That time of year again... Yard dilema!

[Lucy_Angel]

Ok so many of you will see that I post this question quite often! :)

I moved to my current yard a year ago. I love it there - great place, real DIY - no one interfers apart from a nosey livery and its so chilled. Problem is no school :mad: I really struggle to ride in the winter and Angel always looks at me for something to do. So current yard -

£25 a week
3 other liveries 6 horses in total
Stable - American Barn, Angels stabe is on the end and does get wet!
Grazing - Amazing grazing - to much for Angel tbh. And fellow livery thinks she owns the fields so moves fencing to suit her etc. Turned out with 1 mare & 1 pony.
Complete DIY - bring your horse in when you want turn it out when you want.
No school :(
Hacking on your doorstep.
2 mins from work and OHs house, 15 mins from my house.

So I looked at a yard yesterday really nice place.

£35 a week
70 x 40 school with lights, jumps and walker (I probably wouldn't use walker)
Stable - 2 american barns 6 horses in each.
Grazing - Smaller paddocks, all post and rail, do have to walk through field with horse in to get to each paddock. Ind. TO or pairs.
Assisted DIY if needed
Can have any instructor you like, on site instructor and a local eventer come regularly.
Lots of hacking near by.
10 min hack from local equestrian centre.
10 mins from work OHs house, 25 from home.

So dilema! HELP!!!! I feel if I stay where I am I am putting all my hard work from the summer to waste. I do have a box I can use to get around but always need help getting from A - B and she can't travel with anything else so I end up on my own! :( But I am scared to move as she is so so happy.

[Fabio's Filly!]

Personally, for an extra £10 a week i'd go for the yard with the school. We're without a school at the moment and can only really hack in winter and its a nightmare trying to keep the fitness level you've worked on all summer! And the option of having assistance if needed is always handy! :)

[cookster1975]

If you're looking elsewhere, you're obviously not 100% happy. Is it just the school issue? Is there a nice flat piece of field you could fence off just for the odd use? If you and your horse are happy where you are (apart from annoying livery - but you get those everywhere), it seems a shame to move.

I don't have a school but tend to mostly hack anyway with the odd bit of flatwork in the field. I go and find places out on hacks to do flatwork too. Unless you can't ride in daylight hours in the winter?

Sorry that's not much help is it?!:rolleyes:

[Lucy_Angel]

Thats what I am worrying about - keeping her fit and basically being back to square one by March next year - re schooling etc! I guess I just worry about her. Also my friends are just down the road from current yard and they only take geldings! :(

Ahhhhh I have making decisions!

[Lucy_Angel]

If you're looking elsewhere, you're obviously not 100% happy. Is it just the school issue? Is there a nice flat piece of field you could fence off just for the odd use? If you and your horse are happy where you are (apart from annoying livery - but you get those everywhere), it seems a shame to move.

I don't have a school but tend to mostly hack anyway with the odd bit of flatwork in the field. I go and find places out on hacks to do flatwork too. Unless you can't ride in daylight hours in the winter?

Sorry that's not much help is it?!:rolleyes:

Thanks for your reply - that is my problem I work 8.30 - 4.45 so struggle to ride durin the week as no lights - it also puts a lot of pressure to ride at weekends and if weather is vile she then gets 2 weeks off - which for my full up cheeky sausage is not a good thing. I love my yard I really do and would pay double to be there if there was a school but there isn't. I have use of 2 but its getting to them in the winter! :( Ahhhh

[jsr]

For the first 4 years of owning my horse I either kept him at home (when I was lucky enough to own some land..had to sell it though. :mad:) or at a friends farm and every single winter I would go into melt down with depression and hating the fact I couldn't ride because of working full time. A year ago in May I moved to a proper livery with an indoor school and I can tell you the difference last winter was astounding!!!! I paid extra so my horse was bought in for me at 2 oclock, so by 5 when I arrived he'd had time to eat and have a snooze in a warm stable. He was dry and happy and I could guilt free do some work with him in the school. I rode pretty much every night and we'd make games for us to play in the school with the other liveries to stop us and the horses getting bored. We learnt dressage tests and did some jumping and generally just had fun.

I can honestly say I will never ever go back to not having the use of a school, it saved my sanity and kept him fit and enjoying himself. If I was you I'd move now and if you find you don't like it then hopefully you'll still have the old place to go back to.

[Ace87]

I had to move Q cause of schooling - no where to ride him and winter nights just are not long enough to get to the yard and ride after work!

I would move hun, I know it's further away and more money but it sounds like a good deal for you and miss Angel pie!

