Yard Dilema - which would you pick?

J

JVB

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As title really -

Yard 1
£41 a week hay/ haylage included
3 acre field to myself
Big yard, 45+ horses
20x60 school, no jumping allowed in it
Summer jumping paddock May - Sept – 4 jumps
Have to hire arena to jump practise
Can bring in/ leave out as suits
¾ mile farm ride
4 miles from home 8-12 min journey
Two journeys a day £1.23, so about £8.62 a week in winter for diesel
YO does maintenance but very little
Few friends there
OK hacking, but only for one horse as other too scatty
Yard can br frustrating as rules change and are different for different people, so my time at this yard will come to an end it's just when and where to move to.


Yard 2
£40 a week
Have to buy in own haylage
Small, owner has 2 horses, one livery has two
20 acres split into paddocks
20x40 school
Set of jumps available all year
Can bring in/ leave out as suits
Forest and 30+ miles off road hacking from yard, no road work.
Would be responsible for some maintenance
YO wants help with 5yr old re training and schooling, hacking buddy – good opportunity?
13 miles from home, lot more travelling 20-25 min journey could be struggle in winter
Two journeys a day £4, so possible £28 a week in winter for diesel
Possibility of sharing turnout/ bring in with other livery so reducing travelling time and fuel costs

Which would you go for? I have scoured all the yards in the area, most are too expensive with two horses and often have limited turnout, ideally I'd like to rent my own set up but they are few and far between.

Thanks
 
B. I would rather travel a bit further for a smaller yard with no road road & year-round jumping :)

Especially if you couldn't hack one of your horse's at the closer yard. I imagine that would get rather annoying quite quickly, and you'd end up moving in the end anyway ;)
 
I'd go for 2, knowing that the one rule for one and another rule for others on yard 1 would pee me off immensely :).

I guess if depends if you can comfortably afford yard 2 with the extra travelling costs.
 
I'd go for the second one two and maybe find someone else you can share duties with so you only have to go once a day.

Or get the yard owner to bring in/turn out to save you one journey. Cheaper than petrol!
 
Personally I prefer a well run big yard... (not sure I would like the one rule for one scenario). But still I do know smaller yards that do that and more...
I would ESP be wary of being expected to be responsible for some maintenance. and the additional cost of haylage/fuel.

I,ve heard many a time y/o say one thing only to change it when suits. (fair enough it's their property etc, I just don't like the drop everything attitude it comes with half the time).
 
No 2

tho i would keep looking around see if any house or such has a field you could rent yourself and u could by your own jumps or maybe help at a private yard might let you keep your horse there , we are spoil t here we have many many yards to choose from.

i would keep looking around in all directions

I would rather travel further and have better facilities then be close and be unhappy and have a crappy place..

I used to live in Barns london but keep my horses in Wexam near slough 1/2 hr journey up M4 but worth it
 
I would go for second option but keep looking for own land if that is your final goal - I bought land and added it to the mortgage (home improvements !! haha) never ever regretted it - the only thing i should have done was buy more as only had 2 acres originally as that was all I could afford but i am now buying 2 more acres next door. I can do what I want when I want and luckily there is one other yard next door so we can help each other out if we get stuck - it is a 15 min drive but more than worth it.

good luck
 
um distance would put me off yard 2 but then no cost of hire for arena

Maintenance would need to get that clarified, I use a field and pay for topping and any fence damage/hedge cutting alternate years thats it. Its very minimal. But I think fair enough if your horse trashes someones fence etc you should to pay up anyway.

Cost of hay etc but if you have good grazing this could be kept to a minimum.

Can see pros and cons. Probably go for yard 2 as it is smaller and may be good if you go on holiday that the owner will keep an eye even if you get someone in to do the horses. Also it sounds nicer that you may end up driving but using the time at the yard to do more with the horse ie hacking etc so it may not be such a wasted journey etc The first option sounds like the kind of place I would not want to spend too much time at! Too busy etc

However still try to find something local etc as suggested...farmer??
 
Thanks for responses, it's hard as I've been at Yard 1 for 8 yrs now but it has changed so much in the last couple of years, there were only 12 horses went first went there so grown hugely.

Think I will ring round to enquire about haylage and make sure that vet, instructor etc will all cover the further yard which I can't see as an issue.

I just think that yard 2 is the closest I'm going to get to having own place, for a far lesser cost and for less responsibilty regards maintenace and management, yes it would involve fixing fences if broken etc but that would probably be it - will clarify though! Seems a good deal for £160 a month as even the private yards with 4 stables & acres seem to be going for £250-300 a month, although they have been too far away to consider.

Thanks!
 
They way you
have written it seems like you would prefer yard 2.
Its sounds better for what you want and in winter if you can share bringing in and turning out then the exra miles will be worth it.
 
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