Livery Yards (London ! :o)

T

Tierra

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Hi peeps!

Ok, so i mentioned in another thread that it's looking rather like myself and OH are relocating. My OH works in London 5 days a week and has done for quite a long time. The time apart is finally getting to us and it's looking like we're moving down there.

Initially, it's looking like we're heading for Richmond / Kew Gardens area of London (because firstly, the company are offering to pay for an apartment there for the first 6 months at least and secondly, this is in good distance for where OH is actually based).

The problem that this is causing me is that Im a loooong way from London, have never lived there and dont know what the livery yards are like!

You know what its like.. when you live in an area, you hear all about the various yards (the good, the bad and the rumours), but Im absolutly clueless when it comes to "that" end of the country.

Little bit of info:- Facilities need to be good really. Im not a hacking type of person so there's no real compromise on needing a school. (That being said, off road hacking would be fun, since its roads i object too!)

I dont like horses stood in so turnout - all year round - is a real necessity. I "prefer" individual turnout as my horse gets bullied something chronic
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Although this wouldnt put me off a good yard where they socialise them correctly

I prefer smaller yards to huge places, although I do see the appeal of a competition yard whereby I can be lazy and do most of my qualifying at "home"
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So i wouldnt rule out the idea of a competition centre.

Im on full livery now and would prefer to stay on full livery, although I dont have my horse ridden by other people (some call this part!)

If theres a good dressage trainer there, all the better! (Particularly interested to hear if there are any classical yards down "that end"
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)

Most of all I want somewhere friendly
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The place Im at now is owned / run by an ex YR who still competes at PSG level. We've also got a very very good YR on the yard and the place is spotless! That being said, its so very relaxed... Theres no bitchyness and surprisingly, no eliteism. The only minor issue I have is that the school is often busy because the YO teaches a lot.

I know im going to have to drive to where ever I end up and this isnt a problem. Id prefer to keep the drive to no more than 1/2 hour - 45 minutes because, whilst im on full livery, I like to see horsey as much as possible.

So theres my dilema.. I know its a long shot, but does anyone have any suggestions? Im looking forward to the move for myself, since being on my own 5 days a week is rubbish, but Im so stressed over the prospect of moving horsey! I do have the advantage that he can stay where he is now, with my trainer, for as long as is needed. But obviously, I dont want to be away from him for too long
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Aaaaaaany help at all is more than appreciated (in fact im begging!)
 
Try www.horseweb-uk.com and the livery yards listed on that. i was once looking to livery at yard in Uxbridge which is west London area. Also, Clee saddlery website has lists of yards but I can't remember the web address. i know that there are places in that area within the m25 but they are all rather pricey!
 
I have already been in touch with the nice people at Jolie Cheval and I have to say I think the yard is stunning and they seem lovely. However! Ive also been told that would be about an hour journey ish in the car and that seemed to be assuming no horrendous traffic, which is a tad further away than I would like.

They're for sure "on the list" though.
 
Oldencraig would be about a 45 minute drive (im told), so was definitly an option. I have heard however, that they dont turnout during winter, which is a really big no for me. I dont think my horse would adjust well to staring at 4 walls for 23 hours a day after being used to all day turnout
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I love the look of their facilities though and I can imagine the training possibilities there are excellent.
 
I am clueless about london I'm afraid ... do you have easy access to the M3 from Richmond? I know a yard exactly what you are looking for but I expect it's too far as is around 45 minutes from the M3/M25 junction ...
PM me if this might suit
 
Hi there - you could try Kingston Riding Centre: www.kingstonridingcentre.com, which is mentioned in this week's H&H. Nearer the centre of London there is the Knightsbridge Riding Club and Wimbledon Village Stables are also very good, but there is no turnout at all at either of them, though they will give your horse a holiday.

I've also talked to the people at Lee Valley Riding centre before (www.leevalleypark.org.uk/en/fe/page.asp?n1=3&n2=6&n3=24), they do have TO, it does get restricted though and might be the wrong side of town for you.

