Going back to a livery yard?

[poiuytrewq]

Has anyone done it? Was it awful or did it work out?
I’d be interested to hear pros and cons both ways.
I’m going to look at a yard tomorrow after threatening it for ages. Currently have 2 ponies and 2 horses, one is a retired fat cob, the ridden or could be ridden is TB- he’s who I’d take.
What do I need to ask? It’s been so long since I’ve been on a yard with other people!
I’ve literally asked nothing, all I know in arranging the visit is that it’s close enough, offers reasonably priced DIY and has a school (I *think ?)
I used to drive past daily at my old job and saw horses out in winter but winter turnout is important to me so will question that.
What else do I need to find out before making any decision?
A bit excited but very anxious to make the right choice.

 

[Antw23uk]

Clarify what they mean by winter turnout
If its DIY do they expect horses to be in at a certain time (and can you do this with work commitments)
Is the school chargeable as an extra
Are you allowed your own instructor on-site/ farrier/ vet/ chiro/ physio
Are you allowed to do favours between other liveries or does the yard get priority which you have to pay for (hold for farrier/ bringing in/out etc)

Cant think of anything else, good luck, i dread the day i have to do it! Although ask me in Feb and i might be looking for full livery, lol!

 

[pixie]

I have loved my liveries that have previously had their own place. They are always so much more keyed up on land management and realistic wrt turnout and levels of grass. They are also so much more hands on and competent. If there is some ragwort, they'll just pull it while poo picking (which they happily do every day) instead of vaguely mentioning that it needs pulling via text message. They know how much things cost, so don't expect the earth on a shoestring budget

 

[milliepops]

Good questions above.
I went back to livery, it was fine on a good yard and tbh i quite like the company because I WFH so don't see anyone except OH otherwise. I now have 5 at home and 2 on a yard and it's sort of the best of both worlds, if I need to do something for one that the yard doesn't suit then I can (like I did 24/7 pen rest in my field for a tendon injury which wouldn't have been possible at livery) but otherwise I have facilities and company.

I've got the absolute best thing at the moment as i'm the only livery, YO is totally sane and normal, and I have lots of friends who visit for overnight stays for training, so it's like having nice livery friends half the week, and the place to myself (kinda) the rest of the time

 

[oldie48]

I moved Rose to full livery about a year ago because I was unwell, unable to ride and had someone else riding her. It was going to be a temporary situation but I soon decided to make it permanent. I enjoyed the company and the standard of care was excellent, just a great pity that before I was well enough to start riding again she injured herself. She's now turned away at a different yard but if she comes back into work I'll move her back from wence she came. I do miss having her here at home and seeing her every day but I visit regularly and tbh I don't want horses at home any more, I am too old.

 

[PSD]

Haven’t done the move from my own place to a livery but question wise I always ask whether there is any ruling on times.

Some yards have a specific time to be on and off, so if you show it can be complicated. Also ask about whether they provide bedding and hay/haylage or if you can buy your own. Also ask about vets and farriers, some yard owners can be picky about who you have.

 

[TPO]

For DIY I'd ask:

Confirmation of turnout or is it all fay year round/must be in nights at winter or year round/only out a few hours in winter etc

What time do horses go out/come in?

Do other liveries bring in last horse or leave a horse out alone?

Are there any services offered or can you use a freelancer when needed?

What happens re hay and bedding? Is there enough storage space of buying in your own. What happens if YO gets a bad batch etc

Storage space for feed bins/tack/rugs/mucking out tools

Worming programme - is everyone in the same field on the same programme

Are all the horses on the yard vaccinated?

How involved is YO?

Walk the field and check water, shelter and fencing for yourself

How often is it rested/rotated/harrowed/topped etc

What's the deal with poo picking (there's always at least one that doesn't do their share if poo picking is required)

Walk thr school to check surface is safe and use able. How often is it harrowed/rolled. Are liveries allowed to do that or YO only? How busy is the school, do others book it out often and what happens if you want to book it for a lesson

Are there jumps/poles etc that you can use and what's what's rules about jumps being left up. More than once I've had to spend the majority of my booked time removing a course ?

Check your chosen vets, farrier, trainers etc are allowed on the yard. Some YOs and other professionals have "previous".

Are there yard opening/closing times? If so what happens I'd you have an early start for a show etc

How secure is the yard/tackroom. Do they have insurance in place to cover your tack.

Trying to think of all the ways I've been caught out before ?

Is a deposit required, how do you pay, is there a contractual notice period.

Are dogs allowed on the yard (even more pertinent if you don't have a dog/aren't planning on taking one because some other people's dogs...)

