Do private yards take on liveries?

hudsonw

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I have a youngster that I'm starting to do things with but I'm on a large livery yard and I think it's too busy for him.
I've looked around loads of livery yards in the area but the smaller ones seem expensive and I might as well stay where I am if looking at larger yards!!!
I like the yard I'm on but I'm paying money for facilities I don't use. I pay £30 a month for DIY which includes a xc, jumping paddock, out door school and a lunge paddock which is fine if you use it but the only thing I use is the indoor and that's another £5 for 2 hours but can only be used after 7 at night due to the riding school not finishing until then.
There are loads of kids which is fine but they forget it's a stable and not a race track for bikes, go karts, footballs and throwing the ball for the yard dog.
I like the fact there are people I can ask for help but I'm getting frustrated with the yard and thinking it's not the best place for a 2 year old.
Do private yards take on liveries? Where would be the best place to look for them or would you be cheeky and call in and ask if you saw one you liked the look at from the road?!!?
I'm in South Cheshire if anyone knows of any places near Crewe/Nantwich/Alsager?!!?
 
I have my own yard and i wouldn't - no insurance, don't want the bother - i bought my own place to get away from other people lol

Sounds like your yard is hectic, but turn it into a positive thing - your horse will be pretty bombproof if he regards all the things happening as "normal" :)
 
Well if I was paying £30/month for DIY, I'd be staying put, even if I used the facilities or not!

As for private yards, if you don't ask, you don't get. I have rolled up to private yards and asked if they'd have me as a livery. They happen to have said no and that was fair enough, they gave their reasons :).
 
forgot to say - when i was at livery i paid £28 per month per horse - lovely new stables, own storage, new outdoor school and all year turn out, but bad hacking and no riding in the fields - so i don't think the price you are paying is bad at all :) You may not use all the facilities now, but once your horse is backed and being ridden - wow, you have everything you need!
 
If you're already doing DIY there's no reason why you need to be on a livery yard. I moved my horse to a private yard when the lady's elderly mare was put down and she needed another horse as a companion to her gelding. I got to know about it through word of mouth, she was a friend of a friend.

You could mention to as many people as possible that you're looking for somewhere to keep your horse. Also put an advert in tack/feed shops. You will find something eventually, it will take time though. I wouldn't just turn up on someone's yard, they probably won't appreciate that (well not round here they wouldn't!!!)

Bear in mind a private yard probably won't have facilities like an arena, you have to sort out turnout etc amongst yourselves and you also have to source your own hay, bedding etc. But as long as you get on with the owner you should be able to work things out between you. I don't think I'll go back to a livery yard, far too busy for my horse too.
 
At £30 a month I would stay put.

I'm om a private yard and I pay roughly that per week per horse, then I have to buy all hay and bedding.

Unless your horse is really stressed out by the busy enviroment I would stay put.
 
i thought £30 pm was expensive lol ours is only £22 (£25 4 me caus i park the horsebox there!) weve got american barn stables, all year turnout, 24hrs may-oct, a 60x20 menage, individual tack rooms and hay/straw storage!
 
£22 a month are you kidding?!!!!!!!! I have a private yard with just my two ponies, I've ocationaly taken liveries short term, but I would NEVER do it for less than £25 a week, not worth the hassle at all.

I don't have an arena, just good grazing and good quiet hacking :)
 
Ive never been on a livery yard in all my years of horse owning, ive always kept mine at private places, at the moment ive 2 places where we keep ours, one is a large working farm, but the other is a private yard & they just take on a couple of liveries to help with the bills. Its always worth asking around, if you dont ask you dont get :)
 
private yard, and a good friend keeps her daughters pony here for free, in return for doing mine in the afternoons-poo picking and grooming etc.

my last groom also kept her horse here on a similar basis.

if would have to be someone i *clicked with* immediately, but if you dont ask, you dont get.
 
Once private yards start taking liveries, they become liable for business rates - regardless of whether they are DIY, full, part etc. If the liveries are allowed use of the school, then the school becomes rated as well. Please be aware that if you are a private yard and someone grasses you up, you WILL become liable for rates. I know of quite a few yards who have been investigated by the valuation agency......
 
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