have you ever pinned notices to gates looking for livery?

[Jesstickle]

Did it work?

This is my new plan as of this morning as my constant internet trawling is proving less than successful!

Any idea on how to phrase my request?

 

[Spiritedly]

I haven't pinned notices but I have knocked on nearby houses asking who owned fields, got 2 lovely fields this way . Have you tried local tack shops? Even if there's no notices up the staff may know of somewhere.

 

[milesjess]

Yeah I have and it worked

Just put 'hi, I am looking for livery for my horse and was wondering if you can call me on *** if interested. Regards Jess.'

Try it, what's the worst that can happen.

 

[Capriole]

Well, sort of. From the other side. Ive had a note on my gate from someone asking for grass livery, pretty basic, just said they were looking and left a phone number. And I had a business card pinned to my PR offering services or something, freelance grooming type of thing.
And I did one time write a letter and stuffed it in someones letterbox on their gate as they had a yard at a private house but I never saw anyone in to ask, and they had big dogs so I didnt like to go in and ask. They rang me back and I moved on there for a couple of years.

 

[shortstuff99]

Where abouts are you looking? I can guess the area a bit from your siggy so may know of a few for you? What are you looking for?

 

[SpottedCat]

No, my tactic was to go on google earth, identify all the yards in the area I was looking (by spotting arenas!) and then to drive round the area calling in at each one. Was the only way to do it as none of the yards in my area have a website.

 

[Jesstickle]

looking around Tuddenham/ Herringswell/ Kennett which is race horse country and most of the yards are clearly studs or trainers yards.

Have only spotted a couple of arenas from google.

Glad that it can work, it's worth a try. Will start writing letters. Am not sure I could bear to knock on doors, I'm really not that forward. I'm quite shy in RL, even though it probably doesn't seem that way from how I am here

 

[Jules19]

I know somone offering full livery in Kentford/Kennett. The phone no is up on the board at my yard, would you like me to get it and PM you with it tomorrow? It has been up there for a few weeks so I don't know if there are still places, but worth a try.

 

[Jesstickle]

I know somone offering full livery in Kentford/Kennett. The phone no is up on the board at my yard, would you like me to get it and PM you with it tomorrow? It has been up there for a few weeks so I don't know if there are still places, but worth a try.

I was really looking for DIY but yes please, I would love it if you could get the number for me as I might be able to negotiate or they might know someone else if they won't do it themselves. Any lead at this point is super helpful

 

[Brandy]

Yes for the same reason as the other poster in that I could never seem to catch anyone there. I drove roudn the area, stoped and chatted to people who were in, or anyone with horses. Saw a few places with horses but no one there. Left card saying I was moving to the area, had what sort of horses, what my experience was (I think this helped!! owned horses for so long, done BHS stages, worked at this and that place) and please give me a call. Been there 18 months now and couldn;t be happier.

 

[Jesstickle]

Yes for the same reason as the other poster in that I could never seem to catch anyone there. I drove roudn the area, stoped and chatted to people who were in, or anyone with horses. Saw a few places with horses but no one there. Left card saying I was moving to the area, had what sort of horses, what my experience was (I think this helped!! owned horses for so long, done BHS stages, worked at this and that place) and please give me a call. Been there 18 months now and couldn;t be happier.

I was going to say what the horses are but hadn't thought of saying anything about myself. Not that there is much say mind you!

 

[Jesstickle]

ok, does this sound alright?


Looking for livery for 2 horses (4 yo TB mare and 7 yo warmblood gelding) in this area. Would prefer DIY but would consider all other options including grazing only. Experienced, tidy, adult owner who has worked in the industry and would happily do chores and help out as well as pay rent.
If you can help, or know someone who can, please call Jess on ....... or email ..............


If not, can you suggest improvements? Want to stand the best chance of not sounding like an utter weirdo! If I see real people I will obviously chat to them rather than spam them!

 

[Spotsrock]

I'm about to go do similar in my lunch hour!

Please wish me luck!

 

[Brandy]

I think that sounds fine. I just thought about what I woudl think if I got a notice myself if I owned my own place? Having been in livery yards and seen endless very inexperienced people on livery there, I personally wouldn't want someone like that if it was a private place. So I thought it was an idea to give an indication that I am not a complete numpty.

I also put about the horses as the places I was looking at had similar (i have two native and a sneaky TB.....!)

 

[monkeybum13]

No, my tactic was to go on google earth, identify all the yards in the area I was looking (by spotting arenas!) and then to drive round the area calling in at each one. Was the only way to do it as none of the yards in my area have a website.

Same, I have perfected the art of searching for arenas from satellite images!
If you can find the name of the farm on an OS map a quick google normally finds a telephone number.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

ok, does this sound alright?


