Livery yard advice

[MillionDollar]

I am going to start my own livery yard, hopefully soon, as I live on a farm that will be diversified. But I would like to get advice and perspectives of current livery yard clients. I have worked on a livery yard for a couple of years, but because I have always lived on a farm I have never kept horses at a livery yard myself. So if you could answer some of the following questions i would be very very very grateful as it will help me to try and get the yard right!!!!

Would you prefer to have bedding and hay provided by the yard?

Would you prefer a BHS approved yard?

What would you include as essential facilities for DIY liveries at the yard?

Finally what would you pay per week for DIY at the following yard-
BHS approved yard with american barn style stabling, all year turnout, use of floodlit arena, tack room and common room. For a small extra fee the use of a solarium and hot water washroom would be available to use. And hay and straw is provided by the yard!?

Again any advice would be really really helpful and I will be very grateful!

 

[ihatework]

Would you prefer to have bedding and hay provided by the yard?
If you could offer hay or haylage inclusive in the price then i think that is ideal (provided good quality), it also make storage easier for you. With regards to bedding I find everyone likes different things, what I have seen work well is adlib straw at an additional monthly cost for those who want it.

Would you prefer a BHS approved yard?
No, as far as I'm concerned it doesn't mean a thing

What would you include as essential facilities for DIY liveries at the yard?
Some storage, trailer parking, good turnout, school, tackroom

Finally what would you pay per week for DIY at the following yard-
BHS approved yard with american barn style stabling, all year turnout, use of floodlit arena, tack room and common room. For a small extra fee the use of a solarium and hot water washroom would be available to use. And hay and straw is provided by the yard!?
What you describe is similar to my old yard (minus solarium) - they charged £175 per month but that included basic hard feed too, ontop was £5 per month for trailer parking.

 

[shadowboy]

Our yard is american barn style with 14 foot square boxes! (the biggest ive ever seen!) with outdoor arena, 60 x 40 jumping paddock and short crosscountry course, large tackroom, hot water inclusive and all year turnout.
The basic charge for all this is £25 per week. Haylage is £5 per week ad lib for ponies or £7 per week for horses ad lib.
Straw is the only bedding offered at the yard at £2.50 per bale. He also offers services such as full liver or just occational turnout ar required. In winter i can end up paying £160 per month if i use his services on occasion. In summer i pay £100 only!
Trailer or box parking is free too.

 

[allijudd]

Hi MD

We produce our own hay and straw, but do not insist that the liveries buy from us as we sell off the farm as well.

Down here people do not really mind if a yard is BHS or not, but that will depend on the clients in your area.

Essentials for diy is a safe and secure yard for the horses when stabled and at grass. seperate feed areas and plenty of secure storage for a tack area. we also provide kettle, toaster, microwave so clients can make drinks/food when its cold. Really it depends on how much you want to provide and what other yards in your area provide. Bear in mind DIY is just that, we do quite a bit for our liveries such as bring in for vet etc but we like to provide the service as most of our clients are good friends as well.
Vet your clients well and always ask for references, it only takes one bad apple to ruin a happy yard. Also a livery contract will save you big headaches, we got our contract from the BHS. It might be an idea to offer off road riding as the roads are getting busier and cars and horses rarely mix well.
By the way, where are you?

Best of luck

 

[acolvine]

Where abouts in the UK will your yard be? Sometimes dictates livery charges so probably worth ringing other local yards to see what they charge and what facilities they have.
For me a good yard has to have a sand school, good turn out, secure tack room, good sized stables and storage space.
The option to be able to buy hay/bedding/feed from the yard is always good so long as the price is competitive.

 

[Bertie1]

It is great when hay or haylage is included, but only if there's no restriction on how much can be used and it's good quality. It is a nightmare when it is poor quality, you have to be brave and say something to the YO.

I prefer to buy my own hard feed, but some include that too (not usually on DIY though).

Bedding - nice if straw is included, again, if it's good quality and you can use as much as you need. I use shavings, which I buy myself from the YOs supply.

Minimum requirements for me for a yard are:

- year round turn out, but must be good quality grass and safe fencing. Also, must be enough acres for individual turnout.

- decent sized all weather school with good surface (eg sand and rubber) must be floodlit.

- big well-made, safe stables, I won't put mine in 12 x12s!

- nice, kind YO that you would trust while you're away

- good security.

- lorry parking.

Other good things but not essential:

- nice other liveries, not too bitchy, no stealing

- off road hacking

- big tack room where you can sit down for a cuppa

- rubber matting and hay bars

I am on DIY at my current yard, which has all of the above apart from off-road hacking (although there is a xc course). I pay £45 a week which includes as much haylage as I need, and the occasional help bringing in/feeding/turning out. I pay extra (£5 a day) if I am away and they have to 'do' him.

It is more than many people pay, but there is loads of excellent grazing, massive stables, 25 by 50 school with array of show jumps, little xc course, horse walker. They only take people they know very well in, so there are only 4 of us, and we're all trustworthy people. So, I think it's worth it.

 

[MillionDollar]

Thank you all for all your answers and advice.

The farm is in Warwickshire. I will be living on site as I already do, lol. And we will be providing a very long off-road farm ride. I will also provide services such as turning out, feeding, haying, etc for a small fee when needed.

Thanks again.

 

[blakey]

Would you prefer to have bedding and hay provided by the yard? YES, MAKES LIFE EASIER

Would you prefer a BHS approved yard? PERSONALLY NOT FUSSED IF YARD IS NICE, CLEAN & SAFE

What would you include as essential facilities for DIY liveries at the yard? EASY ACCESS TO MUCK HEAP! SCHOOL ROTA, SCHOOL! FLEXIBILITY ON TIMES STAYING OPEN, COMMUNAL WHEELBARROWS, POO PICKERS, FORKS, ALL YEAR TURNOUT

Finally what would you pay per week for DIY at the following yard-
BHS approved yard with american barn style stabling, all year turnout, use of floodlit arena, tack room and common room. For a small extra fee the use of a solarium and hot water washroom would be available to use. And hay and straw is provided by the yard!? APPROX. £30/40 A WEEK, DEPENDING ON AREA,