Yard I was on downsouth, was, ok, if you could overlook the total lack of knowledge the YO had! There was an indoor and outdoor school but the indoor was too deep to use, the grazing was quite well rotated but the fences and security of gates was hideous.
Hay, she bought a load off the field once, my pal had also bought from the same field, paid £1.20 per bale for it (few yrs ago now) she also paid the same, then charged us £3.50 per bale, it was rank but we were not allowed to buy our own.
Then the yard started getting overcrowded, not with horses, although I have heard it is that way now, but, YO decided she wanted it to become a childrens livery yard, so as horses moved off, another little show/fun/games pony would move on, but what came with the ponies? The child, parents, grandparents, siblings, friends and other extended families! You couldnt move, there was Yard Politics which we had managed to control but once you got to the stage where you couldnt get to your stable without standing on a child, or tie your horse up outside whilst mucking out in case said horse might move and inch and be deemed dangerous enough to, heaven forbid, kick, then it was getting quite stressful. Ok, kids should be able to enjoy their ponies but not treat the yard as a playground, whizzing round on bikes etc.
Final straw came for me when I noticed my horse would retreat to the back of his stable when anyone approached, at speed. Now he is better living out and is doing so now, but, if he saw me coming with his, or indeed, anyone with anyone elses feedbucket, he would tap the metal runner at the bottom of his door with his shoe, annoying I know. One day, I am approaching, vile little child who was way too cheeky for his own good is stood in the aisle, he picks up a broom, turns it upside down, runs at my horse and starts trying to hit him on the head, as my horse had retreated, he then continued to beat the bars of his monarch stable. I told him off and he said, 'well thats what my mum does when he does that!'
Cue, me finding private yard, rented with friend for several months before my move up here, we had fun,, we shared chores, ours horses were treated with respect and most interestingly, Odinn stopped banging the door and would stand happily, surveying his yard when stabled!
