Hmm, in a bit of a dilemma.
Horses currently stabled at small private yard, has plenty of turnout and a school albeit unlit and the surface a bit the worse for wear.
I moved there because my instructor (who was competing my mare) did because it was more practical at the time but she has since left and the YO has been nice enough to let us stay.
The horses are very settled there and happy. Problem is I am finding it difficult to ride as when I'm there when its light so is the YO and the other lady so I can hardly get in the school (not their fault) and they hack out together during the week in the mornings usually so I have noone to hack with and we are on a busy road. My mare hates hacking alone so I don't really feel going on my own is an option. (Even in company and all the neds calm and chilled we've had a couple of scary incidents with cars coming too fast and close). I am a nervous nelly on the roads anyway so I don't enjoy hacking onto that road especially so we tend not to go as no company then on the odd occasion they hack on a weekend and do ask me to join them, because I've not been for a while and the road - I don't enjoy it and poor ned is a bit spooky and I end up feeling silly as they are so confident!
The YO and the other lady are very friendly so I do sometimes feel a bit left out as they arrange to go off together to do horsey things.
I left a big yard where I was very happy and yesterday I went to their Xmas demo day and was asked if I would like to go back. The pro's are - same price but better facilities - 2 lit outdoor, 1 indoor and and indoor lunge area, on site hacking over 200 acres and direct access to a bridle way, horsewalker and assistance if I need it - also more people to hack with (and no roads! So I may even learn to enjoy it!) and more company for my horses so they don't get left out or whatever. Cons are - they seem really happy and chilled (my mare has bever been so calm!), quiet yard, (I'd have to book the schools up at the livery place well in advance)and I have more say in when they live in out (as long as the YO and other lady are in agreement) and I don't want to offend the YO as she has been very good about letting us stay there and she keeps the place so nicely
The other issue is the grazing at our current yard is fab - too fab! So its hard to keep the weight off in the summer and I stress about the pony and possible lammi. (The YO is very good at paddock rotation - problem is as fast as they eat one down we are asked to move them onto new grass which can be tricky).
I don't know what to do!! Its a huge hassle to move yards and the horses seem happy but I know I'd get to do more with them both if I did move back, but on the other hand I would hate my mare to not be as chilled out. (Although that was 3 yrs ago and she has grown up a lot since then). On the other hand currently with all the yard work I am lucky to have the time or energy on top of working to ride once a week - my poor mare hasn't been ridden for 2 weeks now and the pony is off completely.
The summer is fine (although still isues about them being out on their own sometimes which upsets my mare (she doesn't seem to count the pony as 'proper' company), but I can't expect the others to not get their neds in when they want too!
The hacking onto the road doesn't change and the rich grazing is an issue (but can manage that with electric tape and muzzles). The other thing is my mare is very bonded to one of the other horses there.
So I have the choice - accept that in the winter I can't do a lot other than chores but summers are ok, or move and risk being in a situation that my horses won't like and may not be any better really and I'm just doing a 'grass is always greener' - as big yards have their own set of compromises and issues, its harder as I'm certainly not unhappy where I am I'm just a bit concerned that time is flying by and I'm not doing all things I wanted to do with my neddies. :( :blink:
