Is there such thing as a 'nice' livery yard?

Kokopelli

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I am honestly fed up with my yard! The owner has completly lost interest in running the place our muckheap hasn't been emptied in 6 months!!! This is a yard with 30 horses, its crazy!

The people up there are horrible I honestly hate it up there, if you don't join their clique then they hate you! I was schooling yesterday and Koko was being difficult and rather than come over and give me some tips they sat there sniggered at me then when I was untacking came out with nasty comments on how bad a rider I am and I shouldn't even consider becoming a riding instructor!!

Its affecting me so badly, I hate schooling now and when I do I worry so much about looking good that my riding is just awful, I've even put off my B test yet again as because of these comments I don't think I'm good enough!

At our old yard the yard owner made a runner with all the liveries money and has honestly never been seen a again! We think she's moved to Europe using our money!!

So is there a fairly big nice friendly yard out there or is this just never going to happen? And I would move in an instant but its the only yard close to us with a meneage (SP?)
 

Emma S

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They dont exist!!!

I got to the point that I didn't want to go and see my own horses because of the people at my yard. I couldnt do a thing without it being picked on and they would do anything to try and get me in trouble with the yard manager.
All because I tried to keep myself to myself and stay out everyones way!

It got to the point that someone took water and hay out of my horses stable jut so they could go to the yard manager and say I wasnt looking after my horse, and putting random horses in with my horse who was in individual t/o because he got bullied, so I would come up to find bits of my horse missing!!

I now have sacraficed the luxuries of everything (menages, stables, lighting ect) for peace!! I have my own grazing close to loads of good hacking and more than enough room for my three and plenty of shelter, we are all so much happier!
I enjoy spending time with my horses again, which is how it should be and they seem happier too now I'm not stressed :)

Sometimes you have to think about whats more important - having facilities or jus enjoying your horse!!
 

Jinete12

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That sounds awful, maybe they're sniggering and being nasty through jealousy? I don't know if the 'perfect' yard really exists but there are some nice ones out there. Our yard has 18 horses and everyone is lovely, we've got great hacking on the doorstep, fantastic individual paddocks, but the school has no lights and floods whenever it rains! Everywhere has its drawbacks, but the most important thing is that you're happy. I love the social side of riding and definitely wouldn't be able to cope with a bitchy yard so I'd rather stay where I am, grin and bear the school and carry on enjoying the company of some lovely people.
Life's too short. Get out of there and enjoy yourself!
 

missyme10

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Yes there is such a thing :)

The yard I'm at has about 50 horses, its very professionally run, and they care about the horses welfare and not just taking your money.
We dont have the sniggers either, if you're struggling, they are a very supportive bunch and help is always on hand :)

My old yard wasn't quite the same though so I know what you mean, when I was having a confidence crisis, I felt they took the P*ss out of me which really didn't help!

You sound really unhappy there, is a school really that imortant to you?
Or do you not have the option to travel a little further?

Horse are meant to be enjoyable, not like it is for you at present. There are such horrible b*tches at some yards :(
 

zoelouisem

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There is such thing, my yard is lovely. The faccilities arent the best but theres a school pretty much all year turn out. None of them the best but we get by. Most of us get on fine, theres a few that do there horses and go, but not nasty just dont join in with our marathon chatting sessions. our yard owners lovely too she let us organise a show on sunday and has given us free rein over the fields and put up extra fences for us mended all the jumps and footed the bill for the BBQ (and got her husband to cook it :D). This is a yard with around 40 horses on it. So they are there you just got to find them.
You shouldnt let there comments get to you they are probaly just jealous tell them to keep there comments to there self, basicly so if you havnt got anything nice to say dont bother!!! Who do they thing they are telling you that you cant be a riding instuctor?? Some epople are soooo rude. I would really suggest you have a good look around for another yard, there must be one in travelling distance with a school. Is there any private yards about that would consider a takjing you in. Sometimes its worth driving around and into the smaller places. Good luck. :)
 

Starbucks

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Yes! I was really worried about moving to a yard (kept horse at parents before) but everyone is super nice and the yard is managed really well.

