Checking out Livery Yards - Advice Please

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stanley1234

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What should I be looking out for when checking out livery yards, outside of the obvious (facilities, costs, hidden costs!, stables, feeding, turnout etc). What are the not so obvious things that I should be asking about?
Thinking about a part livery option - but as this will be my first livery experience, I'd appreciate any advice.
 
Ask what the other liveries do. I moved to a yard once where I was the only livery... and discovered too late that the owners didn't ride at all, and thought I was cruel to ride and lunge as much as I did - about 3 time a week!

If you are a happy hacker, and they are all jumping 4ft and prix st george dressage, you may not enjoy it so much. Do they hack out, and what's the hacking like - that can make or break a yard. Do liveries help each other, if so, you may be able to stay on DIY and share duties (if money is a bit scarce).

If there's a school, check if you can lunge or loose school.
 
I would try and speak to a few of the existing liveries if you can do this without seeing to be "checking out" the yard, just to see if they seem friendly. For me having nice fellow liveries is important. My current yard has lots of lovely liveries and there's always someone to hack out with.
 
Ask about the turnout policy - I have been on livery yards which tell you they have 24hr turn out in summer and turnout for 12 hours a day in winter - but then when you move in you discover that on wet days you are not allowed to turn out. One yard I know of brought the horses in in October when it got wet - and finally allowed turnout in April - 6months of 24/7 stabling - what an absolute nightmare - and they would not allow turnout in the arena.

Also check what the policy is on the school - does the YO teach and use the school, is the school booked up at key hours - between 5 and 8 in an evening and at weekends.
 
Talk to the other liveries if you can. And talk to the YM/YO - see if he/she seems friendly/knowledgable/hands on etc. It's no crime to ask to see round, observe feeding time etc. You'll soon pick up the vibes which will hopefully be good. If someone doesn't want you to see round, wonder why! My YO is very proud of her yard, I know, and there are no 'secrets' or bits she'd rather outsiders didn't see.
 
I agree about asking about the turnout policy. Also are any of the fields bordered with barbed wire and are there time restrictions for you being on the yard.
 
Loads of good suggestions, so mine will be something different from the more practical suggestions given - if you have to make an appointment to go to view the stables make sure you turn up about an hour early!! If they say you can just call in whenever you are passing, then these are often the ones who have nothing to hide.
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Ask to see the livery contract which should tell you all you need to know. Ask about Bank Hols and Christmas costs. Ask to see her yard insurance policy too. If she has nothing to hide then this shouldnt be a problem
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Find out the rules. Obvious ones with a fair point like hard hats must be worn for riding and tack room must be kept locked when no one's around are normal. Anything like you can only use their farrier/vet, only use jumps in a lesson with them, can't feed your mates horse treat with suspicion, owners/manager probably have a bad attitude and will be watching over your shoulder and telling you how you should be looking after your horse. Agree that sensible well fenced turnout arrangements are an absolute must. Ask in local tack shops what they hear about local livery yards. Some places can appear fantastic but can be spoiled by evil YOs or even by other liveries. If the current liveries have any complaints you can guarantee they'll have had a moan about them to the local horse shop staff!
 
All of the above are the main ones, but I would check out the storage and security arrangements for your tack, feed, rugs, etc. Also, times you can go to the yard and whether you have free acess to all the facilities etc.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Find out the rules. Obvious ones with a fair point like hard hats must be worn for riding and tack room must be kept locked when no one's around are normal. Anything like you can only use their farrier/vet, only use jumps in a lesson with them, can't feed your mates horse treat with suspicion, owners/manager probably have a bad attitude and will be watching over your shoulder and telling you how you should be looking after your horse. Agree that sensible well fenced turnout arrangements are an absolute must. Ask in local tack shops what they hear about local livery yards. Some places can appear fantastic but can be spoiled by evil YOs or even by other liveries. If the current liveries have any complaints you can guarantee they'll have had a moan about them to the local horse shop staff!

[/ QUOTE ] Totally agree, but often the folk in the tack shop won't repeat gossip because they hear everything and don't want to have trouble come back to their door. As for your points regarding things being spoilt by nasty YO - My main thing is dressage and schooling. There after a few yards near me with fabulous schools and I am not on any of them
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definately get the turnout arrangements clarified, especially what happens if the weather is bad. Ask about rules, I discovered at my old yard that haynets weren't allowed and you got told off if every speck of hay wasn't swept up, and you weren't allowed to tie up with baler twine on the rings (it looked messy!!!). Find out what time they check the horses at the end of the day and when they put the last hay in. Find out what will happen if your horse doesn't get on with the others in the field. Ask who looks after the horses when you're not there and what happens if they're ill. Also beware of yards that look pristine!

When I bought George he was my first horse and I just didn't know what to ask which is why I ended up moving yards 6 mths later.
 
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