Littlebear
Well-Known Member
I have seen these posts and now need help deciding please!
My current yard is around 8 miles from home which is the closest its ever been, its a mix of stables and rented units so can be a bit chaotic with noise, drilling and machinery which does take away from the peaceful enjoyment of having the horse. Its a very well run, well kept place, 2 arenas, wash down bays etc, good services albeit quite expensive, daily turnout although the fields are overstocked, there is summer and winter fields but the grass will run down quickly in each, the winter field will be a muddy nightmare so come winter the horse will end up being in alot, no shelter in the fields at all. Its not much fun there, not many people to do things with and extremely limited hacking. You cant take your dogs up with you which i miss. There is no precaution at this yard for isolation/ strangles testing etc.
The second yard is only about 1 mile from my house so I can walk there and there would be a saving in petrol esp when I have to go twice a day, it is a bit more cheap and cheerful, lots of stables and horses but no fancy facilities, 2 menages but one is dire, there are more grazing fields and appears to have grass all year, there is some better hacking via a residential street to get to it. The only major worries is that this one has a bad reputation for bitching/problems etc, the times I tend to go this kind of thing doesn't generally affect me I don't hang around for hours I generally do my horse and get going in a hurry to get to work etc. There is also a 2 week isolation where there are no other horses in sight and my horse is a bit of a stress head when alone so would likely end up being 2 weeks of absolute hell to get through that.
Both are kid friendly which is import and only the second one is dog friendly (not a major issue) but if I can walk my dogs occasionally to do the horse and walk them home that would save me a bit of time. I would say the second one would save me around £150 per month.
Any thoughts welcome I just cant decide!
My current yard is around 8 miles from home which is the closest its ever been, its a mix of stables and rented units so can be a bit chaotic with noise, drilling and machinery which does take away from the peaceful enjoyment of having the horse. Its a very well run, well kept place, 2 arenas, wash down bays etc, good services albeit quite expensive, daily turnout although the fields are overstocked, there is summer and winter fields but the grass will run down quickly in each, the winter field will be a muddy nightmare so come winter the horse will end up being in alot, no shelter in the fields at all. Its not much fun there, not many people to do things with and extremely limited hacking. You cant take your dogs up with you which i miss. There is no precaution at this yard for isolation/ strangles testing etc.
The second yard is only about 1 mile from my house so I can walk there and there would be a saving in petrol esp when I have to go twice a day, it is a bit more cheap and cheerful, lots of stables and horses but no fancy facilities, 2 menages but one is dire, there are more grazing fields and appears to have grass all year, there is some better hacking via a residential street to get to it. The only major worries is that this one has a bad reputation for bitching/problems etc, the times I tend to go this kind of thing doesn't generally affect me I don't hang around for hours I generally do my horse and get going in a hurry to get to work etc. There is also a 2 week isolation where there are no other horses in sight and my horse is a bit of a stress head when alone so would likely end up being 2 weeks of absolute hell to get through that.
Both are kid friendly which is import and only the second one is dog friendly (not a major issue) but if I can walk my dogs occasionally to do the horse and walk them home that would save me a bit of time. I would say the second one would save me around £150 per month.
Any thoughts welcome I just cant decide!