How About What We Like At Livery Yards And Some Good Stories

Equilibrium Ireland

Equilibrium Ireland

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Since all these threads of things that drive us nuts are around, how about some balance? Look it, I've been driven demented by a wanna be who thinks the world revolves around her. But I do have to just let it go so I like to think of the nice things.

When my husband first went to Saudi about 2 years ago I was left doing 20 horses on my own until I could finish that job properly and move somewhere with my lot. I'm so thankful to the cattle farmer who came to check on me and sort my round bales. For when I called him at 11pm and he came around pronto as my mare was foaling and mare had a hip lock she wouldn't let me sort. Vet was going to be awhile. We got it sorted and vet could go back home. I was in tears from lack of sleep was in a right state!

Upon moving to my new place everyone helped me get the horses settled as well as get the dogs and cats settled and unpack so I could eat! I chose this place because I could live on the prop with my horses but wasn't totally alone.

Upon returning late from sales one night all my horses were in waiting for me to feed and my landlord called to say come get some dinner you need it. I was selling at sales. I also used to do all my horses early in the morning before work. Like 5am. One morning I was late so I could only feed and put out. Came home and all 6 stables were done with clean water and fresh hay. When I was really sick and struggling one year, they sent me to bed and finished up for me. Last winter when we were frozen under we all did all the little things to keep things flowing.

Tons of little things and I've tried to do anything I could to make their lives a little easier.

Just thought we could see the brighter side!

Terri
 
At my current yard I like-

-No bitching!
-Only 5 of us
-Horses all get on
-Relaxed
-Opportunity to help each other with to/bi and it's not taken advantage of
- sharing of trailer going to shows
- hacking days
- ability to pen off field for summer
- good hay at reasonable prices

And finally-

The general relaxed blissful feeling I get when I'm there!
 
I am on a big yard which is split into several smaller yards with yard managers running them.
I love my YM and the way he looks after mine. He'll always go the extra mile and I have total peace of mind when I am not there, even for linger spells.
There are however a lot of things wrong with the overall set up, starting with lack of maintenance to everything slowly falling into disrepair and no winter t/o. Unfortunately, I think in the long run I'll have to move on because the youngster really isn't coping all that well with the winter :-(
 
Well I like:
- No bitchiness
- Variety of ages (people) but still people my age and similar personalities
- Relaxed rules but still maintenance done quickly and efficiently
- Everyone is helpful and friendly (when I had Pneumonia others did all the horses for me as a favour)
- People to hack with
- Welcoming to sharers/friends/others
- Floodlit school (have been on yards without lights/school, couldn't do it now!)
- Other people to lift share with
- People to/bi etc as favours to each other
- Lots of farmers like us and deliver/stack etc cheaply and quickly as well as a weekly delivery from the local feed store
- DIY but with reasonably priced services
- A fair amount of grazing for the area and turnout never shuts etc
- It's just a nice yard!

I'm sure I could think of more but that's a start :).
 
I love the yard I am on, I can't see myself moving anytime soon although it is a bit further than others locally

I love the fact that

- there is no silly bitchiness
- Nobody interferes or gives me unwanted advice
- the liveries are mostly adults, only a couple of older teens
- owner lives on site as does the yard manager
- all field boundaries are fenced with post and electric and it's always on
- individual / restricted turnout available in summer
- they do grass livery and allow full use of facilities
- we have a lovely rubber and sand school, floodlit and a walker
- always someone there to check harry if I can't make it
- sensible rules only
- the yard is always swept and clean, it's so neat and tidy
- not one person has moaned about having a horse and carriage on the yard and in fact when I broke him in I had most of the yard there for support

There is always one or two things we would like to be different, my only problem with the yard is the main ratrut road that it is on, but once you've done 100yards either way it's all small quiet roads so that's not so bad
 
I like the fact we aren't really on livery tbh we just rent 2 stables and fields and can do what we want with them (within reason) no your horses have to be in overnight ect but still have other people on the yard so if we can't get up there we can ask someone else to do them :)
 
I love my yard! There's lots of good things about it, but I'll list some of them:

* no bitchiness
* clients aged 8 - 80, but plenty of ladies of a similar age to me (ancient!)
* helpful staff - never unwilling to help/advise
* lovely hacking
* 10 minutes from home
* very reasonable price
* lots of people to hack out with
* very laid back
* all sorts of riders there - happy hackers, dressage divas, competitive riders etc and everyone seems to get on and is interested in what the others are doing

The only 'minus' (and it is a little one) is that there is no outdoor school (only indoor), which would be nice in the summer!
 
I absolutely love my yard and George is very happy there too :) the YO's that live on site are lovely and if anything needs mending etc. it is done ASAP. The YM is brilliant and I trust her implicitly, I know George is looked after to a very high standard and I never worry about him if i'm away.

