Large DIY livery yards- being diplomatic!!!

Alchemy

Alchemy

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Having to choose my words carefully for this thread as not to offend anyone

Apologies i think this is a rant/pointless post. Cookies if you get to the end!;)

I moved to the yard where i am now 10 years ago back when there were`nt so many liveries, grazing excellent all year round, enough storage for stuff/bedding/hay etc

Really nice only about 10 of us and was why i moved here ( never wanted to be on a big yard)

Now 40 odd horses, very limited space to store bedding/hay, paddocks all over grazed so no grass and the little there is is poor quality for winter grazing ( i accept that really they are going out for leg stretch but still need to now feed far more hay out in the fields then we ever used to)

Yard is a contant mess, kids running about ( i dont dislike children i just dont appreciate them running aound horses and treating the yard like a playground) what would happen if my horse kicked a child? (not thats he would but you cant predict anything with animals)

And the complete ignorance of some people with horses that really shouldnt own them! ahhhhhh

Plus a new woman ( who hasnt got a clue but can be heard everywhere) who has just arrived seems to think that its her yard!! and she thinks she knows more than she does which in my eyes is asking for problems.

I would like to move yards but there is nothing in my area so i know i have to bite my tongue, smile sweetly and just get on with it but oh i do yearn for the old days
 
Sounds awful!
However, there is hardly any profit at all in DIY livery and I expect the owners are just packing more in to try to make a profit. I don't do DIY here for that reason, and also the fact that whilst most people are good responsible owners, you always get some who neglect their horses and other people end up feeding them or giving them water etc. Really pisses me off. I've been a DIY client and would always be the mug who couldn't bear to see the same poor horse waiting until after lunchtime to get turned out or even fed, so ended up throwing hay in and filling its water.
 
Sounds like my idea of a nightmare to be honest. I'm on a small private yard with just me and YO's horses. Couldn't be happier!
 
Sounds similar to what happened to me, in my case it was a new yard but the owner lied about loads of things to us, in the main saying it would always be a small yard and then just kept adding stables, i left at 20 as was sick of it, same reasons as you really, it didnt finish well, although im much better off, i love where i am now tbh youre better off out of it before it blows up and youre then left in a crisis wondering where you can go with your horse.
 
Wagtail said:
Sounds awful!
However, there is hardly any profit at all in DIY livery and I expect the owners are just packing more in to try to make a profit. I don't do DIY here for that reason, and also the fact that whilst most people are good responsible owners, you always get some who neglect their horses and other people end up feeding them or giving them water etc. Really pisses me off. I've been a DIY client and would always be the mug who couldn't bear to see the same poor horse waiting until after lunchtime to get turned out or even fed, so ended up throwing hay in and filling its water.
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Totally agree with this, unfortunately when people expect to keep a horse at livery for less than it costs to board a medium sized dog the livery yard owners are going to pack in as many as possible. I have had liveries at home (which was my hubby's idea) to bring in an extra few quid as I had the space and facilities but to be honest the horses trashed my field, the owners fed them enough to feed 3 horses going (all inclusive) and the intrusion into my routine wasn't worth the hassle. I now have my own 2 horses, 1 mini donkey, a goat and a flock of my own sheep all living in or out as suits them and me, I currently have 3 empty stables but I am glad I don't have the hassle.
 
I've also been in a similar situation - small 6 horse yard. To start with it was lovely. Plenty of grazing, lots of storage space, nice fellow liveries. Then the YM started getting greedy. A few more stables were 'created', a few field liveries were taken on and before you knew it, the place was over crowded with no grazing. Because everyone was on top of each other, there were lots of sniping and bitchiness. Began to dread going up there and in the end had to move cos my horse (a good doer) had lost so much weight. Not sure if the yard is still in business.

Sorry you're having a tough time OP - you just have to bide your time, something will turn up. Fingers crossed for you :)
 
you have all of my sympathies OP. My yard too is like this. Moved on originally and was myself and another. It was lovely. It then became unbearable when other liveries came on and the bitching and bullying is like nothing I have ever experienced in my entire life. I personally stay out of the way as the yard is perfect for me and my ponies are settled, but other liveries really are getting a rough time of it which isn't on.

However, on our yard we seem to have naturally sorted things out by coming up in two groups, one in the morning and then one in the afternoon :) My love of my ponies and riding keeps me sane :D
 
Sorry to hear of your predicament OP.... i can only sympathise with your situation as i've been there too.

I sincerely hope something turns up for you in the future as it has done for me.

I've spent years on yards that over time grew far far to big to accommodate the horses in terms of pasture and all year turnout, parking spaces becoming limited, restricted grazing (due to the number of horses on the yard,..i find usually because the land owners/YO have got the £ signs in their eyes and cram as many as they can in to make more bucks)...it is very sad that we lose lovely yards that started off so well and grow to an overbearing number of liveries all in the name of money...and putting the liveries at risk in turn as becoming overstocked (that's when injuries seem to start to appear more regularly coz of grumpy horses i've found).

