Yard dilemma

[hmm]

The usual, posting anon to keep things quiet!

In a bit of a quandary. Current yard has been good over the years but standards have declined somewhat. Coupled with poor ground, significant reduction in available ground and a horse with some existing issues that make turnout in winter challenging, I am pondering whether a move is in order.

Tough decision because I’ve been in current place for a long time and I am very fond of the people there, but I’m conscious that it doesn’t meet the needs of my horse.

Thoughts / questions / assurance welcomed!


Current
• 15-20 min drive
• 24/7 summer turnout
• Good stables but prone to flooding
• Secure tackroom
• 20+ horses
• Winter turnout but on poor ground, no option to section off / individual
• Not allowed to supplement with hay
• Very limited use of hardstanding for short periods, not suitable for longer periods
• 20x40 and 30x60 arena
• Option for full livery
• Good hacking on quiet roads

Yard B
• 20 min drive
• Good stables
• Secure tack room
• Max 8 horses
• 24/7 individual turnout in summer
• Less acreage overall but better options for poor weather
• Individual winter turnout on hardstanding paddocks with hay as needed
• 30x30 arena
• Gallop
• Walker
• DIY but can use freelancer / other liveries to assist
• Good hacking on quiet roads

 

[pistolpete]

No brainer just make sure place has good reputation. If places come up regularly there’s often a reason!

 

[hmm]

Recommendation came through word of mouth and have a couple of sources I can cross ref against! It needs some maintenance but YO aware and sorting a few things currently.

 

[Doodlesmum]

Yeah, yard B sounds like the preferred option to me! The winter arrangements would seal the deal for me, because, let's face it, winter is soooooo loooooooong!

 

[Jambarissa]

The only issue I can see with yard B is the individual turnout. It's a deal breaker for me but may not be for you.

My yard is similarly declining in standards, I've been there forever and horses are happy it's awful to try to make a decision!

 

[Fieldlife]

Does this mean for yard B there is no field turnout all winter, that wouldnt be ideal either for me.

If the hard standing paddocks are used for a few weeks in worst of winter but you can get 10 months of daily turnout a year from winter field be okay-ish.

If you are on individual hard standing paddocks November to March, I am less sure. Would then depend on how big paddocks are, how long can use for a day? Whether have fence neighbours to groom. And how badly poached and boggy and bare of grass current yard field gets in winter, as to whether was an improvement.

(I have once been on unrestricted turnout, but wet clay winter, and none of my horses wanted out at all when very boggy, moving was the only answer, and anything was an improvement).

 

[Annagain]

How big is the winter turnout? I'd want it at least big enough for a good run around, buck and a fart. If it's little bigger than the stable I wouldn't be keen. Standing in a small pen outside eating a haynet in one position is no better than stabling 24/7 really.

 

[dorsetladette]

Yard B sounds much nicer, but I'd want some clarity on the winter turn out and how that looks/works.

Do you use the school a lot? how busy does it get? The yard might be only 8 horses but if 5 of those use the school every evening in the time slots you have available it might cause you issues.

Might be worth popping up at different times to see how things work 'in real life' to make sure your happy and there isn't any unexpected surprises.

 

[hmm]

Thanks for feedback, much appreciated!

Individual turnout can be somewhat adjustable in that I have two horses, they could go out together.

Winter all weather paddocks are big enough for a mooch around, a roll and sniff / scratch across the fence etc.

My main concern is the winter at current yard. One of my horses had a major tendon injury a couple of years ago and I’m very worried about how the grazing and ground conditions will be this winter. To be honest it worries me even with my other horse.

Never easy!

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I would stick with yard A and look for an option C. Individual turnout on the whole is a pretty miserable existance for a horse (yes, I know some horses prefer it), and a 30x30 school will put additional strain on an older/bigger/greener horse. How big is the winter hardstanding? Unless they can mooch, have a canter and socialise then there really is no difference between that and staying in the stable.

 

[Fire sign]

The usual, posting anon to keep things quiet!

In a bit of a quandary. Current yard has been good over the years but standards have declined somewhat. Coupled with poor ground, significant reduction in available ground and a horse with some existing issues that make turnout in winter challenging, I am pondering whether a move is in order.

Tough decision because I’ve been in current place for a long time and I am very fond of the people there, but I’m conscious that it doesn’t meet the needs of my horse.

Thoughts / questions / assurance welcomed!


