WWYD...yard move

[Moodymare88]

Hi All

Some of you may remember the post i did a few weeks back about absentee yard owner...well the good news it i have managed to find a suitable yard less than 3 miles from my house! Gutted it has taken me this long to find it.

Anyway, they are keeping me a space and the only downside at the moment (why i haven't moved straight away) is they don't have a school, but are currently in the process of building an indoor (huge bonus!) but have no completion date. They have the surface, but need to lay it and have it sorted as apparently the sand is contaminated? (No idea what that is about but anyway).

So, i asked them to let me know when it was near completion, and i would move. I am really unhappy at my current yard, and the driving is taking its toll on me (i think knowing there is somewhere closer has a lot to do with this).

My mare is a horse that is exercised 6 days a week, she is the type of horse who benefits from being in consistent work, which is why i have stuck where i am. I am now debating if i should just hand in my notice (i pay 15th Month) and move in January, or just stick it out a bit longer. My main concern is moving and not being able to keep her in work. There is a school nearby, so i could possibly look at starting work earlier (work from home) to finish and get to ride there and back in daylight, and also look at hiring somewhere. It is so hard to know what to do for the best, it would be nice to have her closer to home and save money on diesel, but then i know i will be frustrated if i am unable to ride. Or do i just continue to try to keep my mouth shut, do my horse and keep myself to myself and do my own thing and see what the situation is like after Christmas? You would think they would want the indoor done sooner rather than later to use it in horrible weather. I have never been in the situation before, so it is tough to know what to do for the best! At least, knowing there is somewhere gives me hope and a light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[Roxylola]

I'd go for starting work later and riding in the morning if you can. It's getting light(ish) by 7:40 and by mid January that's going to be a bit earlier still.

 

[Arzada]

At the maybe new yard: is there good hacking at the new yard? What turnout is there?

 

[Moodymare88]

At the maybe new yard: is there good hacking at the new yard? What turnout is there?

The hacking is good, my my mare (5) isn't the greatest to hack, so to start with i would be relying on someone else to nanny us. They do have turnout, but it is clay (same as current yard) so restricted when wet

 

[Moodymare88]

I'd go for starting work later and riding in the morning if you can. It's getting light(ish) by 7:40 and by mid January that's going to be a bit earlier still.

I hadn't thought of that, i mean i ride at 6:00am anyway, but that is because its 30 mins driving each way. This is less than 10 mins, which would be so much nicer. Maybe i could hack home, stick her in the garden all day and hack back! lol! I don't think the parents would be keen on that idea though!

 

[Goldenstar]

Do you have transport for your mare ?

 

[Moodymare88]

Do you have transport for your mare ?

I do. I have my truck and trailer

 

[nagblagger]

If i was unhappy where i was i would move. i presume you are paying for the reserved space in the new yard as well as the old yard therefore if you move save time, money and be happier - win win win.

 

[Goldenstar]

If you have transport I think I would move either now or in a month .
You can then transport her to a school for work in the evening or early morning a few times a week .
Nothing worse than staying on a yard you are out of love with .

 

[Moodymare88]

If i was unhappy where i was i would move. i presume you are paying for the reserved space in the new yard as well as the old yard therefore if you move save time, money and be happier - win win win.

No they have been really good and just reserved it for me, so i am not paying 2 liveries

 

[Moodymare88]

If you have transport I think I would move either now or in a month .
You can then transport her to a school for work in the evening or early morning a few times a week .
Nothing worse than staying on a yard you are out of love with .

If you have transport I think I would move either now or in a month .
You can then transport her to a school for work in the evening or early morning a few times a week .
Nothing worse than staying on a yard you are out of love with .

This is my thought exactly, and it is a constant reminder of my trauma i suffered there in January, so i think for my mental health i need to move to help my PTSD

 

[Boulty]

If you've got transport I'd move & hire an arena a few times a week (if you find one with lights it won't matter if it's in daylight or not). There is the risk that arena may take forever & a day to complete / not materialize (I've been there a few times with things being promised & not done) but if you're miserable where you are now then worth the gamble.

