy, facilities are wonderful (huge stables, lovely school with mirrors, lovely grazing, etc.) and (these are the two best bits) I know (without doubt) that my horse is extremely well cared for when I am not there, and the atmosphere on the yard is wonderful - quiet, calm, supportive.

Go and look at the part livery yard - if you like it, the distance doesn't have to be an issue.

P
 
As you said there will always be something you don't quite like on a yard but you need to thing about what you will compromise on.

Your current yard sounds quite average.

If you go to a professional yard it will just depend on your budget and how they do things.
Do you have time to travel that distance or are you happy to go on part/full livery?

Ask lots of questions and visit the yard a couple of times at different times of the day.
 
If I'm honest I personally would think carefully about moving if your horse is happy. I know the cons on your current yard are frustrating to say the least, but could you perhaps talk to your current yard owner to see if there is anything they could suggest. As a livery yard owner, I would much rather someone came to me and I would see if I can sort the problem, rather than you getting worked up and upset about it. Go and view a few more yards, look in tack shops for adverts and make sure you do that drive to the yard that's further away a couple of times at different times of the day. My 1st livery has just left today, as she was driving nearly 800 miles a week and although I offered assisted, she loves being with her horses twice a day, every day and so she had to make the decision to leave. She was very sad to go as her horses are very settled here, but I could totally understand- there's no way I would drive that far unless it was on route to work. Basically what I'm saying is make sure that the distance and extra petrol costs is worth it. You don't say roughly where you are? You could create a post on here and see if anyone sees it in your area and could offer some ideas of alternative yards. I hate moving my mare as she is a PITA and gets separation anxiety when moving to a new yard.
Hope everything works out for you. X
 
personally I would be furious re the hay situation, totally not acceptable to have to feed your horse dry & dusty hay/hayledge !

I also wouldn't be impressed about the fields not being rotated as grass can get "horse sick" & there will end up being no nutrients left in it especially if not fertilised!

BUT I will fully admit I am very OCD with the way my horses are kept. After working on professional yards going back to livery was very hard. I have my own place now & I enjoy having my horses again rather than getting upset about the yard deciding things!

I would go back to the 1 that is 10 mins away & see if the atomosphere has changed, you will be able to tell :)

I have travelled 30 mins to a yard on a weekend but it was on my way home from work so it was only the weekend I was doing the major travelling
 
Thanks everyone, all your suggestions have been really helpful. I'm going to look into things more before I make any decisions.
 
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