Also in London, located in Richmond Deer Park, is Stag Lodge Stables: www.ridinginlondon.com/

Bear in mind that the closer to central London you are, the less likely you are to get turnout and also the prices will be higher. Some schools might want to put your horse on working livery, which is much more affordable but the horse will be used by clients on a daily basis. If you look for full livery in central London you CAN be looking at £1200-2,000 pcm so brace yourself. Have a call round some of these yards, see what they say and what their recommendations are. Feel free to pm me too as I lived in London for 11 years. I only went there for a weekend! x
 
PS - Richmond/Kew is some of THE most expensive real estate in the whole of London. While it's great to get a paid flat for six months you could be very disappointed if you come to buy and there is nothing you can afford. Why not at least check out some other options - further out of London in each direction. It'd be a big shame to set the horse up somewhere and have to move again when you came to buy... x
 
Lots of thankyous for to the posters and the peeps who've sent me PMs with various suggestions!

Im going to have to look outside of London it seems since I dont think horsey would adjust too great to being stood in all day. While this appears to mean Im going to be driving (although some suggestions seem to be only 30 mins away which is great!), i dont mind this if I find the right yard.

To the nice person who was mentioning areas to live... our issue is that we dont bother buying places since OH moves around so much (he's a consultant), and in the last 5 years, we've lived in 2 different countries and numerous areas whilst being back in the uk. While its far from ideal, its necessary for his job
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Hence the fact we were quite happy to bite their hands off for 6 months rent free (this might be extended depending on where OH is based at the time).

And *gasp* at £2,000 / month full livery! I thought we paid a lot at the mo!!

Thanks again for all the suggestions, you've been great helps
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I live pretty central and keep my horse 11 miles away - takes about an hour at non rush hour time!!!!! I know! But it's the price you pay for having a horse i guess.

I looked into Wimbledon Village etc but none have good turn out (if any) and in the end found a yard round the corner from where i come from originally which is cool - and a lot less expensive!

I hope you find somewhere as it is prob the most expensive and most difficult area to find decent livery.

I'd go to tack shops in the Surrey area and look for ads for livery.

Any help you need feel free to pm me.
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Ask a user called Irish Dublin about her yard. I don't know anything about it, but my yard is in the area you're looking at living in, and Irish Dublin comes to some of the shows near us. None of the yards near mine have turnout, but I think hers is a bit further out into Surrey so they do.
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Yes, it's surrey that I was advised to look towards if I wanted turnout
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It does seem like turnout is going to be the big issue when we move, which is going to be quite a culture shock since Im out in the middle of nowhere.

Hmmm, come to think of it, I think the whole move is going to be a bit of a culture shock for me
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I've done the reverse of you - moved from London oop North (well technically Midlands but for me thats north!) Don't think you will find what you are looking for very close to London but you will in Surrey. Why not contact Coldicote Sports Horses. I know they have just moved to very nice facilities in Reigate and do take liveries.....can't get their website to work at the mo - but google it and see what happens - they advertise on Horsequest too. Good luck - it is not that scary at all - just different
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Oooo hello!

As Giggles_Mum kindly said I'm from vaguely the area your looking at. I know of quite a lot of livery yards round here so if you want any details feel free to PM me. They are all pretty reasonable and nearly all have all year turnout. Hope I can be of some help!
 
All I can say is if you find something, let me know. I'm living in Central London and commute an hour to see my horsey, which isn't ideal! However, like you, he must have daily turnout and I need a school. Prepare your bank balance!

Good luck!
 
Hi,
I live in north london and keep my horses in the north london/south herts area. To my knowledge there are a lot of yard in south herts that would fit most of your criteria but I dont know how far they would be from you. There is patchetts ec, harts farm, coldicote farm, high herts, bucks medow, mote end, frith manor, london equestrian centre and lots of other tiny little places all within about 15 mins drive of each other. I'm currently at harts farm which has 1 indoor arena, 1 outdoor arena, all year turn out, on site instructor, hacking and is close to a large competition centre with affiliated and unaffiliated jumping and dressage. PM me if you want more info!
 
Our yard is in Maidenhead (just off J8/9 of the m4 if that is of any use to you). Outdoor School, year round turn out (in groups or single depending on the horse), exercising included (if required), 24 stables (rubber matting etc), 4 live in grooms. Regular dressage instructor visits, school rarely busy as we also ride in fields for variety. Regular trips by lorry to Windsor Great Park which is just down the road (we hate road work as well!) 35 acres of fields.
 
Hi. Did you find anywhere? My husband opened a yard just outside Godalming in Surrey last summer - 20x60 arena, all year round turnout and a friendly bunch, most of whom compete in one discipline or other. If you're still looking I'll pm you with details.
 
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