How often have you changed livery yards/effect on horses..?

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karenjj

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Hi Just wondered how often anyone has changed livery yards? I have been at a few in the past year and each one seems as bad as the one before, it seems you can never tell if a yard is any good until you've been there a while. When you go to view one, the owners seem to be good and know what they're talking about then you move and it all goes pear shaped! My two horses settle in very quickly wherever they've gone but it can't be good for them moving them? What does everyone think about this, what experiences have you had?
 
I have been at 3 in the last year, for me each once was a bit better than the last, but the one I am at is great and it was on more than one personal recommendation which must be the key. For some reason George never really settled at the 2nd yard, I think because the routine was a bit hit and miss, but at our current yard he was asleep with his head resting on the door snoring within hours of arriving! I have to say I felt awful moving him so often but he seems to be fine.
 
I've moved yards after being at the previous yard for only 5 weeks. Both of them have settled really well. I wouldn't feel too happy about changing again soon but then if the yard turned out not to be very nice then I would feel it would be better to find somewhere more suitable.

Thankfully this doesn't appear to be the case at the moment - but I do dream of having a sand school to use.
 
Changed just recently in April, it is the second one I have been to since I moved back to the UK and my horse is a lot more settled, I was at the other one for just under two years but eventually it got so cliquey and nasty I couldn't take it anymore. But even my vet has commented on the fact my horse looks a lot happier where I am now.
 
By the 14th july will have been a year of having buddy and we are now on our 3rd yard. The first one was part livery which no longer needed to moved closer to home and had DIY. Only to be promised by YO that she would turn him out every day for me and then she changed everything. She wanted me to give up my stable and turn him out in a field about 5 mins walk away. I persuaded help to let me keep my stables, but was a pain to turn him out and bring him as he is so young and not confident with cars. I had enough in the end he was getting bullied by other horse and took nearly an hour to get him back out the field because of other horse. In the end i gave up and told the YO i couldnt but up with it no more and after a lot of verbal abuse of her saying what a b*tch i was and how ungrateful i was i moved him again. Now we have been at new yard a few months buddy has settled great and it is so much more nicer. Im glad i moved him but hope i dont have to again.
 
It does unsettle the horses each time they move as it tends to take a few months before they truely trust the environment they are placed in, they also have to go through the whole 'pecking order' situation which causes potential injury each time. If you are struggling to settle into the way of livery life why don't you consider buying your own land and putting a stable up, sometimes the loan re-payments are not much more than you spend on livery.
I am a yard owner now but was a livery for many years so understand how difficult it can be as a livery with all the rules and regulations but as a yard owner it is also hard work trying to keep a happy medium with lots of different needs and personalities too.
 
Hi thanks everyone, I have moved 3 times in the past year as well. I was happy where I am but then the owner started leaving them out 24/7 and asking me to pay for fencing that was rotten anyway that they pushed over! I know it's good for horses to be out 24/7 in summer but mine seem a bit nutty to ride and they get bored in the field (which is why they pushed the fence over!) I also am still paying full livery for both and they are turned out with grass liveries who pay a lot less than me! I don't know the whole thing is starting to really annoy me! Am I being unfair asking for them to come in at night? The YO is quite intimidating, I find it hard to talk to him!
 
I moved Tia 8 days ago to a new yard after being at her previous yard for 5 years
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I turned up in the morning to find her completely by herself away from the herd of 20 neighing for me lol which was worrying but she seems to have settled well, seems relaxed and with the herd now. The turnout is unbelievable in size compared to where she was which I think has helped a lot, she seems to enjoying bombing off when I turn her out anyway lol.
 
We've moved once in the whole time I've had my own horses, so about eight years.... but only because the yard we are now at has great facilities and flexible staff. Of course it will take a while for the horse to settle but I wouldn't hesitate to move him if in the long run it would be better for the horse. You have to be happy where you are.
 
I've been at the yard I'm at now for 14 years, I moved from one end to the other about 8 years ago, my mare finds moving really stressful.
 
I've been on about 14 yards in the 22 years I've had horses. Never unsettled any of mine moving but it's really down to the individual horse at the end of the day.
 
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