What made you switch yards the last time you moved?

[Stilldreamin']

Have been struggling with a real dilemma here about my yard- not been here long, do love it in many ways, but worry it may not work long term.
Pros- lovely owner, good fields, no shoes on any horses so fights don't tend to leave much of a mark, nice hay and straw supplied, inexpensive and close to me too.
Cons-nearly all electric fencing, little permanent- scary in high winds. Stable is prone to losing a plank here or there and I worry that the whole thing could come down some day. No lighting- we work in the dark with torches. Only four horses, 3 owners, one rarely seen, so you have to be careful what horse goes where and when or there are hysterics. Also worming routine is haphazard to say the least. No school and my horse is a youngster so that's a miss.
It would cost a bit more to move and be a little more out of my way but for school access could be worth it- though I wonder how I would feel on a busier yard too, I like the quiet and knowing who I am dealing with.
How about you? What finally made you make your move and why? Any regrets or was it exactly as you hoped?

 

[NativePonyLover]

I went from a small yard of just 5 horses to a big, busy yard and I love it! I have a youngster too and found the tiny indoor school, bad hacking on busy roads and the fact I couldn't just turn up and ride as always had to consider what would be left out with the others...

...I chose my new yard as excellent off road hacking, herd turn out and good yard manager. A big school also helps too!

 

[Charla]

I last moved yards because I have a youngster and there were no facilities whatever. I was finding it a struggle, no where to even lunge or ride around. The nearest school was too expensive for me to be able to use regularly. The other reason being there were only 2 other liveries there and I only uses to see one of them. I found it quite lonely and wanted people to hack out with. I moved to a yard with all facilities and a lot more liveries and both me and my horse are a lot happier. I've made some good friends and have people to ride with. My youngster is also a lot happier in himself being turned out with a herd of horses and not on his own.

 

[RubysGold]

I left my last yard 3 weeks ago.
My horses weren't able to go out (she said all year turnout when i moved there) When they COULD go out (once every 2 days) the mud was so deep it hurt Roos legs and the area was so small my youngster kept getting bored and breaking the fence.

Things were ok there while they were in summer paddocks. And the people were ok..... UNTIL I bought my youngster, the second he walked off the trailer onto the yard, they started bullying me.
The liveries were so nasty I had to start getting there really early morning and late afternoon to avoid them. And I was an emotional wreck, constantly crying, which in turn upset my horses and made them hard to handle.

GLAD to be away from there!

 

[rhino]

I have only moved yards once (well the other times I was moving house/area) and it was due to a combination of things. Much better hacking, smaller yard without the yard bitch/bully you seem to get in so many yards and smaller group turnout (mine was out with 2 other geldings in decent sized fields as opposed to 10+ others in overgrazed fields).

Drawback was no school and having to source own feed and bedding.

It was great; just the YO's horse, my horse and 3 others (all belonged to good friends)

 

[ISHmad]

We moved because of a hormonal YO who had one set of rules for her pet liveries and another set of rules for the rest of us. (Three favourite liveries out of 22). Yet those of us who paid on time, kept the yard tidy, obeyed all her rules etc were frequently used as a verbal whipping post to let out her frustrations and in the end enough was enough.

We have no regrets moving, we now rent a private yard with just our horses there and it works really well. We don't have a school but do have miles and miles of off road hacking which helps make up for it. Don't get me wrong, a school would be the icing on the cake but that isn't going to happen.

 

[Pedantic]

There isn't enough room to type all the reasons I left my last yard.

 

[Stilldreamin']

I went from a small yard of just 5 horses to a big, busy yard and I love it! I have a youngster too and found the tiny indoor school, bad hacking on busy roads and the fact I couldn't just turn up and ride as always had to consider what would be left out with the others...

...I chose my new yard as excellent off road hacking, herd turn out and good yard manager. A big school also helps too!

This would probably be me if I did move- the school at the yard I have checked out is fab. The yard is big and busy. There are lots of horses but the fields are HUGE too so hopefully room to work out any disagreements.

Any injuries to your horse in the settling in period? How was he introduced? So many yards seem to just throw them out and leave them to it!

