CanteringCarrot
Well-Known Member
Since I've decided to keep my 2 year old, atleast until he's started undersaddle because I'll either love him more, or he will be more marketable to sell 
I'm thinking about a yard move.
I will back him next spring and I'll be introducing basic long lining soon. I also want to expose him to more too.
At his current yard he lives out 24/7 with 2 older mares, but has lived with just geldings before, and within a mixed herd. He basically adapts to whatever and doesn't get overly attached. They are fed hay and whatever grass is out there. Sometimes other food is given. He's a good doer for his age and is in good weight, has good hoof and coat quality, so I'd say he's doing alright, but I would prefer him to be on a vit/min or ration balancer more consistently.
There are no trails or outdoor riding facilities at this yard. There is a small indoor suitable for some very light free lunging or groundwork, but it's small, unlevel, and very dusty once you exceed the walk.
Ultimately it works in that he has ample room to roam, forage, water, and 2 companions that cause no issues.
YO is a little...different, but now that I've been there for a while, she basically leaves me to it.
Another yard currently has availability and is a bit further away at just over 35 minutes (current yard is 25). I looked at it last year, but it wasn't suitable due to not enough turnout, but they've changed that and the place gets good reviews (new management for the past year). It has a good (for this area) indoor school, large outdoor school, and nice stables.
He'd be out for at least 8 hours with one other horse in a field with grass and hay. We'd probably have a nice little barn community. Where I'm at now, I'm the only boarder, pros and cons there.
It would be good for him to be handled more by others, but this does worry me slightly as he's very good for me, but I've noticed he tests others because he's smart and a bit of a clown.
It would also be good for him in that it'd be a bit busier so there's more to see. More space for training. There are events, but none that interest me due to the discipline, but still, he'd be exposed to more goings on. He would actually see other horses ridden and doing things.
So it'd be the next step in him becoming a proper horse. Just not sure when to take this step. Before or after winter?
At the new yard he'd be in more. But no yard around here offers pasture board and riding facilities. So his 24/7 turnout days will end when he's a ridden horse anyway. He's been stabled before for various short term things (gelding, travel, awaiting travel - he's an int'l traveler). They will feed whatever feed I provide, consistently, which is nice, and muck out.
They allow rugs and will do the occasional change, but usually their barn stays very warm in the winter. Current YO wants nothing to do with rugs, but did let me rug him last year as long as I managed it which was tricky sometimes.
I think at the new barn they'd be more likely to notice something amiss with him, which is a plus. I think my current farrier might travel there too, now that I think about it.
I don't know if moving now is too early though, and if I should let him have the winter out? Winters can be harsh here, but he survived alright last year. I would think that this place would have an opening in the spring too, but I'm not sure because it's one of the only decent places around.
I'm thinking about a yard move.I will back him next spring and I'll be introducing basic long lining soon. I also want to expose him to more too.
At his current yard he lives out 24/7 with 2 older mares, but has lived with just geldings before, and within a mixed herd. He basically adapts to whatever and doesn't get overly attached. They are fed hay and whatever grass is out there. Sometimes other food is given. He's a good doer for his age and is in good weight, has good hoof and coat quality, so I'd say he's doing alright, but I would prefer him to be on a vit/min or ration balancer more consistently.
There are no trails or outdoor riding facilities at this yard. There is a small indoor suitable for some very light free lunging or groundwork, but it's small, unlevel, and very dusty once you exceed the walk.
Ultimately it works in that he has ample room to roam, forage, water, and 2 companions that cause no issues.
YO is a little...different, but now that I've been there for a while, she basically leaves me to it.
Another yard currently has availability and is a bit further away at just over 35 minutes (current yard is 25). I looked at it last year, but it wasn't suitable due to not enough turnout, but they've changed that and the place gets good reviews (new management for the past year). It has a good (for this area) indoor school, large outdoor school, and nice stables.
He'd be out for at least 8 hours with one other horse in a field with grass and hay. We'd probably have a nice little barn community. Where I'm at now, I'm the only boarder, pros and cons there.
It would be good for him to be handled more by others, but this does worry me slightly as he's very good for me, but I've noticed he tests others because he's smart and a bit of a clown.
It would also be good for him in that it'd be a bit busier so there's more to see. More space for training. There are events, but none that interest me due to the discipline, but still, he'd be exposed to more goings on. He would actually see other horses ridden and doing things.
So it'd be the next step in him becoming a proper horse. Just not sure when to take this step. Before or after winter?
At the new yard he'd be in more. But no yard around here offers pasture board and riding facilities. So his 24/7 turnout days will end when he's a ridden horse anyway. He's been stabled before for various short term things (gelding, travel, awaiting travel - he's an int'l traveler
). They will feed whatever feed I provide, consistently, which is nice, and muck out.They allow rugs and will do the occasional change, but usually their barn stays very warm in the winter. Current YO wants nothing to do with rugs, but did let me rug him last year as long as I managed it which was tricky sometimes.
I think at the new barn they'd be more likely to notice something amiss with him, which is a plus. I think my current farrier might travel there too, now that I think about it.
I don't know if moving now is too early though, and if I should let him have the winter out? Winters can be harsh here, but he survived alright last year. I would think that this place would have an opening in the spring too, but I'm not sure because it's one of the only decent places around.
