Livery for the less confident or the more conscientious. What do you think??

TopTotty

TopTotty

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 December 2008
Messages
1,014
Location
England
Visit site
Hi, would anyone be interested in a livery yard that not only provided normal facilities but offered a unique approach to helping nervous/less confident people to work in harmony with their horses again?

For everything to be concentrated around the horse's well being (all year turn out etc) and correctly fitting tack to ensure he was comfortable when being worked, equine massage where needed and emphasis on helping the rider with their confidence issues on and off the ground. All help to be provided by qualified people in each area.

No pressure at all, just all about enjoying riding and your horse again and making life as comfortable as possible for both horse and rider.

A yard that just wants to help horse and rider.

Charges could be made in with the livery as an overall price or extra's paid for when they were taken.
 
That sounds amazing! :)

As a first time horse owner there are things i do need an experienced person to help with, give advice or just another opinion.

Thankfully i've got lots of people to support me but i think the livery is a GREAT idea as some people don't :D
 
Sounds super but depends on the price, as always. Having a horse and just doing basic livery has become expensive enough.
 
Sounds great! Im not a first time owner but i do lack confidence.
Just finding a yard that puts my horses before their pocket would be good. We have no water trough at the moment i dont think yo can afford to get it fixed. We are having to fill up an old bath between 5 horses!! Yesterday they were shut in a paddock with no water. Driving us nuts!!
Looking near walsall if anyone knows anything!!
 
Sounds great...I know someone who does simular.

She advises and books the relevant experts to come in. With people who are less confident/first time owners she'll teach them what they need to know as they need to know it.

I don't think she advertises with this though and she doesn't charge anything extra, but for DIY livery she does charge quite a lot for round here so I think she just adds it too the overall price. I think this is probably best because it's hard to individually price bits of support and advice!
 
Sounds like a great idea to put first time owners/nervous owners onto the right track. My YO is great and gives this sort of advice and help for free though. Her prices are a little more than the norm for this area but the advice and practical help which she gives to anyone who needs it, is well worth it.
 
I think that sounds a brilliant idea.

I went through my BHS Exams but I know there are alot of people out there who need the help.
 
Sounds like a good idea. Things like how to clip properly for example - luckily I have loads of help from my YO who is my friend, but if I didn't I would have struggled!
 
Would it be a yard for nervous nelly's only (for want of a better expression), or would you allow 'normal' people on and not interfere with what they were doing?

The answer to the above could limit your market somewhat imo.
 
No it would be for normal people aswell but just offering more support and help to those who may need it. I just really want to help people to enjoy and horses to be happy!
 
I think its a fab idea. We have lots of 'novice' owners / loaners on my yard as it is so friendly and laid back, and everyone helps out and learns from each other.

I remember getting my first horse after loaning for years, and realising very quickly I didnlt have a clue what I was doing!! I muddled through but would have loved to have been somewhere non judgemental where I could have asked for help and support!
 
Sounds like the yard I am on at the moment.

We have fully experienced people who compete on regular basis who are very much left alone but often use the YO to work with them on any competition issues.

We have a couple of young girls who have regular lessons and needs a fair bit of support

And we have me who is experienced but is bringing on a youngster and needs all the help I can get!

YO is great works a 4 lesson card system that is discounted by 20% for the liveries, and your lessons can be in groundwork, riding, specific competition practice or use of a "done it all school horse" to hone your riding skills.

Advice is offered as needed, i.e a gentle "for safety's sake this is the best way to tie your horse up" for example but you can at any time approach with a question.

Next weekend for instance we have the saddle fitter coming to re-fit 3 of the horses and check everyone else at the yard and YO has booked it, informed everyone that the fitter is going to be there, spoken quietly to a few specific people (i.e. fitter coming next Saturday I have booked you in for a check) and has made himself available for the morning to be on hand for advice. And negotiated a 10% discount on any purchases and the checking only service is free of charge.

Same goes for the Farrier and Vet YO ensures that he is available when Farrier and vet are at the yard so if anything arises he is on the spot to answer questions.

He is also Agent for the Insurance Company (it is a good one I was already with) and has been fantastic in fighting a couple of issues for me and getting the claims paid out.

All in all for me it has taken a lot of the headaches away from me and I have learnt a lot over the last 10 months since I have been there.

I can however see problems if we had someone on the yard who had a "I know it all" attitude luckily everyone even the successful competing mob respect the YO's knowledge and accept that as a successful trainer and competitor of 30 years standing he does actually know his stuff. Also the way he approaches giving advice is very good you always come away feeling you have learnt a new piece of knowledge rather than being ripped off a strip as you are a total numpty.
 
I do that as standard - at no extra charge www.ballhillequestrian.co.uk I book in farrier, dentist, back people, trainers and just ask who wants them. I am a trained saddle fitter so will happily give advice there. And having done a lot of research into feeds and behavioural reactions to feed I will happily do that. I don't specifically advertise as I don't want the yard to become exclusively a starter yard cos I love my experienced liveries, but I have managed to create an atmosphere where novice owners can be nurtured without being lectured and the liveries all get on and help each other. charging more for this service in my opinion seems unethical.
 
Jeni Ball said:
Clavhorse....would you mind me asking what your livery rates are. Are they more than other yards in the area?
Click to expand...


Hi Jeni,

I am in the Netherlands so will have to give you the prices in euros.

300 euro a month for assisted DIY (I have to muck out) which is about average in the area.

Like Bosworth YO does not charge for the things like farrier, vet, saddle fitter just sees it as part of the job and like to be fully involved with the care that any of the horses receive on his yard.

Anything that takes a large amount of his time i.e. training is paid for on a separate rate for instance I had my horse initially being trained 5 days a week and this cost 350 euro per month.

Hope this helps
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top