Looking at yards- what to ask when viewing?

[Shadowdancing]

So I'm starting the yard hunt, but I'm very aware that I need to take care that the new place suits. What do I need to keep in mind before or at viewing? Here are the things I've got so far... won't be exhaustive feel free to add!

Do you have 'opening hours'? If so what are they?
Is there single sex turnout? (essential for my flirty girl)
What are the times/options for winter turn out?
If I can't put out or bring in my horse at an appropriate time (I'm thinking of times when I'm at work and everyone else brings in before I finish) can I pay someone to do it and if so how much?

Please add on. I have one horse, no health issues, very sound (touch wood/long may it continue!), maintains a good weight pretty easily, quite alpha but not too aggressive with it e.g. prefers to bounce her butt rather than actually kick.

As well as other questions could you please tell me what answer/answers would immediately make you say no please and why? Thank you.

 

[Merlod]

Also ask about the storage for your stuff/hay bedding. Many yards are cramped and not very secure and you get a lot of turf wars between liveries! All my liveries have a second stable which they secure with their own padlock for their stuff/hay/bedding - no fighting and no stealing that way!

RE winter turnout I would want a definitive answer, if they say it depends on the weather/mud etc I see that as a way of saying "it will be very restricted, but I don't really want to tell you". All the horses on my yard go out every day, whatever weather in the winter, unless the owner choses to keep them in that is

If it has an arena, I would ask about booking for lessons etc

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

The main thing is to work out what are the deal breakers for you and make sure you ask about them, in great detail if necessary. It won't stop some YO's lying to you. Anyone who is vague on something that's important to you, you need to walk away. Ask things even if it's obvious (to you) or should be common sense.

Eg. If you don't want your horse chased by dogs or spooked by dogs sniffing round the arena when you try to ride, ask if the yard allows dogs on site. If you want grassy fields, walk in there and check the green stuff you can see is grass, not weeds. If you want turnout absolutely every day without fail, don't ask if they have daily turnout in winter. Ask if they ever shut the fields in heavy rain or snow, ask if the fields are shut where do the horses get turned out.

If you can't get a straight answer to a simple question, it means the answer is something you wouldn't want to hear.

If someone mentions eg turnout in the arena, use your head. With everyone turning out into the arena while they muck out you'll have zero chance of getting in there to ride, so if riding every day (or just whenever you feel like it) is important to you, check there's somewhere else to ride instead, somewhere you'll actually be able to use at the times you are likely to want to use it, eg direct access to off road hacking if it's dark.

 

[EQUIDAE]

If they have a no horse left alone rule and if they do if you would be responsible for handling other people's horses (and them yours).

 

[Oscar]

It really depends what is important to you in a yard? Make a list of 'must haves' and 'would be nice but not essential'

Is turnout important to you? If so is it a deal breaker? Do you want 24/7 all year? Spring/Summer/Autumn and daily turnout winter?

Do you need good hacking? Is there any accessible from the yard? Road work involved?

Do you need an arena? Is there one? Does it have lights for winter use? Can you lunge in the arena? (Some yards dont allow lunging!!). Do they allow outside instructors to visit?

Do they provide hay/straw on site? If they do, do they allow you to buy in from outside also? (Been on a yard that YO wouldn't allow you to buy in your own hay!!)

Do you need lorry/trailer parking? Is this possible here? How much?

Ask if they have a yard livery contract.

 

[C1airey]

We moved a couple of months ago and I was looking for DIY. Here's my list:

- price: how much? What's included? e.g. just stable and grazing, or forage/bedding too?
- if forage/bedding included, what type?
- can I use my own choice of forage/bedding?
- if have to/want to buy in own forage/bedding, can I buy from anywhere or do I have to use YO's supplier?
- how much turnout?
- turnout still available in winter?
- individual paddocks or herd? Mixed or separated herds?
- fields rested/rotated/fertilised?
- what assistance is available and what prices?
- what options for livery if I'm away?
- can I use my own vet/farrier/back lady?
- accessibility: what's the earliest/latest liveries are allowed on the yard?
- security: people around? Locks? Gates? Access from the road? Tack room security?
- hacking?
- school? If school, when can it be used? Can you bring own instructor?
- how many other liveries? What do they do (happy hackers? dressage divas? serious eventers? donkey collectors?)?

There's probably more, but that's all I can think of for now.

 

[TickyTavey]

Turnout would be a deal breaker for me. I'd be asking for specific dates of when fields were closed if they claim they are 'rarely' shut, for example.