If roads not horrendous & horse ok you could always lead out or longrein a few times a week to build towards getting her more reliable out hacking & if you get her hacking alone then that gives you more options for what work you can do with her.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would move now/asap without waiting for the indoor school to be finished, getting builders/building materials is difficult currently, winter could be finished before the building is completed.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

OP, I'd move asap, you never know what's round the corner with both the weather and horses.
Who knows, we could be snowed in, in mid January......
You could settle in over xmas time? Book arena hire when you can, look to getting going in March when it's more light, bonus if things happen earlier?

 

[Moodymare88]

I would move now/asap without waiting for the indoor school to be finished, getting builders/building materials is difficult currently, winter could be finished before the building is completed.

The building is all done and they have the surface, so they just need to move out the tractors currently stored there and lay the membrane and surface and put a new door on the entrance

 

[Moodymare88]

OP, I'd move asap, you never know what's round the corner with both the weather and horses.
Who knows, we could be snowed in, in mid January......
You could settle in over xmas time? Book arena hire when you can, look to getting going in March when it's more light, bonus if things happen earlier?

Very true! This year I struggled to get to the yard when we had snow because the roads were blocked. At least only being 3 miles away, if needed I can at least walk there. I do 400 miles a week just to the yard and back, and it would be nice not to put so many miles on my truck!

 

[Petmurf]

I was in the same predicament, feeling very uncomfortable at the yard so left earlier than planned back to our old yard that now has the barn built but not the arena yet, We moved last Monday and it was the best decision, we are both really happy there and have been out hacking and just relaxing over the winter. I would move sooner rather than later especially as the weather could turn and you might not be able to get to current yard easily or even ride in the arena

 

[Melody Grey]

I agree with the others- life is short, do the move. Even if you have less schooling over the next couple of months, you and your horse won’t be back to square one. Look forward to hacking as the light improves.

I moved a couple of weeks ago and really wish I’d done it sooner- has transformed things for me, my son and all of my horses. Embrace the new opportunities.

 

[claret09]

just go for it. it sound to me as if you have made your decision. there is no point waiting, it sounds like the school should be done soon. as you have transport you can always go somewhere else. being near home is priceless, as is having a yard you feel happy with. good luck

 

[Lyle]

I'd move now! Id try and find things to do to keep the horse in work; groundwork, trailering off property, getting her better at hacking etc. Then when the indoor is done, she should be nice and settled and ready to start some proper intense schooling

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

IF you/your horse are hugely unhappy in current yard and IF you have your own transport - plus the new yard is so very close to you, then frankly you have every reason to move!!

If you stay put you're likely to stay in the same negative environment and are likely to miss out on your place in the new yard!!

You can always find a school and box out to it if you need.

I'd be for moving, and the sooner the better!

 

[Fransurrey]

I'd also move. It'll take a couple of weeks max to lay a new surface if the ground work is done and you can hack before work if necessary. I think it's really good of them to hold the space, so I wouldn't be hanging around if I were you.

 

[Moodymare88]

Hi All.

So i thought i would provide an update! The yard i was initially going to move to didn't happen. I kept in contact with the owner, who was not-responsive to then be told a few weeks ago they no longer have room for me as they have taken in 3 part liveries instead! Not really a way to run a business and then told me my space was reliant on her selling her youngster, which was not explained when i went to view. Anyway, i have since found another yard, not as close, but closer than my current one and much nicer! Only 6 horses and 2 of us, so i can treat the yard like my own really. I am so excited.

Anyway, the plan was to move after our first ODE which is in 2 weeks (so would move the end of March). However, things at my current yard have made a dramatic change for the worse and i am moving on Sunday.

One of the women 'running the full livery side' who i have had issues with for the last year (she is known as the yard bully and i have been very careful around her). She kicked me when i was at my lowest, and it is worrying as she is a charge nurse for the NHS. I am pretty certain she wouldn't be happy if my mum treated her daughter the way she has treated me.

I kept my decision to move yards close to my chest until i handed my notice in last week, and since then she has gone out of her way to make my last few weeks there hell again. We are on clay, and my fields are very wet, so i was letting them dry out to allow my mare some decent grazing before we left. I came down Saturday to find another horse in my field, and no-one had the decency to call me to ask if it was OK. Well, i was angry to say the least as they could have called and i would have let them use the one which has been used for the winter (Although only when dry enough). This isn't the only thing she has done to me, and it isn't in my head, a few people can see what she is doing but the yard owner seems oblivious that there is bullying going on, to the extent where last year I nearly ended it all because of her and the fact i had severe depression.

