Yard dilemma. What would you choose?

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alcraw

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Someone is trying to persuade me to move my horse to their yard. I'm tempted, but not sure...

Currently my horse is on very informal grass livery, out 24/7 in an established herd. It's a 5min walk from home, big fields with lots of natural shelter, fab hacking, great people to go with, use of a stable if I need it (vat, farrier etc) and tack room. There are only 3 of us, but we check each other's horses, and I get a lot of help as I am very new to the world of horses. I like the fact that they are all allowed to be horses, and it seems a very natural way for them to live. Also, it's cheap. If I was more experienced it would be 100% perfect. But I'm not and I desperately need lessons to improve my riding, although don't aspire to much more than happy hacking and the occasional fun ride!

The other yard is a "proper" livery yard. The big, big advantage is that it has a flood-lit school (riding after work in winter!) and does lessons with a good instructor on-site. It's affiliated with the local hunt, and Pony Club, so there's a lot going on for me to get involved with (okay, I'm too old for Pony Club, but you get the idea!!). Very different to my current situation, and a definite advantage, as I would have the opportunity to do more with my horse.

The downsides are:
Price - triple what I currently pay per week.
Horses have to come in at night. Mine thrives living out, and hates being stabled.
Further away, although still only a 5min drive from home.
Turnout - there's lots of it, but what I've seen is split into pony paddocks with lots of tape and little natural shelter - I'm not keen tbh.
They have rules - while these are generally good practice, I just don't like the idea of being made to follow someone else's rules!!

Hmm, it's turning into a bit of an essay. I'm swaying towards staying where I am, getting my towing licence sooner rather than later, and getting us travelling to lessons so I can get jumping properly (I have transport I can borrow)! But it is very easy to stay put, hack on the weekend, and do nothing to improve, even though I'm determined not to waste my fab horse who loves to jump!

If you've managed to get this far thanks for reading! What would you do in my situation?
 
I think, the way you have written your email, you already have the answer. If it was me I woul stay where you are. Get the trailer and travel out to lessons etc, will still prove cheaper in the long run too:)
 
Stay where you are, why lose a good thing, also you will probably find that as a novice when it comes to horses that people at the big yard may make you feel like you don't alot and make you feel bad.
Big yards can be very bitchy and more stress.
 
Yep, another who says stay!!! And work on the transport situation. That way you can stay happy AND be able to go do stuff, have lessons etc!!!!!

Yours and your horses happiness are very important, and you understand the need to improve your knowledge, so with that fact in mind, it doesn't sound likely that you will let your horse or yourself down :)

Hope that made sense!
 
If you are happy where you are, then I would stay put tbh.
I found myself being pressured into doing more with my pony at a bigger yard and nearly left horses - although I have also had good experiences on big yards as well.

I am on a little livery yard and loving having my horse as I can do as Iwant without rules to interfere plus when I was on a yard with a school, 9 times out of 10 it was getting used and trying to get a slot in it was very difficult.

Do you have a place to school at your current yard as I would just get a freelance instructor out.
 
Your existing yard sounds fab - except for the lack of school. When you work full time and you haven't got a school you can't ride during the week. That's fine if you are happy with that. I know I wouldn't be.

I recently considered a move to a field with some friends, similar set up to that which you describe - but for me the deciding factor was having no school. I like to ride every day as my girl is lovely and fit, but gets a bit 'lively' if she has a few days off - so best avoided.

I would save £££'s by moving, but to me it wasn't worth it for the reduced riding (and time with my girl). Summertime would have been fine, just not for the winter.

Could you move to the bigger yard just for the winter perhaps?

I'm also new to the horsey world, 10 months, first horse :) The other liveries at my yard have been great, helping and giving advice when asked - not all yards are 'hell holes', although they probably all have their ups and downs.

I must admit though, you do sound as if you want to stay where you are - so, perhaps focus on getting your trailer licence - good luck with your decision :)
 
Thanks for all the replies! Obviously my original post showed that I am very happy where I am!! I just don't want either of us to be missing out by having less opportunity to get involved in things. It seems to be harder when you start riding as an adult...

Not riding in the week is not ideal by any means, but it affects me more than my horse, who is happy being a field ornament Mon-Fri, and non the worse for having 5 days off when she is ridden. Regarding having lessons where I am... I've thought about it, and there is a smaller flatish field, or a flatish bit at the bottom of the bigger field - but it's all quite rough ground and I"m not sure how suitable it would be? Would an instructor come out to me in this situation - would I need to mark out a school or anything??
 
