Going back to a livery yard :(

slumdog

slumdog

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So I've been in my own yard for about a year, the house it's attached to has come up for rent and the yard is being rented out with it. I'm obviously gutted but it's all amicable so no hard feelings.

Can't find my own yard so it looks like we're going back on livery for a while. I'm actually quite nervous!

So please cheer me up with your H&H tips to survive a livery yard, and make them as tongue in cheek as you like :)

I'll start off with my ideas so far- In my experience the more horses you have, the higher up the hierarchy you are, so with 3 surely I'll start half way up the pecking order? I also jump affiliated so hopefully this will also give me some 'cool points' unless they like dressage, then what?

I'm going to have to start drinking lots of tea, and maybe practise my best Simon Cowell judging skills but only quietly and behind people's backs.
What if I end up on a parelli yard? Will I need a rope and a stick and a ball?

;) ;)
 
It will enough to just pay your bill on time, be polite to other liveries and look after your horse nicely.
 
I have been lucky and never had to put my horses into livery. All i can say is after visiting friends on their livery yards i've always thought the best thing would be to:

1. smile and say hi to everybody regardless of if their nice or not.
2. Keep your mouth shut but your ears open.
3. Ignore the comments you hear about yourself and others.
4. Just concentrate on your own horse.
5. If anyone offers you their advice smile and say thank you then make up your own mind.

But you probably know this already. Hope you find either a lovely livery yard or your own place.

Good luck :)
 
nix123 said:
I have been lucky and never had to put my horses into livery. All i can say is after visiting friends on their livery yards i've always thought the best thing would be to:

1. smile and say hi to everybody regardless of if their nice or not.
2. Keep your mouth shut but your ears open.
3. Ignore the comments you hear about yourself and others.
4. Just concentrate on your own horse.
5. If anyone offers you their advice smile and say thank you then make up your own mind.

But you probably know this already. Hope you find either a lovely livery yard or your own place.

Good luck :)
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I think this is good advice :) it's a bit like starting a new job isn't it? Best of luck finding somewhere nice.
 
Bums, what's with all the sensible replies? I was looking forwards to a good bit of tongue-in-cheek livery bashing ;)

(I'm no help, I'm afraid, I can't brain today! Perhaps you ought to start increasing your choccie biccie tolerance, though)
 
It's gone straight away, and plus I didn't have 3k a month lol! Everyone is being very sensible today, I also thought about bribing them to like me with biscuits, cake and wine :D
 
slumdog said:
It's gone straight away, and plus I didn't have 3k a month lol! Everyone is being very sensible today, I also thought about bribing them to like me with biscuits, cake and wine :D
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It won't matter anyway, there is always that 'one' that will hate any biscuit/cake choice you bring and will subsequently hate you for the rest of your time at the yard because obviously you did it on purpose ;)
 
Rules For Surviving At A Livery Yard.

1) The resident know it all is always right, ergo you must not test the validity of their advice by following it.
2) The correct response is to smile and nod, unless someone or something is bleeding/on fire, in which case you should try to appear sympathetic but neutral.
3) Always stay neutral: opinions will only garner contempt.
4) Never ask or offer favours - pay the yard owner or else hire a freelance groom.
5) Understand that just because the yard is clearly marked on the map, does not mean that anyone will be able to locate it, even with sat nav.
6) Whatever goes wrong is either bad luck or your own fault.
7) Whatever goes right is either a miracle or the resident know it all's doing.
8) Obey the yard rules.
9) Never ever mention the yard rules to anyone else, even if you are the only person poo picking, tidying up, paying livery on time, etc.
10) Always have back up grazing reserved in case it goes horribly wrong and you need to leave quickly. Also handy if you accidently buy another horse.
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
Have the house renters got horses? Have you asked if you can stay on, on new terms?
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Yeah they have :( we did try and offer more money to keep the yard but they wanted the whole thing. I wondered if they're friends of the landlord or something. He has said he'll work dates around us and will give us a good reference so it's not anything we did or didn't do :)
 
Arizahn said:
Rules For Surviving At A Livery Yard.

1) The resident know it all is always right, ergo you must not test the validity of their advice by following it.
2) The correct response is to smile and nod, unless someone or something is bleeding/on fire, in which case you should try to appear sympathetic but neutral.
3) Always stay neutral: opinions will only garner contempt.
4) Never ask or offer favours - pay the yard owner or else hire a freelance groom.
5) Understand that just because the yard is clearly marked on the map, does not mean that anyone will be able to locate it, even with sat nav.
6) Whatever goes wrong is either bad luck or your own fault.
7) Whatever goes right is either a miracle or the resident know it all's doing.
8) Obey the yard rules.
9) Never ever mention the yard rules to anyone else, even if you are the only person poo picking, tidying up, paying livery on time, etc.
10) Always have back up grazing reserved in case it goes horribly wrong and you need to leave quickly. Also handy if you accidently buy another horse.
Click to expand...

