Livery yards: Essentials / Luxuries... Opinions?

_jetset_

_jetset_

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We are in the process of setting up a more competition specific livery yard and all the quotations are finally in...

The things that are currently definite inclusions are:
* 60 x 20 (possibly 65 x 25) arena
* 16 12 x 12 stables
* 4 foaling boxes
* Alarmed tack room
* Feed room
* Hot wash box
* Individual paddocks for turnout all post and railed with automatic water troughs
* Laminitic paddock
* 4 woodchip paddocks for 4 hour slots of turnout when the ground is too wet
* Bedding supplied
* Hay / Haylage supplied
* CCTV and night checks
* Toilet facilities and a small kitchen area

And now the things that I am just not 100% sure whether they would be used enough to spend the money on:
* Horse walker (my thinking is because of the turnout offered, would this get used?)
* Solarium (I have been on yards with one and they were never used)
* Gallops around the field (this is something I do want but is phase 2 as very costly)
* CCTV to each stable and a web cam
* Shower for liveries (I don't know whether this would get used at all)
* Automatic waterers in the stables ... All I have ever known is them freezing and leaking / bursting and being a real pain in the a**


So... any thoughts / suggestions / changes would be much appreciated!
 
Sounds amazing!!
For me:
I would never use a horse walker.
Solarium sounds a nice idea but I have managed so far without one so it might be a fancy toy to play with for a bit, but not sure I would bother with it regularly.
Gallops sound a fantastic idea, if the surface was good then I would def use.
CCTV again sounds wonderful and I would prob be v glad of it if I wanted to keep an eye on, perhaps if they came in with a gripey tummy, but that said if I was worried about colic then I would be there to check in person anyway! Perhaps better just for your foaling boxes?
I would use a shower - hot schooling session followed by work isn't such a nice plan for those around me until I have been through the shower!!
Wouldn't use automatic waterers. Half the yard I am on have them and they seem to be a real pita!
 
And now the things that I am just not 100% sure whether they would be used enough to spend the money on:
* Horse walker (my thinking is because of the turnout offered, would this get used?)
i would have one- good if no time to ride or horse needs walking only- esp if it is a big oval one

* Solarium (I have been on yards with one and they were never used)
i have one and find it v useful esp drying off after washing and also in winter

* Gallops around the field (this is something I do want but is phase 2 as very costly)
major plus for me as dont like road work so provides fitness and 'hack' work

* CCTV to each stable and a web cam
cctv on yard and tackrooms would be fine for me!

* Shower for liveries (I don't know whether this would get used at all)
possibly may use

* Automatic waterers in the stables ... All I have ever known is them freezing and leaking / bursting and being a real pain in the a**
definately- saves time if on full and for DIYers also time saver! ours wil freeze in cold weather so if we have a chance of getting to minus figures we turn it off and drain the water so it cant burst.
 
Solarium - I have used before for drying off. Not sure it would be worth the money. More of a nice to have.

Walker - I do use, not often, but is worthwhile.

Gallops - Fab idea - Would definately use

Shower - Wouldn't use

Rug drying - I am lucky to have a rug drying room, it is brilliant in winter. A definate must have.

Good luck!
 
60 x 20 (possibly 65 x 25) arena - I would try and go for the bigger if you can. Having those extra 5 metres allows you to set up a 60 x 20 dressage arena with boards, so you can practise tests without the security of the fence.

Alarmed tack room - a rather nice bonus, but I wouldn't consider it an essential

Hot wash box - not essential, but I'd love it!

Horse walker - if the yard was able to put my horse in for me in the mornings, whilst I'm at work, then it'd be used. If it was entirely up to me to get my horse in or out, then I'd never use it.

Solarium - I think I would use this, but only to help dry off after bathing. But having a grey I bath a lot...

Gallops around the field - I would make use of this rarely, but would use it.

CCTV to each stable and a web cam - can't see myself ever using the webcam

Shower for liveries - wouldn't use

Automatic waterers in the stables - personally, I'd rather use buckets

hope that helps you!
 
