Livery yard dilemma WWYD...

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Irishlassie

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13 October 2012
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6 of us on pleasant yard, I've been there years, others have come and gone, some come back.. Been paying £22 week for stable and own turnout, that is divided into two with my own elec fences and energiser and battery. I poo pick my own paddock, rotate them, YO maintains main post and rail fences and gates. I laid my own pipe to water trough, YO coupled it up to his water. I buy my own bedding and buy haylege from YO/farmer in small bale wrapped that lasts me about 5 days in winter(they are about 50kg bales.£15 ) contract says I have to buy his hay/haylege, no problem with that as its home made and nice stuff. My horse has to eat haylege as he will drop weight with hay and it can make him cough. I have my shavings delivered on a palette and store them behind my own storage area (£5 a bale) Last week we were told that as from first April the livery yard has been sold to a new owner... He has given us a sheet with lots of "rules" and it says we must buy our hay and shavings or straw from him. He will only supply small bale hay at £6 bale, 20kg shavings at £8.50 (I get mine for £5) he said yesterday he won't sell haylege and my horse will have to get used to hay!! It's going to cost a lot more. The stable and turnout is going up to £35 a week.. My turnout I am only going to be allowed one half of it, which I don't think is big enough as my whole area was only less than an acre, so another horse is going to benefit from my own water and electricity fence! Two liveries have now given notice, each have two horses, so that will mean four new horses will be arriving.. I like this yard , good school, off road hacking, nice other liveries, good storage good tack room/ feed room. I have looked at two other yards within affordable distance, but bothe only do assisted DIY at £55 a week ( you buy own haylege and shavings) And would mean more driving to and from. One is further from work and another is the other way, further from home and twice as far to work. I am upset, why do things have to change.. My OH says give it a go for a month or two, but livery is hard to find round here, and two other yards I've looked at have at least 6 person wait list, what should I do?
 
I would be looking to move just because of the price increases - while looking I would definitely take down my electric fencing and use the whole paddock. If new YO wants to halve your turnout, let them fence it! Sorry this is happening to you, it is always stressful when things change - hope things work out for the better ��
 
I'd take the electric fencing down now and put my name on a couple of waiting lists but otherwise carry on and stay put. If four horses have already handed their notice in then maybe their votes will be heard and he'll reconsider. If he doesn't then you can choose to move once you've seen him 'in action'. Hope it all works out OK.
 
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I would definitely be leaving - £6 for a small bale is ridiculous. What you were paying before was very good, but that's a big increase and with the reduced grazing is a complete rip off. Find yards that you like and get yourself on the waiting list now.
 
The new charge of £35 is far more realistic than the £22 you are paying currently but the new YO does not have the right to dictate what your horse gets to eat, if he coughs on hay then haylege is essential for his health, if he cannot provide haylage then you should be allowed to buy it in.
Having under 1/2 acre turnout per horse will also cause problems, it is not enough for anything other than a place to stretch their legs, in winter it will become a mud pit and the yard will probably become the type of place that has a high turn over, 4 horses leaving is setting a precedent and I don't blame them for jumping ship, the rules make business sense but probably should have waited until the new owner had become established and brought in gradually once they had developed a good relationship with their clients.
I think I would give it a go but make it very clear that you are not prepared to risk your horses health by feeding hay, accept the rest for now and keep looking for somewhere else, in the meantime the new owners may realise they are making mistakes with things like the turnout, I don't think you can expect anything for your water pipe, that was your choice and you were paying very little for livery, the electric fence is yours and you can take it or sell if you leave, if there is another horse in the same paddock I would want a double fence between them until they either go together or you can be certain they will get on and not fight over it.
 
Personally I would move and when moving would remove my own items - ideally you could get old owner to confirm they are yours (or have reciepts). Due to the attitude about horse having to get used to hay I'd move!
 
I would put my name on some waiting lists and try and stick it out at the current yard for a month or two once new owner arrives.

If it works out with the new livery yard owner, then the worst you can do is take your name off, but if it doesn't work out then you still have your options open once a new space comes up.

Assisted DIY may be more expensive but I'm assuming that you will get some perks such as turnouts and muckouts etc? So perhaps the distance issue won't be as big once you don't have to go before work etc.

Don't rush into anything and burn bridges - especially if livery yards are few and far between in your area.
 
All sounds ghastly, what a horrible man!

