WWYD yard question

[Ahrena]

I have the opportunity of possibly moving my horses to a new yard, I've been at current yard for 10 year so it's a big decision!

Its a bit up in arms ATM as new YO said she's looking for 2 liveries, then I had a chat with a livery today (YO is away and I'm looking after her horse) who said she might be able to accommodate all 4 of my horses as she has some old stables away from main yard. So I don't really know as need to talk to her when she's back and it's not really feasible to have them on separate yards.

So a bit of a list.

Current yard:
- totally unrestricted grazing. Can be out 24/7 but long walk from main yard + busy road to cross so doesn't really work for me. Fields contain a LOT of weeds and don't get treated very regularly. Don't have to poo pick (but I do)
- big stables (12x14) with private tack rooms
- 60x40 school and large round pen, gets deep especially when they havn't been rolled for a while. No floodlights. Floods badly in heavy rain.
- quite a lot of jumps and poles although most of wooden wings are broken,although i have quite a few jumps of my own so it's fine.
- decent hacking - rides about 1 hour are mainly quiet roadwork, but great hill
riding if i go for a long ride.
- have to go for 2 hour+ rides to do proper canter work for horse fitness
- quite a big yaRd, can generally find someone to come with me if I want to go do something fun I.e. Beach rides ect or a good fast hack
- worms on yard routine
- pay extra for extra storage and lorry parking

Possible new yard
- more expensive (an extra £12 per week per horse)
- small yard - only YO and 2 other liveries
- 60x25 (i think, seems wider than 60 x 20) school, floodlights and doesn't flood apparently.
- direct access to common for hacking and canter work. Bit concerned it might get boring as although very big, could be a bit samey?
- generally unrestricted T/O, can be out in same fields 24/7 in summer, although need to be in by 3/4 in winter. Which I'm happy with.
- loads of storage and lorry parking at no extra cost
- I can't use straw bedding so need to find something else which will be more expensive
- more competition oritenated yard which is nice as most people on my yard ride just for fun which is fine, but might be nice to be around more like minded people? However it's mainly dressage and thry only really walk out hacking so perhaps no one to have a bit of fun with, but then again, it's quite rare I do at my yard.
- no weeds in paddocks.
- have to poo pick and possible field if i take all 4 is on a rathr big hill.
- no jumps so just have my own to work with
- they do worm counts


I'm not sure? I would love love love floodlights as makes my life sooo much easier in winter. Both are same distance from my house. Having easily accessible canter areas would make life much easier too , but i do love hacking and am worried i'll get bored. Love the idea of the better grazing too.

 

[JennBags]

If you can afford the extra livery & bedding costs, I'd move without a doubt. You can always box up to hack with people at your old yard, but new one sounds much nicer to me

 

[kaiserchief]

I'd stay put - £12 extra per horse per week is a huge increase for not much added benefit and in my experience, small yards tend to be clique-ier than big ones. Is there any way you could talk your current YO into having floodlights fitted to the school and to maintaining it better/more often?

 

[RubysGold]

To be honest, I would stay put. Your current yard sounds lovely

 

[Irishbabygirl]

You've been at your current yard ten years you say - that's a long time! The only real plus for moving sounds like the flood lights...but at £12 extra per horse per week, you might as well box up and hire out a local indoor during the winter if needed - will work out cheaper!
Sometimes it's better the devil you know.

 

[AnotherNewbie]

That's almost £2500 more per year just extra for livery, not even thinking about bedding. You could do on a lovely holiday for that, or buy another horse!!

 

[Ahrena]

Thanks

It's kind of the time saving aspect that appeals to me - can do my canter work quickly and the floodlights would make a huge difference - I'm a self employed groom/rider and am looking at having to cut out working for several clients in order to have time to ride in daylight, which means i'm going to lose a lot of money. (far more than the difference in livery) I only pay for 2 of the horses btw, 2 belong to my mum

But then again I was surprised at the amount of pros for current yard when I wrote it out actually ha. And £1250 a year saving does sound quite appealing now you say it!

 

[Dubsie]

Could you buy a small generator and/or your own floodlights for less?