We have a shower on our yard for liveries (one for horses too!) but it's never used apart from when it was the only source of water during the big freeze and everyone filled up their water buckets from it!

Gallops would be good - but how close are the nearest ones to your yard - could folks hack/box there instead. You could possibly make it an income generator, there are gallops at yard near me that charges £8 a time to hire. But I guess you would have to work out whether you want people coming and going on/near your yard who aren't liveries.

CCTV would be a novelty but doubt I'd use it regularly, except as someone has said during times of illness.

Horsewalker - yes I'd use. Particularly in the winter when we have day in/day out turnout with limited access to bark turnout arenas

Solarium- yes I'd use. You could put it on a meter and charge per use rather than include in livery costs, but that might put people off using it rather than encourage, was just thinking about income generation again!

Automatic drinkers - neither yes or no. We have them in our stables and haven't had many problems. But then again I also put in a bucket as the water pressure at our yard is rubbish and it can take an age to refill, so if horse needs a big drink they can wait ages get a mouthfull and wait ages again!
 
Last edited:
_jetset_ said:
We are in the process of setting up a more competition specific livery yard and all the quotations are finally in...

The things that are currently definite inclusions are:
* 60 x 20 (possibly 65 x 25) arena
* 16 12 x 12 stables
* 4 foaling boxes
* Alarmed tack room
* Feed room
* Hot wash box
* Individual paddocks for turnout all post and railed with automatic water troughs
* Laminitic paddock
* 4 woodchip paddocks for 4 hour slots of turnout when the ground is too wet
* Bedding supplied
* Hay / Haylage supplied
* CCTV and night checks
* Toilet facilities and a small kitchen area

And now the things that I am just not 100% sure whether they would be used enough to spend the money on:
* Horse walker (my thinking is because of the turnout offered, would this get used?)
* Solarium (I have been on yards with one and they were never used)
* Gallops around the field (this is something I do want but is phase 2 as very costly)
* CCTV to each stable and a web cam
* Shower for liveries (I don't know whether this would get used at all)
* Automatic waterers in the stables ... All I have ever known is them freezing and leaking / bursting and being a real pain in the a**


So... any thoughts / suggestions / changes would be much appreciated!
Click to expand...

As a YO....

Horse walker- if you can get one, they are FAB! And you will use it a lot in the winter.

Solarium- ours hardly ever gets used, but we are mainly a DIY yard so different if yours is for comp horses/riders

Gallops- we just have over 5 miles of grass headlands, which is a big hit with the liveries. One day I will def put in an all weather gallop.

CCTV- not got any, and not interested in ever putting any in.

Shower- we have one and it does get used but TBH i wouldn't bother again.

Automatic drinkers- YES YES YES I could not live without them, saves SO much time and hardly ever have problems with them.
 
Automatic drinkers yes.

Horsewalker/gallops/solarium all good ideas.

Shower for liveries - that would depend on your clientel. I would avoid putting one in to start with and see how it goes.
 
I would use the walker, shower and gallops. Wouldn't use solarium as if I can was in hot water then I would be happy putting a fleece on, or automatic drinkers as I like to know what my horses are drinking.

What about rubber matting? If two yards were the same and only one had matting then that is the one I would go for.
 
As another yard owner:

Arena - as big as you can afford, but if budget is an issue, spend the money on a decent surface even if it's a smaller arena rather than a big arena with a horrible surface

Horsewalker - if you are going to be responsible for exercising the liveries then it would be the first thing on my list

Automatic drinkers - again, if you are doing the watering, then a definite yes for these - if this is a new build it is easy to do the job properly to avoid leaks etc, and the times they freeze up will be relatively limited, so they are well worth putting in

Gallops - great if you can, but I agree this should be a phase 2 target!

However much are you going to be charging for all this?:confused:;)
 
Thank you to everyone for your replies so far... They are being noted!

