Livery in Aberdeenshire

[sane_and_sensible]

Looking for full livery (but the option for assisted DIY would be nice to have available for if circumstances allow me to revert to DIY in the future).

Yard must be capable of mucking a stable out properly and providing enough (decent) bedding, hay and clean water without having to be constantly checked and reminded.

Option for individual / pair / small group turnout (horse is not happy in large / unsettled groups).

Option to stable all year round.

Indoor school (and preferably an outdoor school too) - and not ones that are always booked up at 6pm in the evening!

Some off road hacking essential.

Fellow liveries who are happy to chat, but don't interfere or bitch (at least not too much).

Secure, dry storage space would be a bonus but not essential.

Room to park trailer.

Looking for the impossible?

 

[kirstykate]

Where about in Aberdeen are u?

 

[scarymare]

Looking for full livery (but the option for assisted DIY would be nice to have available for if circumstances allow me to revert to DIY in the future).

Yard must be capable of mucking a stable out properly and providing enough (decent) bedding, hay and clean water without having to be constantly checked and reminded.

Option for individual / pair / small group turnout (horse is not happy in large / unsettled groups).

Option to stable all year round.

Indoor school (and preferably an outdoor school too) - and not ones that are always booked up at 6pm in the evening!

Some off road hacking essential.

Fellow liveries who are happy to chat, but don't interfere or bitch (at least not too much).

Secure, dry storage space would be a bonus but not essential.

Room to park trailer.

Looking for the impossible?

Blimey yes i think you are. I'm in Aberdeenshire and have my own land ttf. You sound like you have very high standards - in which case try hogholm farm (google it) but they will be full.

Ladyleys in Oldmeldrum will probably not be up to scratch but does meet the facilities/hacking bit.

Loanhead would too but i don't know anyone there. Heaps of yards to be honest but the good ones will be full (which is probably a good way of judging)

 

[turpsamd]

agree with scarymare. Hogholm best. Loanhead would be an option too although doubt very much they have space and they do hire out indoor school some evenings. VERY difficult now to get livery in Aberdeenshire with an indoor school that doesnt get hired out in the evenings. Cabin might also be an option although you would prob be in temporary stables and turnout limited. New yard near Peterculter too ran by Michael Hamilton (dont know the name sorry) but its supposedly VERY nice, luxury livery and an indoor school just being built I think. Fountain an option but no hacking. There is sunnyside also near loanhead with small indoor school. Eastermains near westhill, again would tick all the boxes. Denburn livery (again Kingswells) Depends where abouts in Aberdeen you are, south or north. I have my own land so no experience of these places but know them all well and know people at all of them.

 

[sane_and_sensible]

I didn't think expecting the horse to have a clean stable and enough hay and water, plus a small stable turnout situation was asking too much! It is beginning to seem like it is though.

The indoor school requirement does rule out a lot of yards - but i'm a fair weather rider (and the horse is a fair weather horse too)!

I'm west aberdeenshire, but am getting to the point where i will travel a fair distance and pay a decent price to find a yard that can manage to get the basics right.

Basically - it is an acceptable standard of care on full livery, indoor school and small stable turnout groups (or the option of individual / paired - which i am happy to pay extra for - should bigger groups be the norm). And not too much bitching and thieving.

Even the storage for stuff and trailer isn't essential.

 

[turpsamd]

If you are west I would def try Michael Hamilton this is their website http://www.parkhillcattery.co.uk/
also maybe the new miltimber farm yard as they have an indoor and its in Cults area. I was once at Denburn many years ago and all the mares were out together and all geldings, not sure if its still the same. Others on west side worth a look then would be Eastermains at Westhill. You would get contacts by using google

 

[sane_and_sensible]

I had heard some negative comments about the owner of hogholm - no idea if they are true! Not ruling it out as we all know how horsey folk like to gossip - any comments on here either?

Also heard negative comments about Ladyleys - again not ruling it out - any other comments on here either?

Eastermains sounds good - would be interested in any further comments on here.

Sunnyside and Milltimber are both just a bit too far into Aberdeen itself.

Cabin, Loanhead and Deburn i have ruled out for other reasons.

Fountain's lack of hacking makes it a non-starter unfortunately, although it is a lovely yard.

Peterculter a wee bit far, but might be worth me looking in to.

I did hear that the place by Norvite at Oldmeldrum had put up an indoor school - but their Facebook page comes over as being very parelli-ist - which i have no issue with at all, but would worry that someone non-parelli wouldn't fit in.

 

[turpsamd]

If you are west of Aberdeen why is culter too far? West to me is cults, culter, deeside... if you are looking at Oldmeldrum you must be North/West. Where do you live and I could prob come up with better ideas. Not going to make comments on people at different yards on a public forum, everyone is different and we are all special in our own special way LOL

 

[sane_and_sensible]

West Aberdeenshire Live outside Inverurie, work in Dyce, so yes, i suppose strictly NW Aberdeenshire.

