What would you advise your friend to do?

Gingerwitch

Gingerwitch

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I have heard from one of my pals up north, where i used to keep the old girl that the old farmer has sadly passed away. The son's have always said they would sell the yard and this is apparantly what they are planning to do.

My friend has 2 horses on the yard - one of them has been there all its life - 23 years- she has been on the phone to me in tears. Firstly because of the old gent, and secondly she does not know what to do - some of the other liveries are already looking for a new yard.

What would you do if it were you?
 
Unfortunately there's not a lot you can do. It is a sad situation and I feel sorry for your friend, but there is nothing you can do. She will have to find somewhere else for the horses, and they WILL adapt.

I hope that isn't harsh
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Start looking for a new yard and have a word with the farmer's sons on their plans. It could be that it will take a long time to sell the yard - not sure how long probate will take and what the market is like.

It could be that whoever buys the yard would be happy for her to stay but she will need a fall back plan if that does not happen. At the moment she does not have to commit to moving but it would hopefully set her mind to rest if she can find another yard that she would be happy to move to.
 
Maybe the new owners will want existing liveries to stay? Perhaps the current owners want to sell it as 'a going concern'.

But she should have a look around to see what else is out there.
 
Sorry to hear about the old gent, my Grandma passed away last night too. If it was my horses then I would probably be looking for a new home too like the other liveries. It will take time to sell the yard so that could be helpful. On the other hand, any potential buyer will want customers so it may be worth hanging on anyway. Guess it depends on what the sons want to do in the short term. May be worth speaking to the sons to see what their intentions are.
 
Firstly, sorry to hear about YO passing away. Secondly, even if they do put it on the market, it's unlikely to sell instantly so, I wouldn't panic. If it's being sold as a business it's likely new owners might still want horses on yard. If her and horses are generally happy with yard, I'd just carry on as normal.
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izzwizz - really really sorry for your loss

sea-view its in in County Durham - but i think the sons will try and get planning permission for housing as its right by the side of the A1M - it was a fantastic yard - and in my day we were allowed to ride all over the neighbouring farmers fields - approx 300 acres - we had to stick to the sides of the fields - which was fair play.

I must admit i dont know what to advise - my inital reaction is "not to panic" - the yard wont be sold in a week, so she will have loads of time to find something else. But then again has anyone ever stayed at a yard that is "up for sale" or would you all move a.s.a.p.
 
Well, they won't get planning permission overnight and probably won't want to put it up for sale without the planning permission as it will have a much lower value.

Sounds like she will have a bit of time for it to sink in and come up with some options.
 
may take months/years to sell so i wouldn't panic yet.

tell her to look around for a new yard but not rush to move the horses and only do so if she finds somewhere she is 100% happy with.
 
They can't just chuck you out, they need to give you at least a months notice.

If she could buy it - Problem solved.

Her horses will fine moving, yes its a big change but they will get used to it.
 
I was in a similar situation about 18 months ago - the yard was put up for sale by auction and all liveries were given 3 months' notice to quit (although we were offered a place at the YO's main yard). It's a very unsettling time, as there's always rumour and gossip as to what is happening and so on and change of any kind can be scary... however, I would start looking for a new place as soon as possible - at some point, if everybody has to leave, there may be a number of people chasing limited numbers of alternative liveries. Although it will feel like a huge wrench, your friend and her horses will adapt. FWIW, it ended up being the best thing that happened for us, as the yard we are on now is brilliant...
 
I stayed at a yard that was for sale, it wasn't a problem although within a year of the new people moving in all the liveries had deserted the place! I've also known people who've moved out of a livery yard at the first hint that it was going to be put on the market, and then a year down the line it still hadn't sold. If it were me, I'd sit tight and wait to see what happens.
 
Look for a new yard. She has no rights if the yard is sold, although the purchasers may continues having liveries.
 
Izzwizz: Sorry to read about your Grandma huge *hugs* mine passed away a few days before christmas...hope you are as o.k as you can be at this sad time.

OP: Tell your friend that her old horse will be fine if she researches yards carefully and makes the journey as steady as possible. We transported a fellow livery's 32 year old mare (with the nod from her vet) and she has now been at her 'new' yard a year. She seems happier than ever.
 
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