In need of some advice and opinions! End up in disaster? Livery!

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Amber...

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At last after months of looking I think I have found the perfect livery yard! I went to visit the yard, spoke to the owner, the liveries and had a long hard think. It seemed perfect! Not a millions miles from home, affordable, just what both me and my horse needs and small quiet and family run! I was all set on telling my current YO the news tonight that I would be leaving when someone told me they'd been talking to a few people that had all been there before who had nothing but bad things to say about it, no membrane down I'm the arena, aggressive YO, bad management and horse care! Now we all know how horsey people can be! And surely every yard has someone who will bad mouth it! None of the liveries that wer there had anything but compliments to say about the yard. And I haven't heard anything else of it! Would u go for it and take it with a pinch of salt? X
 
What did the arena look like ?
Some types of arena construction have no membranes BTW.
What feeling did the YOer give you .
what was the hay like good quality ? Was it stored well as the bedding good quality .
Was the muck heap organised , the fences good etc etc .
Was there a proper contract discussed .
TBH you need to make your own judgement unless the friends who told you bad are really close ones who you trust completely .
 
Arena was brand new. Looked lovely. The yard owner was lovely too. Had time to listen to me about all my horses issues lol! The hay and haylage was all their eon and looked and smelt nice. Muck heap was organised. Got taken away every day and moved away from the horses. Contracts wer discussed and their getting me a copy to read through b4 I actually move. Fences and fields wer well maintained and the yard was tidy. Everything was there that you could possibly need and everyone was lovely and helpful. Now these people are a friend of a friend. I, going up again tomorrow to have a final look round before I make my mind up. Just puts a doubt and a downer on the idea! X
 
I would say pinch of salt but don't burn your bridges at current yard just incase! We have a lot of yard rivalary round here and one yard will slate another. Current yard has an interesting reputation locally but it is great if I had listened to the rumours I wouldn't have touched it with a barge pole but been there 5 years now! Every yard has its good and bad points so seek out the bad and if you cab cope with them all will be fine and dandy.
 
How well did the horses look and were they happy and relaxed, the horses themselves are a reflection of the management as much as the facilities and frequently more so, a smart yard does not always mean happy horses.

A new arena may not have a membrane, not all do, other issues may be due jealousy from old liveries with an axe to grind or someone who got notice to leave for some reason.
 
Horses all looked happy out in acres of flat dry land. The few that wer in wer chilled and relaxed and happy. Everywhere round here has a bad reputation! Really stressful !
 
It seems to me that people like to bad mouth yards that they are not on, or have left or been asked to leave. If the yard is well run and horses look happy and content and you have asked questions and been given answers, then I would make up my own mind regardless.
 
Thanks for all your advise! Going for a final look round and chat with the YO tomorrow!! Then il know for deffo :) x
 
I can't offer much advise, only to point out that someone who has a bad experience will more likely tell 10 more people about it than a satisfied customer telling of their good ideas. So take it with a pinch of salt :)
 
Went back today and loved it! Felt very happy! Then when I told the current yard I was leaving one other person had heard a similar thing about it and tried to put me off! Wondering if I should just go for it!
 
Amber... said:
Went back today and loved it! Felt very happy! Then when I told the current yard I was leaving one other person had heard a similar thing about it and tried to put me off! Wondering if I should just go for it!
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Hi....You have visited twice, it's chilled, organised and friendly, you love it...so go with your gut instinct and move. You seem to want validation for your decision so what do you think is holding you back? If it's only other people bad mouthing the yard then ignore this and just go. Good luck !Sure it will be fine!:)
 
I was on a horrible yard with my friend (YO with serious mental issues who ended up being sectioned and both of our horses nearly died from peritonitis 9 months apart!!) Due to the illnesses we were advised by our vet that we had to move yards as the vet felt there was something wrong with the land. The only yard with vacancies had a bad reputation but we were desperate so looked around the yard and lived it BUT we were seriously worried about the reputation of the YO being very strict and unapproachable.

Anyhow, we bit the bullet and moved and its the BEST thing we ever did. Yes the YO is strict but not unreasonable. We have a contract with rules (all common sense and totally acceptable) all the people who'd shuddered and shook their heads were at our old yard and none of them agreed with yards having contracts and rules!!

I love our yard and get on really well with the YO but we're respectful of rules and tidy. The main concern of the YO is that horses are looked after properly (liveries at old yard often didn't roll up until lunchtime to give their horses breakfast and turn out so wouldn't fit in at our new yard)

If I'd listened to others I wouldn't have gone there but having had horses for over 30 yrs I know this is the best livery yard i've ever been on.

Keep us posted how you get on and good luck :) x
 
Hi Amber, I know you were looking for a yard because of our PMs and I think I know where you're on about! The yard itself is okay, the owners charming at first. They very much leave you to it and the liveries sort things out by themselves (there are the odd arguments and spats between liveries). If you keep your head down and don't get involved you'll be fine. Oh and I hope to god you don't have a sweet itch horse because the fields are fenced with barbed wire!

Eta it has such a bad rep because I've seen the yo mouth off old liveries on fb and say really horrible things and in a small town I guess news travels fast! But like I say if you don't get involved in all the drama you'll be fine
 
There is always someone bad mouthing one place or another. It's the nature of people. As with everything, it may not be purely the YO to blame for laying down the law, some liveries can be a bit of a chore to have on your property, so I'd take it with a pinch of salt. Hope it all works out lovely for you. Oh and I don't have membrane down on my arena as I have underground tile drains; not all arenas need a membrane. I personally wouldn't keep my horses in fields with barbed wire if the poster above is right, but that's your decision. Good luck, hope it all works out beautifully for you :smile3:
 
I had to move yards recently and visited a place that seemed more than decent - everything was tidy, the YO was pleasant, the horses - well fed and happy, and everything else seemed to be just fine as well. Some acquaintances warned me that the place has some nasty reputation, but I couldn't see the reason and, as time was running short and I had no other options, I moved my neddy there. Some time has passed and I see nothing that would support those claims. I came to a conclusion that it was all just badmouthing and, after a friendly chat with the YO, I discovered that another YO from a nearby yard (noticeably worse in quality) was openly spreading rumors about this yard. I have only gained from moving and haven't regretted the decision at all.
 
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