I did think about rubber matting but most people I know have their own already so it would be a bit uneconomical as people would end up with mats they did not need. Also, mine are all on Equimats because they are more cushioned, but then these would be too expensive to fill the entire yard with.

Also some people really dislike matting and want proper deep litter beds... So I have come to the conclusion that people can choose. We were thinking of perhaps a liquid rubber floor, but again, I am not sure how that would be received.
 
Rowreach said:
As another yard owner:

Arena - as big as you can afford, but if budget is an issue, spend the money on a decent surface even if it's a smaller arena rather than a big arena with a horrible surface

Horsewalker - if you are going to be responsible for exercising the liveries then it would be the first thing on my list

Automatic drinkers - again, if you are doing the watering, then a definite yes for these - if this is a new build it is easy to do the job properly to avoid leaks etc, and the times they freeze up will be relatively limited, so they are well worth putting in

Gallops - great if you can, but I agree this should be a phase 2 target!

However much are you going to be charging for all this?:confused:;)
Click to expand...

Thanks for all this... It is helpful getting a YO's perspective too!

Initially, I will be fencing off what will hopefully become the gallops, so when it is dry it will be open to liveries as just a grass track. So although it is phase 2 (and in the distance) it will also be able to be used when the ground permits due to the fencing.

It will be run as a part and full livery only yard... so costs will reflect those of similar yards in the area, but perhaps a little more due to the turnout we will be offering. There are no other yards in the area that offer this type of turnout option (I know... I have scoured the area with a fine toothed comb).
 
We have a solarium in our hat water wash area and it's invaluable- would be stuck without it. Ours is in the entrance back into the yard from the fields and theyre cross tied there so all feet picking, leg washing and rug changing is done before they go into stables so no mud on yard.

Our horsewalker is also used a lot and really valued by liveries who can't ride as much as they'd like

Personally I wouldnt want gallops anywhere near the turnout as you'd have to get horses in before using it in case it sets them off in the field

Automatic waterers are a must, just make sure the pipes are well insulated. On the coldest days we deforst ours by taking the kettle round but it rarely needs doing.

Muck heap- so essential you get this right- will you have a trailer emptied regularly or an established heap to be removed periodically? Either way, it needs to be easily accessible and with a gently sloping permanent ramp if you need to get the muck up.

Hay soaking- a total nightmare if you try to do nets. The big bins are good for whole bales but not good enough for bigger bulk. We soak up to 8 bales a day and for this purpose have a big metal hay soaker which soaks 4 at a time and lifts them out with a mechanical winch- couldnt do without it

Hay bars/ racks- dont even go there with nets, far easier to chuck it in a rack. I personally dont like haybars as theyre a faff to clean out
 
In that case, the horsewalker and the drinkers move up the list :D

It all sounds fab, you should be able to charge a premium given those facilities. Good luck with it, I've been a YO for 20 years and the liveries have finally worn me down :rolleyes: and I'm going to just take schoolers from now on and enjoy my facilities for myself :)
 
Can i suggest an addition - lots of rug storage and rug drying facilities. To me that is far more important than horse walker or human shower.

Warm water wash box is invaluable year round.

Wouldn't allow a yard to put my horse on some horse walkers. But would be very happy with wood chip pen idea for bad weather.
 
_jetset_ said:
We are in the process of setting up a more competition specific livery yard and all the quotations are finally in...

The things that are currently definite inclusions are:
* 60 x 20 (possibly 65 x 25) arena
would go for the bigger size if possible better for jumping and for putting DR boards out etc

* 16 12 x 12 stables
* 4 foaling boxes
* Alarmed tack room
* Feed room
* Hot wash box
* Individual paddocks for turnout all post and railed with automatic water troughs
* Laminitic paddock
* 4 woodchip paddocks for 4 hour slots of turnout when the ground is too wet
* Bedding supplied
* Hay / Haylage supplied
* CCTV and night checks
* Toilet facilities and a small kitchen area