I've been very very lucky to find a gem of a yard not too far away from home that houses no more than 6 liveries (as well as her own horses). We have our own 'everything'. Own stable block, hose pipe, storage space, fields, parking spaces (for cars and trailers/wagons) and set on the side of their own yard...bit like a little 'satelite yard' really! One thing i do like about the place, is 'no kids' alllowed. It's lovely to spend quality time with my horse after a busy day, in a lovely peaceful and very tranquil part of the county and to be able to enjoy my horse and my passion as intended. It's quite delightful at last to have found this yard. Sorry i know it doesn't help your predicament right now, but it took me a long time to find this place, hidden away and only a few miles from home! I'd spent nearly 6 years at two other yards, going through alot of what you describe before finding this place, so i really hope the same happens for you in the very near future. :)
 
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I hate solely DIY yards for this reason :( For the first time in my life I'm at a yard that is all full livery/ YO's horses then there's me and 2 other part liveries. Love the structure and order and I'm so happy now that I don't have to fight amongst other liveries for storage/ paddocks etc!
 
Welcome to my world, Alchemy. I've told parents and kids alike that my horse kicks and bites. I guess she might do but hasn't in 6 years I've owned her. But it keeps them away from her and it also keeps her safe. When I come along, I hear "Careful Johnny, come here, stay out of the way of that horsey". Suits me down to the ground. I hear you on the overgrazing and lack of storage, along with other people's standards of horse care that are far below your own.
 
Thanks everyone :-) its sad as before it got big was a lovely yard. Shame there arent many yards round my area :-( all i have to do is keep my mouth shut :-0 and head down which sometimes it hard. Doesnt help am ocd about the horse though!

Enjoy your day :-)
 
Sometimes we need to just have a winge and i to from experience feel youre oain. In end i kept out way of people and just concentrsted on horse but smiling through gritted teeth sometimes :(
 
I am selling up and giving horses up for the simple reason of utter idiots on livery yards!! I will buy another when I have my own land! Never been without a horse for 30 years so it is going to be a challenge!

Is sad I have let other people ruin what I have but they are a liability to themselves and their horses!
 
I haven't read all the replies on here, but just wanted to say - it really IS worth asking around at private yards. I found my current yard (three of us at a private house set up) by doing this. It took a while, but now things have settled, it's the best yard I have been on, so relaxed !
 
Can I just ask what you are all paying for your livery, to assume that YO's are being greedy? Surely their costs keep rising like all of ours. If you don't like livery yards then the simple answer is buy somewhere you can keep to yourself, oh but wait then all you would have to complain about is how little grass is growing, how wet the fields are, how many things the horse has broken, how much it costs to move the muck heap.............
 
Shysmum said:
I haven't read all the replies on here, but just wanted to say - it really IS worth asking around at private yards. I found my current yard (three of us at a private house set up) by doing this. It took a while, but now things have settled, it's the best yard I have been on, so relaxed !
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This. Another private yard convert . . . just YO's daughters' two BS ponies, one other livery and us. There are other horses about . . . outgrown family ponies, other family members' ponies, but they live out and the atmosphere is totally one of peace, friendship and cooperation. It's heaven.

P
 
Baggybreeches said:
Can I just ask what you are all paying for your livery, to assume that YO's are being greedy? Surely their costs keep rising like all of ours. If you don't like livery yards then the simple answer is buy somewhere you can keep to yourself, oh but wait then all you would have to complain about is how little grass is growing, how wet the fields are, how many things the horse has broken, how much it costs to move the muck heap.............
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I take it you're a YO?

P
 
I do feel for you. I had the same problem as you. What was for many years a well organised nice little yard had a change of management and became a total and absolute nightmare. I had enough of it so I bought my own place with land and I can now do whatever I want and am accountable to no one. Problem solved!
 
PolarSkye said:
I take it you're a YO?

P
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No I'm not, I have had liveries at home, but I just always find it astonishing that people think they should be able to have exclusive rights over a business property, when they are only paying practically peppercorn rents. It costs £12 per day round here to board a dog in kennels as an example, there are lots of yards doing DIY livery at £5 per day and the numbers just don't add up. I have my own horses at home, and yes it is nice, but it is also bloody hard work. I have 2 acres that I own and I rent an additional 8 acres, so in total at the moment I am responsible for 10 acres of sludgy muddy land which as soon as it starts to dry will need a lot of time and money spent getting it suitable for growing haylage (which liveries tend to assume grows in a mythical land) to see horses and sheep through the next winter. I don't earn a fortune (marginally over the national average wage) but I chose to invest in a property with the potential for me to keep my horses at home. The vast majority of people who say they would love to have what I have, haven't done or won't do it because they are to lazy. They prefer to complain about what they can't change instead.
 