In mid Wales are there not thousands of acres just hanging around? Livery can't be that hard to find? Or can it?????
 
Ali2 said:
I'd take the electric fencing down now and put my name on a couple of waiting lists but otherwise carry on and stay put. If four horses have already handed their notice in then maybe their votes will be heard and he'll reconsider. If he doesn't then you can choose to move once you've seen him 'in action'. Hope it all works out OK.
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Agree 100%. I'd also remove your water pipe.
 
Add up how much livery will costume you with the extra charges and look around at what else is available for the price (or cheaper!). Honestly, it's worth paying more for a place that is flexible with feed/bedding requirements. I've been on one property once who charged an extortionate price for their hay, which was full of weeds and pretty ordinary! Worst thing was, it was fed out at the rate the YO wanted, and she then 'calculated' how much she'd fed per horse. Cost me a fortune in the hay itself, and in the bags and bags of hay cubes I bought to try and supplement the forage intake of my horse! I was actually fully relieved, new yard I'm on isn't flash nor perfect, but the YO lets us carry on managing as we please. So all in all, I'd start investigating my options, and keeping a very open mind.
 
Agree with others who say get your name on a waiting list, it rings alarm bells for me that he is coming in with that attitude, sounds like put up or shut up really.
Definitely take your property away, as soon as poss.
It may be a bit more at other yards, but if you are saving on fuel by only going up once a day it may work out?
Good luck
 
I'd sit tight for a month or so, soak the hay perhaps?

It could be that four horses leaving will hammer home the importance of keeping customers happy and the 'rules' may not be enforced fully after all
 
I know someone in a pretty similar situation and it is pants to be sure, maybe as suggested once a few people leave and people aren't beating down his door to join the yard he'll reconsider some of the more outlandish rules he's trying to bring in.
 
Oof! New owner is coming in all guns blazing. His prices are sky high, as you know, maybe thinking he's got you by the balls. I'd put my name on waiting lists but only those that you would consider moving to. If you already have stock of haylage and shavings his new rules won't come into effect until you need to buy more I expect so you should have a month or so leeway. People move at this time of year generally, so hopefully you won't need to wait too long to get a space elsewhere. I think the new owner's rules will become untenable, especially losing your grazing.

ETA once the rules start they continue to ridiculous lengths to the detriment of the horses. Been there.
 
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I just don't understand the mentality of people that take on a successful yard and completely blow it up. I can understand putting prices up a bit and I can understand tweaking things here and there but to make people feel so uncomfortable for no need just seems mean
 
Thanks all... I've found a lovely yard, someone is moving from in 12 weeks, so I've paid a £25 deposit to be the next on the list.. It's another small yard, reasonably distance from home and work, nice stable with storage area behind it in a 6by 6 shed.. Can buy own stuff, stable has no rubber mats, so will take ones from old yard.. So I can be settled there by summer.. I've took down my elec fence yesterday, my horse has whole field for now. I will be taking my water thought unless new owner wants to buy it from me!! I've made a list for old owner to signe and pass on about what is mine , you see we had been allowed to sort of do what we wanted at this yard, owner was just a person we saw once or twice a month to pay rent.. But he has now sold the stables, land and goodwill as a done deal.. But really don't think the. Goodwill will be there, !! As 4 horses going 1st April .. So I feel happier, just need to organise selling my little shed to someone "new" as if I took it down would probably fall apart..lol..
So fingers crossed, by mid June I will be sorted..
 
Irishlassie said:
Thanks all... I've found a lovely yard, someone is moving from in 12 weeks, so I've paid a £25 deposit to be the next on the list.. It's another small yard, reasonably distance from home and work, nice stable with storage area behind it in a 6by 6 shed.. Can buy own stuff, stable has no rubber mats, so will take ones from old yard.. So I can be settled there by summer.. I've took down my elec fence yesterday, my horse has whole field for now. I will be taking my water thought unless new owner wants to buy it from me!! I've made a list for old owner to signe and pass on about what is mine , you see we had been allowed to sort of do what we wanted at this yard, owner was just a person we saw once or twice a month to pay rent.. But he has now sold the stables, land and goodwill as a done deal.. But really don't think the. Goodwill will be there, !! As 4 horses going 1st April .. So I feel happier, just need to organise selling my little shed to someone "new" as if I took it down would probably fall apart..lol..
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A big well done. I hope you will be really happy at your new yard.
 
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