And now the things that I am just not 100% sure whether they would be used enough to spend the money on:
* Horse walker (my thinking is because of the turnout offered, would this get used?)
i wouldn't use this...especially as it seems like you'll have some form of turnout all year. i don't like the idea of horse walkers

* Solarium (I have been on yards with one and they were never used) I would definitely use this. perhaps put it on a meter so people don't take the piss?
* Gallops around the field (this is something I do want but is phase 2 as very costly). depends on the local hacking- if theres loads of local places to have a good blast then probably not needed but if not then i think would be a big pull for me.
* CCTV to each stable and a web cam - seems a bit OTT!
* Shower for liveries (I don't know whether this would get used at all) wouldn't use this
* Automatic waterers in the stables ... All I have ever known is them freezing and leaking / bursting and being a real pain in the a**
depends on whether you are a full livery yard or a DIY yard? if full livery then it doesn't really matter but DIY i would much prefer an automatic water drinker. they only freeze in the worst of winter- you just need to remember to turn them off when the worst of the weather hits :)


So... any thoughts / suggestions / changes would be much appreciated!
Click to expand...

something else you might want to think about is a set of showjumps (or even better a showjumping field if you have the space you'd attract the eventers then :p )
also, somewhere to dry rugs preferably heated if you can.
re. tackrooms - i quite like having tackrooms at the back of my stable (that way its individual and all of your stuff is safe...but all really depends on space :))
 
Re: The gallop track....there is a large amount of maintenance on them if you do them properly even if they are grass not surface! With rising fuel costs and regularly harrowing/rolling (daily if a surface!!) an absolute must I'd think very carefully about them. I would also not be inclined to want my horse using woodchip paddocks...they are fine initially but can be come a hotbed for disease over long periods of time. I have seen them alot with cows and horses and have yet to be convinced. Eg ringworm can be a nightmare to get out of them!
 
for me as an eventer who works full time the horsewalker is a must. Fleur gets 30mins on it in the morning in addition to ridden exercise (by me!) in the evening to help get her ultra fit.

Gallops great idea but agreed take a lot of maintenance and you will need them away from the turnout paddocks.

another must and this was the biggest must when I was searching for a yard when i moved was that the school was floodlit! I don't get to the yard after work until 6:30-7pm which is pitch black for nearly half the year so without the floodlights I wouldn't get to ride after work for half the year.
 
We have got grass headlands round the farm and the farmer rolls them when it's suitable and tops them in the summer. It's great as no road work and it does pass the horses and they are used to it and don't seem to care!

I'd like drinkers especially as buckets of water get wasted as thrown away and emptying a drinker with a sponge doesn't waste much.

I think a walker is really valuable, for when there's no time to ride and great for keeping legs hard and strong and for recouperation of injuries.

Never had a solarium, haven't ever felt hard done by though!

I think as big a school as possible with some nice jumps!
 
I wouldnt use the water drinkers, i like to monitor how much my horse has been drinking, alot of people can be like that, also they tend to freeze easily in the winter.

Gallops, i would love one with an all weather surface, we have grass gallops on the yard im at, they get used to cut haylage in the summer and we get a track left round the edge.

I like the idea of a cctv/webcam in stables, but wouldnt put it in all stables straight away, probably just your foaling boxes, only 2 though, as you probably wont have four mares foaling at the same time.

I would say a full set of showjumps is essential, and a nice big floodlit arena. Horsewalker for a comp yard would also be essential i would love one to keep my horse fit.

How about portable XC jumps, if you have a good bit of land you could set up a XC course and then that could bring extra money in.

Definately rubber matting or the liquid rubber flooring, i would also give your liveries the choice between shavings and straw, personally i refuse to use shavings as my horse is disgusting in the stable.

Wouldnt use a wash box a hose and cold water is fine by me
 
As wife of a YO :)

Horsewalker - wouldn't. I'm a bit concerned about the press they received in the past year and so unless it was one of the new oval ones which are hideously expensive, would worry.

