stabling and grazing HELP!!!!!

[saffee]

Hi i'm placing this message here as a long shot as i'm getting quiet desperate to secure stabling and grazing.. I'm returning to horses and the equestrian world after a long break bringing up a family.. I lost touch with horsey friends decades ago. The place where i once kept my own horse no longer exists, the yard and its property has been demolished and the land is owned by a factory... I checked out a couple of yards today only to be told that one has a two year waiting list and is virtually impossible to get on and the other is full with people already on the yard sharing stables. The only positive response i've had is from one yard which MAY HAVE a vacancy in October, but its only a maybe, also i was advised with this yard to keep ringing everday to keep reminding the owner that i am on his waiting list or He will forget and then someone else may come along and i'll lose the oppertunity in October, i don 't like the thought of having to do this at all as i am not inclined to be a pushy person. I don't have a horse yet, and i'm really pineing to get one, but this lack of having nowhere to keep it is really frustrating. I don't want to look at horses for sale coz i hate it when i see something what i'm looking for but can't do anything about it, i mean what seller wants someone coming along to look at their horse, when they haven't even got anywhere for it to live.. I'm getting so down about this. I've dreamed about owning a horse again for years and now that my dream is very much looking like a reality i'm stumped by this problem. Does anyone out there know of any stabling or grazing available in the Rochdale, Lancs area?? Pref Littleborough but i would consider any area in reasonable travelling distance to Rochdale (i have a car) i prefer Littleborough because i am familiar with the area and also because i would like to do lot of hacking over the moors. I would appreciate any information anyone has or just some positive words from anyone else who has ever experienced anything like this. Also what do people think i should do about gossip? I've been warned off from approaching certain yards by other 'yard owners' and also horse owners because of one thing and another mainly because the yard owner is bad/mad i've also been advised to steer clear of large yards with lots of horses as they have a tendancy to be hostile and very unfriendly(the owners not the horses) .. should i take a place on a yard which i have heard negative comments about and see if its true or steer clear and be patient until something more suitable turns up? I feel like building a stable in my backgarden because just finding a place to keep a horse is proving to be one big hassle.

[bexj]

Hi Saffee. I can't help specifically with your query as I don't know the area. However, you need to take with a pinch of salt what yard owners say about each other, and also other horse owners to some extent. I don't think there is such thing as a perfect yard - for example, I am at what I consider to be one of the best yards in the area. The owner is friendly, very knowledgeable, turnout is reasonable, and there is a big arena, but off road hacking is not good, and although it is full livery they won't pick out feet, meaning you need to visit your horse daily anyway!

Also don't automatically discount larger yards because of bitchiness. My yard has about 30 liveries, and its not bitchy at all. The YO makes it very clear that bitching will not be tolerated, and she will evict anyone found bitching.

Best way to find a yard? Tack shops usually have yard adverts, or staff will know of some places to try. Does your local newspaper have a horsey section? I know the Yorkshire Post does, and there are yard ads in there too.
Also, if you know the area well, go find some yards and just get out and ask people. When you go to look round a yard, make sure you ask plenty of questions, and also ask if you can talk to some of the liveries there. You'll soon get a good idea of what they are like. I found it better to actually visit places rather than ring up about them.

Good luck!

[Tiber]

I agree with Bexj!

The yard I am at at the mo has 30 horses and there is only one bitchy person there who is easily avoided. I have had no probs there and the YO is lovely.

The yard I am moving to (due to turnout restictions) is really small and just starting out - my pony will be number three of a max of six. The YO is really nice and I'll see what the other liveries are like when I get there...

[Zingy]

Have you tried Lanehead Stables (http://www.tinyislandsoftware.com/laneheadstables/index.html) ? Definitely worth a try. Let me know if you want any more info and I'll pm you :)

[saffee]

tiber and bexj many thanks for replying to my post your comments and advice were valuable to me at this trying time :) ... I've taken into consideration what you both said regarding lager yards not being necessairly bitchier or any worse than smaller ones. I guess i was getting a little over anxious about my plight and letting my anxieties grow out of all proportion. I know that i will eventually find something. It's as bexj said it's a matter of getting out and searching around getting to speak directly to horse owners and YO's. Thanks guys once again for taking the time to commet. :)

Zingy thanks for your suggestion Lane Head.. I'm a little familiar with the area, but wasn't aware of any stables up there. could you give me more details of exactly where they are? What's it like for off road hacking up there. I love the moors is there access to moorland. thanks for your post. :)

[saffee]

Zingy sorry noticed ** post later that u had included the website for Lanehead stables ... Thanks :)

[Tnavas]

Hi Saffee,
Just looked at the website, it looks great, clean, modern and if I didn't live in New Zealand I would jump at the chance to keep my horses there.

[ANN H]

I once got a horse from a place called Lands Farm in Westhoughton (not sure if I'm in the right area here, so please forgive me!) It was a huge place - about 60 horses I think). Any use??

[Tiber]

Wow. If I didn't live in Bedford I'd want to put honey there!

Local tack shop noticeboards are a good place to find yards too - thats how I found out about my new one.

[Zingy]

Saffee

Can't remember exactly what's on their website, but they're literally about 5 mins from the Mary Townley loop. You only have to ride up a really quiet road (just goes past a few houses then straight onto the moors) to get there.

It's a fairly small yard, only 15 stables and a sand school. Good grazing though no winter turnout.

Hacking I would say is great. A lot of people there are quite into competing so if you want to do dressage/ eventing at all, there are people who do (or at least there were!). Plus people do get instructors visiting so it's easy enough to get lessons if you want. The horses seem quite happy and are well cared for. Plus there are (or were) trips to things like HOYS you can go to if you want.

There are some minus points as well that I won't post on here - if you want to know I'll happily pm you though :)

[saffee]

Hmm Westhaughton not really sure where that is will have to consult my map. thanks Ann for the tip. :) From the Lanehead web site it does seem a pretty fantastic place and from what u posted Zingy sounds like ideal hacking country to me. I'm really considering this place as a possible. Probs is if its so great and not a very big yard, it may be full and have a massive waiting list just like all the other great yards round here seem to be :( . Also i might be a little out of my league amongst all those eventers lolol .. I'm just a simple soul who loves horses and spending time with them. :D Thanks everyone for your posts. It's nice to have access to experienced horse owners to receive tips and advice from. :)

[Skib]

Yellow pages sometimes has places not on BHS and other lists - but which can turn out to be good. I've used Yellow pages when looking for stables to hack from when on holiday - Apart from listed livery places, many schools take a few livery as well.
Like you I have been inspecting livery places and their hacking with a view to eventually getting a horse. Sometimes I need to phone to gain entry and make an appointment. But I always visit. Though that takes a lot of time.
I am not put off by unfriendly responses. By visiting, one is intruding on their world and is asking questions about costs and what is covered. Last week a Yard manager failed to show for the appointment time she had stipulated. But the visit went well; I wandered about self-guided and eventually talked to staff and clients.
It is a thankless task, like visiting Primary schools to find a good one for one's children. But I hope it wont be impossible for you to find a place.