What is the one thing that would make you leave your yard?

[LegOn]

Would it have to be something big?? Or would it be something niggling away at you that would make you look elsewhere?

Having a moment about my yard Nothing major though.... just inflexibility

I fear that the grass is sometimes always greener though... everything else is fantastic!!

 

[Ranyhyn]

I'm not at a yard currently, however I have a few things I won't put up with:

Things going missing (I have nice things so I can enjoy them, not you!)
People pestering horses (Been on yards where people will stand around horses who are not their own, bugging them - grrh)
Bitching (I'm not interested in who was seen doing what or who said what, get a life)
Crazy kids (this is not the creche or a giant playground, well behaved kids only - those are a rare commodity and a delight!)

It can be a big thing or small things TBH, at the end of the day it's meant to be a pleasure and you are PAYING for the luxury so you deserve for it to be the best experience it can be

 

[KSR]

I agree with the above..

My yard is a sole let unit I have to myself.. The only thing that will make me leave is my OH living 200 miles away.. So relocation to another part of the country..

 

[aintgotnohay]

Bitching and more bitching!

 

[whiteclover]

I have to agree with boolavogue. Ive mainly left yards due to bitching. Im not interested in it at all.

 

[CatStew]

I'm another one that agrees with Boolavogue. I don't get involved in the politics of who did what with who or what is happening to such and such. I just want to go and do my bit, have a bit of peace from work (and OH ) and spend time with my two beasties. I think wherever you go there is always going to be somebody bitchy!

We're quite happy at our yard at the moment, but permission was recently granted for a lorry park to be build opposite the yard. Once this eventually happens I think we will be moving!

 

[muddygreymare]

Bitching, and no turnout/basically no turnout. That's why we left our old yard as she had no turnout for almost 2 months, am really happy where we are now, and she can be a horse and go out

If you're not happy to the extent that its making you unhappy and you don't have fun/enjoy being there anymore, move - owning horses is meant to be enjoyable and if you aren't happy because of the yard you're at, move to somewhere nicer

 

[arizonahoney]

I love my yard, but the distance from home is quite punishing (I live in London, but a must have for me is good turnout / good hacking).

 

[Jazzy B]

probably realistically if turnout became restricted, if the livery cost went up any more to being unrealistic and and if my boyfriend dumped me as he works on the farm and that could be a bit messy......... and heartbreaking - moral of the story never mix horses n men!!!

 

[marmalade76]

The only thing that will make me leave my current yard would be the death of my YO!!

 

[kim1978]

For me, i would move yards for bitchiness, but i have also moved yards before because the mares were kept in a field with a couple of oak trees in it. My mare thought the acorns were much nicer than the grass and 8 episodes of colic in 6weeks isnt funny and very expensive. We then had a yard owner who refused to move our mare to another paddock, even though the farm had 365 acres ! I now keep my youngsters in a rented field etc and there are only 3 of us that go up there and its bliss

 

[benson21]

I think the only reason I would leave the yard is if Donovan wasnt happy, or if I moved house and found it too far to travel.
There was a couple of years ago, before Donovan, that I seriously considered it as it was getting unbearable with the clickiness of groups, and making me unhappy, but in the end Benson was happy and settled, and that, to me, is more important.

 

[Quantock-cob]

No turnout in the winter! This is why I left my last yard - it was perfect in every other way but I couldn't stand the thought of my cob being stuck in a stable all day (especially when the YO's horses were allowed out). We now have a 6 acre field that he shares with 1 other pony and a lovely stable when he needs it.

 

[Luci07]

Left in the past whe I moved, another time when the school was dug up and no signs whatsoever it was going to be finished despite all the platitudes I received. However as I have a strict list of "absolutes " and " nice to have" I have never left a yard for lack of turn out etc.

Absolute for me would be flood lit school, no early closures of the yard as I ride after work, all year turnout, no forage restrictions, reasonable hacking, nice people and dogs must be allowed. Nice to have is indoor school, dressage sized arena, wash area etc etc.

 

[noodle_]

turnout!! IF any yard i was on restricted winter trnout/had none id be gone in a flash

current yard tho is amazing im very very lucky

id rather my horse be standing out in mud than standing copped up in her stable

 

[Dizzle]

I’m having to leave the perfect yard because my horse has developed COPD and can’t be stabled indoors anymore, but it’s working out ok as moving him to grass livery (with facilities) nearer to home, saving £10 a week in livery and 200 miles a week driving! Looking forward to having spare time to things other than mucking out (poo picking for instance )

 

[Bills]

No turnout would have me looking elsewhere. My horse would do himself a serious injury if he had to be stabled any longer than necessary. He just doesn't cope with it.

Other than that I can't think of anything else as I love my yard and we have all year round turnout.

 

[guesstimation]

No turnout would do it for me, or in fact no 24/7 turnout as my boy is very happy out all the time and if it had to be individual turn out. All I want is a herd for him to live with!

 

[ellie_e]

Kids!! I would never go to a yard that has kids, no offence to all the ones out there but personally I think I would go mad!! Ive been at my yard for 12+yrs dont plan on going anywhere, people are nice, grazing is excellent, use of school etc

 

[noblesteed]

Only if a place came at a farm in my village where there was a cosy stable, nice people, transport, tons of turnout and an arena!!!! Otherwise I am staying put!

 

[dollymix]

I've only ever left yards when an accumulation of things has got on top of me....rather than one horrific event. Things like bitchiness, things being 'borrowed' and not returned, poor turnout, lack of decent facilities, nasty/unpleasant YOs....