OP's yard does sound pretty awful, but not all large yards are bad. Good yards with 40-60 horses do have advantages that small yards don't always have. Often have better facilities and there are more options for problem solving. There's always someone around to ride with, go to competitions and if your horse is ill, someone will have experienced it before to some extent.
Small yards can be lovely but they can get a little cliquey and if no one rides, it can be a bit boring.

My yard is a mixture of full liveries and DIY. It's a friendly yard with organised events and periodic social outings. Sometimes there's a disagreement but people tend to be forthright, say their piece and then forget about it. We all need each other to co-exist. When I first arrived there, first impressions were a bit scary as there are some strong characters, but actually, they've turned out to be genuine and helpful.

OP, I've never returned to an old yard as I think I'd find it hard. Things change, people come and go and the place that you left, doesn't exist anymore. Be objective about what the place has to offer, just as you would on a new yard, then decide if it's worth up rooting yourself or not.
 
Baggybreeches said:
No I'm not, I have had liveries at home, but I just always find it astonishing that people think they should be able to have exclusive rights over a business property, when they are only paying practically peppercorn rents. It costs £12 per day round here to board a dog in kennels as an example, there are lots of yards doing DIY livery at £5 per day and the numbers just don't add up. I have my own horses at home, and yes it is nice, but it is also bloody hard work. I have 2 acres that I own and I rent an additional 8 acres, so in total at the moment I am responsible for 10 acres of sludgy muddy land which as soon as it starts to dry will need a lot of time and money spent getting it suitable for growing haylage (which liveries tend to assume grows in a mythical land) to see horses and sheep through the next winter. I don't earn a fortune (marginally over the national average wage) but I chose to invest in a property with the potential for me to keep my horses at home. The vast majority of people who say they would love to have what I have, haven't done or won't do it because they are to lazy. They prefer to complain about what they can't change instead.
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I would hardly call what I pay in livery "peppercorn" . . . £200 . . . AND I maintain my own field (which includes raking up all the acorns by hand - six wheelbarrows worth - in the autumn) . . . I love my yard AND my YO, but don't assume that all liveries take the proverbial

P
 
PolarSkye said:
I would hardly call what I pay in livery "peppercorn" . . . £200 . . . AND I maintain my own field (which includes raking up all the acorns by hand - six wheelbarrows worth - in the autumn) . . . I love my yard AND my YO, but don't assume that all liveries take the proverbial

P
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I didn't say everyone, I said 'lots of' ;)
 
I am on a yard a bit like the OP describes. I was on a lovely livery yard but my finances dictated that unfortunatley it was just not possible for me to afford it if I wanted to keep my horse. I moved a large DIY yard and have been there nearly a year, I can honestly say that my horse has never been happier or more settled. I thought she would hate moving from my last yard- how wrong I was!

There are some people up there who do stupid things. I only intervene when it is dangerous or I feel welfare is an issue. I have made some really nice friends and whilst the hacking is not great, the other facilites are.

I am realistic, I am not paying a premium price, I can't expect perfection. We are lucky that the girl who works there is brilliant with the horses- can be totally trusted and is kind and patient with them without being a walkover.

For me the pro's outweigh the con's and my horse is so happy there, even if I don't always like it, I stay there.
 
Baggybreeches So true ! We're away for 8 days soon and the cost of having full livery for 2 horses is £136. The cost for 2 dogs will be £336 !!!!!!!!!!!!

Needless to say, the dogs will not be going to a doggy holiday home, daughter will have them for free.

We're househunting and OH asked me if we would save money by having 2 horses at home instead of on a livery yard. I had to tell him that not only would it not save money, we'd have to spend precious leisure time maintaining the land and facilities too.
Of course that isn't the main reason for having them at home but its a consideration anyway.
 
This is why I love my yard. Adults only and geldings only so very little argy bargy with the horses or owners. 12 liveries plus the YOs horse and her little herd of Sec B Stallion, broodmares and youngsters which we never see as they're on the other side of the farm. They split into 2 herds for the winter and have about 8 acres of winter grazing per herd. They then merge into one herd and go on the hay fields (about 20 acres) all together from when the hay gets cut until the clocks go back (as it's quite a lonely, slippery 5 min walk to the fields in the dark). I'd prefer them to live out all year but they have to come in overnight from end of November until roughly the middle of April but it protects the grass and makes sure there's no fighting over hay (they don't get any in field) so I don't really mind. YO is lovely as are the other liveries:)

Sorry I'll stop sounding so smug now and complain. They haven't fixed the broken floodlight in the school yet so it's half in darkness :p
 
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