Other suggestions:
Fees: Look at a comprehensive/itemised list of extra services and factor things like holding for farrier/vet etc into the fees if you will be using those services.
School: is school hire extra or included in livery? Ask what the busy times for the school are and what restrictions there are on usage, do they operate a booking system and can school be shared if someone is having a lesson, for example? Do outside individuals/clubs hire the facilities and are they given precedence? Has the school ever flooded, when? What's the surface like, how old is it? Do they have jumps, poles, blocks for communal use?
General: Is there a local vet that does zone visits? If liveries all use certain vets/farriers etc are they ones you rate (of course, you can use whoever you choose but might help you ascertain how like-minded you and your potential livery buddies are)? Do the have a contract/notice period/require a month's livery upfront? What is the client turnover like (people tend to stick around at good yards!)? What are the policies on worming? Is there an isolation paddock/area? Will your horse have to start off in here? What are the staff like and how experienced etc?

Depends what you want really, as another poster suggested make a list of 'must haves' and things you are prepared to compromise on. I think it sometimes helps to be on a yard where people have similar aspirations to you - i.e. if you love hacking are there potential hacking buddies for pub rides etc. If you compete, are there people you can share lifts with etc? Of course, a mix is also nice too but can be fun if you can share with others.

Try and chat to some of the other liveries you see when you view the yard - you should be able to get a feel of whether you'll enjoy their company or not! Does it seem like the sort of place where people keep themselves to themselves, or is there more of a social scene? Good luck. Ask lots and lots of questions and don't be embarrassed to take a note pad with key questions written on and make notes or you'll forget stuff (I would anyway!)

 

[Damnation]

What to ask utterly depends on what is important to you and your horse.

This would be my list:

I'd want group turnout but not fussed about mixed or seperated into mares/geldings. I don't like individual turnout personally.

Is there a yard worming regime and worm counts done?

My mare is prone to colitis so cannot be on hayledge, I need to know that hay is provided and half decent.

My mare cannot be left alone in a field, I'd like to know there is a rule to say no horse is left alone (even if it means paying staff to bring in).

My mare also needs either winter turnout or an arena to be exercised in. I am currently on a yard that has neither so my next yard will have one or both.

If you ride you will need to know about the arena's. Is there a charge? Can you share? Any time restrictions?

Does the yard provide additional services at a cost for things like vet and farrier if you cannot always leave work for these things?

If you are unable to make it to the yard can you ring/text to request your horse is seen to? E.g Sickness, car blows up, adverse weather conditions etc.

Rules of entry? I.e do they want liveries off the yard at a certain time at night?

What is the security and insurance like? Is there CCTV? Someone on site? Padlocks on site? Are they insured to keep tack on site? (My yard isn't, it lives in the boot of my car).

Are fields regularly checked for things like fencing and ragwort?

Is poo picking required?

If I was competing I would like to know if the yard ran competitions or if there was somewhere in a reasonable travelling distance?

For lessons, can I privately hire the arena and bring my own instructor onto the yard?

Are late night checks done?

I'd also like to know if there were any contingencies in place on that horrid chance that something happens and you cannot contact the yard for a few hours? Will my horse have its basic needs seen to? I.e If you are not up by (9:30 am or 7pm the horse will be checked/hayed/fed/watered at a cost unless pre arranged you are coming late?)

Will their be unattended children/teenagers around at weekends? (I hate to say it and I know not all children are badly behaved but on my first yard, gangs of them were left at the yard on weekends and things went missing. I had money stolen from my purse once, I left if in my horses stable whilst I went to lunge for 15 minutes! Other peoples wheelbarrows left full and you had to lock/chain/hide everything or it would get used, misplaced, lost, stolen).

The costs.

Not always possible but I would like a livery contract stating my basic requirements to be in place to. I.e detailing the costs, arena acess, the turnout, the security, any extras, when you will be charged for them. Equally what they expect from me I.e, invoice date, payment terms, general yard rules etc.

 

[teapot]

Is there consistancy in yard staff (ie is the same person at the same time doing late checks) or is it a free for all when someone can be bothered?

What's the yard like during school hols and weekends, will a host of unsupervised kids come out the woodwork?

What's their policy about weekend turnout/do they use the land for other stuff at weekends? (I know a yard that does this)

If they say there's winter turnout, is that true, or come December will they suddenly declare zero turnout for three months?

 

[TBmum]

Not really got anything to ask question wise as I think it's all been covered above.

However I would say make sure you have your questions written down and tick them off/write down answers so you can refer back to it at a later date if necessary.

YO do tend to say one thing at viewing and then change their mind once you are in.