Here's another thought - they have a resident instructor... What happens if their style doesn't suit you and your horse? Some livery yards with their own instructors don't allow other instructors on :(
 
Def stay put and get mobile for lessons etc. and don't under estimate your own knowledge, you have clearly understood your horses needs if you've realised that the current lifestyle suits it well. I think people create a myth that you need to have been riding since you were a twinkle in your parents eye to be able to have a horse away from a yard situation but really you just need to be smart enough to work out what's right for you and your horse! Do you have a good riding club nearby? Good way to meet people, get some views and opinions without having to take everything on board. Also a good way to meet some instructors without getting involved with just one person..
 
You and your horse sound happy where you are so why risk the upheaval of moving you both, big yards have advantages but they can also have plenty of disadvantages. Get yourself mobile and the world opens up to you much more :)
 
alcraw said:
Someone is trying to persuade me to move my horse to their yard. I'm tempted, but not sure...

Currently my horse is on very informal grass livery, out 24/7 in an established herd. It's a 5min walk from home, big fields with lots of natural shelter, fab hacking, great people to go with, use of a stable if I need it (vat, farrier etc) and tack room. There are only 3 of us, but we check each other's horses, and I get a lot of help as I am very new to the world of horses. I like the fact that they are all allowed to be horses, and it seems a very natural way for them to live. Also, it's cheap. If I was more experienced it would be 100% perfect. But I'm not and I desperately need lessons to improve my riding, although don't aspire to much more than happy hacking and the occasional fun ride!

The other yard is a "proper" livery yard. The big, big advantage is that it has a flood-lit school (riding after work in winter!) and does lessons with a good instructor on-site. It's affiliated with the local hunt, and Pony Club, so there's a lot going on for me to get involved with (okay, I'm too old for Pony Club, but you get the idea!!). Very different to my current situation, and a definite advantage, as I would have the opportunity to do more with my horse.

The downsides are:
Price - triple what I currently pay per week.
Horses have to come in at night. Mine thrives living out, and hates being stabled.
Further away, although still only a 5min drive from home.
Turnout - there's lots of it, but what I've seen is split into pony paddocks with lots of tape and little natural shelter - I'm not keen tbh.
They have rules - while these are generally good practice, I just don't like the idea of being made to follow someone else's rules!!

Hmm, it's turning into a bit of an essay. I'm swaying towards staying where I am, getting my towing licence sooner rather than later, and getting us travelling to lessons so I can get jumping properly (I have transport I can borrow)! But it is very easy to stay put, hack on the weekend, and do nothing to improve, even though I'm determined not to waste my fab horse who loves to jump!

If you've managed to get this far thanks for reading! What would you do in my situation?
Click to expand...

from your post I would say: don't move. just from the way you talk about it the yard is not for you or your horse. You talk about being at a yard that to many would be considered 'under par' but pretty much all you are saying about it is seen as a positive in your eyes. On the flipside the yard you are contemplating to many would be 'perfect' yet many of these perfections in your eyes are 'negatives' Speaking as someone who owns a horse who hates stabling, I would say that is enough to stay where you are. You have good company and a happy horse in a relaxed environment THAT is what makes it the right place, not mod cons and facilities. If the new yard is 3x more expensive, use the money it would cost to pay for lessons either from your yard or box (or pay for transport) to somewhere you can have lessons. You can always practice what you are learning on your hacks. That way, you are progressing on a 'happy horse'.

Thats how I would play it anyway :)
 
starbar said:
I think, the way you have written your email, you already have the answer. If it was me I woul stay where you are. Get the trailer and travel out to lessons etc, will still prove cheaper in the long run too:)
Click to expand...

didn't read your post, you said what I did only much shorter ;)
 
Another vote for staying put, you sound happy and as far as you can tell your horse is enjoying his lifestyle.

Would you be able to hack to the bigger yard and have lessons there or is there anywhere near by that you could hire a menage to school in or have lessons.

I'm lucky with my job that i can ride in the daytime, but on the odd occasions i'm at the yard p.m. then after school the menage is busy with kids riding and then you have the other after work riders in there. this is ok if you dont mind riding with others and feel confident in your riding ability and your horse.
 
I would stay where you are. Put up an advert in local shops with "wanted sand school to hire" that will sort out your lessons and jumping. See if there is a local riding club you can join, riding clubs often have informal shows and run clinics as well.
 
if you have any instructors in mind, then it may be worth contacting them and seeing how suitable your little field would be for riding in. If it is rough, I would also say this depends on how balanced your horse is. You can only try it, and see how well your horse goes in it.
As others have said, if you can get your trailer test and you could tow your horse out to a school for hire?
Have you tried speaking to others on your current yard and seeing what they say? would any of them maybe like lessons as well?
 
Although the other one sounds brilliant, but if I were you I'd stay where I was, if you wanted to do all those things on the new yard, i'm sure you could find a way of participating without moving away from your lovely lovely yard xx
 
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