Unsure what to do....do I move my gelding?

[Charla]

Here's the situation;

I have 1 horse and 2 ponies. They currently all live out together 24/7 with a huge shelter in a 5 acre field. I have a stable but I don't and can't use it because the field is a 10 minute walk from the yard and there are no lights and as I don't finish work until late it's too dark to bring my horse in. This is fine cos he's happy and healthy living out anyway along with the ponies. The yard is lovely, there are only 3 liveries. I only ever see 1 of those liveries so it is very quiet and there is no bitchiness whatsoever. Yard owner just leaves us to it. However recently I've been finding it very lonely there, I'm a sociable person and miss having fun with my friends at a yard.
The other problem I have is that there are no facilities. There is no-where we can lunge, no school, nothing. I have 2 horses that will be brought in to work this year and it is already proving difficult. I'm currently paying £23 a week for my horse and £16 a week each for the ponies.

There is a yard up the road with 2 schools. It is a busy yard with quite a lot of younger people there. It charges £10 an hour to hire the school. I could walk my horse up there in hand and then lunge him in the school however that is quite expensive to just lunge your horse and then also to eventually school. And I'd need to lunge/school 2 of them at seperate times (there's only 1 of me) and preferably more than once a week! So this is far too expensive for my price range!

The livery at that yard with the schools only charges £25 per week per horse but the grazing is very poor and horses must be stabled throughout the year. So it would work out cheaper keeping my horse there. Just not keen on the poor grazing situation and not having my horses all together.

So my debate is, do I move my horse to this yard up the road so I can afford to atleast lunge and school him. And keep the ponies where they are because they are better off living out anyway and this also keeps costs down?

I could lunge in my field yes, but having the field so far from the yard makes it very difficult. Plus my instructor will not come out to give me help or a lesson unless I am in a school. And I really need him to come out once a week to help us progress in the right direction!

Sorry this has become such a long post!!

 

[Charla]

bump...please?

 

[Chestnut mare]

If you think u will enjoy your horse more and have the benefit of using the facilities then go for it .

 

[maletto]

Are there no other livery options in your area?

I have to say I'd be extremely reluctant to move your horses to somewhere with worse/no grazing.

It does seem a bit like your only option (failing being able to find another yard more suitable) is to move your horse to the yard down the road, leaving the ponies in the field.

 

[Hippona]

If you have to stable your overnight...is hay/straw included? Would you move the ponies too?

 

[LittleBlackMule]

I assume the £10 to use the school is only for 'outsiders', if you had a horse at livery there you wouldn't have to pay extra?

I currently have my horse at livery, and my pony/donkey/mules elsewhere which is much cheaper but with no facilities whatsoever.
My horse was originally with them as I thought I couldn't afford the extra livery fees, but since taking the plunge and moving him I wish I'd done it sooner!
For me, having a stable, electricity, water to hand, decent school etc., is well worth the extra cost.

 

[Chestnutmare]

I would personally look for other livery yards in your area that you can take them all to and have your ponies on a grass livery basis so you can have all horses together and facilities to use in one place.

 

[JennBags]

A couple of ideas:

- Ask the busy yard if you could come to some sort of arrangement with them re using the school - so you'd stay where you are, but pay them, say, £12 a week (every week) for use of the school. If they only charge £25/week livery and your horse isn't using up a box or any of their precious grazing, they might go for it.

- Move to the busy yard, but ask your current YO if you could continue to use the grazing (but less time) for a reduced price - you could have your horse stabled at night and out in the day.

Good luck!