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Post by KimT on Dec 28, 2012 16:29:18 GMT 1
Oh I have a big decision to make. I have the chance to move yard and I dont know if I should or not.
Yard I am at has huge stable (12 x 15-16ft) and lots of fields. However, despite being told it has all year turnout my horses have been in for the past 2 weeks and no chance of going out for another week or so. When they do go out it will probably be for a day then back in again. I am also fed up with sharing a yard with other people. The next time I get told to hit my horse I might just hit them. Because both my girls are in it is costing me a fortune in hay and straw.
New yard has 3 stables and 3 paddocks. It will just be me and mum doing what we want. There have been horses previously living out 24/7 so we can have turnout everyday as long as we rotate fields to stop it getting too muddy. Stables are smaller but if they are out all the time it wont matter. There are houses around it so people to keep an eye on them. There is also a field shelter so we can leave them out or just leave the gate to the yard open.
Problems with the new yard is that it costs more and will stretch my budget and the owners are on site so I hope we all get on ok. Is it a case of 'better the devil you know?'
Neither yards have a school but there is one I can rent in the yard opposite the new place.
Is it too good to be true?
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Post by mrsfields on Dec 28, 2012 16:48:04 GMT 1
sounds perfect... i've recently moved my horses to our own place after several years at livery... it feels so relaxed it's unreal! i can look after my horses exactly how i want, i can do "weird" IH stuff and treat my horses kindly without raised eyebrows and constant criticism of being too soft, and people looking over my shoulder all the time... i wouldn't go back! downside is the lack of facilities (school, proper stables, etc.), but that's something i can work on little by little as and when i can afford it... upside is, my horses are out 24/7 with plenty of space to roam and play, they are so mellow and much less frantic than when they were on a busy yard, and it feels so much less stressful all round... at last i feel i'm doing the best i can for my lads, and that feels really nice... if you don't mind the lack of company, then i would say go for it!
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Post by jennyb on Dec 28, 2012 16:55:20 GMT 1
I had a move dilemma a couple of months ago, bit the bullet and haven't looked back! I love it at the new place, we're both so much happier.
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Post by KimT on Dec 28, 2012 16:56:11 GMT 1
The facilities at the new place are good. Just no school. There is electric, wash of area and stables. I think I will miss some of the company but not the gossip and stuff. Lady does like a bigger herd but is only in a field with Ellie and Arti as it is so that wont change anything.
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Post by KimT on Dec 28, 2012 16:57:19 GMT 1
I have moved lady a few times in the past year. i want to just settle down somewhere but am beginning to think that livery yards arent for me anymore.
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Post by cookie on Dec 28, 2012 17:14:46 GMT 1
The only thing if say is be honest about the turnout. We have standing water everywhere at the moment so turnout is limited, alto they are still going out for a couple of hours a day. I think its a difficult time to judge attitudes to turn out as we have extreme conditions.on the other hand its a great time to look at the news place as you'll likely see it at its worst Good luck with your decision Sent from my GT-I9100 using proboards
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Post by Mellymoo on Dec 28, 2012 17:45:18 GMT 1
Sounds like it might be a good move if people on your yard are doing your head in! Best of luck whatever you decide.
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Post by specialized on Dec 28, 2012 18:10:57 GMT 1
Don't be too quick to judge YO on lack of turnout - this year has been the wettest since records began so is not typical by any means and the best of us are struggling with providing turnout.
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Post by BJMM on Dec 28, 2012 19:20:25 GMT 1
I moved from a big yard to a smaller place shared with friends, then in September to a place which I share with a friend (Ladyndibs) We have a field which is subdivided into smaller fields with good natural shelter, running water and a generator for electric. We have no school but local hacking is great. It is lovely not having to answer to a YO and to be able to keep the horses as we would like to keep them. The only drawback at the moment is the endless rain and mud, but everyone is suffering with that at the moment. I'm looking forward to the weather improving and being able to explore! I would hate to have to go back into a big yard situation but I can sympathise with your YO. We have had unprecedented rainfall in the last few months and it must be hard to run a business and look after the land as well as keeping all the liveries happy. The new yard does sound nice but it can be difficult if the owners live on site. You may not have as much autonomy as you think you are going to have. This is what I found at my last place, although the chap that owned the yard and land was not really horsey, but thought he was and that created a few problems that seemed minor at first but after three years started driving me round the bend ;D Is there any way you can talk to the people who rented the yard before? Although you can't take everything said as gospel and there are always two sides to every story, you might gain some insight into how the relationship with the owners would work for you. Best of luck xx
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Post by KimT on Dec 28, 2012 20:08:56 GMT 1
I completely understand that the fields are wet but we dont have any standing water. It is a farm and stable so there are a lot of fields to choose from. I would have more sympathy if she didnt turn her horses out yesterday for the whole day. There is a front paddock which isnt used for anything which a fellow livery puts her horse in for an hour a day cause of his arthritis. She was happy for us the put ours in there after her just whilst we muck out and YO said no. There is also another livery which turns out everyday. I would be happy if we even had just an hour out to muck out. All three of ours arent ridden at the moment so we cant even get them out to ride.
If I have the chance of getting them out then I need to consider it. Both horses have spent their whole lives out 24/7. This is the first winter either of them have had a stable so as you can imagine, they arent coping as well as some others.
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Post by ladyndibs on Dec 28, 2012 21:30:26 GMT 1
I'd have a good chat with your potential new YO, see if you can get a feel for the amount of freedom you will get. Also though it's dearer with three fields to rotate you may find you save a lot on hay and straw, you might find that you rarely use the stables and now would be a good time to see how waterlogged the fields get. How large are the paddocks? Is it worth thinking about some electric fencing and sub dividing even more? I'd have my own fields over a yard any day, especially if there's no turn out.
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Post by KimT on Dec 29, 2012 0:35:47 GMT 1
Im no good at judging the sizes. Can always ask. We are allowed to sub divide if there is too much grass. There are 2 drainage 'moats' as the owner calls them which help take most of the water off the fields. There was no water in the fields when we saw it xmas eve. There is a horse there which will be going in Feb which lives out. He will be in the field with the shelter to begin with and we will have the other fields until he is gone. He belongs to the owners daughter who has moved away due to her husband being in the army and since lyneham has closed has been stationed elsewhere and will be taking him too once settled. I know it is only him but he fields dont look muddy with him on them.
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arki
Advanced Poster
Posts: 364
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Post by arki on Dec 29, 2012 8:55:53 GMT 1
It is a difficult one as for the first time in 15 years of having horses I have decided to stable 3 of mine - they have pretty much always been out 24/7 but they are up to their knees in mud are miserable. They will be out during the day and in at night. If I was a yard owner I think I would be tearing my hair out
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Post by bramblesmum on Dec 29, 2012 11:12:11 GMT 1
I would say stay where you are, I am on a private yard and so miss the company, and mine are in nearly full time as the fields are awfully wet (thankfully my car park is doubling as turnout time) but I am in the same situation as you in a private setup, with the world as it is I wouldnt be stretching the budget anytime soon unless you have to
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Post by ukshowjumper on Dec 29, 2012 15:41:13 GMT 1
Ditto bramblesmum.....mine are out 24/7 as I have no stables but 1/4 of the field is pure mud, YO has told me to rest the other half of the field as he doesn't want too lots trashed and I'm on my own so bored and missing company. I'm looking at moving next summer when I'm back down to two. With the weather the way it is, I'm not surprised YO's are restricting turnout. If I had stables, I'd be doing the same!
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