Ahh livery

[FlyingCircus]

How do you guys find suitable yards?

I seem to be on a merry-go-round of yards that are either ridiculously expensive (250 a month for DIY stable and grazing only, per horse) and/or have terrible land that is mostly under water in the winter.

Literally getting to the point that if I can find a nice yard reasonably close to work (within 45 mins or so) I'll move house to be closer to yard if needed!

 

[sarahann1]

Word of mouth is how I found the yard I’m on now.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Don't even get me started. I am on the perfect yard at the moment (which I got through word of mouth) but we are likely moving next Summer with OH's next posting. I've been to see 4 yards at a potential moving location and there was a huge compromise I'd have to make at every single one

Also is herd turnout just not a thing outside of Surrey?! I like my mare to have lots of space and every yard was a 1/2 acre individual paddock.

I'd ask your farrier, instructor, local feed store etc. Or a facebook post on local horse groups. When I was last looking I almost went with a lady who just wanted company on her sole use tiny yard.

 

[Green Bean]

This seems to be a common thread here and other FB groups. Stable, turnout and facilities seem to be so variable and individual turnout seems to be the new normal

 

[milliepops]

it's so so hard. Word of mouth is definitely a good plan, ask ANYONE and everyone. I've just got off my latest nightmare merry-go-round with a big helping hand from my trainer. before that I had been leafleting random yards i'd spotted on google earth and also had a slight hope at a yard that doesn't advertise but had amazing facilities, friend's instructor was there and showed us round. was very £££ though and turns out to have a slightly neurotic YO so perhaps I had a lucky escape there.

I think people just never leave the good yards.

 

[jnb]

Avoid yards like the plague, and search for land to rent, stable to rent, grazing
That's how I found my own sole use yard, cheaper than livery and my own space (4.5 acres, 3 stables, huge shelter electric & water, hay barn, 3 storage sheds.)
I thought I couldn't do DIY, I thought I needed a YM, I was wrong! It is BLISS
PS I work full time and am on call 2 weeks out of 4. I just get up earlier and go later at night if I have to. My horse is out 24/7 and doesn't care what time it is, no going bonkers as he's been left out/not put out because he's already out! Natural and so much better.

 

[MrsMozartleto]

When I was on livery yards (many), I found it was pot luck and a need to be flexible and accept trade-offs as nowhere was my version of perfect. Ironically the last yard was, I think, the best, but we sold our house and moved far away. Bought a field so now no school etc etc etc but we're happy.

 

[MarvelVillis]

I'm part of a Facebook group which is for land/livery/grazing in my local area. I put a post on there for what I wanted and I had a private message off someone. The yard was perfect and I wouldn't have known about it if I hadn't of put a message up, as the yard owner doesn't publicly advertise.

 

[SEL]

Google earth is great for spotting hidden arenas and trying to find out who they belong to.

I also asked on a few FB pages, but it was friend of a friend of a friend who knew there were spaces where I am currently - she doesn't advertise and likes word of mouth because its small and her home.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

I think people just never leave the good yards.

This. Our yard is full and I'm in the minority in that I have been there less than 5 years. Everyone else has been there for yonks and aren't leaving any time soon.

 

[SEL]

I think people just never leave the good yards.

Exactly.

I had a short term lease of some fields on a yard which was going for housing. It had had 45 livery spaces on it and most of the horses were leaving in their teens having been there since they were youngsters. I wouldn't have managed to get a field if it wasn't for people having to leave and I secretly kept hoping the whole housing planning thing would go away so I could stay!

 

[cowgirl16]

Avoid yards like the plague, and search for land to rent, stable to rent, grazing
That's how I found my own sole use yard, cheaper than livery and my own space (4.5 acres, 3 stables, huge shelter electric & water, hay barn, 3 storage sheds.)
I thought I couldn't do DIY, I thought I needed a YM, I was wrong! It is BLISS
PS I work full time and am on call 2 weeks out of 4. I just get up earlier and go later at night if I have to. My horse is out 24/7 and doesn't care what time it is, no going bonkers as he's been left out/not put out because he's already out! Natural and so much better.