Current
• 15-20 min drive
• 24/7 summer turnout
• Good stables but prone to flooding
• Secure tackroom
• 20+ horses
• Winter turnout but on poor ground, no option to section off / individual
• Not allowed to supplement with hay
• Very limited use of hardstanding for short periods, not suitable for longer periods
• 20x40 and 30x60 arena
• Option for full livery
• Good hacking on quiet roads

Yard B
• 20 min drive
• Good stables
• Secure tack room
• Max 8 horses
• 24/7 individual turnout in summer
• Less acreage overall but better options for poor weather
• Individual winter turnout on hardstanding paddocks with hay as needed
• 30x30 arena
• Gallop
• Walker
• DIY but can use freelancer / other liveries to assist
• Good hacking on quiet roads

30 x 30 arena ?? That would be quite small and would put me off yard B

 

[SantaVera]

No brainer,yard B

 

[NocturneNoel]

Neither of them sound ideal but I couldn't cope with a flooded stable and no hay in the field (if no grass). If those are the only 2 options I'd go for B.

 

[Fjord]

Yard B doesn't sound perfect, but I think mooching around on hard standing might be preferable to turnout on deep mud.

 

[Bobthecob15]

Yard B doesn't sound perfect, but I think mooching around on hard standing might be preferable to turnout on deep mud.

I agree I assume they go on the walker too? Our yard doesn’t have a lot of turnout as we are heavy clay so they go on turnout (can run around in it) arena or walker twice a day if can’t get on the fields.

It actually works well, the horses seem happy enough and definitely happier than standing on flooded fields

 

[hmm]

Thank you all so much for your replies. It is much appreciated!

I agree that Yard B doesn’t sound perfect. Unfortunately in my area, yards are few & far between. Even finding somewhere as an alternative that has any form of winter turnout, and space, has been a challenge.

My biggest concern at current yard is the state of the winter fields, plus a few other general niggles with how the yard is run & concern over long term situation there.

Last year the fields were a mud bath by November and it just was not going to be safe to turn out one of mine (previous serious tendon injury) on boggy, sticky ground without any option to provide hay, in a herd. I got by and he did get outside time daily, and contact with my other horse, but not in the way I would like. I feel like yard B gives opportunity to be much fairer on him.

I also re-checked arena size and it is more like 35x35. I think we’d do fine on it. Good hacking too which is very important.

I suppose all I’m looking for is assurance that yard B doesn’t sound really awful… and that I’m not mad for considering going there haha!

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I wouldn’t worry about smaller hardstanding type turnout in winter. A friend has her 30+ riding school horses on mud control paddocks all winter with plenty of haylage and they are all fine. Some are retired and others are ridden daily. They go out in the same small herds on summer grazing once the haylage has been cut and are very settled with the situation.

 

[Annagain]

Thank you all so much for your replies. It is much appreciated!

I agree that Yard B doesn’t sound perfect. Unfortunately in my area, yards are few & far between. Even finding somewhere as an alternative that has any form of winter turnout, and space, has been a challenge.

My biggest concern at current yard is the state of the winter fields, plus a few other general niggles with how the yard is run & concern over long term situation there.

Last year the fields were a mud bath by November and it just was not going to be safe to turn out one of mine (previous serious tendon injury) on boggy, sticky ground without any option to provide hay, in a herd. I got by and he did get outside time daily, and contact with my other horse, but not in the way I would like. I feel like yard B gives opportunity to be much fairer on him.

I also re-checked arena size and it is more like 35x35. I think we’d do fine on it. Good hacking too which is very important.

I suppose all I’m looking for is assurance that yard B doesn’t sound really awful… and that I’m not mad for considering going there haha!

I think the biggest concerns that people raised were the size of the school and the winter turnout so if you're happy with both, that's all that matters. If your current winter turnout is problematic and this is an improvement there's a lot to be said for that. If they're individual pens is there a gate you can leave open between them or would they let you take a section of fence down so they both have access to both pens and each other? Hopefully that would be the benefit to having two?

At the worst it could buy you some time to keep looking. Another benefit of two is they tend to settle better when they move as they already have a mate so moving again in a year if you have/want to shouldn't have too much of an effect on them.

 

[Lucky Snowball]

Individual turnout would be a definite no for me.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I think yard B sounds preferable to yard A for now, but I would still keep an ear out for an option C.