BHS Approved Yard - What does it mean?

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evsj

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Can anyone explain what the BHS livery yard approval scheme sets out to acheive? Are there set standards that they have to meet etc? How difficult is it to obtain approval?

I am just wondering because this is the first BHS approved yard I have had my horse at and it does not impress me a great deal.
 
in all honesty ive been to some BHS approved yards that dont appeal to me either!

have a look on the BHS website, there might be some info on there as to what they look for when approving yards. id be interested to know too actually.........
 
If my experience is anything to go by, BHS approval seems to have more to do with Health & Safety than the standard of care of the horses. Don't know the criteria that has to be met thou.
 
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If my experience is anything to go by, BHS approval seems to have more to do with Health & Safety than the standard of care of the horses. Don't know the criteria that has to be met thou.

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Blimey! Stevie Wonder must have done the inspection at this yard then!!

Please keep responses coming in - the BHS site seems really vague on the subject, maybe a YO could explain the system? I know of plenty of YOs who wanted to apply but couldn't meet the expense or could move farm equipment out of the yard - even tho my current yard seems to have got away with this!!
 
I think the inspection is only as good as the day it is done, a bit like MOT's! If the YO applies tot he BHS they cn get a pack explaining exactly what the required standards are..or maybe a local BHS welfare or training rep might be able to tell them
 
Im not sure on the actual criteria to be honest. I read here before that they get reinspected every year but I was on a BHS livery yard for a while in my late teens and I cant remember them ever being reinspected (and certainly never spot inspected). That particular yard was terrible. The standard of care was very questionable and the staff just werent interested at all.

Ironically, the nicer yards ive been on have all been the ones without BHS approval
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But I could just have been unlucky
 
I can't remember off the top of my head but i've got an application pack at home and they consider facilities a fair amount. I'm pretty sure it's things like size of arena, size of looseboxes, whether there is an isolation box, foaling box, acerage per horse, amount of turnout, whether there is a toilet facility. Has it got a xc course, fencing etc. I'll look out for the pack and come back to you next week if i can. You can request a livery yard application pack from your nearest Development Officer or give them a ring, some of the DO's a really nice or ring headquarters and ask to speak to approvals.
 
It does make you wonder though, how on earth do some places justify what they cost- hopefully though there should be a change in the law next year where livery yards will be licenced although i'm sure people will be able to get round that if or when it happens.
 
Thanks Lau. I can see where my yard may have scored some points. Turnout is good (but there is no worming programme and many of the fences are broken or just post and electric tape) and the outdoor school is a good size (but is only floodlit at one end), oh and there is a toilet (but you have to walk through a rest area to get to and there is no lighting). And there is a XC course, homemade but quite solidly built so I guess it has a few good things going for it but I could do a list as long as my arm about the negatives. But all these things were available - and better - at my last place which wasn't BHS approved.

V. interested to hear what pack says. I am beginning to think that the scheme doesn't have much meaning.
 
I'm afraid that it probably doesnt
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there are annual spot check inspections but perhaps there is a heads up for the owners. The original inspection is probably easyish to prepare for and I think as long as you have a reasonable display of health and safety awareness then you can do ok.
 
im not sure if it says anything about turnout.
we havent got any at the yard im at!unless you count 10mins in the school.(just hasnt got the land-and its really wet up here too)
i think its more health and safety?
 
I work at a BHS approved livery yard and we are subject to annual inspections including unnannounced inspections. These do cover the standard of care of the horses, not just health & safety. We passed with flying colours (as we are very good, IMHO) so I imagine it would be possible to scrape through even if the yard is far from perfect.

If it's anything like the riding schools approval, I guess you can always pass by hiding the dodgy things from the inspectors - I know some riding schools that are well-honed at this.

So in short, a BHS Approval is an indication that a yard is more likely to be good than not, but clients shouldn't rely solely on it, use common sense as well.
 
Thanks for your responses. whatever BHS approved means, it doesn't mean much to me as a livery client and I don't see any benefit. A fellow livery this weekend remarked that it was the worst yard she'd been at and was looking to move so I am reassured that it is not just me being silly.

When I looked at the place in the summer it seemed to be everything I needed but factors like flooding (stables, yard and school), lack of bedding storage, lack of lighting, dogs and kids everywhere etc were not apparant or brought to my attention. Suffice to say, my mind is made up on moving but I can't help thinking that the BHS approval scheme is a bit misleading and has little to offer the average horse owner.
 
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