Are you allowed friends to visit with you on the yard

Look for signs of rats or mice. Not the time of year for them granted but they can do a lot of costly damage

Are there any planned works going to be taking place on the yard

What's the water situ as in do pipes/taps freeze in the winter with no alternative offered (I learnt this lesson in 2010 when I didn't leave the yard until midnight several times because for water I had to melt snow in the kettle!!!)

 

[WelshD]

I moved to livery after having a privately rented yard for 10 years.

The whole thing has been a breath of fresh air to me but I did look for a harmonious yard and that has helped enormously

Things that were important to me were no restrictions on times (of course within reason) as we show a lot, I wanted somewhere with some degree of winter turnout and the livery owner was absolutely honest and said they turn out when possible, the first week all ponies were in which did worry me slightly but true to her word when it was possible they all got turnout and for the rest of the winter they went out for a good chunk of time.

I had a massive amount of stuff accumulated from years of unlimited storage which I found hard to go through so safe storage was important to me and I've managed to fit in what I need, I ended up getting a shed for home to store the rest.

What I am never failed to be impressed with is that the owners own ponies are kept to the same rules as the others which makes things so much fairer

 

[poiuytrewq]

Thanks, some good points there.
I’m going to make bit of a list.
I really have no idea if this is something I’m going to do!
I also need to work out how I’d do hay etc as we have big bales at home so obv I can’t just take one with me and wouldn’t expect I’d get that much storage anyway! Not really wanting to have to buy more in.
This may be a how long is a bit of string but we did buy some rounds this year, having not used round hay for years how long would they last the average horse? I could probably transport those by myself rolling onto the lorry.

My other big issue is how to tell OH ? he won’t even try to understand and will be super p’d off by the idea.

 

[gallopingby]

To turn this on its head......Why are you thinking about livery? How far are you going to have to travel and how often? It’s something l consider from time to time as l assume there would people about to ride with and maybe help with a difficult horse but it’s easier to have them at home and cheaper to pay someone to come and ride out if required plus l can hire a local indoor school if the weathers bad over the winter. Ok still have to get there but then ld have to go and do the horse at livery unless l paid the extra costs and l could pay someone to come here.

 

[littleshetland]

I put mine on livery in-between a property move. He was there for about 9 weeks. I really enjoyed the company and hacking out buddies, but got a bit cheesed off when thought I'd school that day and found the arena swarming with ponies! But all in all, I enjoyed my time back on livery.

 

[milliepops]

Thanks, some good points there.
I’m going to make bit of a list.
I really have no idea if this is something I’m going to do!
I also need to work out how I’d do hay etc as we have big bales at home so obv I can’t just take one with me and wouldn’t expect I’d get that much storage anyway! Not really wanting to have to buy more in.
This may be a how long is a bit of string but we did buy some rounds this year, having not used round hay for years how long would they last the average horse? I could probably transport those by myself rolling onto the lorry.

I've always had enough space for a big round, current place I have space for big squares too (currently have 3 rounds in my area!). I find a normal size round lasts one horse about a month if they are 50/50 stabled and turned out. In the winter i get through them faster as mine are out less, i have 2 on the yard and reckon on a bale every 10 days.

 

[poiuytrewq]

To turn this on its head......Why are you thinking about livery? How far are you going to have to travel and how often? It’s something l consider from time to time as l assume there would people about to ride with and maybe help with a difficult horse but it’s easier to have them at home and cheaper to pay someone to come and ride out if required plus l can hire a local indoor school if the weathers bad over the winter. Ok still have to get there but then ld have to go and do the horse at livery unless l paid the extra costs and l could pay someone to come here.

Umm, a few reasons. Someone to ride with is a definite one, but I am happy to ride alone so I won’t be needy!
They have a school and I’m trying to rehab I guess my horse who’s been off ages and diagnosed with neck and hock arthritis.
My stables are a bit rubbish, very hot in summer and the yard floods in winter. I mean it’s cope-able but not great.
My off road riding here at the farm has become virtually nothing since a new gamekeeper started (livery has a bit of off road riding of its own)
The horse is a TB and his companions are a fat retired cob and two fat ponies, not ideal but freak out if they are not all together! He also bullies the cob a little at times

However it is of course super easy having them together outside the door. Hence it’s just an idea at this point.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I've always had enough space for a big round, current place I have space for big squares too (currently have 3 rounds in my area!). I find a normal size round lasts one horse about a month if they are 50/50 stabled and turned out. In the winter i get through them faster as mine are out less, i have 2 on the yard and reckon on a bale every 10 days.

Ah ok. Previous yards I’ve not had a huge amount of space so it was a case of small bales weekly.
They may of course want to supply stuff themselves I’m not sure, that will put it out of my budget I think.