A bit Fed up please dont shout at me

[Flibble]

OK where to start and dont faint.

I have been a livery at an Establishment for 25 years. I have always had Part Livery because I have always had the day job in the way. Dont have the day job anymore work from home.

Over the years the Yard has grown bigger and bigger and is now an busy Competition Centre.
We only get Summer turnout in the Winter they are rolled when school is free. Not perfect for everyone but suited me. No Nursing,No time off for vet farrier good facilities including riding indoors when it rains use of SJ and XC course.

The busyish main road is now Dual Carriageway very busy and vehicles go at 70 mph and more.

Grazing is now only really turnout space and we cant have turnout when its too wet.

Bought my new boy and brought him here as it feels like home and plenty of facilities to work with new horse plus lots of experienced staff.

But its not really working we got no turnout today but Lorries were parked in the Bloomin fields we couldnt turnout in and another livery who is a staff member got her horse turned out.

Asked for him to be rolled in school as I fell off last night and got my head bitten off when I enquired if it had happened.

So.... I am not really prepared to stay here for the 6-9months I had planned butI know where I intend to move him.

My pathetic worry and the bit where you will shout is that I am institutionalised and will I be happy to get up at the crack of dawn every day to see to horsey at new yard.

I know you all do it day in day out but I never have. Will I cope. I am a big wuss who has got out of the habit of Riding in the rain - I know I know!!

So whats the advice on going from Part Livery to DIY ?

 

[ihatework]

Find a yard that does assisted DIY, then they can either turn out or bring in one side of the day every now and again for you.

 

[Maisy]

You will probably find it to be a bit of a novelty to start with tbh.....and find that you become 'closer' (is that the best word??) to your horse from the additional contact.

Then by the time reality kicks in and you realise you have to do it every day, it will have become habit.........

Dont panic!!....Oh....the only thing i will say is you will never go to work clean again!!!

 

[ladyt25]

Do not have any experience of livery as have our own stables BUT I think you just get used to it to be honest. I loathe getting up on a morning to muck out in the winter before work but when I'm actually up and out there I don't mind really. Ours are chucked out 24/7 over the summer months though so don't have to be up at the crack of dawn then. I too do not relish riding in all weathers but I don't beat myself up about it - my horse doesn't like the rain either! We have no facilities to school on in the winter and I have to make do with hacking out on weekends and hiring schools when we can.

I think you probably get more out of it when you do stuff yourself to be honest. i am not sure I could actually cope on a proper livery yard as I like to do what I want, when I want with my horse!

 

[Chumsmum]

[ QUOTE ]
Then by the time reality kicks in and you realise you have to do it every day, it will have become habit.........


[/ QUOTE ]

Very true.

Slightly different senario, I changed from assisted DIY to renting a field, it's harder work but loving every minute

 

[Sit_Up]

I can understand your concerns, it takes a little while to adjust to change of any sort.

Try to find a yard where you know someone, or at least where people are friendly and not too hung up on thier own personal space. The yard where my sister keeps her horse is great and people take tunrs to have a morning or evening off, and bring in/ turn out for each other quite regularly. They dont have great facilities but the yard dynamics makes up for a lot!!

The other yard that I ride at people have buddy systems. The owner of the horse that I ride phoned me up for a chat and said that the woman who shares her stable block noticed she was running late so text her to see if she was OK. When she found out she was coming up but running late, got her horsein and groomed and takced up then took her out hacking as she has not been able to make it out for a while.

There are nice & helpful people out there. remember we are all in the same boat and at the end of the day everyone just wants what is good for the horses.

 

[Eaglestone]

I don't think everyone on here does it day in and day out ... there is such a mixture of horsey peeps on here, which is really interesting to hear about

I would not have it any other way than to do it all myself, and all the time I am able and can fit it around my flexible job and is 3 miles up the road I will continue

... only downside is that I do not have any schooling facilities, unless I hire them, at extra cost

.....

PS ... I am not at a yard, but on a Farm where I rent a field and stables

 

[LOZHUG]

I have to get up at 5am in the winter to go and muck my boy out before going to work. At first i thought there is no way i could do it but you can.

As others have said it will become your norm and try and find a friendly yard where people can give you a hand.

My yard and other owners are great as I work 20 miles from home it takes about an hour to drive and I work shifts so I never make it home in time for bringing the horses in during the winter they bring him in change his rug and feed him for me.

Plus if its better for your horses then you need to get used to it.

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

Ive moved from part livery (5 years) to DIY at the same yard for 1 year and then moved to our own place hundreds of miles away. I find I ride less often as I dont have a school here but enjoy it a lot more and absolutely love doing the horses myself, even mucking out (well the poo picking is grim as the fields are sloping but apart from that one!).

I would recommend finding a DIY yard which have services available at an extra cost. Or just another part livery yard but maybe a small one with good hacking, they do exist! That way theres no pressure and it sounds like your existing yard doesnt match your needs anymore and has lost its focus a bit for some of its clients.

 

[Louby]

I have only ever been DIY and yes it can be hard but once you get settled and make new friends you may find someone you trust that will share mornings or evenings with you. My horse is turned out the mornings I work by a friend and I help bring her lot in. At my last yard 3 of us did a sort of rota to turnout so I only had to get up at the crack of dawn say twice a week. I would seriously consider it.

 

[SpottedCat]

There are other part livery yards in Gloucestershire....I'm at a really good one.....with heaps of facilities....and lots of turnout....

 

[Flame_]

I'd be fed up too. Get out yard hunting, its more fun than horse hunting! The best ones are usually a well kept secret IMO, but then being on a big "competition" yard would be my worst nightmare.

 

[scotsmare]

On the upside, you don't have a job to contend with so going to DIY wouldn't be a total disaster.

As others have said, if you can have them turn him out in the morning or bring him in at night then that would ease the pressure on you time wise. (I used to prefer mornings cos it meant I didn't have to get out of bed too early

)

You'll be fine - just take your time to find the right yard.

 

[Flibble]

I sort of do have a job I am self-employed I paint and Garden and I have a few personal issues that could cause me some stress.

 

[Hullabaloo]

I switched my horse from a big, busy riding school yard to a very quiet DIY yard and went from part livery to DIY. I thought the first winter would kill me, but it soon becomes part of your routine and I wouldn't have it any other way now. I actually enjoy spending time in the yard in the morning before I go to work - I get a bit of fresh air and exercise as well as time with my horse and it sets me up for the day (although I might not put it quite like that when I've got to get up on a wet January morning!).

My bit of advice is to find someone at the yard you could pair up with to help each other out. My friend and I take turns to check the horses before work in summer and to bring them in at night in winter, so we both get a bit of a break.

 

[BackInBlack]

i paired up with someone when my horse was on diy yard - found it much easier. what about employing somebody to do mornings for you if you really don't get on with it? i'd have a good look around for a better yard 1st tho - save keep moving your hoss!

 

[nomini]

QR
My horse was on working livery at a local college. Although everything was done for me I actually missed mucking out and doing it all myself

I much prefer having mine on DIY and doing eveything. On my yard there are always people who are willing to help you out. In the summer I quite often bring my friends pony in in the mornings and she helps me out when i am away etc.