However, the one thing which would definitly make me leave without hesitation is if someone intentionally put one of my horses in danger.

 

[tonitot]

I would leave my yard for somewhere with a school and stables that dont leak! Other than that the yard is okay, just bitchy although it's mainly one person who's the cause of it all.

 

[LegOn]

What about restricted opening hours & you have a full time job!!

 

[ecrozier]

At the moment the fact that the people are lovely is a huge bonus. Our hacking is rubbish, school could be bigger with a better surface, but stables are nice and everyone is very laid back so no silly rules. I would not move somewhere with no all year turnout, wouldn't need to be 24/7 as long as they get out for absolute minimum 4-6 hours a day in decently fenced paddocks. Wouldn't move anywhere with poor security or no school/lights. If a yard opened up very near home with very nice school and good hacking I would be tempted!

 

[Trakehner]

Feral Children...parents (well, breeders) bring their children to the yard and then let them run off leash. They scare the horses and annoy the cats.

Thieving Boarders...I was at one place where my saddle and bridle kept being used by people stupid enough not to put the buckles back in my holes. Brushes and thrush remedies grew legs quite often, out of my tack trunk.

Using my horse...I was at one yard and a strange student came to me to complain about my riding her lesson horse. "Really, tell me about him and your lessons", I asked. The YO decided MY horse was of use to her and she was using him in lessons...My eventer Trakehner, not my nice older guy. We had a very loud discussion of that theft and I presented her with a bill for his use. This is an instant "I'm gone".

"Borrowing" my horse box...somehow it wasn't parked exactly where I'd left it, additional mileage on it too! Lots less diesel in the tank. I reported them to the authorities about this one for theft.

 

[Marydoll]

Im not on a yard now, i have sole let of my own place.
I was on a "small" yard where we were told adult only, no more than 12 stables.
All year grass turnout.
Cue 1.5 years later, 22 stables, overrun with kids and the winter field is stubble.
A lying sack of **** of a yo......... Yep thats why i left

 

[marmalade76]

Feral Children...parents (well, breeders) bring their children to the yard and then let them run off leash. They scare the horses and annoy the cats.

Thieving Boarders...I was at one place where my saddle and bridle kept being used by people stupid enough not to put the buckles back in my holes. Brushes and thrush remedies grew legs quite often, out of my tack trunk.

Using my horse...I was at one yard and a strange student came to me to complain about my riding her lesson horse. "Really, tell me about him and your lessons", I asked. The YO decided MY horse was of use to her and she was using him in lessons...My eventer Trakehner, not my nice older guy. We had a very loud discussion of that theft and I presented her with a bill for his use. This is an instant "I'm gone".

"Borrowing" my horse box...somehow it wasn't parked exactly where I'd left it, additional mileage on it too! Lots less diesel in the tank. I reported them to the authorities about this one for theft.

OMG!! What a cheek!

I have heard of a YO who hired out a full livery's trailer for £20 a day, full liveries' tack used of YO's horses and similar.

 

[Hexx]

Someone using my horse too!!

I happened to be early at the yard, and found a 12-year old girl putting my horse away. When questioned, she said she'd had a lovely ride round Hog Oak (a bridleway on one of the most dangerous roads in the area - I don't even ride on it) and that he was lovely.

He is a big 16.1 cob, strong and opinionated, when he wants to be - absolutely not suitable for a 12-year old beginner. The reason? The horse the girl was going to ride was lame, so the YO let the yard instructor take him.

How the YO didn't end up in hospital, I don't know - she very nearly ended up with her teeth on the floor and her head through a wall. Good job my sister was there to hold me back. I have to say her face was a picture when she realised she'd been rumbled. The thing that worried me was that I had no idea how many times it had happened before, even though she insisted that was the first time.

We were out the door within 2 days of the incident!!!!

 

[Gorgeous George]

I love my yard, the YO's and YM are lovely as are all of the other liveries and most of all George is very settled and content there

The only things that I can see that would make me move is if it changed hands, if George's dust allergy gets worse and he needs 24/7 turnout, or if I lost my job and had to find somewhere cheaper

 

[trakehnersrock!]

Being chucked out through no fault of my own is the reason I'm leaving the yard at which i've been a member of for 24 years ( last eight only as owner, previously RS or share). Long long story and unusual situation. Yard is actually part of a military sports centre, with the yard part staffed by military but "run" by military people on a committee in a leisure, voluntary capacity. For the last 3 years or so, I've been co-opted onto the committee as representative for the non-military members. In December a group of people dissatisfied with the way things were mounted a well-prepared "coup d'état" and took over the running of the yard. The change of 'régime' to take place 31/1/12. I applied for membership of the new Club, as I wanted to stay if only to carry on taking care of an old horse I've shared for the past twelve years or so, though I was wary of the new lot so had been looking round for somewhere to move Perzka j.i.c. - not easy in the middle of winter!
Well Friday 13th (how appropriate!) I got an e-mail to say application denied, so couldn't have a box obviously and I was to get the ******* out (in so many words) by the end of this month!!!!! Just because i was part of the old régime - I promise you there is no other reason, I get on with everybody, and am polite to those with whom I have no empathy, I'm the first to offer or be asked to look after other's horses in case of emergency etc. So am off on the 29th to pastures new, more expensive of course but I'm beginning to be glad to go. The facilities and potential for a great place were really good but this lot of tosspots are going to ruin it. Just sad to leave the old geezer behind
Sorry for the saga