Options re livery

[Ample Prosecco]

I love my yard for many reasons and do not want to move. And the idea of finding somewhere for 3 horses and a foal on the way is daunting to say the least if I am forced to move. But one of my non negotibales has always been assisted/full livery availability because my wokring life and other commitments mean I cannot be there both ends of the day every day. And in winter we have restricted turnout so I am up 3 times a day.

My yard owner has just announced she is stopping livery services. It's a small yard with only 6 people on (all with multiple horses) and no one else is in a position to offer nore than 'helping out; every so often. BUt that really isn't a robust enough plan for me! Ive always wanted to pay for the security of knowing I can count on someone being available. The other liveries are a mother/sister pair who can help each other. A mother and adult son who who help each other and a retired woman who can and does help for cash on a casual basis but does not want to be committed. So it's only me who is solely dependent.

I could pay a freelancer but who wants a job that involves 3 trips a day for just 3 horses? Or even 2 trips if I can always do mornings (thogh actually I can't. I work away a lot). None of the others need to pay for help as they work locally or are retired or have help anyway.

Any bright ideas?

 

[TPO]

Would you daughter be interested in picking up the slack around college?

I was on a DIY yard but a young teenager offered all services (with YO consent) to save for uni. She made a few grand out of it in no time

 

[Squeak]

I've used a freelancer in the past. It was just a case of making sure that they lived close enough to make it worth their while.

 

[Polos Mum]

With multiple horses and a yard that is ideal in all other aspects I'd talk to some freelancers before making a decision to move.

If there is a local riding school / other livery yard maybe speak to them about their staff that might be looking for more hours - I found a great lady that way - not a formal freelancer but she could call in around her riding school hours and it worked well

 

[PapaverFollis]

Definitely see if there's a freelancer that can do it before making any decisions. There might be someone out there who just wants work around studies or something like that.

 

[MuddyMonster]

I'd be looking at freelancers too if you like the yard & it might take a while to find somewhere suitable for all 4.

Possibly even have two (or more) freelancers, so the same person isn't needing to do three trips a day. You might find a lunchtime or early PM visit suits one and the other could do evening finishing off.

 

[Caol Ila]

If your yard has a reasonable set-up for your future foal, you might find it easier to find a freelancer than find another yard for all your horses. Don't know what your area is like, but up here, finding youngstock livery is a ballache. If the yard that Hermosa is at now hadn't been available, or if they hadn't adapted to the BOGOF, my only other good option was a yard owned by another HHO forum member an hour away. You don't want to be hustling for somewhere that will take on a foal.

 

[Kat]

Definitely look at a freelancer, but maybe think about whether three visits a day would be necessary or whether you can either juggle things so it can be done in two or whether you (or your daughter) can fairly reliably do one of the visits on a regular basis and just ask for a favour or an extra visit if you are struggling.

I would be thinking about a freelancer for morning and afternoon and no evening visit. Most days you or daughter do the evening, but set things up so that if you are pushed for time or need to call in a favour it is just a case of checking over the door and putting in a pre-prepared feed/net.

In winter I have the yard do morning and afternoon and go in the evening myself but everything is done so I am just grooming, riding, checking over and topping up. That way if I can't get there it isn't too much of a problem, I either let them know in advance to give her extra hay or get someone else to check and top up if necessary.

 

[Michen]

I'm guessing 3 visits a day is needed as horses come in at lunch time or whatnot? Can you change things slightly IE they get turned out in morning whilst you muck out then bought in? Not ideal but 3 visits is excessive and hard to manage...

 

[TPO]

Might it also be an option to look for a stuff for Amber? I think you said that YO was experienced and was going to help but if they are taking a step back it might be a good idea to have the option of an experienced set up. Plus it means that foal will have built in company of the same age and hopefully lots of acres to frolic in.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Would you daughter be interested in picking up the slack around college?

I was on a DIY yard but a young teenager offered all services (with YO consent) to save for uni. She made a few grand out of it in no time

Yard is 5 milkes away, in the middle of nowhere, and she doesn't drive. So that won't work., sadly. She can only go when I go.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

I'm guessing 3 visits a day is needed as horses come in at lunch time or whatnot? Can you change things slightly IE they get turned out in morning whilst you muck out then bought in? Not ideal but 3 visits is excessive and hard to manage...

Yes turn out is very restricted in winter. So it's mornings to muck out and turn out. Middat to bring in and poo pick field. Evening to skip out, hay and finish off. Turning out just while I'm there in the morning might be necessary. Though I still can't get there every morning anyway.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Might it also be an option to look for a stuff for Amber? I think you said that YO was experienced and was going to help but if they are taking a step back it might be a good idea to have the option of an experienced set up. Plus it means that foal will have built in company of the same age and hopefully lots of acres to frolic in.