I'd move if I were you - must be really spoiling things for you!
 

yeeharider

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Yep mine ,but then I would say that, they are out there but you have to be careful I have a small 10 box yard where I keep 3 of my own all the rest are liveries,I pride myself that they are all cared for as if my own. All maintained on an individual basis,all very happy horses,and owners,good facilities,nice liveries = Happy Yard!!!!!!!!!!! Yeeha!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Kokopelli

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There is no where in travelling distance with a menage which can take liveries atm. We can't go a bit further a field until I can drive (test is december) and even then I'll be paying for petrol not sure I can afford it.

I couldn't cope without a menage as I hate hacking, I just love schooling and competing and I don't mind schooling in a field but with a gangly 5yo on wet grass not a great idea :p I try going up there at different times of the day but due to college commitments its difficult.

Would it mess Koko up being ridden at 6 in the morn? I don't mind getting up early but I didn't know if this would just mess with his routine a bit?
 
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That sounds awful! :( I bet they are just jealous of you though! Try and ignore them and go and take your B Test and carry on training to be a riding instructor. At least you have better things to do than be nasty to other people!

I don't think any yard is 'perfect.' I have been at a few bitchy yards over the years so I can sympathise with you. If you are really unhappy I think you should seriously consider moving yards. Do you have access to transport so that you could go and hire a school somewhere? Or is there a small yard within hacking distance of a yard with a school which you could hire? Are there any yards with facilities which are a little bit further away than you want to travel? It might be worth travelling a bit further if it means you can start to enjoy the time you spend with your horse again.
 

amiacat

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Yes, there is such a yard! I am lucky enough to be on one! :) But you definitely don't sound like you are, so start looking for a new home for your neddy. I used to be at a place where the thought of going up there made me feel sick as the people were horrible, it was so unpleasant and moving was the only option, and the best thing I did.

Good luck finding somewhere, I know it's not easy to find a good yard, but you will, positive thoughts! x
 

helencharlie

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Yes and im on it! There are 11 horses on the yard and 5 owners, we all get on really well. The yo leaves us to it and all he wants is money at the end of each month! We all support each other, we do bicker, but that is to be expected. The only downsides are we have no school and the road outside the yard regularly floods.
 

zoelouisem

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Even if the other yards cant take liveries get your name on all the suitable waiting lists, its very nearly winter and people do move around a bit. If theres a couple of yards put your name down on all of them at least youve got more chance of getting out if this one quicker!!! Horses cost lots of money and its horrible if theses girls are ruining it for you.
 

Kokopelli

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I really don't think there jealous :/ They have some brilliant horses its mainly a dressage yard and I'm a show jumper. My dressage is ok but they just can't help being horrible about it but then I'd like to see them jump BS.

I would love to move we found a lovely yard about 20 mins from us and the lady who runs it kicks any nasty people off and it has an indoor school! We could probably go there in the summer but we would struggle in the winter.

If anyone knows of nice yards in Gloucester could you PM me, the Upton St Leonards area?
 

orionstar

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Yes, it does exist. My yard has a great owner who will help you out when you get snowed in, everyone lends each other stuff and helps out when the kids need schooling lessons etc. You'll often see one of us plaiting a kids horse up at 8am for a show were not even going to, and they're wearing your too big show jacket. Theres allways someone to have a nice hack with and a chat, and a coffee in the yo kitchen, and if you help out with the fencing bits and peices around the place and a bottle of whisky at christmas he'll feed your horse in the morning during the winter when its stabled without charging so you can go to work without peices of hay in your hair! We have an outdoor arena, showjumps and a couple of cross country fences, and miles and miles of offroad hacking. The owner dispaches nutters very swiftly and allways asks around before letting someone on (if theres any space). I'm a happy bunny :)
 

