How did you decide when livery just wasn't working?

bonnysmum

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When making a decision to move did you prioritise horse or human relationships? Paddock management & facilities or convenience? Is upheaval for your horse worse than losing your own sanity?! Without giving chapter and verse of our own woes I'm interested to know what was the straw that broke the camel's back for others?
 

sassandbells

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I think it really depends on the situation. I’ve left one yard because the fields weren’t great and the location and surroundings were very busy and it just wasn’t suitable for a highly strung thoroughbred.

The second place I left was a small private yard, one other horse owner there. I loved it but the yard owners were a nightmare and micro managed everything and it got to a point where I was scared to go down there in case they said anything (a couple of examples, having hedges bordering a post and rail fence but getting annoyed if the horses tried to eat the hedge, or getting annoyed about mud in winter & not just slightly annoyed, shouting and screaming at us). Decided to move as although the set up was perfect it was just not a healthy environment to be in being micromanaged and I ended up doing the bare minimum each day and leaving ASAP.

When looking for new yards I prioritised what would be best for the horses, ie 24/7 turnout with shelter, large enough fields, ability to manage / fence fields as we wish. Ended up in the perfect place for us (albeit no facilities other than a water tap and a schooling field) but never have to worry about stroppy yard owners or interfering people. It’s a bit lonely but it’s worth it for my horses well-being. I would 100% move if I was extremely unhappy at a yard, but only if I could find another that was suitable for how I keep my horses.
 

Mimi2005

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When making a decision to move did you prioritise horse or human relationships? Paddock management & facilities or convenience? Is upheaval for your horse worse than losing your own sanity?! Without giving chapter and verse of our own woes I'm interested to know what was the straw that broke the camel's back for others?

I left a very small yard because I was not happy enough with what was on offer (inadequate routine wise, mucking out standards, withholding hay, turnout time, paddock management etc) but, from a personal point of view, me and the other 4 liveries got on very well and were riding buddies but my horse's happiness and wellbeing is always the priority.
 

Boulty

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I have moved for several reasons over the years... Some of them were to save my sanity, some of them were to save the horse's and a few were horse health related.

Generally if there's things not working that yard has said they'll sort & then they don't in a reasonable timeframe (usually several years) that's been something that's caused me to leave before. I left one place after 2 days because they lied to me about turnout arrangements. I have on 3 occasions returned to a previous yard within a short timeframe because a move hasn't worked out (yes these were all with the same horse & yes he was a nightmare to live with at times!). I have left places because I don't like their new yard manager. I have left for better hacking & better turnout a few times as well.

The ones where I was happy but had to move for the sake of the horse were always the hardest (most recent move I went from having horse literally at the end of the street onto full livery on a track system because I'd tried everything I could think of to keep weight off this horse in a "normal" setup and it just wasn't working well enough. He's still not THAT far away but I personally didn't really want to leave the other yard as had good turnout, good hacking, arena hire I could walk to & a lovely, same yard owner but staying was proving a bit disastrous for him health-wise sadly. Horse has settled very well, made loads of positive changes & new yard is fab & I'm glad I've done it as it's made a massive difference to him but there's just something about taking the dog for a walk & being able to wave at the pony in his field (& it was the closest I'll ever get to having horses at home)... Aaaand then there's the time I moved a horse an hour away from home to a very specific setup because he couldn't cope with grass anymore)
 

bonnysmum

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The only thing that isn't a compromise I'm willing to make is it being 30 min + away.

Sadly if I move yards that compromise is a total given. ? The thing I really can't compromise on for mine is 24/7 year-round turnout, and at the moment that and proximity to home is about all my yard has going for it.
 
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SEL

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Winter turnout that I'd said before I moved there was essential (had it in writing luckily) - then YM tried to say it couldn't happen. There were other things too but that was the "straw"

Nice bunch of people and I liked it from that perspective
 

dogatemysalad

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Other than moving house to a new area, my main reason has usually been lack of winter turnout.
A couple of times I've left an otherwise nice yard, because of poor management and maintenance, that posed a serious risk to my horses.
 

HappyHollyDays

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I left one yard because of the YM who constantly bitched about everyone else, the care went down hill and the Farrier they used crippled my horse. Ironically we are back at the same place but without the YM on DIY rather than part and I love it. Another I left after a month as neither horses would settle and DP became dangerous to handle on the ground. I’m convinced there was a dead body somewhere as they were both so upset and unpredictable.
 

Bernster

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It isn’t something to do lightly as it is an upheaval for the horse and I have so much kit to move plus doing mats is a total pain! But horses do settle soon enough as long as it’s a good choice of yard. I’ve moved a couple of times for horse care reasons and a couple of times for me/better facilities (over 20 years). The horse care moves have tended to be the more successful interestingly so I’m going to be more careful in future if I’m thinking of moving for the facilities!
 