Looking for livery for 2 horses (4 yo TB mare and 7 yo warmblood gelding) in this area. Would prefer DIY but would consider all other options including grazing only. Experienced, tidy, adult owner who has worked in the industry and would happily do chores and help out as well as pay rent.
If you can help, or know someone who can, please call Jess on ....... or email ..............


If not, can you suggest improvements? Want to stand the best chance of not sounding like an utter weirdo! If I see real people I will obviously chat to them rather than spam them!

How about adding at the start, middle & end?

Just relocating into this area, so looking for livery for 2 horses (4 yo TB mare and 7 yo warmblood gelding) in this area. Would prefer DIY but would consider all other options including grazing only. Happy to provide references for horses and also proof of prompt livery payments from present yard. Experienced, tidy, adult owner who has worked in the industry and would happily do chores and help out if required.

Sounds a little better to me as a YO to read

Only my opinion tho

 

[dafthoss]

I would say that they well behaved as people dont want to take on horses on a small yard especally that are going to cause problems and some people may be put off a 4 year old TB mare without knowing her. Or you could just say a mare and gelding that turn out either together or would go in a group. Also if you can add that you can get a reference from your old yard for both you and your horses and that you are only leaving your old yard as you are moving house.

Good luck in the search.

 

[Tiaan]

I have, this is how i found my current livery yard

I printed a not on a5 paper and put them sideways in an a4 plastic wallet, (to keep it waterproof) and then used the garden ties through the holes in the wallet and attached to chains/gate etc

"Hi, I am currently looking for a diy/assisted/full livery place
I have a ...........................................
Please call me on.......................................
Thankyou!"

 

[Jesstickle]

Thanks all, will re write it to say about references and that and to say that my horses are good little people Pretty sure YM would give me a reference if I asked. I hope she would anyway!

 

[Jesstickle]

How about adding at the start, middle & end?

Just relocating into this area, so looking for livery for 2 horses (4 yo TB mare and 7 yo warmblood gelding) in this area. Would prefer DIY but would consider all other options including grazing only. Happy to provide references for horses and also proof of prompt livery payments from present yard. Experienced, tidy, adult owner who has worked in the industry and would happily do chores and help out if required.

Sounds a little better to me as a YO to read

Only my opinion tho

So as a YO would you have us? Or do we sound too horrible?

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

So as a YO would you have us? Or do we sound too horrible?

Prolly yes, if I had the room

The only off putting thing (for some!) is the 4 yr old - I just wouldn't put ages on there as was said above.
I don't have a prob with most ages, but many people do!
What appeals to some (and not to others) is mentioning about dogs/children.....(not starting a row on here as I've had both of my own BUT due to last experiences I won't entertain either on my yard now).

Once more:

Hi, I'm relocating into this area, so am looking for livery for 2 horses.
Would prefer DIY but would consider all other options including grazing only. Happy to provide references for horses and also proof of prompt livery payments from present yard.
Experienced, tidy, adult owner with no dogs or children, who has worked in the industry and would happily do chores and help out if required.
Call Jesstickle on 0898.....

Good luck missy

 

[MerrySherryRider]

Its good to know other people do the google maps thing too. I've knocked on doors and took to cruising around my local area when it was raining to see what horses had turnout in the wet weather. The answer was, -not many.

Didn't get to the point of leaving notes, but I would have. Word of mouth has generally been my most effective way of finding new yards.

 

[Jesstickle]

Prolly yes, if I had the room

The only off putting thing (for some!) is the 4 yr old - I just wouldn't put ages on there as was said above.
I don't have a prob with most ages, but many people do!

Funny really as my 4yo is about half the bother of that big ol brown thing that I own! Because of that it's never occurred to me that her age would be off putting but I can see why it would be if you didn't know her. Maybe I'll leave their ages off altogether like you suggest.

 

[ShadowFlame]

Never left a note, but I have just "dropped by" and asked if there's any space. Doesn't always work, but hey, what's the worst that can happen?

 

[whizzer]

When I was looking recently I was getting sick of Internet trawling, I happened to pop to our local saddler to pick something up & asked him if he knew of anywhere. He mentioned a small local yard but didn't have numbers. I had a drive up but couldn't get past the electric gates! There was numbers for owner stuck on gate so I badgered them & finally got reply & moved there 2 wks ago! I've heard of people finding great yards by just driving about & asking. Often the best yards are the small ones that hardly anyone knows about. My last(fab) yard never advertised for livery it was word of mouth & luck that got you on there!

 

[Foxy girl]

The grazing I have for winter I got by my OH spotting a For Sale sign by a field, phoning the Estate Agent and asking them to pass on my details to the vendor, with a view to letting the field. He agreed and is happy for the income each year.

I'm now looking for some grazing closer to home and have just put a notice up on the board outside the local school. I'm super shy too and HATE phoning strangers, so posting a notice is a good compromise for me!

Good luck finding somewhere

 

[5horses2dogsandacat]

Yep... well letter through the letter box.. it worked and I was pleased. lol xxx