Berkshire Agri College - thoughts on working livery

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melv1lle

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Hi - I have an ex racer who I keep in stables 40 minutes away from me (I live in London). Due to my job being very hectic but finances not being infinite (what is new!) I am beginning to worry more and more about the fact that having him on part livery means he is not ridden enough. I can generally ride him about 3 to 4 days a week but people at the yard are forever telling me that he is as firery as he is because I don't ride him enough. In a perfect world I would be there all the time (instead I just feel guilty all the time
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) so my instructor suggested the idea of putting him in working livery at Berkshire Agricultural College.

So I wanted to check with people a) if they knew much about the place? I am going to go and have a look this weekend but just interesed if people know anything about it. And b) what people think about working livery? I was always against the idea as he is a tricky bugger and I didn't want someone yanking him around or making his general desire to panic worse. But with all the BAC students being good riders this should not be a problem do you think
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I compete there a lot! It is a lovely place to compete at, and I do know people who have been very happy with working livery arrangements. But I still wouldn't do it myself. You don't have much say in how your horse is managed, as far as I know, and (not BCA's fault at all!) not ALL of their students are that great on a horse! Would a sharer not be an option for you?
 
I was a student there many years ago. Decided against my horse coming with me, and pretty pleased I did tbh.
The horses would be well looked after, although turnout was limited.
Personally it wouldnt be my idea of a great placement for my beloved beast.
 
It is about 5 minutes from where i live. Would be wary of putting a horse there, as not all the riders are good riders, i know a couple of them and they don't have the most patience or skill in the world.
Having attended a well known equestrian boarding school, i would not want mine on working livery
 
I have absolutely no knowledge about the college you mention, however I live virtually across the road to another agricultural college and my first horse spent some time there before I bought her.

I doubt they would want your horse - unfortunately not all the students are that capable and they appear to be a bit reluctant to take anything with a bit of fire. My horse was expelled after three weeks.

The other thing is that your horse has to have the temperament to cope with it all. They usually lack turn out and end up having several different students with differing abilities riding them and it really upsets some horses.

Why dont you look for a horse sharer instead if it doesnt work out.
 
I took my mare to college with me. She very quickly put the students who couldnt ride her on the floor, panicing that i would be asked to leave the yard the yard manager only allowed her to be used in ridden lessons with experienced riders.
You dont have any say over who or what level of rider can ride your horse. But they also get used in stable management lessons (like how to bandages etc etc) so its a good education for both students and your horse!
 
Have been their competing several times and the facilities are fantastic but the place does not have the best reputation in terms of the equine courses there. Plus, you don't get any say as to who goes on your horse and none of them are going to treat him as well as you would. I would be reluctant personally, particularly with him being a TB, they are not the most hardy and laid-back of horses!! (have an ex-racer myself and he wouldn't cope with that kind of environment)
 
I used to go to another equine college and to be honest NO i would never recomend this! the horses are often over worked by average riders who change horses every day so never get chance to build up a bond with each horse. Also none of the horses got turn out during term time where i was. Id say over 50% of the horses developed some behavior problems while i was there, one was so bad he had to be muzzled before he came out of his stable. Im sure this was because they had so many different people looking after them. Maybe get a sharer instead?
 
Do you not think he would cope with the environment? I was thinking the opposite that seeing as he had spent most of his life on a busy racing yard he would be very used to being handled by different people. Its so tricky trying to work out what will be best
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If your boy is an ex racer, I would not put him at BCA. I know the place well and friend used to keep her jumping mare there.

Its great if your horse is a schoolmaster (bear in mind its a "college") as they are teaching new students, some can ride, some cant, never have.

They have great facilities and their heart is in the right place, however, this particular mare my friend kept there was fab jumper when it went there and got soured as they used it for most of the jumping lessons!

On the plus side it ended up being fab on the roads, which it wasnt before so it does depend on the horse.

I could not imagine our ex racer up there, put it that way!!!

He may be used to a busy yard and the routine would be good, but he would not always be handled by necessarily fully experienced people, remember once again, its a college for training people, whilst they do have great experts there, they are few and essentially he would be a guinea pig!!

I am not dissing BCA it has its plus points but I wouldnt even send my old schoolmaster there....
 
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