I am on countdown! I think this yard will allow me to breathe and focus on my and my horse.

My question is...would you message the yard owner telling his everything once you have left? I am not the only person she has bullied and i won't be the last, but she is very good at painting others to be the issue. Or should i just leave it and move on?

I have paid until 14th March, and as i hadn't planned on moving until 18th, i was going to pay for the extra week. During this time, i would expect my stable and tack room area to be left vacant as i have paid for it, and this has been the same for other people who have left. I have a friend who is moving after me, who will tell me if this isn't the case and then i will refuse to pay for the extra week.

It is a shame, the yard owner doesn't care. He made promises a year 1/2 ago and hasn't delivered....we have fencing down which has been down all this time and hasn't been replaced. I didn't want to leave this yard on a bad note at all, but sadly this bully and people who i thought were my friends and now apart of her little 'gang' it hasn't turned out that way! There is a war going on, i just wish people treated other people better. I took this womans daughter and her cob XC schooling and they didn't even give me any diesel money. I have done other things like feed, turn out etc for her and my so-called friends and it has turned out this way.

Well...i am counting down the days until i am out of there and i can finally relax, sleep and focus on the eventing season.

 

[AmyMay]

Why wait, just move.

I’d certainly let the person who owns the yard the problems you’ve had (once you leave).

Don’t bank on your stable being left empty during your notice period - that rarely happens ime.

 

[Moodymare88]

Why wait, just move.

I’d certainly let the person who owns the yard the problems you’ve had (once you leave).

Don’t bank on your stable being left empty during your notice period - that rarely happens ime.

I am moving Sunday...2 weeks earlier than planned. It is the earliest otherwise i would have been gone at the weekend.
To be fair, the last liveries who left, people weren't allowed to move into them until their notice period was up. We aren't full...he has had 5 horses leave recently

 

[Nasicus]

I kept in contact with the owner, who was not-responsive to then be told a few weeks ago they no longer have room for me as they have taken in 3 part liveries instead! Not really a way to run a business and then told me my space was reliant on her selling her youngster, which was not explained when i went to view.

2 months is a long time to hold a stable without any sort of deposit or holding amount being paid, without setting a a move in date. They'd be daft to turn down guaranteed business due to that.

We are on clay, and my fields are very wet, so i was letting them dry out to allow my mare some decent grazing before we left. I came down Saturday to find another horse in my field, and no-one had the decency to call me to ask if it was OK. Well, i was angry to say the least as they could have called and i would have let them use the one which has been used for the winter (Although only when dry enough).

Well that's their problem, isn't it? No point spending any time or effort getting angry about it, it's not like you're going to see any of the benefit of resting it seeing as you're leaving soon. No point getting yourself down over it.

Would I mention it to the yard owner? Depends if I had a rapport with them or not. If I got along with them, I'd have a quiet word, especially if the issue is causing them to lose liveries aka business. If not, then I'd just head off as soon as I can and not give it any more thought. Deep breath and enjoy your new yard

 

[Sossigpoker]

If the YO doesn't seem to have cared until now , I wouldn't worry about it and would just leave with your head held high.
I'm tempted to tell my YO exactly what I think of her when I leave but decided I won't sink to her level and will just take my business elsewhere, wirh dignity.

 

[Moodymare88]

2 months is a long time to hold a stable without any sort of deposit or holding amount being paid, without setting a a move in date. They'd be daft to turn down guaranteed business due to that.

I offered to pay a deposit but they wouldn’t have it. It was agreed and they suggested I wait until the school was nearly finished before moving. It’s a young girl running a new business. To be honest I think she has done me a favour anyway as this other yard seems better suited to be. Things happen for a reason I guess.

 

[windand rain]

If I was the owner I would be happy to know why my customers were leaving in droves they will be out of pocket and if paying a manager they would be facing serious enquiries as to why

 

[Nasicus]

I offered to pay a deposit but they wouldn’t have it. It was agreed and they suggested I wait until the school was nearly finished before moving. It’s a young girl running a new business. To be honest I think she has done me a favour anyway as this other yard seems better suited to be. Things happen for a reason I guess.

Ah, that's different then!