Widgeon

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Is upheaval for your horse worse than losing your own sanity?!

My gut feeling would be that for the majority of horses, no it's not. This is such an expensive and time consuming hobby - if it's not making you happy then what's the point? If you're really unhappy at a yard your horse will probably pick up on your emotions anyway. Assuming that the essential needs of the horse will be met (whatever they are for your horse) I think you should move if you're really unhappy.
 

SheriffTruman

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When making a decision to move did you prioritise horse or human relationships? Paddock management & facilities or convenience? Is upheaval for your horse worse than losing your own sanity?! Without giving chapter and verse of our own woes I'm interested to know what was the straw that broke the camel's back for others?

I prioritised the horse. Loved the people on my old yard, got on well with everybody, great hacking, and okay outdoor school. But, in autumn, and winter they stood ankle deep in the mud, in a too small paddock, fencing was a bit dodgy, and the haylage moldy. It was the bad hay that made me decide in the end to move. I'm in a brilliant place now, really lucky, but it was a gamble as you never now beforehand. No decent hacking, but good outdoor school, excellent care, and good quality hay. Winter turnout with the herd in a gigantic paddock. Summer is 24/7 grazing. He has a great life now, so I'm happy I moved.
 

Widgeon

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Sadly if I move yards that compromise is a total given. ? The thing I really can't compromise on for mine is 24/7 year-round turnout, and at the moment that and proximity to home is about all my yard has going for it.

If you find somewhere further away that ticks the boxes re 24/7 turnout and being basically a nice place, could you get some sort of assistance to at least do one end of the day?
 

MuddyMonster

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When I've moved from part/full livery it's been essentially either because I've not received the care and could look after my horse better myself or the client service has been shocking- I'm not a high maintenance client that believes the yard should revolve around me but I've had plenty of moments where, if I was at work & spoke to or acted towards a client that way, I wouldn't have a job!

For DIY yards it's usually been a change of circumstance of either myself or the yard - job change or house move meaning yard is in wrong direction have been the most common but did also move when pony didn't like the person doing assistance changed & refused to be caught for them ?

I have moved once after a month as I just didn't like the atmosphere. I'm thick skinned but it was a small private yard but with two big personalities & I decided, no.

Life's too short and horses are too expensive to be unhappy, so I'd say move. I once moved something like 7 times in two years (some I knew were temporary even at the time) - pony was fine & definitely happier off the worst of the yards.
 

JBM

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One horse on livery one horse prefers being at home depends on the horse
Barry needs a lot of horses around him and doesn’t like 24/7 turnout so he’s on livery
Judy lovesss being out 24/7 only really tolerates a stable but makes her sad so home it is where she can eat gras 24/7
 

bonnysmum

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One horse on livery one horse prefers being at home depends on the horse
Barry needs a lot of horses around him and doesn’t like 24/7 turnout so he’s on livery
Judy lovesss being out 24/7 only really tolerates a stable but makes her sad so home it is where she can eat gras 24/7

Mine's the second type. Never had a stable until this yard and only goes in there when she has to. If I had any land to have her at home on grass (with companion(s)) then that is 100% what I'd do!
 
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JBM

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Mine's the second type. Never had a stable until this yard and only goes in there when she has to. If I had any land to have her at home on grass (with companion(s)) then that is 100% what I'd do!
I’m in the process of hopefully adopting a horse so Judy will have some company. She’s chill without company but is definitely happier with some
 

poiuytrewq

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I think you as an owner being happy at a yard is as important as the horse being happy.
I’m not saying I think it’s right to move a happy horse someplace they are miserable at all but I don’t think owners should suffer on a yard they dislike because horses *usually settle anywhere given the right environment. Company, shelter etc.
They don’t care about tack room politics but they do pick up on stressed out ownerrs/caters.
 

bonnysmum

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Many reasons, some practical some to do with the YO. But ultimately the wake-up call was when I found myself anxious about going to the yard. It's too expensive a hobby to not actually be enjoying it.

Yup, that's where we are now. Well my daughter's anxious and doesn't want to spend time there without me. I'm super stressed about the division of labour and can't do any more than our fair share as I work F/T.
 

Mouse19

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I took the decision to have the horses at home because I was moving away from the area and couldn’t find livery as good as the current yard.

I don’t think any yard is perfect and it does depend on the type of horse you have. My old horse was an incredibly good doer, well behaved and loved to live out. She suited the livery yard to a tee. But other people had more complicated horses there and struggled as the yard only wanted to give the minimum attention and discussions were had.
 

bonnysmum

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Yup, that's where we are now. Well my daughter's anxious and doesn't want to spend time there without me. I'm super stressed about the division of labour and can't do any more than our fair share as I work F/T.

