Experiences total livery yard or rding school/livery yard

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eahotson

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Thinking of changing.Tend to go to places I know i.e have ridden at at some stage.Mixed results. Last place, very good facilities but not overly friendly (not unfriendly either) present place too far away and while extemelly relaxed and friendly not a lot going on for me.Have used (many years ago and was there for about 8 years) a full livery yard. It was an appalling place really when I think back but had an indoor when most places didn't have any school at all and an excentric but marvellous instructor. I could make your hair rise with the down side.
 
Personally - not a choice of either for me.

I think that you should write down the pros and cons of your current yard against any one you think you may want to move to - before moving. It's not good for you or the horse to become habitual movers, and your reputation will soon begin to preceed you.

I also think you should make choices based on what's best for the horse and you, rather than just going to where there is an instructor based. Plenty of us who have always been DIY have no problem in receiving expert tuition from trainers happy to travel.
 
Well to be fair I have only been at 4 yards in my life and that has covered a period of over 25 years.I am not too worried about any one instructor as I agree its better to having travelling instructors as then you have a better choice. There is no one perfect instructor as there is no one perfect pupil.I am takeing my time this time as previously I have fallen into arrangements rather than always thinking them out BUT my old yard (complete with rusting tins in field barb wire etc. all of which the horses coped with splendidly) was the best as it was the most FUN.
 
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BUT my old yard (complete with rusting tins in field barb wire etc. all of which the horses coped with splendidly) was the best as it was the most FUN.


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And ain't that why we have our nags - because we wan't fun and to enjoy them. You're right, yards don't have to be perfect. As long as their safe, who cares??

Go DIY - you know you can do it, and many places have assisted DIY if you can't always get there.
 
I am currently at a riding school/full livery yard and i really like it there. The staff are friendly, my horse is always well fed/mucked out and the facilities are superb all year turn out although only from 8am till2.30pm in the winter. 15x 15 boxes with automatic waterers. Wash room for the horses, a 70 x 30m floodlit out door school, and 50 x 22m indoor. My only downside is its busy in the arenas during the day at weekends. But i hack out instead on those days or am off competing. It was a risk when i picked the yard as i knew no-one in the area before i went there but im pleased with my choice... well so far anyway. I think its always a risk when moving to a new yard as ther will awlays be pros and cons. But most importantly for me would be to have good safe fencing, and lovely staff/owners willing to help out.
 
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I also think you should make choices based on what's best for the horse and you, rather than just going to where there is an instructor based. Plenty of us who have always been DIY have no problem in receiving expert tuition from trainers happy to travel.

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My trainer comes to me at my DIY yard
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Well as I am not desperately unhappy where I am and in some ways am a bit heavy hearted about moving I am going to take my time this time instead of simply choosing the easiest option. Amymay I will say (members of forum excepted) I am usually surrounded by people all too ready to tell me how wonderful they are and how dreadful I am. This despite evidence often to the contrary.
 
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I am usually surrounded by people all too ready to tell me how wonderful they are and how dreadful I am

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Eh?? You lost me on that one.......
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Well that they know a lot, can do a lot etc. but that I know nothing, can do nothing etc.There is a lot of that in the horse world but generally I do find (there are exceptions) that the really knowledgeable people aren't like that. The latest saga? The saddle! Advised by Callums old owner to get specialist native saddle. Advised by current instructor (and believe this or not someone I consider a friend! that this wasn't necessary. Buy off YO daughter (not trained fitter but doing it for years type thing). I knew she was cozzying (sp?) up to YO at time and why and that I was probablu going to be ripped off but hey whats a bit of cash between friends and she would make sure in return that I got a really good saddle that would suit me and my little native.Fast forward. Horse getting increasingly stiff on right rein and very reluctant to bend.Enter Leah (trained fitter I have used before and EXCELLENT) who confirmed my fears and explained not only that saddle did not fit but WHY and precisely what it was doing to horeses back and my position while in saddle. (rub marks in the meantime have appeared). Leah rides incidentally and seems very knowledeable. Well never mind,mixtakes happen.Didn't run round rubbishing anyone or anything and apparently natives are not easy to fit (Leah).Physiotherapist came out to rectify damage (Annabelle Roberts and again excellent.) Instructor/friend there that day and as she was teaching some BHS students I sugested to her that they might like to watch Annabelle at work as she is very interesting and always willing to talk and explain what she is doing. They all came. Annabelle mentioned the damage done by saddle and my friend who feels guilty) tried to tell (did tell infact) everyone there that it was because of my very poor position in the saddle (very forward seat, sits VERY far to the right etc.) rather than anything else.I felt terrible but didn't say anything and Annabelle ignored it too. See what I mean.
 
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