How did you find your livery yard

[Cloball]

I think it would be a good idea to get a yard sorted before I start shopping in earnest. The yard closest to me had on their website they had stables so I thought 'ideal!' except they don't actually have stables. I have tried the local Facebook group and had no replies.... Short of Google mapping all the arenas and dropping in notes? Help required!

 

[Iznurgle]

Hilariously, I did exactly what you describe - I scoured the area on Google maps before driving around hoping it was actually a yard not someone's house! I also posted on fb - local horse groups and the like. It was actually the CIA style map pouring that got me my yard!

 

[Cloball]

Hilariously, I did exactly what you describe - I scoured the area on Google maps before driving around hoping it was actually a yard not someone's house! I also posted on fb - local horse groups and the like. It was actually the CIA style map pouring that got me my yard!

I knew it!

 

[black and brown]

Asking on local FB groups tends to throw up the same options of well known yards. I think the smaller private yards tend to be word of mouth recommendations. Perhaps a farrier or feed merchant who visits these yards may be helpful?

 

[ycbm]

Do you need an arena? Use Google earth looking for arenas and then go recce whether they are private or livery?
.

 

[lannerch]

I had a recommendation on here , I also scoured face book and viewed other yards too , the one recommended here was indeed and still is the best in the local area so that one won .4 years later I am still there and would not dream of going any where else .

 

[Cloball]

Do you need an arena? Use Google earth looking for arenas and then go recce whether they are private or livery?
.

I would like the option of an arena in the winter I'm also looking for full/part or at least DIY with assistance and holiday cover type livery. I've mapped all the arenas locally just working on the method of approach ?

 

[Merry neddy man]

Have a look on here www.*******.co.uk

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Are you north wales or have I mixed you up with someone else?

Anyway I found mine through a wanted post on Facebook group pages in the area I needed.

 

[dogatemysalad]

Looked on websites, Google maps and saddlery window adverts first. Then basically drove around looking for horses grazing and went in to the yards to ask.
Ideally, driving around in winter, particularly when it's raining, gives you an idea of how much turnout the horses have and how good the land management is. Searching for yards in summer, never gives you the full picture.

 

[webble]

Word of mouth but I too have Google earthed arenas then driven around

 

[Cloball]

Are you north wales or have I mixed you up with someone else?

Anyway I found mine through a wanted post on Facebook group pages in the area I needed.

Yes I am I've moved a bit further west I was in Denbigh which has loads of yards advertising at the moment but it's a bit too far from me now which is typical.
Word of mouth is a bit of a challenge when you don't have horsey friends in the area or a horse yet. I could try leaving a note for the farmer who owns the field behind my house?

 

[Glitter's fun]

My vet knew someone.

 

[SEL]

Last yard came word of mouth in the end but I had got up Google earth and was finding arenas, driving round to see if they looked like they'd take liveries.

 

[HorsesRule2009]

If Facebook hasn't been a success maybe try local tackshop/feed merchants or is there a local riding club that you could ask?
Or a local farrier?

 

[Hopelessly horsey]

I drove past a couple of times and just stopped on a whim. The owner wasn't in but got her number! Turns out it's the best yard I have ever been on

 

[Bionic Boy]

One of mine was a drive of an area and stopped and asked. Another was a friend leaving and she mentioned it before the need to advertise.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I found my last yard through friends, the yard previous through other yards i visited looking for livery and my current yard I found on Facebook, I knew it existed but I found out they had a stable available on a Facebook ad ?

 

[Birker2020]

In the local WHY magazine, it was like a buy and sell mag and WHY stood for "what have you?".

It was the only time the Y.O had ever advertised in there. The yard i was at before was closing and there were 4 of us that came across to the new one.

It was an ex dairy farm and the livery yard was nearly brand new after being turned into a livery yard. I can remember when i went to view it and kept saying to the Y.O are you sure its only £35 a week? I'd never been on such a lovely yard, the school looked massive, in fact everything looked massive. The school was jet black with rubber. The concrete was white and the doors very green and fresh, lovely Lodden style stables.

There were only about 4 stables taken out of about 40 at this point. I can remember being really disappointed at the stable I was allocated as for some reason I'd set my heart on another one mid row. Looking back i have no idea why! It always makes me chuckle now looking back.

In the end i loved my stable.

Been here with the exception of 2.5 yrs in between for 11 yrs the first time and 6 years this time round. Its my home and I can't imagine being anywhere else now. I love my stable and paddock and my friends. I just hope I don't have to give them up.

 

[Merry neddy man]

Farriers are travelling all over the place and will know the good yards from the bad and any vacancies. www.farriers-reg.gov.uk put an area in the search box and a map with their location on will appear enlarge it and tap the blue location arrows to find 3 or 4 near you, politely ask if they could fit you in to there list when you move then ask if they know of any yards available.

 

[Birker2020]

Farriers are travelling all over the place and will know the good yards from the bad and any vacancies. www.farriers-reg.gov.uk put an area in the search box and a map with their location on will appear enlarge it and tap the blue location arrows to find 3 or 4 near you, politely ask if they could fit you in to there list when you move then ask if they know of any yards available.

Good idea. Or put a wanted advert up at the local feed merchant.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Yes I am I've moved a bit further west I was in Denbigh which has loads of yards advertising at the moment but it's a bit too far from me now which is typical.
Word of mouth is a bit of a challenge when you don't have horsey friends in the area or a horse yet. I could try leaving a note for the farmer who owns the field behind my house?

If you pm your general area I can ask my farrier if he knows anything, as I think he goes that far over.

 

[Palindrome]

For one yard, I asked the local feed store/animal feed merchant and got some good info. If you have a tack shop locally it's worth inquiring too as they usually know most of the yards in the surrounding area.
I moved several times and never knew anyone locally so HHO forum, Google/Google Earth and local shops are what helped me.

 

[Widgeon]

I went into the shop in a village very near to where we were moving to. It's a horsey area so I asked the girl behind the counter whether anyone locally took liveries. "Talk to that lady!" she said, and pointed to the person behind me in the queue. So I did. We've been on her yard three years now

So yes....word of mouth. Ask in local tack shops, feed stores, any random people in shops who look horsey....

 

[McFluff]

Word of mouth through the riding club.

 

[Birker2020]

Do you need an arena? Use Google earth looking for arenas and then go recce whether they are private or livery?
.

Yes I did that too.

By the way OP if you are in the Warwickshire area I have a huge list of livery yards with contact names/numbers that you might find helpful.

 

[jnb]

I googled "yard field to rent *county name* and it came up on Preloved. Luckily I had an account...when I looked at the ad it said a certain area but looking at the postcode I realised where it might be - a yard I had driven past every day for 3 years 20 years ago and wondered who it belonged to!
No arena but I quickly realised you don't *need* one. Been there 5 years now and will never set foot on a Livery yard again, if I can help it.

 

[Sealine]

Fellow livery moved to a new yard and she kept telling me how great the new place was. I went to have a look and asked her to let me know if a vacancy came up. I had to wait a couple of months before a stable became available but I've been here 17 years now and my friend is still here too.

 

[Annagain]

Always knew about it, had friends there and waited 3 years until 3 spaces came up together (for my old boy and friend's two). 20 years and 3 horses later, we're still there, as is my friend with one of her horses who moved with us (as well as a new one)

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I have frequent notes and cards etc wedged onto my main yard gate, plus also callers in at random times if they see my car in the yard. Much more over the last month or so than previously. i do text back an answer to each one where possible.
Occasionally I'm able to signpost them to other local yards where they might try for a space, but this is quite rare as not many yards left in my little area now.