jimbojones
Well-Known Member
OK Ill try and make this brief.
Ive been at my current yard for over 3 years. In that time it has progressed from being just fields and a few stables to a pretty good but small yard with a nice all weather arena. The turn out is pretty good especially in comparison to the surrounding yards with 24/7 turn out April to October and then maybe 6 to 10 hours in the winter based on weather conditions they are always out but Y/O will bring in if they are looking particularly miserable.
Its the type of place that could be amazing with a bit more effort but there often seems to be a lack of a proactive approach to things i.e. some fencing needs fixed (not in the fields currently in use), gates are off their hinges and held up by lead ropes , the arena hasnt been harrowed for months, there is general crap lying all over the place, tack room is like a bomb site etc. When minor things go wrong it can sometimes take ages before the owners fix them and you feel like you have to keep nagging them to get it done and I get the impression that the owner, regardless of how nice she is, is a bit work shy and when ever I have to ask for anything I feel like Im asking for a favour as opposed to asking her to do something that she should probably have done already!
Other than that there is a lot going for it
Large all weather arena (never floods or freezes)
Large stables although many of them leak or have unlevel flooring (luckily mine doesnt)
Nice Y/O who is very helpful and offers flexible livery as well as bringing in for vet/farrier etc free of charge
Only a few horses so very quiet and not bitchy
Good hacking
Free trailer/lorry parking
Ive considered moving a few times in the past the yard has very high rate of turn over and every year, at least once a year I get itchy feet and think there must be something better out there especially if so many others are moving elsewhere. I know I shouldnt be swayed by others but I am and have friends at other yards who rave about them and encourage me to move there.
Im going to be taking on more responsibility at work so am now looking to move onto part livery where I get the Y/O to muck out etc for me 2 or 3 days a week. I do occasionally get Y/O to cover for me and there has never been any issues but little things are concerning me i.e. picking out feet (something Im particular about) I often suspect it hasnt been done but its difficult to prove, water in stable I give a full fresh bucket every day whereas shes more inclined just to top up the bucket (and pony doesnt drink it once its been lying for a bit) and finally turn out times she always brings the full liveries in earlier than Id like i.e. 3/4pm and possibly earlier if its wet and they wont get checked again later at night whereas Im not usually up until around 7pm so pony is out longer and checked later. I know how small there things are but Im so particular about his routine and having control of it and I understand that this is just one of my issues.
There is another yard that I have looked into before Ive viewed it twice and nearly moved there 4 years ago but they didnt have space. Then I considered moving there last year but current Y/O was able to convince me to stay. This other yard seems perfect, anyone I know who has been there raves about it but it is double the distance of my current yard although Id be going on part livery (which is effectively full livery Mon Friday) so would probably only go up 4 or 5 times a week in the winter. Facilities are fab, hacking is fab, Y/O has a good reputation for the level of care she provides and I can afford the extra cost. Im not sure if they have space at the moment but Im considering putting my name down even if they dont because the level of care just seems much better and it would set my mind at rest.
In addition, I have friends at another yard 10 miles further than my current yard which doesnt offer full livery but does assisted DIY and offers 24/7 turn out all year round which would be perfect for my boy and would also mean I didnt have to go up every day (friends often set the stable up so that horses can come in and Y/Os bring in for a few hours and then turn out for them. It has 2 arenas including an indoor but the hacking isnt great (all road work and some of the roads are busy) and is also a much busier yard. Ive not visited it yet but hoping to go for a look sometime soon but the hacking does concern me and its pricy for DIY - £35 a week just for stable and field and you have to pay additional for feeding, turn out etc plus you must buy your hay/haylage from them and its something like £2 a net or £11 for adlib use.
Im still trying to work it all out in my head Im by no means desperate to move and I do wonder if this is just the winter blues as it tends to be this time of year each time I consider moving. I barely considered it in the summer (although I did got a view some other yards none of which were anywhere near as good as my current one) but every so often things start to bug me and I think its time to go but then I think maybe it is better the devil you know or maybe I'm just too controlling when it comes to looking after my horse
Any thoughts/suggestions would be welcome - feel free to tell my I'm being silly and should stay put!
