DIY livery, does this sound reasonable..??

SatansLittleHelper

SatansLittleHelper

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Im wanting to put my 4 year old on DIY livery so that I have some facilities to start his schooling properly and get the best from him. At the moment he lives out 24/7 with no facilities at all other than a nice area to hack out in.
I have viewed 2 different liveries:

Livery 1:
Floodlit outdoor school, reasonable turnout facilities all year round. Nice big airy stables, yard seems friendly, about 37 horses altogether. Have a couple of people I know on the yard who say its nice. They have a couple of trainers out a couple of times a week, a cross country course and some really nice hacking, they also have twice yearly fun rides. There is an option for help if needed such as turning out etc but they dont really like to do it.
£25 PW.

Livery 2:
Indoor and outdoor schools, cross country course and reasonable hacking areas...though some of this is road work.
Busy yard as based at a riding school but I do have my instructor based here who I really like. I dont really know anyone who keeps there horses there but I know the yard manager etc reasonably well as used to go to college with her and she is lovely. They do alot of activities, competitions and clinics throughout the year. They have a full set of prices for etras should they be needed as and when. Turnout can be restrictive but they have said that if my boy is good with mied groups, which he is, and I dont mind, which I dont, then he can have as much turnout as I like with the schools own horses. Nice big airy stables with lots of activity.
£40 PW.



Now Im sometimes restricted as my daughter has alot of problems which may mean I need to call on the use of help with turning out etc occasionally.
Im not a confident person around people, Im quite shy but friendly :o
I want to be able to really get to grips with my boy and do my best with him in the right environment. He is a fairly laid back lad who gets on with most horses, can be a bit aloof with other people but not nasty or unfriendly. Both yards are within 5 miles of where I live. Both include unlimited use of the schooling areas within reason ie: other lessons etc going on.
Im leaning towards livery 2 but Im wondering if they are a little pricey, or if thats worth the added money considering the amount of facilities they have..??
In everyones opinions which do you think would suit us best..??
Thank you in advance..!!!!
 
For the extra £15 per week I'd go for 2, you will have much more opportunity to educate your youngster there with the clinics, indoor school etc., and the option to add on if you need extra help due to children/work. Also, if it's a busy yard maybe turnout isn't going to be such an issue, I would worry if I had to turn mine out into a strange group, especially if it were a youngster, but he may enjoy watching whats going on from over his stable door.

Good luck whatever you decide.
 
Number 2 :) I think having your instructor is invaluable to help and having a nice yard owner is always a bonus. I pay £165 a month for mine on DIY, have two indoors a summer field they set up for show jumping in summer. Down sides are no one on hand to turn out/bring in. I'm very very lucky I have a good friend who had helped massively this winter. Very sorry to read about your boys x
 
Thanks guys. Im very precious about turnout, its a BIG thing for me. I cannot abide horses cooped up in stables all day. Just my personal feelings, Im not comforatble with it, would much rather good turnout facilities.
My 4 year old daughter has severe disabilities and can need hospital etc regularly so the option of more help when needed is an attractive option to me. I will still have my 2.5 year old horse on a field net to my house but thats no trouble.
If Im honest Im a little bit overwhelemed and daunted by the 2nd yard, its silly but I feel like a complete novice who has never been near a horse at the moment just at the mere thought of it :o But then Im also figuring that the added help etc will boost my confidence..?? You just read so much about bitchy livery yards etc and Id never cope as I cannot take crap off people lol. :o
 
Could you try out the 2nd yard to get to know some people by attending some clinics (with your horse or on a school horse) before you move? Then you might not feel so daunted by them, and would also get an idea of whether you liked the atmosphere there.

Also, does the second one have lots of keen young pupils hanging around all the time, some of whom you may eventually trust to turn out/bring in etc. for you and who would do it for free? This used to happen all the time at a couple of places I've been in the past and you may well find that with this effectively included in your £40 it works out cheaper than £25 plus paying YM who isn't keen anyway to help out at school 1 if you think you are going to need help fairly regularly...
 
I could not live without a indoor school, it's just not a sacrifice I'd ever make do for me it would have to be 2 , regardless of cost.
 
Hi, i keep my lad at a riding school and the staff are great. I'd go for the second one. Before you make a decision though ask if theres other liveries there. Justj to check you have others to meet with or hack with during the day. I have three hacking, tea drinking, horse chat mates at my yard who are always on call should a join hack araise.
 
I think 2 sounds good in the respect that they're is help available to bring in/turnout etc in your situation, but yard 1 offered guaranteed turnout didn't it? I would be worried the turnout with the RS horses might fall through. There sounds like there are plenty of facilities at yard 1 and I would also like the idea that your have friends at yard 1 who are happy there. That speaks volumes, oh and the price! Good luck with what you decide.
 
Are you just keeping him there over the winter or longer term?

If for winter I'd go for 2 because the indoor will be invaluable. What am I saying this is the UK, I'd go for 2 regardless, the indoor will be invaluable!!

If its only 5 miles away you can hack him home to turn out if desperate!
 
Number 2

Indoor school means on the days you can get there and do you are guaranteed being able to ride which is invaluable for youngsters so you get consistency.

Plus staff will have no issues about picking up jobs when you need them, at a yard like that one more is irrelevant and so you'll always be able to have the help you need.
 