 

[welshied]

Old yard didn't have an arena (plus it was falling to pieces) and i have a 4 year old and needed one and now he is coming along really well

 

[Montyforever]

I was thinking about moving from my last yard for a while, because my pony was on his own and he was getting stressed but finally decided to move when my pony escaped onto the bridle path and was left there all day even though there had been riding school hacks/helpers go past him and just ignore him. Despite the fact he was about 2 seconds away from wandering onto the motorway

 

[LaurenM]

I changed because of the people - some individuals were just too much. Absolutely love my new yard - as does everyone else (past & present liveries).

 

[ShowJumperBeckii]

Because i pay for the stable field etc etc NOT for everyone and YO to keep telling me what im doing right and wrong with my horse and what farrier saddler etc to use.. i pay for livery thats it thats all i want, yet no one seems to get this so off we go !

 

[bugbee717]

Well my horses welfare, 6 horses on 3 acres of field that floods in winter, all horses need a swimming pool/ ice rink for winter, I have more grass in the back of my car than the field, the other two had .56 of an acre of scrub, these are all out 24/7, the stables 6 out of 10 had water features in them, ym and yo did not care in any shape or form. I moved about 3 months ago, the horses are so much happier.

 

[luckyoldme]

Stroppy spoilt women.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

Livery was for stable and grazing. YO failed to mention that winter turnout was only on days when it hadn't rained, wasn't raining or wasn't likely to rain.
That left very few days when they actually left their stables.

I do miss the the wonderful facilities, lovely liveries and fab YO (despite the very restricted TO, he was great in every other way.)

Turnout is not an optional extra for my horses and if the land can't cope with the volume of horses to offer that, then, its a no go.

 

[MrsMozart]

Needed more grass. Also wanted to have them closer to home.

 

[NativePonyLover]

Honestly? He was just turned out the next day and had to get on with it. He has come in with a few bite marks mainly and that is about it. Oh, he was kicked - but a day or two of boxrest and he has straight out again! He was a bit of a thug (hence the kick) but being in a herd has massively settled him and we are both very, very happy x

 

[blood_magik]

They kicked us all out

 

[horsesatemymoney]

Moved off the last yard as there really wasn't enough turnout. People were nice, yard was too, but not enough space for mine to run around and fill their faces.

However, I knew this when I moved there- was an emergency as I needed to get off my yard, quickly. This was urged by an increasingly headshy youngster, who refused to go into/out of stable and began to bite...complete change of character- became clear when two liveries seperately came to me and told me the YM was smacking him around the head whilst turning out in the morning (inc in livery.) Added to this, a good measure of interference, back stabbing and ridiculous rules (not allowed on before 8.30am or after 6pm) and the expensive price tag, I didn't hang around long!

 

[FionaM12]

I moved a week ago tomorrow.

Old yard: Lovely, laid back old-fashioned farm run by great couple BUT no winter turnout, no off-road riding and most other livery owners only did daily care of their horses then left. Not that the horses weren't looked after, it's just that most people rarely if ever rode or did anything with them.

I moved as I wanted turnout, off road riding facilities and support with Mollie.

New yard: Busy purpose-built stableyard, daily turnout, floodlit arena . Loads of livery owners hanging out every day (it is a holiday period). Horses ridden daily, yard full of chat, laughter and folk grooming, plaiting, etc. I've already had lots of invitations to hack out together, offers of lessons for me and schooling for Mollie (if needed) and turn out/bring in/feed her when I'm stuck at work.

So far, I love my new yard.

 

[FairyLights]

Because I'd bought my own place.

 

[Stilldreamin']

However, I knew this when I moved there- was an emergency as I needed to get off my yard, quickly. This was urged by an increasingly headshy youngster, who refused to go into/out of stable and began to bite...complete change of character- became clear when two liveries seperately came to me and told me the YM was smacking him around the head whilst turning out in the morning (inc in livery.) Added to this, a good measure of interference, back stabbing and ridiculous rules (not allowed on before 8.30am or after 6pm) and the expensive price tag, I didn't hang around long!

That sounds horrendous, your poor horse. As a youngster too- the last thing you want.

 

[Bigginge]

No lights, leaking stable, leaking store room, mad YO, non-existent surface on arena...it was the yard I'd been on since a child so it was a wrench to leave but as YO got older and madder it went steadily downhill. Turnout was great there though, that's probably the only thing I miss as we had much more control over what we did and when. However, everything else is 10x better, I was worried about horse adapting to change but he took to it like a duck to water, it was definitely the best thing to do.

