Do I stay or do I go?

[ChiefClerkDrumknott]

Yard A is the one I’m on. All feed/hay/bedding and turnout or bring in 7 days a week included. 15-20 mins drive from my house. Decent couple of fields, out all day in summer, in at night during winter (mine are in during the day in summer, bring in included). Good school but not great hacking; mostly roads or cycle tracks, very hilly which is not helping my arthritic veteran. Only 4 liveries including me. Massive stable for my older horse and bigger than average one for my youngster. Older horse has been with a couple of the others in the field for 8+years. Youngster I’ve only had for a couple of months so not too attached. Separate tack, rug and feed rooms.
However, I do not trust the yard owners for various reasons. Typical bonkers yard owners tbh 😂 They have attempted to gaslight me and don’t care about leaving a horse in all day with no hay or water.

Yard B is approx £50-£80 more a month per horse. All hay included, 1 shavings bale a week per horse in winter but can buy from yard in summer if needed. I have 2 and could just about afford it; more expensive in winter but cheaper in summer. Have confirmed that turn out/bring in is included Mon-Fri but I would pay for weekend services. 25-35 mins away, depending on traffic. Much better hacking on covered, if muddy paths, and around a lake. Pretty flat with slight slopes, much better for veteran. Access to a common for longer rides. Stables a lot smaller but roughly 12x12 (older one is 14.3, youngster should make 14.2 max). Approx 17 liveries on the yard. Fields are ok, not great, but not awful at all. Hard standing put down in most. Small x-country course in one field for access in summer, ok school with lovely poles/jumps. Separate tack room/feed room/toilets are being built right now. Everyone seemed friendly but I don’t know anyone there.

Owners live on site on both yards. My husband is talking about moving nearer to yard B as he liked it so much. The main thing holding me back is I don’t want to break up the bond between my veteran and his buddies of many years 😢

Has anyone done similar? On paper B is a no brainier, especially as I don’t trust my current yard owners at all, but I don’t know the yard B ones so I can’t compare. They all seem v decent, though.

[Flixon]

B. Trust is everything in my opinion....

[ChiefClerkDrumknott]

Thanks @Flixon. I’m leaning heavily towards B, it’s just a big decision and I don’t want to cause stress to my older one. But you’re right, I can’t go away for a few days without worrying about them because I can’t trust that they will be looked after. Neither can I trust the YO to tell me the truth if something has happened

[liveforsummer]

Unless your old boy sufferers separation anxiety when his friends are away even though he still has other company I shouldn't think he'd bother if you moved he'll still have your youngster. 12x12 stables are a good size for a large horse so absolutely fine for under 15hh. Yarn B comes with a lot of extra costs though (weekend turn out and limited to one bale a week shavings. Not much for a 12x12 stable.) if you can afford it though I'd do it. It's terrifying riding on the roads these days and with a youngster I'd definitely prefer off road options

[HighlandCowbag]

B.

I moved 8 weeks ago after 15 years on same yard for similar reasons, never been as happy 😊.

[ChiefClerkDrumknott]

@liveforsummer Thank you. He’s a bit of a tricky one tbh. He sometimes doesn’t outwardly show signs of stress but will lose the hair on his legs when he does stress. It’s a bit odd, I know! I think he would settle, he has moved before. You are another who’s correct, I’m just stressing myself for no good reason 🙈

@HighlandCowbag That’s brilliant to hear! Glad you’ve made the right choice. Do you have a hippo? 🤣🤣 I was on the look for one but ended up with a Dales filly instead

[liveforsummer]

Might be worth giving him a pro biotic in advance and for a while after the move. Can help massively with stress I find.

[liveforsummer]

Might be worth giving him a pro biotic in advance and for a while after the move. Can help massively with stress I find.

[HighlandCowbag]

@ChiefClerkDrumknott I do have a hipo and she has come on leaps and bounds since we moved, she had turned into a bit of a field ornament at the old yard. I was basic full livery so everything done bar grooming and work and it was too easy for her to get pushed to the bottom of the pile for priorities.
She's lost loads of weight, got a bit of topline coming and new yard owner rides her once a week, I have a lesson once a week and ride 3 times.