[acw295]

I'd probably move to - my yard only has a small (20x30) sand school - which slopes and is quite deep so not ideal! But I can ride in it, and Molly is co-ordianted enough to be able to canter 20m circles in it - so it will do over winter to keep us going during the week :)

I wouldn't consider a yard with nowhere floodlit to ride. If there is no way you can rig up some lights in the field at current yard to use then I would move.

That said, we had a lovely school at old yard but crap winter turnout, and the turnout won! But I wouldn't have gone to yard with no school at all as I work 9-6ish Mon-Fri

[Lucy_Angel]

Thanks Ace & jsr - I am swaying more towards the idea of moving I have to say. I know my current YO would welcome me back if it didn't work out its actually doing it if you know what I mean. Its so easy where I am now. I guess I worry i won't make friends - they will think I am a rubbish rider etc etc! Ahhhhhh

[Ace87]

You're a fab rider and a lovely lass so you will make friends you wally!!!

P.S Think of how much quicker the winter goes when you can ride! I swear it goes so much faster! And riding in the evening with the floodlights on and a warm jacket is the best post work de-stress!

[NoviceNic]

If everything where you are is perfect other than manage then I would look at hiring a school local.

Not only are you going to have to find an extra £10 week livery but also you will find the cost of travelling each day will make your outgoings a lot more.

[Lucy_Angel]

Thanks NoviceNic - This is an option but its very tricky - I can't load Angel on my own to get to a schhol. I have use of 2 a 5 min hack away but can't go there in the pitch black.

I guess I have never really been at a yard with a school in the winter so i should give it a try.

[Trewsers]

Ours have been at home for 3 years now and I've not had a school for that time - and I can tell you, its been a nightmare in some respects! Storm particularly needs to be kept "on top of" if you know what I mean, which means regular schooling if you're going to get any decent hacks out of her. During the summer its fine and we've managed admirably, but come winter - different story. This year will be different tho! (We've finally got our school - hurrah).
Anyway, back to your post - if you are happy with every other aspect it does seem a shame to leave. BUT, it depends on how good you are at getting to another school - you mention you can go to two different ones? I am a wuss and wouldn't be capable of boxing up and going - just the thought turns me to jelly! But you might be more than capable - if so, I'd be tempted to think a bit longer.
Not being much help really am I?!!!! Everything else sounds good at your yard - but good luck whatever you choose. And if you do move I'm sure you'll settle and so will your horse, just seems a bit scary thinking about it!

[Lucy_Angel]

Thanks Trewsers you are thinking exactly as i am! I think thats my problem - I could box up and go but couldn't on my own - only this year has she quite happily walked on the box without a 2hr wrestling match! I have lessons every Monday night at the EC but had to stop as couldn't get her there last winter and by the time I had got there had the lesson and got back i don't get home will 9 and I am so tired!

Its such a hard decisions.

[stressy]

I think id move, im toying with the idea too. Last year I wasnt working (full time student:P) so could ride out during the day, this year im working and my current yard doesnt have a school but another one ive seen does... seems like a no brainer but its still a difficult decision.:rolleyes:

[Melting Moments]

nope

[HJ]

nope

? "Nope" to what ?

[ladyluxor]

I wish i could find a place around my area, im hopeing to sell my sons pony so i would only have my girl and for what i am paying i would love to get somewhere with a stable for her.

The place i am is great dnt get me wrong but now i am planning on haveing 1 horse instead of 3 i just feel i could downsize the grazeing for a stable.

Trouble is everywhere around here is full. or yards where there is too much bitchness goin on.

[Lucy_Angel]

Quite agree HJ - nope to what Melting Moments?

Ladyluxor - it is really hard to find a decent livery yard!

[devonlass]

Hmm,although I can understand your need for a school,I have to say that is the only thing from what I can see that this other yard has going for it.

It is further away,which you will I'm sure at times get fed up with.It's more expensive,the turnout is more limited,the list goes on really.Add to that the fact you are happy and settled at your current yard,so really would be moving solely to have a school on site.To me it doesn't seem like a good enough reason,but you are the one who has to do it,so has to be down to what's most important to you really,we all have different priorities.

Whatever you decide I hope it goes well on the day and in the future

[Gruntfuttock]

I'd move as well. I couldn't cope without a school, because I like my lessons and my schooling, and its infuriating having nowhere to ride on winter evenings.

I really wouldn't worry about being thought a rubbish rider if you move- you are better than me, and I manage OK at my new yard !