well, its done :(

Delicious_D

Delicious_D

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Over the past few months i have had to evaluate my posiont in regards to Delicia and our future togather. As much as i love my current yard, and i do utterly adore it. It is starting to become obvious that a busy competition centre is not the best place for a mare to be in foal. Combined with the costs, it no longer seems practical.

So, with a heavy heart i handed my notice in today. I am gutted as i love this yard, but if i were to stay, it would be for the wrong reasons. Delicia needs to be out 24/7 really, and i would love to be more hands with her day to day care. Living 50 minutes away from my current yard is placing a lot of pressue on me time-wise with my new job, and also the cost of the fuel it is starting to take its toll on myself. For a horse that for at least the next year will be unridden, it seems unrealistic to require the access to the amazing facilities where i am.

I had a little cry last night, i have known for a while this time was coming, and with the change in the livery contracts coming up in April, now seemed the right time. I have found an amazing yard, half the price and will allow dee to live more naturally which is what i want. I love my current YO, YM and all the staff and thank them so very much for all their help, support and advice since my time being there, and i am very sad, but sometimes, the right thing to do is the hardest. I really do hope i am making the right decision, but i have to be practical. A horse doesnt care if there are two indoor arenas and a horsewalker, and when she was in compettion work, these facilities are what i needed. However, now our needs have changed it doesnt seem fair to expect a yard to evolve to suit them.

But, on the up side, it has almost been 7 years since my accident, and i am finally at a point in my healing where i feel confident and capable of taking over the care of my horse fully. This is a huge step and i know i am also scared at the same time. If i am going to breed her, i have to be more hands on. Its either do it or sell it, and im never going to sell Delicia. So i better get on with it. Besides, its only taken me 7 years to realise.
 
Well done you! Change is a risk but it is so exciting, a new life for you and Dee and soon enough you will have a little one to look after. I am sure your yard will miss you and you them but new pastures bring new adventures :o

Link? Pictures? More detail required! :)
 
I think you'll have a a much happier horse being out 24/7, and not wanting to down competition yards as they serve a purpose, but I've never thought that horses find immaculate boxes, horsewalkers and arenas etc as appealing as out in a field doing their own thing ;)

As for caring for her yourself, I find it far more rewarding, although I've never had mine looked after by anyone else and there are times it must be nice, it really helps strengthen your bond with them imo.

Anyway, a brave step for you, and I hope you and D are very happy. :)
 
This could be a really positive thing, you might even love your new yard just as much, and it's got to be an advantage that you'll be looking after her yourself again? I love looking after my boys!
 
Wishing you and D, all the best, I'm sure she will be much happier with more t/o and having you there to be more hands on, change is never nice, especially when you have been happy where you are, but personally think you are doing the right thing x
 
I did this with my mare a couple of years ago. Moving her from a part livery yard with all the facilities I no longer needed to live out at a stud geared up to care for her changing needs made so much sense. It also freed up the necessary finances for 5 attempts at AI and all the unexpected costs of breeding. Unfortunately she didn't take but remained at the stud living out until she had enough time off to come back into work (she had a thrombosis in her jugular vein that needed almost a year off to gradually heal.)
The breeding wasn't a success but saving money on livery allowed me to try several times and gave her a better environment to recover in. Living out suited her so much she has continued to live out at home rather than go back on livery.
Good luck, it's the right thing to do with a mare and foal, the foal needs to mix with other youngsters and livery yards are not the best place for foals.
 
It sounds like a hard decision but the right one - and just bear in mind, if it doesn't work out there are always other options.

I'm in a similar positions - I'm moving my boy to a new yard after 4+ years at my current yard. I love my yard - the Y/O is brilliant and the facilities and other liveries are fab but I want him to live out more and in a more natural environment plus I'm taking on more hours at work so it will be better for him to live out in a herd than stand alone in a stable for 16 hours a day.

I'm nervous about it - you always feel like the outsider for the first few days but I'm hoping it all works out for the best!

Good luck with the move!!
 
Thank you everyone. Its been a really tough decision but i know deep down the horse needs to be out. I have taken a lot of vet guidence on this too and they agree with me. Dee has dropped a bit of weight recently and tbh i think she is bored. She needs sunshine, grass and horse to horse interaction.
 
I made the decision 16 months ago to go from full livery to DIY and haven't regretted it one bit :D

It seems like a huge step now but after a month it'll feel so normal ;) Good on you for doing it, Dee will thank you for it!
 
Dee will be so much happier out. Broodmares take on a life of their own when they are living a more natural lifestyle. I think she'll thrive, I know mine all do and many of the ones here were previously competition horses trucked all over the place and stabled for most of their lives. They all settled in to living out. I think it's healthy for not only their body but their minds too :)
 
Spring Feather said:
Dee will be so much happier out. Broodmares take on a life of their own when they are living a more natural lifestyle. I think she'll thrive, I know mine all do and many of the ones here were previously competition horses trucked all over the place and stabled for most of their lives. They all settled in to living out. I think it's healthy for not only their body but their minds too :)
Click to expand...

My thoughts too :)

excited but nervous!
 
Sounds like the best decision for both of you, and would love to see some pics of Dee in her new home when she's settled. :)

Can I ask if your going to carry on with your loan horse (Barnaby?)?
 
Aw- change is always hard but it sounds like you are doing the right thing for you, Dee and the baby foaly when he/she comes. Good luck with the move.
 
I don't know tbh. I've text the owner and waiting to hear back. :(

I'm relieved, as I know it's the right decision as with everything, a few things have come out of the wood work and I'll be glad to have control again.

Dee has two elderly welsh D mates as new field mates at this new yard :). Very happy x
 
We made a similar decision a couple of years ago, moved from a very smart competition yard to a 'scruffy' in the nicest sense, happy hacker yard following a leg injury. Our mare went from being a stresshead to a totally chilled out horse. We were less stressed as well, less money to pay out and less 'keeping up with the Jones' I think it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.
 
Mrs M that's so true!!!

I love my current yard, but I know it's not right for what dee and I need. I want to be more hands on and 50 minute drive there doesn't allow that. Plus with dad ill and my disabled brother, I can't rely on mums help (my brothers carer). I need to be more self sufficient.
 
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