livery yard waiting list?

BroadfordQueen

BroadfordQueen

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Hi all,
apologies for the numpty question- I have been lucky in that I've always kept my horses at my parents house, so have no experience with livery yards whatsoever.
However, I am moving away from home soon and the horse is coming with me, which means making the move to a livery yard- scary!
My move isn't scheduled until the end of October (although I don't have an exact date yet). However, horse wouldn't be moving until mid/end November as parents have kindly offered to keep her a bit longer while I find my feet and settle in etc.
I've found the perfect livery yard 3 miles away from the new house, and am now wondering when I should start to enquire etc?
I'm going up next week to take measurements of the house and to buy furniture (exciting!), and as it is 4 hours away from my parents house I thought it'd be a good time to go and have a look around the livery yard as I wont be able to get up there much more before my move. However, is it too early to start contacting them regarding having a look around/prices etc? I'm aware most good livery yards have waiting lists- how long are they usually?!
And how much would you expect to pay for part livery up norf (as in, very up norf, but not quite Scotland!)?
Many thanks :)
 
How long is a piece of string! A waiting list is the same although may be longer this time of year as people start to look for stables for winter. Go in and contact them now, they won't be offended! As for prices I have no idea I'm oin the very expensive south east!
 
My yard has 5 people on the waiting list currently, we are in the SE though, spaces come up very rarely, and there are people contacting them for spaces on a weekly basis.
 
Waiting lists are funny things. Sometimes no vacancies come up for months but on a fairly large yard there can be more movement due to horses being sold, euthanized or people moving away.
YO's don't always strictly use the waiting list, sometimes being in the right place at the right time gets you the vacancy.

If this yard is perfect for your needs, then I would, and have, paid a retainer to keep the stable until needed. Regarding prices, I think the difference in prices isn't so much due to location but to the standard of facilities and service offered.
 
Yes, I would go and see them asap.
The waiting list for a Parks Trust field around here is about 2 years. My friend now has 3, purely because she asked early and was in the right place, at the right time!
Good luck :)
 
I paid to keep my stable empty for two months whilst I was horse shopping. It's a nice yard and apparently usually has a waiting list. I didn't want to find my horse and then have to find somewhere to keep it and either end up somewhere out of my budget, or at a rubbish yard.
 
Don't rely on waiting lists. When looking recently, the land and yard owners have spoke to each said that they take numbers, but more often than not, the person on the list had already found somewhere by the time a vacancy came up. So, if more than a couple of weeks passed, they didn't bother with the list! If you really like this yard and a vacancy happens to come up, then pay for the stable/space. To be fair on the land owners in my case, I did find another place, so proved them right. ;)
 
Never too early to ask. If they do have a space I would start paying for it now so that I know I am sorted. Chances are another space won't appear before you need it
 
Waiting lists can move quickly when a space comes available people on the list either have found somewhere else or no longer want to move but unless your on the list you have no chance so get your name down asap.
 
There is a yard round here with a waiting list (and massive livery charges) that takes you on if your car 'looks right in the car park'. But who would want to be dealing with people like that?
But as for your move, go as soon as possible and reserve a stable. If it's a good place, spaces will get snapped up. Good luck.
 
Go now & view, if you have to go on a waiting list still view other yards because a spot may not come available for you. Sometimes a spot comes available but it will go to someone not on a list just because they know someone on the yard or know the YO. You will never know how many are on any list, you only have the YO's say so.

If you find a spot where you want then don't expect them to reserve the place for you for when you want to come for free. If you want it you must pay for it so be prepared to pay to keep the stable empty until you come.

I am on a wonderful yard, I viewed it, was vetted by the owners (it's their home) through people that knew me & my family & was offered a place. That was almost 3 years ago, no other spaces have come free since & I cannot see any in the near future either. Basically if you are offered a place at a good yard then take it & start paying immediately otherwise you could lose it. Good Luck. :)
 
My yard has recently had a couple of new people - afew of which have been on the waiting list for 2 years + (County Durham) and prices around this area vary massively - if you want DIY I think around £30 per week is average.
 
The closer it gets to winter the quicker they fill up. Sometimes people save money by turning them out over the summer in a field and they have to find somewhere else for winter. I know it seems mad, and then they go full livery over Christmas.
 
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