So sit quietly on the fence whilst smiling. Unless something is on fire and then stay on the fence, looking sympathetic, but smiley whilst still being quiet.
Got it!
 
slumdog said:
So sit quietly on the fence whilst smiling. Unless something is on fire and then stay on the fence, looking sympathetic, but smiley whilst still being quiet.
Got it!
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And only keep an old grubby dandy brush, broken headcollar tied with baler twine and a yard broom with loose handle there, saves them from being borrowed.
In the mean time turn your car into a mobile saddlery shop, have a fold down barrow in it so you can lug your grooming kit, tack, riding gear and mucking out gear in it daily, from car park to stable, thats what the non-lenders do, isn't it???

:)
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
And only keep an old grubby dandy brush, broken headcollar tied with baler twine and a yard broom with loose handle there, saves them from being borrowed.
In the mean time turn your car into a mobile saddlery shop, have a fold down barrow in it so you can lug your grooming kit, tack, riding gear and mucking out gear in it daily, from car park to stable, thats what the non-lenders do, isn't it???

:)
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And paint said car red, and name it Lola...:D
 
slumdog said:
So sit quietly on the fence whilst smiling. Unless something is on fire and then stay on the fence, looking sympathetic, but smiley whilst still being quiet.
Got it!
Click to expand...

That is exactly it!

*Say Hello To Everyone always
*When you first move tell everyone how lovely their horses are ect sets you off on a good foot ;)
*Dont buy anything too 'fancy' if you do dont keep it on show, it makes people jealous.
*but as already said - always be neutral give a 'beige' response to everything and anything!
 
Suss out who the yard ~@#*$ is and avoid them like the plague. But if like me, you stay friendly with everyone, always pay on time and be helpful when needed, you will probably still find a horse poo outside your stable that doesn't belong to your horses and no one else knows anything about it.

Seriously though, you need a sense of humour and an ability to turn off when required :D Smile at everyone and enjoy your horses. Good luck!
 
keep your ears open, your gob shut and your eyes to the ground

do not accept tea and biscuits from anyone it will make you an enemy of all others

remember your horses temperament is a reflection of you and all your fault

horses are not horses they are substitute babies

NEVER EVER say anything bad about any ones horse even in jest as no-one but no-one has a sense of humour when it comes to their horse

watch your back and keep your head down
 
Never, ever accept a favour from another livery (e.g. bringing your horse in when you are in hospital having major surgery) because for ever after you will be doing favours for her ('can you just….')
:)
 
These suggestions make everyone's experience of livery yards seem a bit grim. I've always been fine on any yard I've been at - never had a problem. But then, on the other hand I always visit at either stupid o'clock in the morning or in the dead of night. Think 7am or 10pm so I never see a soul except my sharer who has the same idea as me. We get the entire yard to ourselves. Bliss :D
 
Turn into the yard clown (like me). People will be either too gobsmacked by your eccentricity and looniness to give you a hard time or they'll laugh along with your ridiculous antics and be kind to you because they think you're a bit soft in the head.
 
I have one rule for surviving a livery yard - do not involve yourself in gossip. Nod, smile and walk away is my mantra at the yard. Also nail everythign you own down with a nail gun - I have so far lost hay nets, a lunge whip, a pair of gloves, and have lost count of the number of times I have had to go hunting for my wheelbarrow or fork. On the plus side I have lovely liverys who bring my horses in when Im working and whose horses I turn out.
 
Going against the grain here, maybe another way to look at it!
I'd dearly love to go back to livery- DIY I still want to look after my horse!
I miss the companionship, the shared coffee and biscuits after a long chatty ride, having people around in an emergency or if I'm ill.
I love yards (nice yards!) and although I have a lovely little place which costs next to nothing, we have 2 horses a companion Shetland and chickens for £100 PCM. Many people would kill for my place I know but I get so bored just being me!
I honestly think if anything happens to one of the horses the Shetland and chickens will be rehomed and I will go back to a yard!
Just another perspective.....
 
gala said:
Turn into the yard clown (like me). People will be either too gobsmacked by your eccentricity and looniness to give you a hard time or they'll laugh along with your ridiculous antics and be kind to you because they think you're a bit soft in the head.
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You know, I may have mastered this without trying... But there are some very kind people on my yard...
 
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