BHS Approved Livery Yards

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Rochelle

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I have been thinking about getting BHS approval for my livery yard for a while now. Do you think it makes much difference to potential customers or not? Recently alot of new yards have opened up in our local area and i want something to make us different from the rest! I would love to hear your views good and bad! Thanks in advance!
 
I'm afraid I wouldn't hold a BHS livery yard in any higher esteem than a non BHS one I'm afraid.
For them to get BHS approval you can be at least certain of a few basic requirements however what goes on behind closed doors and the quality of service you are offered as a client doesn't come into the BHS approval scheme.
I have to say the worst yard I have been on was the only one that was BHS approved.
A good reputation is what counts, not a certificate. I suppose it's a bit like the BHS exams in many ways
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Think it looks good on paper being BHS Approved - in reality though not sure it makes a difference, its more the local reputation that matters. My yard is BHS Approved and if it helps I looked there fiirst because it was listed under BHS - and liked it.
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So basically it got me through the door in the first place.................
 
I'd be inclined to look for BHS approved yards first, too, as it is a recommendation of a certain professionalism. It says that the yard are trying hard, too, which is important.
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I suppose it can't do any harm and may attract people to your yard who aren't familiar with the area. But personally it's the reputation that would attract me and BHS accreditation is of no interest what so ever. I would never join a yard without a personal recommendation from someone who liveries there. The worst yard in our area is BHS approved and I know people have complained to the BHS about it!
 
BHS Approval makes no difference to me....I go on personal recommendation & then visiting & making my own mind up. I suppose the plaque looks good on the wall & on headed note paper but not sure if it is of as much value as it should be?
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The worst yard in our area is BHS approved and I know people have complained to the BHS about it!

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At least with a BHS yard there is someone you can complain to if things aren't how they should be on the yard. I always look at the BHS website first for their accredited trainers and yards and riding establishments.
 
The BHS approval should mean that people can expect - before they come to view - that the yard is insured, has at least one professional person around, has safe fencing, safe jumps, safe stables, tidy feedroom, secure tackroom and a livery contract. i.e. before you go yard browsing as a customer you know at least some of the boxes have been ticked.

You also should know that every yard is inspected without notice once per year. If a complaint is made by a client then the yard is visited to investigate.

So BHS approval means that you as a client have somewhere other than the YO to complain to - which can be important in areas where there are few livery yards and so moving your horse, e.g. if you didn't drive, wouldn't be an option.

I think the other thing about BHS approval is that whilst the horses themselves aren't inspected as per a riding school license, the BHS inspector does look at them to see if they are in good condition and appear well fed.

How many times do you see postings on here about horses not being fed, yards not having feed, etc

I also accept that there are very good yards that aren't in the approvals scheme - but the BHS approvals scheme will mean that a yard doesn't have to go thru defra approval system when that is introduced in a couple of years (was supposed to be this year) as part of livery yard licensing under the Animal Welfare act 2006
 
My last yard was BHS approved....foot deep mud all Winter, horses left in til all hours, dangerous gateways, need I go on?
 
aaah - but did you complain to the BHS Approvals section about this ?

If you didn't complain to them and the YO then how can you expect things to get any better
 
From the outside my old BHS yard looked okay (it had contract, secure stabling/tackroom, safe fencing etc)

In the 15 months I was there they did not have an inspection

During the time I was there the following things occured (some frequently, others less so):
additional horses were housed in unsafe makeshift barns errected after the approval was given
changes to the contracts (20% increase in livery fees) were made with 1 weeks notice
No gate to the school meaning you were left with an unsecure area to school (a loose horse could have potentially got onto the road)
Horses were on many an occassion handled very roughly by the YM, some became headshy
On more than one occassion YM deliberately 'forgot' to do horses on assisted DIY and they were left in all day with no hay/water
YM & YO offered a horse transport service without the required operators license

And yes, upon leaving I did inform the BHS, and 12 months down the line the yard still hasn't had a BHS inspection (this is over 2 years since gaining approval)

However thankfully people have spoken with their feet and the yard is now running at about 60% capacity
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a BHS approved yard may possibly appeal to newcomers, people who've not owned a horse before etc., although doubt it would make much difference to more experienced horse owners. So, who would you rather attract!
 
we have a yard like that near us - it's down to the bhs inspector - but he got that place de-listed - took 3 years but it got delisted

I'd have kept complaining to the BHS and mentioned that no improvement had taken place as even if you've left as stated above - the BHS 'stamp' gets people in the door and so if you know things are wrong and you don't still complain then other people who don't know (maybe moving into the area) will go there for livery

however - i'd still rather have the BHS than defra !!!!
 