The other things I like are:
-small yard, everyone gets on and no bitchiness
-floodlit outdoor school
- great hacking
- horses go out every single day, even in this weather
- people to hack with
- YM and other liveries always willing to help/give advice if needed

There are great yards out there :)
 
I love the yard I am on because...
Its very near to where I live.
There are a lot of liveries, and we all do different things, have different ideas and different views, sometimes we disagree - but that's ok because we all care about our horses and try to do the best we can for them, and if someone needs help we can put our differences aside and step in, and if someone is feeling grumpy we can give them some space and spend time with someone else for a bit, until they're feeling more sociable.
Our yard has "Stable Fairies" who mysteriously muck out, or bring horses in if someone is ill or home from work extra late, and in emergency situations "teams" of people have sprung up to work together to each do a little bit to help someone out for a few weeks when needed.
There is always someone to hack out with, go to a show with, moan about the weather to, congratulate or commiserate with on competition results, share a joke with, or hold your hand and pass you a tissue when that final unhappy day comes and you say your last goodbye to an old friend - and sometimes that person is not your closest friend, sometimes they just happened to be there and stepped into the role when you most needed it.
But today, after a week of keeping the horses in due to the weather, I especially love the livery yard I am on because....
We have an indoor school!
 
nice thought but i tried a thread like this before and although a few brave souls came to 'big up' their yard it didn't get very far;) seems that threads that bitch are much more interesting and if a fight starts even better;)

Love where i livery though:D farm livery and i'm free to do as i please within reason, farmer makes a great cup (or three) of coffee and there's a mechanic down there with a workshop who fixes my car for me,:cool:
 
mine is close to where i live, meaning i can walk there if needed (especially in this weather!)
turnout all year round
lovely big school with flood lights
plenty of storage space
yo lives on site
quite relaxed
 
I love my yard. Everyone is super friendly, we're all mates. I can job share with people if I need time off to have a life, I have company to ride out with and can share lifts to shows sometimes. If I can't share a lift I can usually persuade someone from the yard to come and groom for me so I don't have to go alone. I also 'share' my RI so she doesn't have to come out to teach just me so get a better rate.

We have a nice school with lights that is rideable nearly every single day of the year. My horses are allowed out everyday, YM does a huge haylage and bedding order for the whole yard so we get cheaper rates, but you can opt out and do your own thing if you want too.

I can come and go as I please and no one questions why I am doing things particularly, unless they are actually interested. no one ever asks because they are being snide.

In short, the thing I value most is the company. I moved to a new area and didn't know anyone and my yard is how I made new friends :)
 
On the whole I love my yard. I've made some great friends there. Yes, it's not the smartest place but the horses are happy & healthy. There is lots of turnout which is never limited even on this awful weather.
It was recommended to me by a HHO member of which I'm v grateful :)
 
What a nice thread!! I like that on our yard the YOs (3 of them) will assist with any difficulty and are very helpful that way. When my horse was going loopy on box rest and I decided I had to turn him out for his mental wellbeing, I gave him sedaline and went home for a cuppa to wait for it to take effect, my heart was in my mouth. When I went back up the YO and his partner had done the deed for me. He had taken him out, stood with him on the lead rope to ensure he wouldn't do anything silly with his partner shouting out when a motorbike or similar was going along the adjacent road, ( he is very strong and doesn't let loopy horses go!!) it was such a nice thing for them to do for me and we didn't look back from that day. ( horsey healed quicker too!!)
 
I love the yard I'm on - moved here 5 months ago and it was the best thing I ever did. The care is second to none, but the icing on the cake is how thoughtful the YM is. She brings percolated coffee in insulated mugs whenever I'm on the yard, and if I've left my stable rug flicked over the door while I ride, she'll swap it with my T/O so it's ready when I get back. She'll also tack my horse up so she's ready to go when I'm rushing up after work to catch the last of the light! In turn I try to pay back a bit by helping out with evening stables and filling nets etc whenever I can. :)
 
i love my yard, the best yard ive ever been on. amazing people and the best YM in the whole world. she couldnt do enough 4 me and my neds while i was pregnant, she does mine whenever i cant get there for whatever reason. she even babysits my 8 week old daughter occasionally if i need a break, ive now asked her 2 be godmother :) shes completely selfless and when i purposely went up really early so i could muck out and feed her 3 the other day, she was in tears with gratitude, she does so much for me it was the very least i could do :D
 
I love my new yard! Been there 10 days now, but it is just fab! YO lives on site, is very experienced with horses, and looks after mine like one of her own. The facilities are great (60x40 school, grass gallops and off-road riding straight from the yard), the yard itself is spotless, and if I want to know anything or get any advice she helps me straight away. I've never been on a proper, professional yard before, and I love it! My horse is the happiest I have ever seen him.
 
Yeah, happy stories! Keeps life in perspective! I'm very fortunate in living on the property with my horses. Some people only get to spend an hour or two with their horses and it's nice to see that this is pleasant for them and no need for worry!

Terri
 
I love my new yard, my horse has never thrived so much, the staff are caring, experienced and exceptionally good at their jobs. Nothing is too much trouble for them. The yard manager is a delight and a daily dairy is kept so i can track the workload my horse has had during the week whilst i have been at work.

There are affiliated and unaffiliated shows on site, with the oportunity to attend demos with top riders and trainers. There is access to the beautiful bedgebury forest which has meant i have been able to hack my unhackable horse once more. I have never been so happy. Horses are expensive and should always be a pleasure. I have such peace of mind that my horse is being looked after 24/7. her hay bar is always topped up with the best hay (served how i like her to have it), everything is immaculate and she has made loads of friends.

The yard owner is a delight! She has a vision of how she wants the yard to be and is striving towards it at a great rate! Im so excited for where we will be in the future, for i have such a great support network behind us, i feel nothing will stop us now :D
 
I got to my yard early on Christmas morning to discover that Santa Claus had beaten me to it - each horse had a Christmas stocking hanging at its stable door, with apples, carrots and horse treats. I thought that was just lovely.
 
I've got mine split between 2 yards, one is farm livery, a bit run down but just us and a friend there- bliss and one is on a bigger DIY yard, got no big complaints about either, how lucky is that?!
 
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