Solarium - we have one. The liveries tend to use it more when it's included in their livery (with us it's in full livery but not part). I live in there over the winter as previously I'd find I rarely saw my horse without a rug and with that, I can whip the rugs off, have a good luck at him AND my hands don't freeze grooming.

Human shower - yuk. I hate shared shower facilities.

Rug drying facilities - we have a rug drying which is invaluable in the winter months.

Equissage - ours is very popular.

Rubber matting - we provide it for all of our clients and none of them have yet said they already have it/ don't want it.

Automatic waterers - we have them in the American barn and not on the courtyard. They can be a pita in the winter (particularly when you're on your own at 2am balancing at the top of the stepladder with a boxwalking horse who has managed to break one trying to stem the tide and you can't move the horse as it's an ice rink outside). We now turn ours off when it's going to freeze, but they're really handy the rest of the year.

Tea and coffee facilities, storage etc is a must. Personally I wouldn't put tables and chairs near the arena as the couple of yards we liveried on that did that were incredibly bitchy - it seems to encourage people to watch and 'comment'.

For your turnout pens, my maths isn't great but if you have 4 of them and 16 stables, and you're going to offer 4 hour turnouts, are you going to get all of the horses out every day (unless it's a really long working day)?

Most important of all - a good livery contract and a firm YO. More than our facilities, everyone comments about how non-bitchy our lot are. We've had one or two over the years but they've been steered to other more appropriate yards.

Good luck - your yard sounds as though it's going to be great.
 
I put a horse walker onto our yard about a year ago. I wasn't quite sure wether it would be a novelty to begin with but I can say it is a god send, it is constantly in use. We fitted ours with a coin meter (which has an over ride for my use!) This ensured that there was an income to cover electric bills, but also ensured that it was turnred off and not left on unnecisarily. We also have an all weather half mile canter track which is a big hit for those nights when people haven't got the time to go far! As for the automatic water system, some of our stables have them but the newer block haven't as I found them to be a nightmare with changing water pressures, although I can say they never freeze!
 
We have a derby field at my yard which I love riding in - it takes the pressure off the school aswell. There is a bank, dyke and lots of other xc fences that the liveries have fashioned themselves to suit everyone. You can have a good canter round and pop a selection of fences and not worry about putting the jumps away after or taking up alot of room in the school at busy times. I would be gutted not to have a facility like that if I ever moved.
 
Rubber matting - you will save on bedding

Floodlit school and decent lighting round the yard - you can easily get a meter that powers the school floodlights off pound coins eg a pound an hour so people wont waste.

Automatic waterers. They save hours in time and they save water too - if you are on a meter you will notice. If you lag them properly and stick trace heating on the pipes they wont freeze. You know your horse wont be without water - I actually would strongly prefer a yard with them.

Horse walker - definitely but invest in a big one

Total thumbs up for the hot wash - its just primitive to use cold water scrubbing poop stains when its zero degrees.

Agree on the slightly bigger arena

Solarium nice to have but maybe not bother immediately - presumably going in with or next to hot wash box ?

Webcams cute but other than foaling boxes wouldnt bother

Generally sounds great though!
 
* Horse walker (my thinking is because of the turnout offered, would this get used?)
We have everyday turnout on our yard and the walker is still used daily

* Solarium (I have been on yards with one and they were never used)
We have several solariums and they are all used a lot everyday
* Gallops around the field (this is something I do want but is phase 2 as very costly)
Would love gallops
* CCTV to each stable and a web cam
Would also love this :)
* Shower for liveries (I don't know whether this would get used at all)
Would very much appreciate this and use it if it was provided
* Automatic waterers in the stables ... All I have ever known is them freezing and leaking / bursting and being a real pain in the a**
Absolute must have for me :-)
 
Your yard sounds like it would be amazing!! My aunt has large yard for racehorses and dressage horses and their walker is invaluable. I would use one with my horse but like hers I would use an oval one which was big enough for at least six horses so not turning on too tight a circle. She has "bumpy" matting on hers to ensure the surface is level and to avoid any injuries. Would def need one with electric pushers as Ol sits on it to stop lol.

