How do you tell your yard owner you are leaving?

I've moved yards a few times and the thought of telling the owner and my imagined reaction from them was way worse than their actual reaction! Although my last yard was a nightmare... I found a new yard which looked great. I paid a deposit and was waiting for a place. Meanwhile my horse suddenly became ill and I had to make the heartbreaking decision quickly to have him pts. The yard owner got wind I was leaving and hasn't spoken to me since! I'd classed her as friend. I couldn't believe her reaction. I'm sad I didn't get to move my boy from her health hazzard of a yard and that we didn't enjoy his last few months.
 
Keep it quiet until it's all confirmed, deposit paid, date set etc for new yard. Only then would I give notice.
It'll probably be okay, I've moved yard a lot trying to find the right one (luckily landed on my feet with my own rented place now) and only one YO took me leaving poorly and gave me the cold shoulder for the rest of my notice (she was rather attached to my mare). Others were sad to see me go, but understood I needed things they couldn't provide and said the door was always open, others I was just another client and left on good, professional terms. I've always given reasons as being 'me' reasons (can't afford fuel costs to and from yard, need a school as I want to do more with horse now etc), even if I could have written a list as long as my arm about the REAL reasons haha
 
Normally I'd say don't say anything until you've got a place but now that you've told your fellow livery and there's a chance your YO could find out before you tell her I think it might be better to say something or she could be really hurt that you didn't tell her.

I'd just say you're thinking you might HAVE to start looking for somewhere else as you're really struggling with the roadwork and need better hacking. Say that IF you find somewhere you'll be really sorry to leave and would love to stay in touch and still ride with her etc, that it's just a decision based on practicalities and not personal. From what you've said so far she sounds like the sort of person who would accept this. Make sure she knows how grateful you are for everything she's done for you.
 
annagain said:
Normally I'd say don't say anything until you've got a place but now that you've told your fellow livery and there's a chance your YO could find out before you tell her I think it might be better to say something or she could be really hurt that you didn't tell her.
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Yes, I'd say that this changes everything. Get in out in the open with the YO if you want to keep him/her as a friend.

In the original post, Ben2684, you mentioned that the place is dilapidated, nothing gets fixed unless you do it yourself and that the access road is damaging your car.

These are all things that the Yard Owner could fix, given the money and motivation, so citing these are motives for leaving is like criticizing the Owner for not having the gumption to get them fixed (because given enough motivation, the Owner would find the money somewhere).

I'd cite the other reason: there's too much roadwork before getting to the good hacking. That's totally outside the Owner's control and a very good reason for wanting a place elsewhere.
 
rifruffian said:
It's easy to tell the yard owner; but the consequences to the yard owner may be severe.

Example........my yard owner raised prices; was unaffordable to me, I gave notice to end livery for my two horses.....on the face of it, no problem BUT........the immediate loss of 2 liveries meant the YO did not, for the time being anyway, derive any addition to gross livery income because two had immediately terminated.

Sometimes it just cannot be sweetness and light.
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But a good yard would have a waiting list so the YO would only be short for a few days.
 
When you move yards as in your case there are often many reasons however I've focused on one that can't be changed and is out of the yard manager's control so there is not implied criticism of how the yard is run.

In your case I would focus on the hacking/road work issue and not mention anything else. I would also like others have said wait till you have a definite space in case it doesn't materialise. Bear in mind sometimes with waiting lists it's not always equal, someone on the yard gets a new horse or a previous livery wants a space and they jump the queue.
 
mytwofriends said:
My friend and I gave a month’s notice to our ‘friend’ who was YO. We told the absolute truth and all seemed to go well. We discussed still meeting up, riding together etc. She appeared totally ok.

Next morning we were greeted by her enraged red-faced father, accusing us of stealing, treating his daughter like dirt, our horses were ‘the ones’ who’d trashed all the paddocks etc etc. It was scary. We left that day.

It transpired that no-one dared give notice at that yard for that reason. Would have been nice to have known that first.

Good luck, I’m sure you’ll be fine, but YO’s can be odd.
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shocking-what right did he have to treat you like that! oh and you are well rid of your YO 'FRIEND'-going running to her dad like that-what a wimp! hope you are happier at your new yard
 
So, an update!
Am now on the waiting list at my most ideal yard which I have work. To current yard owner about. Sugar coated reasons somewhat but it went well. We will remain friends! She cried I cried and we hugged.
So now... I’m dying to move ASAP and waiting list may be months :(
How do people feel about going to a yard that may not be your ‘forever yard’ but may work for now (as in a month to six) in anticipation of a space coming up where you really want?
I only ask as current yard is really not floating my (or my horses) boat
 
Ben2684 said:
So, an update!
Am now on the waiting list at my most ideal yard which I have work. To current yard owner about. Sugar coated reasons somewhat but it went well. We will remain friends! She cried I cried and we hugged.
So now... I’m dying to move ASAP and waiting list may be months :(
How do people feel about going to a yard that may not be your ‘forever yard’ but may work for now (as in a month to six) in anticipation of a space coming up where you really want?
I only ask as current yard is really not floating my (or my horses) boat
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As a warning how far up the waiting list are you. My experience is generally liveries buying more horses and friends and family of existing liveries jump the waiting list. So sometimes you are "on the waiting list" but don't make much progression.

I have also been the other side and jumped waiting lists when I know yard owners or liveries at the yard.

It is hard but I would try and find out a bit more about likelihood of getting a space at yard you want.

Often some people move in spring, as weather improves. There is a spring and autumn livery migration typically.
 
Hurrah! Space has come up and notice given :) move day is the 14/4... which gives me a few days grace to make my stable and storage area good for the next person.

Moving will I imagine be incredibly stressful but oh so worth it, can’t wait to lift and move 8 stable mats that have been down for over three years.... not! Wish me luck! And the icing on the cake is im not leaving under a cloud, current YO has been really good about it, gave me a glowing reference and we will remain good friends, panic over
 
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