Oh yes, def don't want anything slanderous! Would just be nice to know if anyone has had any particularly positive experiences at those yards!

 

[turpsamd]

I am Inverurie too covered the obvious ones. Shaun Mardon has a place at Oyne with indoor school but the surface was just sand and VERY deep (although been a while since I have been there or seen it. Only others near Inverurie/Dyce or on the way home from there are all ones I have already covered. Kind of in the same boat as you as would like to put my mare in livery for January to prepare for regionals but would need individual turnout and an indoor school and its very difficult. I went to Ladyleys last winter for a month and they are really nice and friendly there. Hogholm is good, just changed their indoor surface and the level of care there is supposed to be brilliant. Never heard anything bad about Eastermains either. If you come up with any great ideas do let me know

 

[sane_and_sensible]

thanks - i shall carry on looking - think i will investigate eastermains / ladyleys / hogholm.

It just seems to be so difficult trying to find somewhere that gets the basics right - and has the facilities!

Thinking about it, not sure that Hogholm has much in the way of hacking either.

If i find anywhere fitting the bill i shall certainly update this thread!

 

[coss]

Shaun's indoor arena wasn't very deep when i was up there in the summer for a few times. Not sure he'd have individual turnout as was only up to view a horse (so rode in the arena) and a friend had a horse there for breaking so possibly different scenario.
He does have miles and miles of hacking.

 

[sane_and_sensible]

I believe everything lives out at Oyne over the summer unfortunately

 

[turpsamd]

No I dont think Hogholm has great hacking but not sure. I know they have a few eventers there so there must be hacking somewhere. If I have any sudden bursts of inspiration I will let you know. Maybe some other forum goers can give some feedback too

 

[coss]

I believe everything lives out at Oyne over the summer unfortunately

if the stables are there then surely you can use them

 

[ClobellsandBaubles]

Tertowie not kept horse there but heard positive things

 

[whisp&willow]

is oldfold (milltimber) still on the go?!

i kept my horse there while at uni and had a good experience there. I used to work the Sunday too so at the time know that the horses on full livery were well looked after.

they had an outdoor arena and an indoor school- although getting a chance to ride in there was tricky!

*this was a number of years ago though!!

good luck in your search

x

 

[Daytona]

I'm at Hogholm having been at other yards on full livery and found the standard of care for my horse not the standard I like. I cannot praise hogholm enough, the horses are cared for to a very high standard, i cannot fault it, full size indoor with about 10 liveries to share it as well as two large outdoor. Indoor school is always empty. I too had heard conflicting reports about YO but I was at my wits end and decided I wanted best care for my horse and had heard it was the best yard in Aberdeen , so I moved there. Anyway I think Lorna the yard owner is lovely, very approachable , nothing is too much trouble, she is knowledgeable and clearly cares about each and every horse on the yard. The staff are lovely as is Ali West the eventer who is based there. Its a small yard with friendly liveries and fantasic facilities. Don't be put off by gossips there is no truth in it , and I am so glad I took a chance and moved there. No other yard in Aberdeenshire even comes close. Ps - I think there could be a space

 

[Daytona]

Oh there is hacking but you do have to go alone a country road to access the woods, it's a single track road and not busy but even so I would still avoid it at rush hour due to the odd rat runner..!

 

[Daytona]

It won't let me edit as on iPhone i also ment to add, Eastermains only does full livery mon to fri you have to DIY it at weekends.

 

[sane_and_sensible]

Thanks for the comments all

Ludoctro - that's very helpful - gives me some food for thought!

 

[Daytona]

No problem I'd defo say go along for a look yourself. And when you see the place and compare it to others that will make your mind up for you. It was voted yet again as highly commended by BHS the only yard in Scotland and one of only six in the UK. Says it all really if you ask me .

 

[scarymare]

I think the Hogholm rumours are about the lady (before Alison West) that she rented the annexe yard to. Certainly when I tried to go there to wean my foal (wanted to put mare there) she said no as it would disrupt the dynamics too much. Whilst I did find that ridiculous it really shows how much she looks after the liveries!

Jenny johnstones yard is very close to Hogholm though and it looks awesome. Not sure how you'd get in touch as I can't remember the name. Think a couple of SJ'ers have just moved out though.

 

[Decision_Tree]

I am too looking for livery matching those high stantards (I dont think they are that high really when you consider the price in Aberdeen?!).

OP- Did you check Hogholm out? I was there yesterday and to almost everyother yard! just wondering if you found somewhere? and/or found any hidden gems which arent widely advertised but worth a look?