If you only knew how jealous I am!!!!!l

 

[Bernster]

Hens teeth. And once you’ve been in one generally you don’t go back as you know the downsides, so it makes your choice that much more limited. Very few that I’d consider now and I have to have a very wide search area. Agree it’s a compromise though.

 

[Buster2020]

Most of the good yards are full . The problem I found is yards that have good care has bad riding arena and no hacking.

 

[FestiveG]

I find this quite a sad post tbh. A good yard should cost, a lot of the problems with less good yards is that people will not pay the appropriate amount!

 

[milliepops]

i think we've been round this loop before - clients will pay what the YO charges so you can't exactly turn up and say, if I pay you double will you improve the arena or sort out the fences - it needs to come the other way round.
I've just left a yard that is way more expensive than others in the area, it wasn't all it promised to be, sadly. i'm happy to pay the proper going rate (and I believe it was the fair rate there because YO lived on the proceeds with no other employment and had funds for maintenance etc) but only if it's going to meet our needs.

 

[dorsetladette]

They don't often advertise. And the good ones usually have waiting lists.

When I advertised for grass livery I had very few replies, but once I had decided on accepting someone I ended up with loads of replies. Most of which would be more suitable than the current pony. Like buses I suppose.

 

[FestiveG]

The op is unhappy at the charges levied and also complaining about the standard of the land. Livery users will have to pay more as land becomes less available

 

[DirectorFury]

I think people just never leave the good yards.

Spot on! On my current yard anyone who’s left has come back within 8 months max. It’s a running joke with the YO that she doesn’t advertise and just waits for people to come back!

 

[jnb]

I find this quite a sad post tbh. A good yard should cost, a lot of the problems with less good yards is that people will not pay the appropriate amount!

I'd LOVE to agree...but I've been on yards with amazing facilities (and paid the appropriate price) - to find the YM allows bullying
- the horses are only allowed 4 hours turnout a day
- The manege is hogged by the same liveries at peak times and no one regulates
- Mucking out is appalling (and no DIY option)

I guess I pay the equivalent of £65 a month DIY per stable (x 3), I only have one horse, I'd pay 10 x that not to be bullied, harassed, walked into, my horse and rugs left in the rain (barn doors deliberately left open, my rugs and horse right next to it in driving rain, rule was to keep them closed in said weather but as it was "only jnb" they leave the doors open...), bitchy comments, unwanted "advice"
The down side is I have no access to a school. But I have the most amazing hacking. I have no one to hack with - but my just-backed cob had to rely on (nervous Nellie) me and we have the most amazing trust as a result.
Try Preloved....that's where I found my gem.

 

[dorsetladette]

There is a fair few advertised on NFED at the moment. A sole use place too. (that appeals to me it might not you)

 

[FlyingCircus]

I'd like to point out that I have no issues paying a fair price, if I'm also getting value for money. The issue I have is paying what feels excessive for land that is very poor (meaning I have to hay year round ££) and facilities I have to then pay individually for ontop of my basic livery cost.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I find this quite a sad post tbh. A good yard should cost, a lot of the problems with less good yards is that people will not pay the appropriate amount!

You always turn up on these threads and say exactly the same thing from a position of not having to endure bad yards given the fact that you and your sister share the cost of having a place with your own land. Well good for you.

I got on my yard through knowing someone who knew someone. I’ve been there 10 years. They never advertise and everyone on there is connected in some way prior to moving. Only spaces come up when horses die or people move away. The liveries actively look for the right person amongst friends if a space looks like it is coming up to avoid getting the wrong type of person on the yard. It works well on the whole.

 

[FestiveG]

You always turn up on these threads and say exactly the same thing from a position of not having to endure bad yards given the fact that you and your sister share the cost of having a place with your own land. Well good for you.

I got on my yard through knowing someone who knew someone. I’ve been there 10 years. They never advertise and everyone on there is connected in some way prior to moving. Only spaces come up when horses die or people move away. The liveries actively look for the right person amongst friends if a space looks like it is coming up to avoid getting the wrong type of person on the yard. It works well on the whole.

