Livery yard advice

[zoe_1210]

I’ve been at my current yard about 18 months and really like it. Only issue is it’s fully DIY so we have to be there twice a day summer and winter for turnout / bring in (6.30am and 4ish).

I managed okay before but I now have a baby and finding it really hard to make these early mornings, and I’m not even back at work yet. I sometimes ask other liveries to turnout / bring in but I feel bad asking too much. The horses come in through the summer as well so there’s no respite. ? what should I do?

 

[Equidarby]

1. See if another owner on the yard would do it for you either paid or swapping duties (one does morning one does nights etc)

2. move to livery

3. pay a freelance groom to attend

i think those would be my options if I were in your situation. Hope you find a solution!

 

[Emilieu]

I had to move to assisted livery after having my baby for exactly that reason. It was definitely the right move.

 

[Wishfilly]

I think @Equidarby has given you the main options. If you're able to pay, I would imagine another livery would be willing to do mornings for you, if it's just turnouts? Or is there someone who works who would swap turn outs for catching in?

Otherwise, it's probably worth looking at other yards to see what options exist for part livery or assisted DIY?

What do you really like about the current yard?

 

[zoe_1210]

I think @Equidarby has given you the main options. If you're able to pay, I would imagine another livery would be willing to do mornings for you, if it's just turnouts? Or is there someone who works who would swap turn outs for catching in?

Otherwise, it's probably worth looking at other yards to see what options exist for part livery or assisted DIY?

What do you really like about the current yard?

My horses are pretty settled there and they have nice facilities and the yard is quite small.

There’s a woman who works shifts so I might ask if she wanted to do a rota, and ask if my older mare can live out during the summer

 

[Wishfilly]

My horses are pretty settled there and they have nice facilities and the yard is quite small.

There’s a woman who works shifts so I might ask if she wanted to do a rota, and ask if my older mare can live out during the summer

I can understand being reluctant to move if your horses are settled there. Definitely worth asking if someone would like to do a rota with you, and worth asking around to see if anyone would like to earn a little bit of money turning yours out.

Do they need to go out/come in at those times? If you could switch to say 8am turnout, 5pm bring in, would that be easier for you?

 

[SO1]

I presume if they have to be in by 4pm and there is no assistance that most people don't work standard 9-5pm hours.

How many horses do you have? It is probably harder to find someone to help with a rota if they have one horse and you have several. If your older mare lives out but everyone else comes in at 4pm will she be ok living out?

How did you manage on the day your baby was born did someone help you then? Could your husband do the turnout if horses are easy to handle or look after the baby whilst you went to yard if the yard is near to home and it is a quick task?

I think perhaps ask around and if someone who has plenty of time might be willing to do it for you during the week perhaps in return for you doing the weekends mornings so they can have a lie or go out for the day, when perhaps you can have more help from husband and are not working.

 

[Bobthecob15]

It doesn't get any easier with small children time wise, particularly if you also work at all..so I'd definitely move to somewhere you can get more help!

 

[zoe_1210]

I presume if they have to be in by 4pm and there is no assistance that most people don't work standard 9-5pm hours.

How many horses do you have? It is probably harder to find someone to help with a rota if they have one horse and you have several. If your older mare lives out but everyone else comes in at 4pm will she be ok living out?

How did you manage on the day your baby was born did someone help you then? Could your husband do the turnout if horses are easy to handle or look after the baby whilst you went to yard if the yard is near to home and it is a quick task?

I think perhaps ask around and if someone who has plenty of time might be willing to do it for you during the week perhaps in return for you doing the weekends mornings so they can have a lie or go out for the day, when perhaps you can have more help from husband and are not working.

So most people are up by about 4ish and if you’re not yours will always be brought in. The YO has a few oldies who live out, so I could ask for my older mare to live out during summer at least. That way less mucking out and only asking someone to bring my young horse in and maybe I could turn hers out. YO did my two on the day he was born and after that I limped about supervising my partner until I could do it myself again ?

I’m going back to work full time in a few months, so I definitely need to sort something before then. I just need to bite the bullet and say that I can’t do it every day and if she she might be helpful ??‍

 

[zoe_1210]

It doesn't get any easier with small children time wise, particularly if you also work at all..so I'd definitely move to somewhere you can get more help!

Yes I think I was quite naive about babies ?

 

[Winters100]

In my opinion you need help, either with the horse or with the baby. It might be easier to find a babysitter, and it also gives you some time out, but it is really down to personal preference.