Thanks guys, Im going to have a proper look at yard 2 through livery eyes instead of lesson eyes, if that makes sense lol :rolleyes:
I agree with Vanner about the consistancy thing, Im itching to get on with him but I wont until I know I can maintain the work so he is just being a big soggy pet right now lol. (Vanner by the way can I just please say WOW, what a stunning, stunning horse you have there **drools** :D)

One thing I forgot to mention is that I currently have no transport of my own so there more stuff I have access to onsite the better really.
 
The only thing I would say about yard 2 is it has an indoor and outdoor, but can you actually get in them? With a RS and big yard you might find they're booked up all the time.

Might be a good question to ask when you visit :)

ETA: I would choose number 1. In my opinion better turnout and better hacking is far more advantageous for a youngster than an indoor school is. On a personal level I couldn't stand to be at a yard which is also a riding school.
 
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Agree with Rudolph_bum. Having been on a yard that's a RS you rarely are able to use the school after school times, weekends a.d holidays.

There is also nothing like having friends on a yard. They can really motivate you to keep going when times are tough. Its also nice to go to shows and competitions where you will have people supporting and hhelping you.

For me, it would be yard 1.
 
If it weren't for the issues with your daughter and the needing help, I would go for yard 1. Yard 2 sounds too busy and big and will be a shock to a horse that has been out until now! Yard 1 sounds as though it has enough facilities and ativities for a youngster to start with, and the other yard sounds near enough to get to for clinics etc anyway..
 
Im unable to work due to my daughters needs so am quite fleible about times (all depending on my little girl of course). However I will definately speak to them about this when I go there. They did say its possible at times to have use of half the school while lessons are going on etc so they do sound reasonable but its definately a pointer.
I know I probably sound like an idiot but I have never kept a horse at livery before....I feel like a plank :o:o:o
 
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I'm with Rudolph bum too, it might be very difficult to access the facilities if its a rs at times convenient to you. And worth checking what's actually going on in terms of clinics etc. If they are mainly geared towards the novice rs pupils it might be better to save the extra £15per week & just hire transport for something you want to do.
 
Rudolph_bum said:
The only thing I would say about yard 2 is it has an indoor and outdoor, but can you actually get in them? With a RS and big yard you might find they're booked up all the time.
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This is a good point, I moved yards last year and one of the reasons was that I struggled to get in the school at weekends and holidays (there wasn't really much hacking though).

Both sound like nice yards and either could work - I would be tempted to go for 1 only because of my past experiences with riding schools, but the indoor is a plus! I ride in the rain quite often though and it's not really a big deal so for me, the help/turnout are the only real factors. Only you can decide how much/often you are likely to need help with turning out etc. (and even then with Yard 1, I'm on DIY with no staff at all but we just help each other out so could maybe be the same for you?).

Another factor - sorry if you have already thought about this - is that if you don't have your own transport at the moment, how will big bags of horse feed, hay, bedding etc. get onto the yard - do either yard provide as part of or for extra cost/would one let you get your stuff delivered as part of their orders? I know living out your horse won't need much, but just something to consider?
 
Won't you have problems with your 2.5 year old on his own?

Option two sounds the best and I think value for money due to the facilities.
 
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I would spend a little time at each yard - go to the second yard at busy times, ie weekends when lessons are on, or when other liveries finish work (eves) and ride - imagine if all the liveries decided to use half the school at times when the lessons were on... Decide which you feel comfortable at.
 
LittleGinger said:
Another factor - sorry if you have already thought about this - is that if you don't have your own transport at the moment, how will big bags of horse feed, hay, bedding etc. get onto the yard - do either yard provide as part of or for extra cost/would one let you get your stuff delivered as part of their orders? I know living out your horse won't need much, but just something to consider?
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Sorry, Im really not making myself clear :o I have transport as in a car, just not horsey transport as in a trailer/lorry :o However I do need to find out what arrangements there are for hay and bedding etc, whether you buy from the yard or individually etc so good point there. Another question to add to my list.

Also my baby horse wont be on his own, (I would never do that to a horse)...he will be kept in the field with my friends two horses (as he is now). My friend and I have always shared fields and her little cob is the same age as Jester, as well as a 14 year old mare :) If the mare is sold (she may well be) then I will get another Shetland as company for if one of these is out and about. Eventually I would like to move this boy onto a yard as well perhaps but he has masses of growing up to do yet so he is happy just being a horse at the moment :)
 
I think 2. I think it's worth it to have to options of assistance at hand to take some of the strain off if you ever need to be with your daughter in an emergency and can't get to the yard. Big yards can be daunting at first but i think you pretty soon find a few like minded people and settle in. Good Luck.
 
I would go for 1, with the most turnout, but also because of the price. If you ever want your 2.5 year old on too, say next year, £80pw for 2 is an awful lot- £50 is much more managable. Echo the part about even being able to use the facilities on yard 2
 
For me I would go for yard 1 because as others have said yard 2 sounds like it will be very busy which wouldn't be my cup of tea and the guaranteed turnout for a horse that has been out 24/7 would be the clincher. If you have friends on yard one could they perhaps help you out if you can't get to the yard due to your daughter? Sorry if you have already answered this question I haven't read all the replies.
 
Just check with the riding school how easy it is to actually get into the school. I liveried at one once and there were lessons 4pm - 8pm weekdays and 9am - 4pm Saturdays then comps on Sundays so it was virtually impossible for the liveries to use the school.
 
Sorry, not read all replies.

Having liveried on a RS with lots of outdoor and an indoor school, we found that lessons took priority over liveries' use if the facilities, which was very frustrating (not mentioned when we viewed!). Also charged for use of decent jumps etc. Again not mentioned when we viewed. Couldn't have our own instructors. Feed had to be as per what they got in.
 
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