I'm sorry you feel that you should be in a position to comment on which threads I respond to. I do feel strongly that a number of horse owners do not recognise that for livery yards to continue to exist, that they have to compete financially with other demands on land. That will be reflected in the amount charged and I'm afraid a lot of horse owners are going to have to accept that in the future

 

[milliepops]

but what are liveries to do, turn up with a fistful of cash and say, i know you charge £40 a week but here's £80? there are lots of us saying we are prepared to pay for a reasonable yard. i'm not sure what we're supposed to do about it if YOs keep charging rates that are too low. it's not even like you can vote with your feet, like choosing to buy locally made sustainable widgets over ones made in a sweatshop in india. there's often very little choice for a livery client.

 

[FestiveG]

but what are liveries to do, turn up with a fistful of cash and say, i know you charge £40 a week but here's £80? there are lots of us saying we are prepared to pay for a reasonable yard. i'm not sure what we're supposed to do about it if YOs keep charging rates that are too low. it's not even like you can vote with your feet, like choosing to buy locally made sustainable widgets over ones made in a sweatshop in india. there's often very little choice for a livery client.

The op was saying that she didn't feel that the price asked was insufficient, rather the opposite!

 

[FlyingCircus]

The op was saying that she didn't feel that the price asked was insufficient, rather the opposite!

Actually, I said yards that are ridiculously expensive, meaning ridoculously expensive for what they are offering. I'd have no qualms with a yard charging 250 a month for DIY if the other facilities weren't paid for in addition, the land was decent. The fact I may still not choose to keep my horses there due to cost is then a me problem, but at the minute I'm finding no suitable yards nearby that offer what I think are basics for ridden horses (safe, decent turnout, reasonable sized stable, decent school), regardless of the price.

 

[TPO]

The area I lived in before was dire for livery and I'm only ok in my new area because my olds bought a place with land and stables.

I would have happily paid through the nose for anything resembling a half decent yard and in fact have paid over the odds for awful yards! I've been on the verge of giving up horses because I was struggling with the guilt of knowingly keeping them in a not good place despite my best efforts. Also it's supposed to be fun/a hobby and it's not fun when you have to go to a place full of horrible, cruel & neglectful (towards their horses) people.

I sympathise because I know how awful it is to be desperate for a good or even just safe yard with something resembling decent welfare standards. There are good yards but as above they are full for a reason.

Your best bet is to put out wanted ads online and in local feed/farm shops. Chap doors of yards and farms. My favourite place, prior to the old's place, was an old derelict farm where I had a 10 acre field and 6 stables in a barn. It wasn't flash and initially there were a few others there but as they all moved on (& I flitted back and forward) so I ended up with sole use of the place.

I honestly feel your pain but I don't know what the answer is. I think you need to get the word out, not always easy when you don't want put off current yard! Tell as many people and try to network (again, not easy during Covid) because the best places do tend to come up word of mouth. When I've been at clinics or shows I've straight out asked people where they livery. Posting on here in the regional boards might help too.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

How do you guys find suitable yards?

I seem to be on a merry-go-round of yards that are either ridiculously expensive (250 a month for DIY stable and grazing only, per horse) and/or have terrible land that is mostly under water in the winter.

Well if those are the alternatives and you want winter turnout, it would seem that in your area, you need to pay £250 per month per horse for the facilities that you want. You pay your money; you take your choice!

 

[jnb]

***NOT AIMED AT ANYONE IN PARTICULAR***
Or you could pay £10-20k per acre and buy some land (if you can find some) - £25 per week per acre (one horse) x 52 = £1300 a year, it would only take 7-14 years to pay for itself (unless you need a school, stable, water, electricity, hardstanding, fencing, water troughs etc)

I have no idea how yards keep going to be honest. I see both sides, I have struggled to pay DIY livery and paid full livery, and known people who have bought yards and been unable to make them pay.
I don;t know how I have been so lucky to have my yard, and the one opposite that my Mum rents and shares, still cheaper than DIY livery but no electric. We make it work for us and I thank my lucky stars every day.