Which yard?

[Cookiedough123]

I have a rising 4 year old currently unpacked but deciding whether to stay put at the current yard or move somewhere else when she gets back.

Current yard 1.
All incl price - £5 more expensive than yard 2.
Mares all turnout together. Muddy and wet.
Theres about 10 mares in total but field is a decent size although there isnt much grass in summer or winter
Excellent hacking
Down a private road. Around 25 horses in total.
Stable in a dark block with rubbish lights but around 12x14
Livery girl who is ok but cant rely on her for last minute emergencies.
Decent size arena with good surface to use as you please
Although there are plenty of rules currently there is a lot of drama and bitchyness
The yard is so muddy everywhere - the only hard standing is in the stables. Mud to get to fields, muck heap, its everywhere.
5 minutes from home and work.
24/7 turnout from May- October.
No one really does anything together, no trips out to beach or days out etc

Yard 2
Again all inclusive price.
2 outdoor arenas, one turnout indoor pen, large field with a couple of jumps for summer.
Busier road to hack on
Much more horses - around 50
Split into around 10 different large fields.
Some occasional drama but not often and most things go through yard owner so they deal with things before it becomes a problem.
More people on here go out and compete or do days out.
10 mins away from home/work
Everywhere has hard standing.
Stables in long indoor blocks
Not massive stables but around 12x12
Have to book slots to use the arena

I really dont know what to do. If you were me would you choose yard A or B.

Personally, I would go for yard 2. The bitchyness and drama at yard 1 would be the deciding factor. Is your horse OK in traffic? Or would the lack of off-road hacking be a problem/danger?

Hmm from the way you write it sounds a lot like you'd prefer yard 2 and it sounds to have a lot of pros, better facilities, similar cost/distance and potentially nicer atmosphere (although don't count on it, it only takes one incident or drama queen arriving to turn a previously nice yard into total bitch fest) HOWEVER the fact you have a youngster who you'll presumably be wanting to start over the summer means for me the busy road hacking could potentially be a deal breaker - I've never actually completely backed a youngster from scratch but have had plenty of green ones and aside from a very short intro in the school all their work is always done out hacking, so if that became more stressful than it needed to be it would be a real headache for me.

Is the hacking just a busy road to start and you can then get to bridle-paths within 5-10 mins, or would it be road all the way? How busy is busy (are we talking heavy traffic, lorries, buses A road here or just 'busy village' type of stuff she'll need to get used to anyway and might be quieter at certain times of day?). Do you think mare will be OK out on roads if with a calm companion? What are your plans for backing her, quiet few months ambling around and then turn away or are you wanting to get her out to comps and things her first summer?

Maybe consider staying put for the next 6 months where you are to get mare started and then move before winter or perhaps even move next spring (2021) when you want to really get out and about and can make best use of better facilities?

As above, hacking on a busy road with a newly backed horse may be quite dangerous.

Yes I think I would prefer yard 2 but the road puts me off. It's a 30 road but most go 40! It's generally a few cars a minute and yes there would be heavier vehicles too. 5/10 minutes would get me somewhere quieter! Yard 1 is down a country lane but I could hack without touching a road if I wanted to. She is going to a professional and I have asked them to focus on hacking as I'm happy to do schooling myself! She is generally quiet but as she is a warmblood does have her hot head moments. I am steering towards staying put for now till shes confidently hacking just the mud and the atmosphere is getting me down!

At Yard 2, what’s the grazing like? You don’t say the number of acres...
Find out what times they go in and out. And do they stop turnout altogether when the fields get too boggy. Do they feed haylage/hay in the fields if there’s no grass?
Turnout is very important! You don’t want to end up with psychological issues or ulcers if t/o is restricted, especially with a youngster.

I would say turnout is the same on both. Possibly a little more flexible on yard 2 and I would say more grass and less mud. Seems to be on sandy ground so it doesnt get that boggy. I have been on this yard too so have experience of both. They both have their up and downs which I know from being on both but current yard is the type of place where YO would be offended if I left for somewhere else so dont want to regret it !

Difficult isn’t it? I moved not long ago, stayed 3 weeks and went back to old place as it just didn’t work out.
All I can say is trust your gut. It’s often not wrong.

Wishing you luck! 😊