Glad you found a pony, the price of hipos is just ludicrous atm.

[BertramLacey]

The main thing holding me back is I don’t want to break up the bond between my veteran and his buddies of many years

I moved my veteran after he'd been with his buddies for a similar length of time. Because of the way the yard owner acted I could not possibly stay put. It was the best move I've ever made. He was much better off at the new yard and so was I. I prepared him for the move by making sure I was doing plenty with him, even though he was non-ridden by that point. I walked him out daily in the tack I was planning to load and travel him in, so he would be familiar with him and it wouldn't stress him. I put him on a calmer for weeks beforehand and double dosed him the day before and on the day. I used a professional mover who was excellent with him.

My old boy was a stresshead with travel and anything new but he travelled and adapted really well, with help.

[ChiefClerkDrumknott]

Thanks for your input all, it’s helped a lot. @BertramLacey That’s reassuring, thank you. He’s always been fab to load and travel, so thankfully I don’t think that part will cause problems. Not too sure about the youngster loading but not hugely worried.

I went to the cinema with a friend from a previous yard (saw No Time To Die, really good!) and she said exactly the same as all of you. I’ll message the owner of yard B tomorrow as I think you’re all correct and it’s time to move on 🙂

@HighlandCowbag Ah that’s fab, you look so happy! Ridden Highlands or Dales ponies were near impossible unless paying stupid money, and the youngsters of both are cheaper but the same sort of price. I saw my one and just fell in love, despite being ravaged by sweet itch all summer. She’s great fun 😁

[ChiefClerkDrumknott]

Thought I’d better add some pics! This is my old boy a couple of months ago

[ChiefClerkDrumknott]

And the baby helping me poo pic 🙄

[ChiefClerkDrumknott]

Just a quick update for you. I am moving to yard B! Just need to get strangles tests sorted for them now. I can’t see it being a problem as she hasn’t been anywhere and neither has he for a few years. Fingers crossed!

[HighlandCowbag]

That's good news then!

Just be warned tho that the strangles test is a test for an immune response to the strep bacteria. Strep equus is strangles strep zoo isn't, its a snotty nose and cough , very similar to strangles but not.

If one of yours has been exposed to strep zoo they will likely have antibodies and you will get a 'positive' result. You then need to book vet to come and scope the gutteral pouches under sedation to test again for strangles.

Had to do all that for one of mine, it's an expensive ball ache and a bit of a worry. Another lady on new yard went through same thing.

[ChiefClerkDrumknott]

Thank you. Yes I’ve seen this happen a few times. I’m praying they don’t have to go through it but I don’t reply have a choice. TBH I’d rather yards be responsible and test if they want to, it’s safer 🙂

[ChiefClerkDrumknott]

*don’t really

[XelaM]

Gorgeous ponies! Your veteran looks like our mare!

[ChiefClerkDrumknott]

@XelaM Thank you Your mare looks very sweet 🙂

[CountryCob]

I think that is the right decision, horse will get over the move as you will be with him and you are his owner, better to move now and he will be settled in a few weeks than stay somewhere you don’t trust. Hope it all works out

[ChiefClerkDrumknott]

@CountryCob Thanks, you are right. I’ve moved him before and not worried as much. I think it’s just that he’s getting older so I want to wrap him in cotton wool, which I never did before!🙈 He’ll be happier if he can go for hacks around the flatter land and have a nose around as he loves being out and about. The youngster will love being at a busier yard, she’s a typical clever Dales and needs entertaining

[HighlandCowbag]

Mine both love the new yard and I was very worried about them settling in. They have gone from from 24/7 turnout to stabled overnight quite happily. They have lost loads of weight which was one of the main reasons I moved them. Gone from being field ornaments most of the time to calm, relaxed well behaved ridden ponies. Have never seen them so relaxed and happy. And I have done more with them in the last 3 months than in the last 6 years.

It was absolutely the right decision for the right reasons. Old yard owner no longer speaks to me despite being best friends for 25 years but that is her loss not mine. And new yard owner is a breath of fresh air, scary still but in a positive way.