Yard dilemma, I need advice!

[Celestica]

Okay so at the minute I'm torn between 2 different yards to ride at. The 2 are very close to each other, same distance from my house etc but the problem is there's drama between the two owners which makes it difficult for me to choose where to ride I'll make up names for the yards so it's easier to follow.
I'm stuck in a dilemma of which yard to choose without hurting the other persons feelings If I leave Sally's yard she'll most likely go out of business very soon and I'd feel terrible as she has such a great yard but needs to change her attitude to people. But if I join Hannah's yard I'm scared they won' t get some schoolies (They're very green and forward) that will suit me but I know Hannah will improve my riding to get to the level of those schoolies and have me competing soon.

Yard 1, is the yard I've been riding at for just over a year. * Sally's Yard *
Yard 2, newly opened yard. * Hannah's Yard*, Hannah used to teach at Sally's and that's how everyone got to know her.

Sally's Yard: Huge olympic indoor, big outdoor but has fallen apart due to flooding, amazing facilities, good schoolies but Sally is a bit of a bully which has resulted in all liveries and good few riders changing to Hannah's yard. Also no bus routes to the yard, Sally is only a BHS qualified Assistant instructor and can bully you in lessons sometimes although she can be a good instructor.

Hannah's Yard Newly opened yard so facilities aren't great yet but there's plans! They have a good size indoor, plans of renovating an old outdoor into a warm up arena and to build a new 40x60 outdoor. Only a few schoolies at the moment but they aren't very good but hopefully will improve. I'm not sure how qualified Hannah is but she is a very good and nice instructor also her lessons are a bit cheaper. There's a bus route near to my house that can drop me right outside the yard and all my friends and liveries from Sally's Yard have moved here.

Which yard would you move to? And how would you recommend moving to the said yard without burning bridges to the other?
I do not own a horse so I don't need to consider their welfare.

 

[LouS]

Hannah's, sounds like you'll learn more there and there's absolutely no point being on a yard with horrible people.

 

[Kat]

Ride at both an equal amount and let them grow up or decide whether their principles are more important than paying clients. If challenged say both yards have their plus points and you aren't willing to take sides.

 

[Fantasy_World]

post deleted

 

[Celestica]

It depends on what you want to do and also spend.
Do you have a supply of good funds?
What is the difference between prices at the moment between both yards?
How much grazing is there are both yards? Is it good grazing, how is the drainage for example.
Is yard B going to expand? Ie attract a lot more liveries. Are there plans to build more stables, or decrease turnout facilities to accomodate the horses.
I ask this because where is the funding going to come from to set up the school?
It will either be done via an increase in yard rent, an increase in liveries or both.
I say this from experience of being on yards that were setting up and they were not good ones either.
Promises were not delivered upon and the yard and grazing got over crowded.
At the end of the day these people are running businesses.
Depending on how well I got on with the yard owner at yard A I would stick it there. Especially if your horse is settled there too.
Once you know how yard B is going six to 12 months down the line then consider moving.
It is not nice being on a yard when work is going on.
My horses have to to endure not just machinery, noise and dust from wood cutting and everything else while they have been shut in an indoor stable but overcrowding on fields and other issues.
I would not do it again, believe me.
You say that you instructor bullies you when riding, in what way?
Are you sure it is not just her way of installing discipline when you ride and helping you to get the best out of your horse.
You see I too have been bullied ( shouted at) I suppose over the years as I have been riding. I have taken it on the chin, got on with it and it has made me a better person and installed discipline into my riding techniques.

So far the difference is only £5 pounds in lessons but their livery is cheaper. Both yards have lots of turnout and yes yard B does intend on taking on more liveries (they have a waiting list) but they have plenty of stables and enough turnout to rule out any overcrowding. The yard is owned by two people who are very wealthy are investing in it 100%.

I have no problem being shouted at while riding as long as the person is trying to teach me something or generally cares (mind you, my last instructor was a shrieker but because she cared) but the owner at yard A is more of a personal attacker, she takes her anger out on you and it has gotten to the stage a few times where my mother has had to step in (happened to a few riders too). I was considering on staying at yard A for a while though until yard B develops some more but not for definite. One of the main advantages of moving to yard B is that I hope to lease/loan a horse in the summer so if I end up leasing a schoolie from yard B I will already have gotten to know it by the time summer comes instead of spending the whole summer getting to know it when I could be competing etc.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Ride at both an equal amount and let them grow up or decide whether their principles are more important than paying clients. If challenged say both yards have their plus points and you aren't willing to take sides.

This^^^^^^^^^^!

 

[Fantasy_World]

So far the difference is only £5 pounds in lessons but their livery is cheaper. Both yards have lots of turnout and yes yard B does intend on taking on more liveries (they have a waiting list) but they have plenty of stables and enough turnout to rule out any overcrowding. The yard is owned by two people who are very wealthy are investing in it 100%.

I have no problem being shouted at while riding as long as the person is trying to teach me something or generally cares (mind you, my last instructor was a shrieker but because she cared) but the owner at yard A is more of a personal attacker, she takes her anger out on you and it has gotten to the stage a few times where my mother has had to step in (happened to a few riders too). I was considering on staying at yard A for a while though until yard B develops some more but not for definite. One of the main advantages of moving to yard B is that I hope to lease/loan a horse in the summer so if I end up leasing a schoolie from yard B I will already have gotten to know it by the time summer comes instead of spending the whole summer getting to know it when I could be competing etc.

Thanks for replying although I deleted my post as did not see the last line didn't own a horse lol so realised my reply was not applicable.
So regarding the investing etc and any potential works it would not really hinder someone who was riding but more so people who have horses at the yard who would have to put up with work vehicles, deliveries and some areas being out of bounds as well as noise.
Judging by your post about instructor A she sounds a bit of a fruitcase tbh and I would think you are better off out of there. Whether it is a personal issue and this person has a lot on their plate I am unsure, but even so it sounds like they need a chill pill lol.
I would say that based on this post that you would be better off moving to yard B and getting to know a horse there like you say so that you can compete.
Good luck x

 

[Celestica]

Ride at both an equal amount and let them grow up or decide whether their principles are more important than paying clients. If challenged say both yards have their plus points and you aren't willing to take sides.

I wish I could but I don't think my mother will be too happy, I think I too would rather stick to the one yard and not switching constantly. But if I choose yard B I don't want to burn bridges with yard A incase I want to switch back in the future and they hold good one day events in the summer which would be nice to compete in still.

But thank you for everyones feedback/advice!

 

[Celestica]

bump?