With regard to other facilties I would be lost without a school. I am so lucky where I am now as only 2 people there to use a huge arena which is a rubber and sand mix...doesn't freeze in winter. Personally I think a smaller arena with a quality surface is much better than a large one with a bad surface. I'm lucky to have access to a big arena with fab surface but if I had to compromise on anything it would be size ratehr than quality especially with recent research on detrimental effects bad surfaces have on legs etc.

Another essential I would look for if moving yards was post and rail fencing. Particularly with my ginger sensitive horse any cut no matter how tiny from wire fencing cost me a vets bill! Have heard too many stories about horses seriosuly hurting themselves in wire so I would compromise a solarium for quality fencing. I appreciate it is expensive but IMHO horse safety is worth it!

I have automatic waterer fitted to my stable but choose to use a bucket so I can monitor how much he drinks.

Quality hay and haylage a must!!!!

Secure, dry and safe tack rooms definately a must too. I am luck as the yard I'm at is private and the lady lives within 30 ft of the stables and tack room but it is still locked and secure. If nobody close to the yard I think CCTV is a must.

Gallops are definately a bonus but not essential for me as we are so close to mountains and the beach. If you are goin to do it I think surfacee quality is more important than length. Never experienced probles wiht gallops next to fields causing upset to other horses though.

Definately flood lit arenas and yard. Ideally included in price as if being charged every tiem I rode in winter in dark after work it would be very costly.

We are thinking of installing a solarium where I am now and think it would be used but is def a luxury. A horse shower room is brilliant at my aunts though!

My yard owner put some rubber matting in my stable for me when I moved and must say I'm converted! Still use bedding but think it's much nicer for horse not to sleep on concrete if they move bed about. She also has a haygain steamer which is a fantastic asset particularly if horses can't eat haylage (mine is fine but it's nice ot have the option and steamed hay smells amazing! i'd eat it!!) Choice of bedding available.

Good grazing and airy stables with plenty of storage I think are essentials. Turnout available in some form throughout summer and winter too even if only for a couple of hours in winter. I'm very spoilt and have as much as I like as grazing is mad good but appreciate in larger yards this isn't viable. I do think it is important that there is somewhere for horses to go to chill though. I also think that use of any facilities be it lights, menage, walker, solarium etc should be included in the monthly price as paying per use is annoying and much harder to budget for. Mainly though a good atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable and welcome. Some people may want to socialize but others may want to be left to their own devices. Maintaining the staus quo is def the second most important thing after the horses' welfare!
 
There was someone on here who started their own livery yard and did a before and after post. Or they at least posted pics of the property as it was, asked what people would want and then had an open day. They posted pics of some of their facilities but it was a good few years ago so I can't find the post any more. I did a quick search and nothing came up. It was someone who frequented Comp Riders and not so much other parts of the forum. I really can't remember any more than that but she did her market research on here and got loads of great replies. Shame I can't find the post, sorry.

Lau
 
* Horse walker (my thinking is because of the turnout offered, would this get used?)
Would use it before turning out if we had one

* Solarium (I have been on yards with one and they were never used)
Brilliant for drying off after washing and relaxing
* Gallops around the field (this is something I do want but is phase 2 as very costly)
:D
* CCTV to each stable and a web cam
not so important but would still like one
* Shower for liveries (I don't know whether this would get used at all)
would use if I was going out after riding
* Automatic waterers in the stables ... All I have ever known is them freezing and leaking / bursting and being a real pain in the a**
preferred to water buckets
 
Thank you to everyone for your comments etc.

The only thing that may be changing at the moment is we may have to go for permanent electric fencing as opposed to the post and rail. The field is an 18 acre blank canvass (so 1200m all the way around) and at £11.80 a meter it is simply working out far too expensive :(

Would permanent electric fencing (professionally fitted to a high standard and working from the mains with round wooden posts, metal gates etc.) put people off moving on somewhere?
 
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