Which would you choose? Moving yards...

katie_southwest

katie_southwest

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Hi all,
I'm having to move my mare to a new yard for various reasons.
There is a yard with barn type stable , fairly large grazing field summer and winter shared with 3 others, indoor school. However 24/7 turnout is only from mid may to mid July, is this normal? There is no time limit on bringing in so she could come in whenever I want but slightly putting me off...

Different yard has barn stabling again, outdoor school with floodlights, turnout is 24/7 from may to end of October though...but I do know that the paddocks are quite small. Plus in the winter they come in at 3 whereas yard 1 she would just wait for me after work and be in at 6.
Would you rather be somewhere where they can be out 24/7 for twice as long but probably stood around in a small area, or in a much larger field but have to come in overnight , but whatever time you like?

Sorry to waffle , I just can't decide in my head what would be better!
 
I know what you are saying - and 3pm is very restrictive, but, summertime is the lovely time of the year when you expect a few months off mucking out and the horses get to enjoy a more natural lifestyle.
I don't know wether I'd be happy with a horse only having two months of 24/7 turnout over summer - that's only 56 muckings out you are missing out on a year lol
 
Exactly...I look forward to a good summer of no mucking out! Then I keep thinking imagine her stood in for 16 hours a day in the winter :( ahh I don't know. Bloody yards :)
 
I think it depends on what will work best for you and your horse. Personally I wouldn't be happy with either - but I'm very fussy about the amount of turnout mine get (which is probably why I've ended up with them at home!). If your horse isn't keen on winter weather and is very happy in her stable I would probably go for the second yard - other advantage here is that all the horses are coming in at a similar time which is nicer for them. But then the big advantage of the first one is a larger field and lots of company. It's a difficult choice! Sorry couldn't be more help. :o

Have you been to look around both yards? If you can see the set-up for yourself and meet any staff + other liveries that may well help you make up your mind. :)
 
Depends on the horse really, I looked at a yard that had small paddocks and knew my horses would hate it, they love having a good hoon around the field! I'd go for the first yard based on my horses needs! Out of interest which yards are they? I might know them, the second one sounds a bit like one I looked at a while back!
 
Sessle - have messaged you.

Celia - I have been to the first yard but going to see the second one tomorrow. Luckily my mare is quite chilled and tbh would probably cope being in from 3 in winter etc, but she is used to having lots of land to roam about on and im just worried that going into a livery yards smaller paddock will be quite a shock!
shes not really one for hooning around but I just dont like the thought of her being in such a small area.
I also dont like the thought of having to muck out for 10 months a year!!
For medical reasons I have to move somewhere soon though , thats my only problem, and id rather go somewhere for good, than have to move again after a few months.
 
I'd probably go for the first yard... mainly for the large fields and 'unrestricted' turnout in winter. This is only because our grazing is quite poor and I usually only get a couple of months in the spring where there is enough grass to keep my boy out 24/7 anyway before it burns off... could you speak to the y/o to see if theres ever any flexibility in this. i.e do they extend it? could they go out at night - cooler, less flies (and slightly longer out!) but in during the day? worth asking.
 
I'd probably go for yard 2.

Bringing in at 3ish in the winter wouldn't be a problem for me - and actually what time my horses would have been brought in anyway.
 
CBfan - I dont think there is much flexibility really. I had thought about the out at night instead thing, but she would be out on her own then. TBH in spring and summer months when I ride after work, it will be 8 ush that she would be in from which isnt too bad, then back out at 6.30 - 7 in the morning.
Im moaning about mucking out but Ill have to poo pick the field anyway so still cant really get out of it as therell be more in the field instead :)
 
Yes amymay - This winter she was coming in at 4 (ish) and i mean she coped fine. But its not ideal as shes a cob and doesnt 'need' to be in there all those hours. I dont know, advantage of yard 1 is that I have a friend there at the moment, but she will be leaving at the end of the summer as shes moving to a different country so I cant let that persuade me either.
 
I really don't see the issue with horses comming in earlier in the winter. 24/7 TO during the summer is really important for most people - and the horses too. And providing, during the winter months, the horses are getting turned out for several hours a day - then I think that's fine.

At my yard if you were on assisted livery your horse would be brought in from about 3.00. This also had the benefit of having the horse in and waiting for you when arriving at the yard in the evening to do chores and ride etc.
 
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