Ive been at my current yard for over 3 years. In that time it has progressed from being just fields and a few stables to a pretty good but small yard with a nice all weather arena. The turn out is pretty good especially in comparison to the surrounding yards with 24/7 turn out April to October and then maybe 6 to 10 hours in the winter based on weather conditions they are always out but Y/O will bring in if they are looking particularly miserable.
Its the type of place that could be amazing with a bit more effort but there often seems to be a lack of a proactive approach to things i.e. some fencing needs fixed (not in the fields currently in use), gates are off their hinges and held up by lead ropes , the arena hasnt been harrowed for months, there is general crap lying all over the place, tack room is like a bomb site etc. When minor things go wrong it can sometimes take ages before the owners fix them and you feel like you have to keep nagging them to get it done and I get the impression that the owner, regardless of how nice she is, is a bit work shy and when ever I have to ask for anything I feel like Im asking for a favour as opposed to asking her to do something that she should probably have done already!
Other than that there is a lot going for it
Large all weather arena (never floods or freezes)
Large stables although many of them leak or have unlevel flooring (luckily mine doesnt)
Nice Y/O who is very helpful and offers flexible livery as well as bringing in for vet/farrier etc free of charge
Only a few horses so very quiet and not bitchy
Good hacking
Free trailer/lorry parking
Ive considered moving a few times in the past the yard has very high rate of turn over and every year, at least once a year I get itchy feet and think there must be something better out there especially if so many others are moving elsewhere. I know I shouldnt be swayed by others but I am and have friends at other yards who rave about them and encourage me to move there.
Im going to be taking on more responsibility at work so am now looking to move onto part livery where I get the Y/O to muck out etc for me 2 or 3 days a week. I do occasionally get Y/O to cover for me and there has never been any issues but little things are concerning me i.e. picking out feet (something Im particular about) I often suspect it hasnt been done but its difficult to prove, water in stable I give a full fresh bucket every day whereas shes more inclined just to top up the bucket (and pony doesnt drink it once its been lying for a bit) and finally turn out times she always brings the full liveries in earlier than Id like i.e. 3/4pm and possibly earlier if its wet and they wont get checked again later at night whereas Im not usually up until around 7pm so pony is out longer and checked later. I know how small there things are but Im so particular about his routine and having control of it and I understand that this is just one of my issues.
There is another yard that I have looked into before Ive viewed it twice and nearly moved there 4 years ago but they didnt have space. Then I considered moving there last year but current Y/O was able to convince me to stay. This other yard seems perfect, anyone I know who has been there raves about it but it is double the distance of my current yard although Id be going on part livery (which is effectively full livery Mon Friday) so would probably only go up 4 or 5 times a week in the winter. Facilities are fab, hacking is fab, Y/O has a good reputation for the level of care she provides and I can afford the extra cost. Im not sure if they have space at the moment but Im considering putting my name down even if they dont because the level of care just seems much better and it would set my mind at rest.
In addition, I have friends at another yard 10 miles further than my current yard which doesnt offer full livery but does assisted DIY and offers 24/7 turn out all year round which would be perfect for my boy and would also mean I didnt have to go up every day (friends often set the stable up so that horses can come in and Y/Os bring in for a few hours and then turn out for them. It has 2 arenas including an indoor but the hacking isnt great (all road work and some of the roads are busy) and is also a much busier yard. Ive not visited it yet but hoping to go for a look sometime soon but the hacking does concern me and its pricy for DIY - £35 a week just for stable and field and you have to pay additional for feeding, turn out etc plus you must buy your hay/haylage from them and its something like £2 a net or £11 for adlib use.
Im still trying to work it all out in my head Im by no means desperate to move and I do wonder if this is just the winter blues as it tends to be this time of year each time I consider moving. I barely considered it in the summer (although I did got a view some other yards none of which were anywhere near as good as my current one) but every so often things start to bug me and I think its time to go but then I think maybe it is better the devil you know or maybe I'm just too controlling when it comes to looking after my horse
Any thoughts/suggestions would be welcome - feel free to tell my I'm being silly and should stay put!