bigboyrocky

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yep were on pretty much the perfect yard.. well i think anyway :) yes the school is only 30x15, but its floodlit, and everything else is perfect. There are about 35 horses in total, and everyone gets on fab. We have all year TO, hay and straw onsite, grass gallops, walker being put up next week, lovely stables and best of all the people.. the YOs are AMAZING and everyone else is so friendly.. i have got the ride on 2 horses of a woman who is pregnant, and i also work weekends for the YOs brother who has a few p2p horses.. and that is onsite so its perfect :) really hope your yard sit. gets better, sounds a nightmare - ive had people like that before at old yards who just try to be intimidating and make you feel small when your with your horse - its horrible :( good luck
 

ecarylloh

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Yes there are! My yard is lovely - 20 horses, all year TO, outdoor floodlit school and horsewalker. Real range of people and all are lovely. I had to go visit parents this last few days just as my girly got swollen legs - all the people at the yard have been texting me to let me know how she's doing and reassuring me that she's fine.
 

Starzaan

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Yes there is! My yard is fabulous, and as I've had problems with bitchy, nasty yards in the past, I made a point of putting a "no bitching" rule in my terms of livery in the contracts.

So now people are aware that bitching and nastiness is absolutely not tolerated on my yard. I know that people have bad days, don't always get on etc., but I have made it very clear that if you are causing problems for another livery, and we can't sort them out by talking them through, then I'm afraid you're out!!
 

Enfys

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no yards are nice IMO...thank god for farmers and fields!! x

I was at a pretty decent one in South Wales, I know of several that are 'nice' in the area.

Sounds to me as if you just haven't been through enough yet to find the right one for you

'One man's junk is another man's treasure' and all that;)
 

Chavhorse

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Sorry but mine is wonderful!

Small Yard with 12 horses 4 liveries rest are YO's teaching and Competition Horses.

Fantastic facilities

Caring YO's who treat all the horses as individuals (my horse is a lot bigger than any of the others but do I get hassle that his hay consumption and straw consumption is more.....nope just a "as soon as it becomes non viable we will chat about paying a little more" been like this for a year now;-))

Other liveries are great really supportive, I have just set up an arrangement with another girl that I do her horse on Monday's and Thursdays she does mine on Tuesdays and Fridays so giving each other 2 evenings off a week. We text each other on our respective evenings off saying "all well he is clean, fed, cuddled etc" last week she even groomed mine as he had done a hippo impression.

Saturday is lesson day and we all tend to hang around and watch each others lessons with much whoo hoo ing at the improvements and offers of coffee and fags for the awful times.

Weekends are times for random folk to bring up, cakes, sweets, chocolate for all to share.

We all share one large tack room but do not keep our stuff in locked boxes...NEVER has anything walked and if you do leave something outside by mistake it is liable to be picked up and put away on your shelf. If you leave keys, purses, jewelery, clothing by mistake it is always placed behind the bar.........YO has always said first time anything ever goes missing then he closes the yard end of!

Thursday night is leave the husbands at home, ride, beer and play pool in the bar, each night over WEG YO's have brought the Big Screen into the bar and we have all been watching EuroSport coverage together.

We have the following Chalked up on the wall of the stable area

"do What Needs to be Done for the Good of All"

So yes they do exist and yes I have spent my fair share of time dealing with the negative rubbish that the OP has to deal with.

All I can say is move......Life is too short and this hobby too expensive not to be 100% enjoying it.
 

