What comes first - the horse or the yard?

[ivy23]

After much thinking, I’m leaning towards buying or full loaning a horse. I’m trying to figure out the best way to go about this. Should I find the right yard first (knowing that it may be a while before I can bring a horse there), or concentrate first on finding the right horse (but I may then struggle to find a place on a yard I like)? How did you do it?

I owned horses when I lived in Europe, but never had to scramble to find a place for them as on average, yards/riding centres are much bigger and aren’t usually full.

 

[milliepops]

you need to find a yard first, really - be a disaster to find the horse of your dreams and then have nowhere to keep it.

 

[Bernster]

I’d research yards first, to get an idea of whats on offer, cost, livery, location and how many have free spaces or spaces that will be free soon. Helps when you’re looking so you know what kind of home you’re offering. Horse market seems pretty active still so whilst it could take weeks ofc, you might find something v quick then you’ll be in a rush to find a yard. I wouldn’t secure a box though until I knew I’d found a horse, unless yard was willing to hold it for you on a fairly open ended basis.

 

[Leandy]

If you are looking at loans, no responsible horse owner is going to consider you without a clear idea on where you would keep the horse (although you may be able to keep it on its existing yard if that works for both).

 

[Littlebear]

Where i live yards are gold dust, it took me over 2 years to get a space at somewhere reasonably close to home. When i first moved house here i had to just take what i could get which was a mission travel wise and had other compromises. I would personally want to have a stable booked and ready even if it meant paying full price for a while before i started looking.
Also as Leandy said - no way is anyone going to give you a full loan without knowing exactly where its going either.
Good luck x

 

[doodle]

I agree with find a yard first. You will probably have to pay to retain the space, but having had a mad scramble to find a place when the place I thought I had fell through that is very scarey!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

We have always found the horse first then worried about where to put the horse, even to the point of having to build a stable for one mare! But if you live somewhere where livery spaces are at a premium, it would be more sensible to at least have a look round available yards first

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

After much thinking, I’m leaning towards buying or full loaning a horse. I’m trying to figure out the best way to go about this. Should I find the right yard first (knowing that it may be a while before I can bring a horse there), or concentrate first on finding the right horse (but I may then struggle to find a place on a yard I like)? How did you do it?

I owned horses when I lived in Europe, but never had to scramble to find a place for them as on average, yards/riding centres are much bigger and aren’t usually full.

Def a yard, then you can pay a holding fee for the stable.

 

[Trouper]

Yard first always - don't want to risk getting horse and then having to put it somewhere you are not happy and, possibly, the horse would not be either. Not a good start.

 

[thefarsideofthefield]

Combine the two activities . Arrange to go and have a look at every yard in your area , and whilst you're there tell them that you're viewing yards because you're actively looking for a horse to buy/loan . You never know - someone on that yard might have exactly what you're looking for , or know someone else who has . A great way to start a bit of networking and get the word out .