The other thing (see I'm spilling now anyway ?) is that my horse isn't getting on great with one of the others and there's talk of separating her. That I would definitely not be happy about! If only other yards weren't so far away.
 

Fieldlife

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I don’t need friends at the yard / social life, as I can find that elsewhere.

But I would move if I was long term actively stressed / undermined / unhappy at a yard.

My first priority is my horse’s welfare. Good turnout, safe company, safe fencing, sufficient hay, good welfare considerations.

Second for me is facilities and access to them – access to good school. Good hacking.

I have been as far away as 40 minutes, but was a good livery yard, and I did not go every day (I moved for the sandy turnout in winter from clay with an older horse).

My life time strategy with livery has been to try and always have a few backup options, and to research any move very carefully.

Whether you should move now, depends on the pros and cons of the alternatives. How are they to access in traffic etc. etc.

I would say most yards are at their worst at this time of year, when it is miserable weather and horses in more, most liveries / staff much more grumpy at this time of year. So if you can hold on until Spring it will probably improve.

Some of livery does involve finding ways to make the people stuff work for you, if it is best place for your horse.
 

Trickywooo

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My old yard owner decided to suddenly restrict turnout. I don't like keeping my horses in for days on end so I moved.

It was also a very bitchy yard with the yard owner being the worst culprit for it.

Looking back I stuck it out for longer than I should because of the convenience of how close it was to my home (only 10 minutes away) and it had the most amazing hacking straight off the yard.

After the final straw with the turnout I moved to current yard which is further away (around 30 minutes) and whilst the hacking is still amazing, you need to ride a short way on the road to reach off road bridleways. Turnout is available 365 days a year and the liveries are lovely. I'm happy and so are my horses.

Ultimately when choosing a yard I think the horses needs must come first but I also think a happy owner = a happy horse to an extent.
 

Bionic Boy

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I think they go hand in hand. If you’re not happy then your horse will pick up on that. And vice versa, if your horse isn’t happy then you won’t be.
I have 2 horses, 1 is a retired 24 year old that is used to just him and 2 others. The other is still ridden and come from a larger yard with lot’s going on.
They both have different needs so are kept on 2 different yards to suit them. Doesn’t make life easy but I wouldn’t move either of them to make my life easier as I know one of them wouldn’t be happy.
 

SO1

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Yard 1 large RS very good facilities and within walking distance of home. Good turnout but Homey did not settle.

Yard 2 Grass livery. No services so was tricky if I needed to travel for work or visit family. Stayed for 6 years left as one of the horses died of sycamore poisoning and decided not worth the risk of staying.

Yard 3 part livery 8 years. Saddly lost Homey but plan to go back when I get a new pony. Very good standard of care, all year turnout but not 24/7. I would prefer that they stayed out longer but can't have everything.
 

Green Bean

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It took me a long time to move away from a YO driven toxic yard. It was convenient, great stables and paddocks but no suitable hacking and issues around hay provision. The decision was made for me when the yard closed. In the preceding years I had been looking at other yards but the priority of my horse's requirements were just never met. Being forced to move was the best decision for us. I am now at a lovely small private yard with great liveries, a gelding next to my mare in stable and paddock who adores her, great routine and 7 day part livery so no early morning rises on the weekend after being on 5 day part livery for so long. It is 20 minutes away, but it is an easy drive so not bad.
My horse is anxious so she was my main concern. I will fit in as required. She is still settling down and I believe she nickers for everyone in the new yard to con them out of loves or treats or both :)
 

smolmaus

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It would have to be quite bad for me to move for purely human-reasons. I try my best to keep myself out of yard politics and on as many good sides as possible but people pleasing is a (sometimes unfortunate) part of my personality anyway.

My friend is much less patient and if she eventually reaches her limit I will go with her but neither of us would go somewhere if the welfare standard was worse (winter turnout every day being the main thing and not easy to find in the area).
 

marmalade76

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I left one yard because I was invited somewhere with better grazing & hacking. I was there for 13 years and was eventually driven out by a mother & daughter combo who I think wanted the place to themselves. Attempts to cause trouble were subtle at first but built up to actual harassment in the end. Hacking had gone downhill in that time so it wasn't so hard to leave in the end, plus it was a relief to get away. YO died two years later so would have had to move anyway.

I have had to move out of two different yards because they were sold.

Current yard is idyllic, privately rented, up to me if I want to share it with someone else of my choosing (doing this currently) and I won't be moving out unless my YOs sell or pop their clogs.
 
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