How do you choose a livery yard?

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eahotson

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I know the obvious things, cost, facilities and convenience but how do you spot the things that you know are going to make you and your horse happy? I like my current yard (started riding there a few years ago) but really its too far away and Callum and I are not seeing as much of each other as I (at least) would like. Its probably about right as far as Callums concerned. He does like being groomed and his carrots though.My dog loves it. I haven't been in many yards. Only four in total. Think there MUST be a nice one nearer me.
 
look at the BHS approvals list for your area. At least you'd know that standards were good at the yard and that it was regularly and independently checked.

My first thing after that would be good and varied hacking with lots of choices of rides to go on to keep the horses fresh.

decent surface on an arena that doesn't flood or get deep or boggy

horses that look happy with heads over doors, bright eyes, and relaxed and not stressed.

similary staff that looked relaxed, happy, not stressed and know what they are about when handling the horses - i.e. quietly and calmly - not yanking at them or shouting.
 
Judge a yard by its muck heap??? LOL

seriously though

Word of mouth is the best way to find out about local yards. Local shows, Local tack shops will help you there

When looking round look that it is tidy horses have plenty to eat. Ask about turnout is is 24/7 every day?

Staff shouting around the yard is what I do not like to see I peacefulish yeard is a good sign
 
Turnout is important to me and my horse as he weaves in the stable, but it has to be safe turnout: fencing has to be pukka, no big rabbit holes, poisenous plants, and it has to be individual turnout.

Big, well made, safe stables.

Good arena

Good hacking.

Security eg tack room

I think safety is very important to me - I have to know that he's in a safe environment. I wouldn't put him in a yard which is scruffy and run down, with things lying around he could get caught up in, poor fencing, stables falling down etc. Has to be a professional concern with knowledgable people running it.

Therefore I rent my own yard where I'm in charge!!!
 
Have to disagree with you airedale - I have found out that BHS approved doesn't actually mean a great deal through bitter experience.

Word of mouth and happy looking horses on a quiet yard is probably the best indicator. Oh and tidyness speaks volumes (not immaculate but not rugs/hats/whips/tools lying around on the floor).

Tack shops, local free equestrian papers and even this forum seem to be a good way to find a new yard.
 
I'm afraid I disagree with the BHS thing too, altough I think in theory it should be a good indicator.
A yard near us, which local horsey people all knew as being a bit 'iffy' obtained BHS aproval and then later had it took off them after the owner was prosecuted by the RSPCA!
Anyway I think you should definately look for happy horses and happy people (staff and other clients).
Fencing is definately an issue for me, gotta be post and rail or hedges.
Good facilities with an areana that doesn't flood, and is big enough for the number of liveries going to use it.
Also I think a good social calender is a good indicator of how happy other people are there.
 
There isn't any necessity for 24 hr turnout and it just isn't possible on some soil types, e.g. heavy clay. I'd rather see horses that are cared for in harmony with their available surroundings rather than 'havign' to be turned out in a field because the staff don't want the bother of muckiing out twice a day if the horses are in an area where clay or flooding occurs.

I personally hate seeing cold, wet miserable horses out in flooded, waterlogged fields just because their owners think they should be outside.
 
Good turnout is most important for me, must be 24/7 from april through to november, and at least 12 hours a day throughout the winter. I went to got Chex today in horizontal rain and driving winds, he was happily grazing across the field. Hacking is next most important and good stables. I wouldn't be on a yard that wasn't all DIY either.
 
For me I like a school (good one) preferably 2 one indoor and one outdoor. Not too big. Sociable. Somewhere to sit and have a drink and clean tack. My dog likes one that is dog friendly where she can meet and play with other dogs. For my horse I like overnight turnout in the summer (stables during the day out of the sun and flies, also helps keep weight down) and day time turnout in the winter. Nice friends for him.Good instructor for me.Present yard has most of this, no indoor but good outdoor BUT it is about an hoursdrive away. I don't work (lucky aren't I?).
 
When I moved yards my main priorities were:
Decent Arena
2 decent sized stables
Good, all year grazing - have to be in at night in winter but doesn't bother me as I would have them in anyway
Security
Secure tack room
Secure rug/feed/'bits' room
So not many, but I am now on a near perfect yard! It has it's moments, and the arena gets a big soggy with lots of rain, but generally it's a fantastic yard!!
grin.gif
 
Finding a good yard is harder than you might think. Is it me or are they never perfect? For me all year turnout is essential, but it has to be GOOD turnout. As someone else said, horses standing around in waterlogged fields with nothing but mud in them is totally pointless. Hacking is important to me, but each persons personal needs are different. I don't care about jumps, instructors or menages but for many these are essential. Nice liveries, staff and owners are also very important as this is our leisure time. Hard to find a yard anywhere were you don't get a degree of 'advice' from others whether you want it or not! I think possibly the larger the yard, the more likely your horse won't get much individual attention and things (important things sadly, like water, in my experience) can get overlooked. It's hard to know what somewhere is going to be like until you have been there a while and I agree that recommendations are a good idea, but then again it is such a personal thing as to what one person would tolerate and another would find unacceptable.
 
I think the BHS approvals system is a waste of time. It costs most YOs way too much money on top of every other bill and in my experience, an approved yard isnt always a good yard!!
I'd go for one where you trust the YO totally with the care of your horse. I'd (and I do) sacrifice other things to know that if I cant get there for whatever reason, my horses will be properly looked after
 
It wouldn't hurt to call round some local ones and ask if you can look in and see the facilities/current residents.

It might be worth putting an ad in your local tack shop and free paper. I did this and it generated quite a few leads. There is no harm in looking and you don't ahve to commit to anything.
 
Increasingly, for me, it's the management. I want the yard to be very well organised, and to have no worries at all about the care of our horse.

Current yard scores very highly on facilities such as stabling and schools, brilliantly on daily care, slightly less well on turnout, but has amazing hacking. However, above all for me the decisive factor is the absence of the bitching and back talk that has been a major feature on previous yards. People like this are just asked to leave.

We make a big investment of time and money in this activity. Thank god, at last, its pleasant.
 
SBG, was just about to ask whereabouts you are as your yard sounds great, but probably a bit far for me to trek from the Home Counties in UK to Luxembourg!
 
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