Snowysadude

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My yard is great! Having a couple of issues at the moment as old yard manager quit and we now have two who dont seem to agree on anything *sigh*. But the yard owner is never down and he is very un-horsey so thats fine and all the liverys are lovely (mainly because all the ones that arent get kicked off and are not allowed back on :p), there is a 20X60 very well flodlit menage and all year round turnout! Its completley DIY and I have to say that really does make all the difference to me - having been on full livery yards where there seems to always be unrest between all the liverys with different veiws! But there are 2 or 3 liverys with young children who dont work so if you ever cant get down they will sort your horses for you (like an assisted DIY) :)
 

Bosworth

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I am a yard owner, and I have to say my yard is lovely and friendly but it takes hard work and commitment to keep it that way. I vet clients and only have one the ones Ifeel will fit in. I have contracts that include the yard rules and I see everyone sticks to them ( all sane rules - for the good of everyone) and I stress to every livery that it is my home, so I don;t want to feel uncomfortable there so bitching and backstabbing is not allowed. i have had to get rid of some liveries because they took it upon themselves to make life miserable for others. I have got rid of one who started to create her own rules. and I got rid of one who thought her horse was far far better than everyone elses. So I now have lovely lovely liveries, who all get on, help each other and really enjoy their time down at the yard. Because of the rules I also have a yard full of lovely relaxed horses.
I know I could go away for a week and my horses would be looked after, but then I also know that if one of my liveries is ill their horse would be covered between myself and the other liveries without any problem. Everyone keeps an eye on the place and treats the yard with respect.
 

Chavhorse

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I am a yard owner, and I have to say my yard is lovely and friendly but it takes hard work and commitment to keep it that way. I vet clients and only have one the ones Ifeel will fit in. I have contracts that include the yard rules and I see everyone sticks to them ( all sane rules - for the good of everyone) and I stress to every livery that it is my home, so I don;t want to feel uncomfortable there so bitching and backstabbing is not allowed. i have had to get rid of some liveries because they took it upon themselves to make life miserable for others. I have got rid of one who started to create her own rules. and I got rid of one who thought her horse was far far better than everyone elses. So I now have lovely lovely liveries, who all get on, help each other and really enjoy their time down at the yard. Because of the rules I also have a yard full of lovely relaxed horses.
I know I could go away for a week and my horses would be looked after, but then I also know that if one of my liveries is ill their horse would be covered between myself and the other liveries without any problem. Everyone keeps an eye on the place and treats the yard with respect.

Bosworth I think you have just hit the nail on the head, for a livery to run well you need a hard working committed YO who is not afraid to be in charge, put some sane rules in place and apply them and to have the courage of their convictions in getting rid of anyone who does not toe the line.

Remind me to PM you when we are looking at moving back to the UK to see if you have any vacancies;-))
 

hannahmurphy

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I've been on some dreadful yards, one YO was so horrid myself & friends had to do a runner :eek: It doesn't take much for people & places to make you feel uncomfortable about being there & it's just awful when that happens - not being comfortable when you're paying to be there & ruins the time with your horse. :rolleyes:

I have however been on one amazingly non-bitchy yard, in Sussex. It was a large place too, about 40 horses. Incredibly everyone was nice, of course there were a few people you clashed with but you never felt like you didn't want to be there. Shame I moved back across the country - boooooo!
 

brucea

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The last yard I was in - I was the only bloke who owned horses, there was one other bloke who was just a hen-pecked groom and mucker!

My goodness - the bitching that went on - it was quite shocking how inhuman some of them were to each other. There were three - the yard manager and two of her cronies - who were the epicenter of the bitching. The YM loved trouble and would forment it.

I could never feel that my horses were looked after in my absence if I was away on business or leave. I heard stories tha the YM backed horses into the electric fence if she didn't like them but I never saw that first hand or I would have lost it.

We moved on.

Horses are an expensive way to be miserable for some people.
 

jessicabeau1

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I was at a pretty decent one in South Wales, I know of several that are 'nice' in the area.

Sounds to me as if you just haven't been through enough yet to find the right one for you

'One man's junk is another man's treasure' and all that;)

I have been to a few and they are ****....I much prefer doing my own thing on my own - no bitchiness, no nastiness no judging, and no backstabbing...just the beautiful countryside and my beautiful horses!!!! :)
 
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