There are mare/foal fields and there are 2 foals this year and 2 foals arriving next year. And youngstock too. So it is perfect for Amber. When I said there are 6 liveries with multiple horses, 5 of those liveries have or are having foals and/or have youngstock.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Finding a freelancer is my frst option. TYhanks fot ideas. And you are all reinforcing my panic about finding somewhere else for all of them! Arghh!!

 

[splashgirl45]

any chance of a friend or relative who could drive daughter there and back if you are working. seems a shame to leave a yard which suits you especially with more than one horse to worry about. a freelancer would be the best idea,or maybe someone like me, experienced with horses but pensioner who physically couldnt do 7 days but maybe could do a couple of days in the week...or maybe there is a hho er local to you who could help. worth saying the locality to see

 

[Melody Grey]

Obviously I don’t know your daughter so I don’t know whether it would suit, but have you thought about getting her a scooter? 5 miles isn’t too far assuming the roads around you are suitable?
My friend and I used to freelance with a scooter around our local villages as sixth formers- it paid well!!

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Yard is 5 milkes away, in the middle of nowhere, and she doesn't drive. So that won't work., sadly. She can only go when I go.

Taxi? Is that possible? Might still work out cheaper than a freelancer, but only by pence I would have thought x

Edit, no won't be cheaper as waiting time needed. Forget that idea

 

[Dasher66]

Get her driving!

 

[asmp]

Obviously I don’t know your daughter so I don’t know whether it would suit, but have you thought about getting her a scooter? 5 miles isn’t too far assuming the roads around you are suitable?
My friend and I used to freelance with a scooter around our local villages as sixth formers- it paid well!!

My daughter used to have a moped to get around before she passed her driving test. Gave her so much independence - getting to her local part time job and going to the yard.

 

[ycbm]

I'd echo the 50cc automatic scooter for Katie to step in as groom. I wouldn't suggest it on city roads, but with your commute she should be pretty safe in high vis on a bright colour scooter if she's taught to ride high through town. I rode one when I first had a horse because it was the only way I could do the timings in the city traffic, but it was really fun and economical too. I'd recommend an 80cc is best but I think Katie might be too young to ride one?
.

 

[HashRouge]

I don't think there are many options unfortunately. It's either find a freelancer or find a new yard, unless you can find a way for your daughter to step in (but even then, would she be able to do all the visits round college?). Try looking for a freelancer first. The only downside is it is likely to be pretty expensive.

 

[Muddy unicorn]

My daughter got a moped when she was in sixth form - it meant she could get to and from the yard and to her weekend/holiday job without getting stuck in traffic. She got a 125cc as she turned 17 early in the academic year - 16 year olds can only ride 50cc bikes but the slightly bigger engines are a bit safer I think. She loved having the independence and it’s made her a lot more road-savvy than she would have been otherwise

 

[Lammy]

When I was in college, I used to cycle 4 miles to the yard in the morning, turnout, bike 2 miles to college. And then do the reverse in the evening ride and muck out…then 3 nights a week cycle about 8 miles to work and back. A moped would have been my idea of heaven ?

Will you be there most evenings to ride? If so could a freelance groom do a morning visit, turn everything out and do the mucking out and prepping stables, groom could also poo pick before bringing the horses back in. Might make the horses. time out in the field slightly shorter but you’re more likely to find a freelancer for 3-4 hours solid in a morning rather than shorter hour blocks. Then if you’re not there in the evening all they have to do is skip out and hay up/feed.

 

[ycbm]

the slightly bigger engines are a bit safer I think.

Definitely. I went from a 50cc to an 80cc to give me more power to get out of sticky situations. They're more stable too.
.

 

[fidleyspromise]

The scooter idea above sounds good.

If a freelancer doesn't want to so thst many journeys could you look at 2? One for lunchtime and one for evening and then hopefully one of them could do the mornings you can't?

 

[GSD Woman]

When I was a young teen I rode my bike 6 miles to the riding school on base. My mom was out of town and my father couldn't or wouldn't rearrange his tee off time for golf. I wasn't in good shape but I did it.
Anyway, I would look for a freelancer or a part share if that is an option.

 

[TheMule]

If yards are going to restrict turn out time so dramatically they they need to offer a bring in service IMO as surely that is totally impractical for anyone that works.
I found a yard my horses could live out year round when something similar happened to me. It simplified my life considerably!

 

[Xmasha]

For what you must be paying for livery and you now have another on the way I’d suggest using that monthly ££ to buy / rent your own place . This will give you the flexibility to keep them on whatever routine suits .
Four on livery plus a freelancer sounds expensive

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Mule that’s a really good point! She sent a message round saying she was no longer offering livery services and I was in such a panic that I haven’t even asked her about turn out/ bring in services. Or lunchtime bring in I’m winter.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Asha I’ve been on the mailing lists for land round here for ages. There are hardly any with stables or planning permission to build any. It’s all just grazing land unless you are buying a house with land which is way, way out of reach