How to survive a livery yard!

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Char0901

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Ok, so Sept/Oct time I'm going to be moving my yearling to a livery yard.
I've been on livery yards in the past but for the last two years I've kept my foal at my friends private yard on her farm.
He's currently turned out for the summer, but my friend has sold her yearling who is my lads only pal at the yard.
I think I've found a yard but its a pretty big one. It has 70 stables, indoor, outdoor x 2, horse walker, join up pen, derby banks (obviously no use yet but hey pretty cool!) It is cleverly split up though so it doesn't feel that big at all.
The owners have a lot of experience with youngsters which is good as I've never had one on my own.
I'm really worried about moving from such a quite place with only me and my friend to a huge livery yard!

Any tips on how to survive and not get dragged into all the drama and politics?!
Previously my mum and I have been too open with people and allowed people to get too close… We are determined to not let this happen again!
 
Have confidence in your own actions, smile sweetly and nod when advice is given...then sit back and marvel at just how strange us horsey people are : )
 
Keep out of the drama
be tidy
help others but be careful they do not take advantage/keep yourself to yourself.
Work out who causes drama/bitchy/rude and avoid them.
 
Smile and nod at any helpfully given advice and unless it actually makes sense ignore and do your own thing......

Also know that any one on the livery yard will talk about you behind your back, and will talk to you about others behind their backs, we all do it. we all have different ways of doing things and unless its endangering the horse just watch and keep your breath.

be tidy, if someone asks for help, help other wise keep to your self.
 
Smile and be polite.
Ignore all gratuitous advice with a smile and a pleasant "Thank You!"
If the gratuitous advice keeps on coming, use an ipod and headphones.
Say "No" to things you don't want to do and stick to it.
Enjoy it - you never know, they might be the friendliest bunch of people you've ever met!
 
I am amazed, how the majority of hho members tar all livery yards with the same brush, and make them out to be hell on earth. It is simply untrue.
 
I have been on numerous livery yards over the years (never been fortunate to know anyone with any land / or own my own place) and never had a problem.

I am always polite & friendly, look after my horse well, keep my area's clean, don't indulge in a bitch fest (if i do, then it's with someone i can trust, come on we all do it on occasion;-) ). Also, unless there is a danger that a horse / person is being mistreated / going to have an accident then i have the opinion that we all do it differently and keep my thoughts to myself.

Good luck, i love being on a livery yard, lots of support, and people to ride with.
 
pansymouse said:
Look menacing and talk vaguely about prison :D
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Hehe, love it!

The Polo Bear said:
I am amazed, how the majority of hho members tar all livery yards with the same brush, and make them out to be hell on earth. It is simply untrue.
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Some are and to be fair, there have been some really shocking tales on here. I've been on two yards that were run by horrible people but am now fortunate enough to be on a very relaxed, non-bitchy yard which has the reputation of being nice.
 
The Polo Bear said:
I am amazed, how the majority of hho members tar all livery yards with the same brush, and make them out to be hell on earth. It is simply untrue.
Click to expand...

I agree with this^. I am new to the whole livery yard thing but I love it, I'm on a 36 horse yard and there is the occasional disagreement but really nothing to worry about. So I get on with fellow liveries just fine, have someone to ride with and have someone to show any lumps/bumps/behaviour to to ask, hmm what do you reckon to this??

Also goes for YO, mine has rebuilt our stable block over summer so that we now have 3 roomy boxes where before he had 4 pokeyish ones, he loses out in rent but gains happy long staying customers, he has also redone the gateways with shingle and generally takes a bit of time to make sure things run well.

So not all liveries andYO/YM are the devil spawn, just saying.

enjoy your a youngster OP and use your knowledgeable new landlords as you require!
 
Lots of good advice here op. Enjoy the yard and facilities with your yearling. As someone who emerged from a YO vs multi owner meltdown on a yard as the honest broker I would say as above, be tidy, helpful and avoid bitching and loaning your stuff out if you would be upset if it's not returned / less than perfect.
 
Have a very bland, meek, non stressy horse that never does anything 'wrong,' as even if you're 100 miles away and your horse does something slightly out of line, it will be YOUR FAULT, as you should obviously be able to control him/her telepathically. :p ;)
 
Dont over-share to start with & keep to yourself until you are more confident & comfortable with who is on the yard.

Trust in the YO/YM only & dont go around asking everyone for their opinion on what you should or shouldnt do - ask the YO/YM or be confident & do your own thing. The more you ask for opinions, the more you invite them, the more people feel they can interfere in what you are doing.

Livery yards are great & can be seriously friendly and supportive as long as you dont go in being the advice-giver or the needy advice-needer from EVERYONE :)
 
I find it best to keep things 'light and fluffy'. Be friendly and caring but don't get too involved until you've had a chance to see what someone is really like. Nobody on the yard needs to know all the details of your life off the yard or be best buddies with you within the first week.

Ask vet/YO/genuine knowledgeable livery or do your own research if there's a problem with your horse rather than inviting all others opinions, make your decisions and carry them out don't get drawn into discussions about 'why' by all and sundry. Don't be a drama queen wailing and crying to all in earshot that your horse has come in horrendously lame, then it turns out to be a bruise. Try not to bitch about others and if someone asks for advice by all means give some if its a friendly person and you think you can help but usually you're best off referring people to YO/vet/farrier too so they can't blame you if things go wrong.

