Would you move yards for an Indoor arena?

We were at a yard with an indoor arena a while ago but we moved to a yard with an outdoor arena with a better surface. Where we are now the surface is great, it has never frozen & is suitable for the flatwork & jumping we need to do.

Indoor arenas are nice but definately not essential, they invariably increase your livery bill greatly.........and...................they turns riders into 'woosies'. :)
 
No I wouldnt move, quite happy having a floodlit arena and happy to ride/ work the horses in whatever weather (they're not fussed either - 1's an arab and 1's a TBX!).

Also if you have an indoor arena then usually livery is a lot more expensive (and I like being DIY!).
 
Mimi2610 said:
Would a good Indoor arena make you consider moving yards? How much of an attraction are they? Some people say that they are a must and others are more than happy with floodlights.

Thoughts please, thank you.
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Although tempting, it would take more than just an indoor school. It's quite hard to get the perfect balance of turnout arrangements that suit you and your horses, yard staff you can really trust, a yard that has easy access to safe hacking, etc, etc. There are plenty of yards near me that have indoors, but I'd never be tempted to lose what I've got at my current yard just to gain the use of an indoor school.
 
defo, i've got one atm. hacking where i am is pretty pants and i would like to improve that situation but access to an indoor and an outdoor (especially after the past few winters) is keeping me there! (and the yard being brilliant, not b1tchy and really well run also helps :D)
 
All else beign equal I'd pay a little more to be at a yard with one (even as a sharer).
- (usually) safe for loose-schooling (although outside ones can be too)
- good for emergency 'turn out' if fields closed/inaccessible due to extreme weather
- in high-winds/darkness can be less spooky (which means rider can have fun even on winter evenings with horse who needs lots of de-sensitising)

Downsides:
- can be dusty => bad for breathing
- where possible always nicer for horse and rider to be outside (so would want an outdoor too)
 
I am a definite no. Used to be at a yard with one and moved to a yard with two outdoors, ok so you have to brave the arctic weather and rain/hail/snow but quite prepared to do that. In my experience you have to sacrifice something else to get the indoor school (in my case restrictions on access, no turn out over winter, no atmosphere, pretty controlling YO, ridiculous livery cost) - whereas the yard i am at now doesnt have an indoor but does have all year turnout, you can ride 24 hours a day, great atmosphere, great people and it is cheaper... so all things considered i would rather have other things than an indoor school any day of the week!!
 
Yes with a caveat.

I love having the indoor arena - it was wild weather here last night (Scotland) but I could still ride at 7pm.

Other things are just as important though - turnout, location, hacking nice people. So only if it had all that too.
 
Yes, absolutely!! I have moved becuase of wanting an indoor, and since then have only ever stabled at yards with an indoor... Purely because when the wind is nearly sweeping you off your feet, or the outdoor is frozen solid, or is 2ft deep in snow, I can still ride :D (rain doesn't bother me)

In fact, an Indoor is on my list of "must haves" ... along with floodlit large outdoor, large stables, excellent turnout, hacking, friendly yard, caring and knowledgable YO's, good hay/hayledge... I could go on!!! :eek:

My list is endless! Perhaps this is why I've struggled to find the perfect yard!! Well, I'm as near as damn it now, it just costs an arm and a leg!!! :o
 
Not the be all and end all for me, I'd be happy with a decent outdoor with some form of lighting. More important to me is turnout with other horses all year round (24/7 if I can get it!) and decent hacking. About to start looking for a yard in the not too distant future for when I take my horse back off loan... will be rather interesting to see where I end up
 
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