disagree - the new horse owner will probably vote with wallet and pick cheapest yard -that's what they do round here as having bought horse and then tack and then rugs..............money is short

and tbh if all people are after is the cheapest price rather than the standard of care then I wouldn't want them around anyway - having an animal of any sort implies a duty of care and that means that money is required to make sure there is feed, fodder, bedding, vets care, etc

there are owners who will spend a fortune on the latest designer rug and not feed their horses

that stinks
 
Thanks airedale, I agree with what you have said. I run a professional yard and I can honestly say I run it to the best of my capabilities. Ive done this job for around 6 years and never had a day off due to ill health. My yard is immaculate and every horse looks very well. They are all fed very good quality haylage, hard feed and are grazed on good quality grazing. All our fields are poo-picked daily. The fencing is all post and rail and all the horses are on a strict worming programme. It would be nice to get a little back, ie from a BHS inspector who tells me I am doing a good job because far too many liveries find time to complain and not to offer praise.
I think in this day and age it is a good idea to have some kind of recognition for the quality of a yard. I understand many yards that hold BHS approval may not be upto scratch but I can truly say that mine will be!
 
I've considered approval a few times but never taken it any further - i think the scheme has a number of flaws and our reputation locally is what gains us liveries. there was a yard a few miles away from us who advertised in our region that they were BHS approved - they werent! but nothing stopped them advertising that they were - i told the BHS about it and they didnt appear to do anything but they may have done something that no-one excapt the YO knew about! liveries there soon realise its not to the standard and the facilities are not ideal for horses. i think yes in principle i agree with schemes and the licensing BUT... it needs to be on a fair basis for all yards.
i really think reputation speaks for a lot - we also find we get a lot of enquires from having a website - which also enhances our image.
i guess at the end of the day - any scheme is going to have flaws and differ between regions etc but i can understand that the plaque does look good - but i always got the impression - that you basically buy the plaque and thats it.
if you think it will do your yard some good - i would say go for it as i would say that the BHS approved yard will be preferred over the DEFRA yard when that comes in.
i'm now going to go find the pack they sent me re approval and re-read it!
 
oh you don't buy the plaque

you have to have security and livery contracts and be prepared for an inspection without notice every year
you have to accept that there may be complaints (I got one that I had chickens !!!!! from a livery viewer when the BHS inspector knew I had birds and also that my website clearly states that I'm a farm and there is a poultry section on teh website PLUS I always warn people who come to view that I have poultry as some people are scared of birds).

my inspector even noticed from one year to the next that I had topped up the arena when I didn't point it out as we were actually looking at some new rented land I'd acquired. - He spotted it

so I suppose a lot is down to the inspector and mine covers a LOT of ground (woudln't want his job - too many miles sitting in traffic).
 
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aaah - but did you complain to the BHS Approvals section about this ?

If you didn't complain to them and the YO then how can you expect things to get any better

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No - I took it up with the YO, nothing happened - so I voted with my feet, and left!

"The customer is always right!"
 
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Thanks airedale, I agree with what you have said. I run a professional yard and I can honestly say I run it to the best of my capabilities. Ive done this job for around 6 years and never had a day off due to ill health. My yard is immaculate and every horse looks very well. They are all fed very good quality haylage, hard feed and are grazed on good quality grazing. All our fields are poo-picked daily. The fencing is all post and rail and all the horses are on a strict worming programme. It would be nice to get a little back, ie from a BHS inspector who tells me I am doing a good job because far too many liveries find time to complain and not to offer praise.
I think in this day and age it is a good idea to have some kind of recognition for the quality of a yard. I understand many yards that hold BHS approval may not be upto scratch but I can truly say that mine will be!

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One question: Where are you! It sounds like my idea of heaven!!!
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when i say you seem to buy the plaque - what i am saying is that from the approved yards i have seen - and having read the criteria - they have paid the approval fees, been inspected - told they need to meet set criteria but still ended up with the plaque without changing anything!
hence from what i have heard - it appears that if you apply to get approved - pay the money - you will get the approval....
its just from what i have seen and heard but as i said before - i imagine it varies a lot from area to area. i know of the inspector for my area and his other equestrian related role he undertakes and know that is errr - isnt well liked - ie a number of complaints re how hes doing his job yet despite him being investigated he still remains in that position.... but thats going in a different direction and no matter who the inspector, they are all left to use their own judgement along with the guidelines.

i'd be interested to know, out of the yards that apply for approval - how many get approval and how many get rejected??

it sounds like your inspector Airedale is really on top of the scheme which is very refreshing to hear as up until this point, i hadnt really heard of many positives for approval (in respect of how the schemes run - i approve of the idea of the scheme)
 
from what ive seen of BHS approved livery yards they wouldnt be the first id look at if I was wanting a new yard.
The one I know of is appaling. - [****] tip comes to mind. Its untidy, dangerous and they dont ragwort etc. There is machinery near the horses, the fencing doesnt look as though is has been touched for a good long while, the gates are tied shut with leadropes.
Since the yard got its approval the yard has gone down hill - dont think the BHS has approved it this year.
I expected the approved yards to be kind of policed to ensure they were still meeting the requirements - say quarterly/half yearly checks? obviously not in this yards case
 
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