Don't assume that those who offer to ride with you will be the sort of riders you want to ride with! If you want a walking hack or a lead from a non spooky horse say so. If the ride doesn't go how you like just be friendly but 'too busy' next time they offer.

If you agree to swap favours looking after someone's horse for a week, take the favour back ASAP or you'll find you're forever doing favours but those who owe you either leave the yard or become less friendly before its payback time.

Lock absolutely everything up when you're not using it. It's just easier that way. Never lend anyone equipment or feed.

A big busy yard is very sociable and flexible and I much prefer yards like this to the quiet yards but they are also full of gossip and drama and bitching so its best to keep people at arms length, at least to start with. The advantage of a big yards is once you've identified those elements you can stay away from them. On small yards if there's any nastiness its harder to escape it.
 
Faracat said:
Have a very bland, meek, non stressy horse that never does anything 'wrong,' as even if you're 100 miles away and your horse does something slightly out of line, it will be YOUR FAULT, as you should obviously be able to control him/her telepathically. :p ;)
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:D Ah but nobody likes those perfectly behaved psychic horses; showing the others up, tut tut! ;)

Best advice I have is that your horse will at some point decide to embarrass you. Or to find something dangerous to do. Be prepared for this - with a yearling there is no time to worry about fellow liveries...or indeed the laws of physics. How he got out of the inescapable paddock is going to remain a mystery; how he behaves in your absence for those present to catch and put back in is what matters.

Have fun, don't over share, be tidy and keep smiling :)
 
haha this is true!!

my mare cob of 13.3 who never jumped in her life cleared a 5 bar gate while free schooling once! full yard too, very cringy!!

Arizahn said:
:D Ah but nobody likes those perfectly behaved psychic horses; showing the others up, tut tut! ;)

Best advice I have is that your horse will at some point decide to embarrass you. Or to find something dangerous to do. Be prepared for this - with a yearling there is no time to worry about fellow liveries...or indeed the laws of physics. How he got out of the inescapable paddock is going to remain a mystery; how he behaves in your absence for those present to catch and put back in is what matters.

Have fun, don't over share, be tidy and keep smiling :)
Click to expand...
 
May I add, don't be a parent of a hormonal pre-teen, who takes everything to heart. Sooner or later, they will drag you into the politics, even if you have followed all the advice above. This I know from bitter experience, and said pre-teen is now on lock down for the next 48 hours doing housework, as punishment for a) being ungrateful for what she has and b) **** stirring between myself and another adult.
 
Be pleasant, but keep a safe distance from everyone, however nice they may seem. Many years ago I was taught this rhyme and it has held me in good stead ever since "when you have friends, treat them as such, but don't let your friends know too much. For if your friends should turn to foe, then all the world your secrets know". Oh, and don't hand out your mobile phone number willy nilly either!
 
This is all excellent advice! I've never been on a truly terrible yard, but I have had some unpleasant experiences even on my nice yard, some of it my fault, some of it down to the insanity of the other party. If you do find yourself in a situation, best advice I can think of "Least said, soonest mended" :)
 
Char0901 said:
Ok, so Sept/Oct time I'm going to be moving my yearling to a livery yard.
I've been on livery yards in the past but for the last two years I've kept my foal at my friends private yard on her farm.
He's currently turned out for the summer, but my friend has sold her yearling who is my lads only pal at the yard.
I think I've found a yard but its a pretty big one. It has 70 stables, indoor, outdoor x 2, horse walker, join up pen, derby banks (obviously no use yet but hey pretty cool!) It is cleverly split up though so it doesn't feel that big at all.
The owners have a lot of experience with youngsters which is good as I've never had one on my own.
I'm really worried about moving from such a quite place with only me and my friend to a huge livery yard!

Any tips on how to survive and not get dragged into all the drama and politics?!
Previously my mum and I have been too open with people and allowed people to get too close… We are determined to not let this happen again!
Click to expand...


Firstly read and abide with the yard rules
find out from Y/O the does and don'ts
abide by the kerfew if there is one.
make sure you label any equipment you have
be pleasant and friendly
be understanding if there is less experienced than you
If there is bitching to you inform Y/O
don't get to involved with other livery's problems
make sure you put your stuff away in proper place
pay your rent on time
don't use other people hays/feed/equipment without asking
if you make friends with liveries in another yard don't gossip about people in your yard. The info from your yard should stay in your yard.
clear up after yourself and put things away


a few here to start with
 
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Label all your equipment with a permanent marker pen. If anyone asks, it's for security purposes as you used to be at a yard on your own. Then when you lend something out, or something goes missing, you can find it easily without it becoming someone else's. Prevents lots of falling-outs.

Be friendly but sit back and watch for a while, don't get drawn into the yard parties and politics immediately, don't necessarily gravitate to the obviously-friendly or obviously-in-charge livery customer as a close friend until you've had time to really suss out that yes they are ok and no they are not mad or bad. Then over time you may find you develop one or two really good friends who stay with you through rest of your life.

Pay your rent on time and treat the yard facility as you would if it were your own setup, ie be a good customer.

If you have your own transport or a babysitting-horse or you are an instructor, don't get conned into being people's friends just because they want a lift/to be babysat/free riding lessons. Upside is if there's several of you with own transport, you can get together and organise yard outings, great fun.

Enjoy the company, enjoy the facilities, enjoy the backup.
 
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