Non-horsey people running a yard? What do you think?

Is it possible to run a yard without any knowledge of horses?

Yes of course it is if they take it seriously and are organised and sensible and open and business minded and service orientated. It is also perfectly possible to have knowledge of horses, to have none of the aforementioned skills and thus to be unable to run a yard or horsey business generally. As has has been said before, it is not necessary to have specialist knowledge to run a successful business so long as you are aware you don't have it and are willing to obtain it where required and to learn and to listen.
 
I think if theres individual and seperate storage, stable and turnout fields for each livery, with clear rules it could work. The best riding school in the area is half owned by an accountant who makes a lot of the decisions without the drama and bitchiness of other horsey owners!
 
My new YO isnt horsey. It’s fantastic, he just stomps on any drama, doesn’t cause any drama and provides a wonderful service.

He isn’t interested in anything that isn’t to do with horse welfare or Hay/Straw/Shavings orders or field
Maintenance. Unless it’s to do with the yard or horse welfare directly he doesn’t want to know and he doesn’t tolerate nastiness.

It’s very very refreshing. Horsey people running a yard with a little knowledge I think can be the worst thing over someone who just runs the business as it is.
Sounds good to me......'A little knowledge is a dangerous thing..'
 
Most of the "horsey" people who run yards in France don't have a bloody clue either so I can't imagine this would be much worse :D

To add to the comments/questions about yard culture there, DIY yards aren't really a "thing". People just don't tend to look after their own horses unless they have them at home or rent facilities privately. Nearly all livery is part or full, and pure livery yards are pretty uncommon, most horses who are on livery are at riding schools and competition yards. Turnout isn't a big part of the culture either - most horses you see out at grass are youngsters, broodmares, trotters etc, which is why you're unlikely to see herds in fields unless you're in an area with lots of studs. Your average riding horse on a yard might get a couple of hours in a small paddock if they're lucky.
 
I am having the exact issue with the current yard we are on. The owner wishes to run it like a yard but doesn't fully understand horse welfare, despite having several of her own. Every time we raise an issue which poses a risk to our horses welfare she shuts it down as though we are liars, trouble makers or as though we are personally attacking her. In addition to that, she doesn't follow the rules set out in the contracts we have all signed and refuses to acknowledge when it happens!

There is no business approach, just "I'm doing what I want and you'll all have to get on with it, even if it's causing distress to your horse."

The yard is amazing and the other liveries are wonderful, we've got a great thing going on. The main cause of the issues is the owner and it's reaching a point where we can't stand it anymore.
 
I am having the exact issue with the current yard we are on. The owner wishes to run it like a yard but doesn't fully understand horse welfare, despite having several of her own. Every time we raise an issue which poses a risk to our horses welfare she shuts it down as though we are liars, trouble makers or as though we are personally attacking her. In addition to that, she doesn't follow the rules set out in the contracts we have all signed and refuses to acknowledge when it happens!

There is no business approach, just "I'm doing what I want and you'll all have to get on with it, even if it's causing distress to your horse."

The yard is amazing and the other liveries are wonderful, we've got a great thing going on. The main cause of the issues is the owner and it's reaching a point where we can't stand it anymore.

That's a real shame shonsy, is the YO very much present on the yard or can you just avoid them and kind of do your own thing?
 
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