Livery Stables - Which One

Chavhorse

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After OH and I going down together with a bloody horrible case of flu last week I am revisiting the idea of putting Vardi into DIY livery and have been looking at a couple of Private Livery yards.

I think I have decided which one I like but your input would be fabulous;

Yard 1

15 min drive from home, small pension yard for 20 horses.

Large outside school, and lunging arena, outside turnout in sand paddocks (remember this is Holland and this yard is on the Dunes so grass is premium) for 4-6 hours a day.

Very nice tidy set up own metal tack cupboard. Place is immaculate!

15 min hacking to sea, dunes and woods.

Full livery is 325 per month

Yard 2

Private yard owner has 3 horses of her own and takes in 3 liveries. She is an instructor and can give lessions or ride or lunge your horse for a fixed hourly rate if you need help.

Large light inside stable, turnout with 2 other geldings from 8am till 2pm in sand paddock with free choice hay then in summer 2 hours turnout on grass.

Feed 3 times daily with double portion hay given at 9pm for overnight in stable....bedding can be straw or shavings.

Good riding with woods, park and dunes either a 20 min hack on cycle paths or over a bridge and down 4 wide anti slip steps straight into woods. (Could be interesting but she says all other horses manage it with no problem)

YO is lovely great sense of humour and she looks after all horses like they are her own.

Full livery is 270 per month.

Sand school only (has lighting for winter).

Yard is scruffy but has a good feel to it (don;t feel the horse will mind as long as he is getting looked after)

I am erring towards yard 2.

Thoughts?
 
Yard 2
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Yard 1.

My experience of being on a small yard where the owner will treat your horse "as their own" means that if you have a single complaint they will take it personally. i.e. it may be good enough for her horses, but not yours. Also, they tend to become quite patronising and controlling, and suddenly they decide that since your horse doesnt eat all of his hay he will be given half the allocation as they arent about to waste hay etc etc.

If on livery, I would prefer to be on a professional yard that knows they have to keep the horse to the owner's standard - that is what they are being paid for. Also query why Yard 2 is so much cheaper - people wouldnt take on liveries if they werent making a living out of it.

I have been on livery for years and have had to learn the hard way through my own personal experience. If you are on DIY livery at a nice yard now, dont leave! You will have a cold once or twice a year - but being upset about the standard of care of your horse on a daily/weekly basis is just so stressful and upsetting.
 
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