Nightmare Livery Yard!!!

[Rowreach]

This does seem to be a bit of a wind up when looked at more closely? £100 a week for DIY livery but you’re not allowed to go 2 days a week. Grass clippings put in the field - what do you mean by grass clippings? Are we talking cut grass as used on some yards or actual lawn mower clippings? You say you’ve 20 years experience but the young girl who sometimes comes to ‘help’ me would tell you she’s 10 years experience which when looked at more closely is a weekly group riding lesson. Your best option would be to use the £400 a month and find somewhere your horse can go over the winter where he’ll be safe and Msybe pick things up in the spring. If he’s recently broken he could be quite young and may benefit from some time off over winter. Equally if the first yard was a ‘nightmare’ it could be that he would benefit from some experience of a yard routine and equally you would benefit from having a buddy to help you settle in. Good luck whatever you decide.

I was expecting the OK to have messaged me for some suggestions by now.

 

[IrishCobMontague]

As you’re already paying €100 p/w livery, there’s a fair number charging that for full(ish) livery - where they turn out, rug, feed, hay daily - so even if your boy for the moment ends up 1 hour away, that means you wouldnt have to go to the yard daily, necessarily.
Obviously you’re more likely to travel daily at the beginning of a move to check-out things run smoothly for him, but if you ride 3x per week, youd only need to travel 3x per week.
See it as a stop-gap yard, until you find something decent closer?

Yes I think I will

 

[IrishCobMontague]

This does seem to be a bit of a wind up when looked at more closely? £100 a week for DIY livery but you’re not allowed to go 2 days a week. Grass clippings put in the field - what do you mean by grass clippings? Are we talking cut grass as used on some yards or actual lawn mower clippings? You say you’ve 20 years experience but the young girl who sometimes comes to ‘help’ me would tell you she’s 10 years experience which when looked at more closely is a weekly group riding lesson. Your best option would be to use the £400 a month and find somewhere your horse can go over the winter where he’ll be safe and Msybe pick things up in the spring. If he’s recently broken he could be quite young and may benefit from some time off over winter. Equally if the first yard was a ‘nightmare’ it could be that he would benefit from some experience of a yard routine and equally you would benefit from having a buddy to help you settle in. Good luck whatever you decide.

Yes, we're talking actual grass from the collector in the ride-on lawnmower When I say 20 years experience I mean I rode 5 days a week at a local stables, exercising and later breaking etc until I was 16 and I was employed at a professional sales, breaking and showjumping yard. I left that job when I went to college. Over the years I've done other short courses and management etc as well as teaching (under supervision). I am actively looking for other places thank you for your suggestion and support

 

[IrishCobMontague]

OK so you are not going to like what I'm about to say here, but it is just an observation.

You have been to TWO yards in what I assume is a relatively short period of time. Both of those yards you describe under the heading of "Nightmare".

Now either BOTH yards really WERE - and are - awful (and your current one sounds frankly horrendous), OR you are not making good choices for your horse. Yes appreciating the difficulty you are obviously having in finding anywhere remotely half-decent, but to leave a horse at the place where you are now where you know he is being fed grass clippings is frankly playing with his life. You and the other owners are basically playing Russian Roulette with your horses' lives and it is sadly only a matter of time before a tragedy occurs.

I am trying to be understanding, and generous, and it feels like you are very much on your own and not knowing where to turn. There should be local FB horsey groups where you could post on and ask for help and say you are urgently seeking suitable livery. All I will say (as a YO myself) that at this time of the year it is difficult to be able to offer 24/7 turnout; YO's are not being difficult, it is about trying to save enough grass for everyone to last through the winter, and that is a huge challenge at this time of year.

If, and I say if, you cannot source anywhere suitable and the only option is to leave your horse at this yard, then I would advise you to urgently consider trying to find a share or loan home. I do feel that you need someone to come alongside you and help you source somewhere: a good horsey chum who could perhaps come out and view a few yards with you and ask questions. Two set of eyes are always better than one.

Sorry if I've been harsh with you, but I'm frankly appalled that horses can be left by any owner on a yard where the YO feeds grass chippings. Incredible.

No I agree. It does appear that way. It's actually an issue a lot of people have in my area - the yards are all with their issues so people just keep their horses at home. I'm trying to rent somewhere as I don't have land

 

[Katieg123]

Did you get sorted? I'm also in the South East and may be able to help find you a place if you're still stuck. 100 per week for DIY should be plenty for somewhere decent!

 

[IrishCobMontague]

Did you get sorted? I'm also in the South East and may be able to help find you a place if you're still stuck. 100 per week for DIY should be plenty for somewhere decent!

Hiya! Would you believe I did get sorted! An old friend and to the rescue and he's going to live with their small herd I appreciate everyone's assistance and input, it really made me make the change I needed and he needed

 

[Katieg123]

Great to hear!

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

I think you need to try and get him desensitised to a stable, as it will open up a lot of options - what would you do it he required box rest?