 

[Janette]

The YO's children helping themselves to my kit and putting it back wet and dirty - causing mould in a lot of my other stuff.
No winter turnout. Stabled 24/7 unless you rode them through the day.
My work hours changed which meant the YO was using the indoor arena to teach at the time I had available to ride (arena use included in livery price). Other arena not lit and pitch black.

This yard did have a lot of plus's(excellent hacking, indoor and outdoor arena, YO is an excellent teacher) but mine and my horses needs changed, so we found a yard that could meet them.

 

[Snowysadude]

I haven't moved for a while as I like my yard, the pros really do out weigh the cons. Last move was for a job, before that was to go to university and before that was due to the school as it was a fantastic yard in every other way but I couldn't ride even after light rain or a light frost as it flooded and froze solid!

I have been on the same yard for 3 years now (minus when I went to university but I came back to the same yard in the holidays). Wouldn't move with any haste due to the yard having a lovely bunch of people on it, its not bitchy at all and everyone genuinely helps each other out which doesn't always happen on yards! Yard managers actually are helpful and yard owner doesn't interfere just fixes any major problems pointed out to him very quickly . Unfortunately a lovely lady is leaving though (moved over 100 miles away so cant keep horses there) but it means space for some new nice people!

 

[lme]

Changing needs. My horses were on land next to my house, rented from a lovely neighbour, who was a fantastic instructor. I could use her facilities by arrangement but could not 'buy' services. Downsides were horrendous mud / something in the air one of my ponies became allergic to / my job becoming very full time (making it hard to manage sole care of 4 horses & ponies) / my late 20s retired horse becoming more frail (& my land owner being unhappy that I'd not PTS).

I moved to a larger yard 10 mins from my house. It is on high ground (no mud & nothing to set off ponies allergy), the oldies are in their own herd, day to day care is done by the yard owner & team & we have use of brilliant facilities (including the option to move to full stabled livery during the worst of winter if needed. It costs a lot more than simply renting land but is MUCH less stressful. My horses / ponies are happy & my old girl is fit & well (for 30) and can still canter up the hill.

 

[EquestrianFairy]

Alcoholic YO and his crazy wife plus the 'favourite' livery owners and the fact I wasn't allowed a sharer on the yard.
I moved to a small private yard with a school and really enjoy it. I don't think I could move back to a livery yard if you paid me!

 

[little_critter]

I'm thinking of moving...the yard is a RS and what liveries there are are mostly kids so I have no-one adult to ride with.
RS kids help themselves to my tools and never put them back.
Not sure I entirely trust YO & groom to look after my horse when I'm on holiday.
Winter t/o is limited (they're in today because of drizzle)
There's a growing list of little niggles that annoy me.
BUT it does have a school, is very close to home and has a little XC course to play on.
Not sure if I'm just being too picky.
No harm in looking I suppose......

 

[horsesatemymoney]

That sounds horrendous, your poor horse. As a youngster too- the last thing you want.

Luckily, I got told pretty quickly and had realised that there was a major behaviour deterioration, I thought it was just an issue settling in, so we were only there perhaps 7/8 weeks....luckily, he is a forgiving soul and is fine now! Nobody stays long there

 

[sharky]

Our 1st ever horse so were very new to it all ...

we were on full livery at a supposed friends place and it turned out that Toby was exercised a grand total of 3 times in the 6mths we were there, tack was never cleaned as promised, beds were filthy and he was underfed on purpose as the YO was afraid of riding him - even though she recomended him as perfect 1st horse (turned out to be a bolter and V V V strong)
Using our livery money to pay for all her horses and feeds and not looking after our horse, yard was disgusting untidy with loads of dangerous things around.
Made us feel really really unwelcome whenever we went there and had to ask for a key just to see our own horse.
there was not enough land for the horses on the yard, and everything was stripped down to soil/mud.
I'm amazed we are still involved with horses as she did enough to put us off for life... we were new and didn't know any better, though all places were like this.

Final nail was he was left for 3 days mid summer without access to water and ended up fighting through an electric fence just to get water... i still feel so very upset about even now.

Oh and held us to ransom and locked the gate so we couldn't get Toby out until we paid another month livery - even though they had 3 weeks notice of us leaving.

Now at the most amazing eventing yard, but sadly had to sell/give away Toby to a lovely girl as he was completely unsuitable for the OH and she lost all her confidence.
We now have 2 wonderful horses (Little Cliff and William) and know what its right and what is wrong to expect on Livery