Professional Yard

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Skeno1

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Hi everyone.

First post here today.... I'm thinking of setting up a professional dressage yard within commuting distance of London. I'm not from this country, and was thinking around the Hemel Hempstead area. If anyone has any other areas they would suggest to look at, say within half an hour train journey, North, South, East or West. Please let me know!

If you were considering keeping your horse at a yard, as a full livery, how much would you expect to pay, and what services/facitlites would you expect to receive?

I'm just trying to work this all out at the moment, so if you can think of anything that I may not have thought about do let me know, it would be greatly appreciated. I've just inquired about insurance, I think I need public liability and freelance trainer...

Also what would the average wage of a groom be for a 5.5 day week?

thanks everyone!
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I hope you have very deep pockets as clients from London will expect top class facilities and service. You will also have stiff competition as there are other top class yards accessible from London and some do specialise in Dressage.

Not wishing to rain on your parade but I would really research whether its financially viable.
 
a lot of yard attract clients on the basis of the reputation of the yard owner/trainer. Since you are from outside the UK you would need to have a significant reputation behind you to make up for apparent lack of UK training and qualifications.

Have you considered what would draw clients to YOUR yard if all other things (price/facilities) are equal?
 
Hi guys,

I've been teaching over here for several years now, so have regular clients as well as regular clinics etc. I've spent a fair amount of time training with and training the horses of the likes of the Theodorescu's and the Swarovski's in Europe.

I know that it's going to be hard work, and you are right, I will have to look into it carefully - but am wanting the best facilities and best staff - I am planning to bring a groom over who used to work for me in my yard at home.

Although I have been fairly quiet on the competition side of things for the last few years - due to the training - I have just started out with a clients horse (who was a showjumper up until Dec last year) he is now winning at Adv Med level. So hopefully it's up from there, and I can take more in for training/full livery.

Thanks for your posts - I'm all for it - good and bad! LOL
 
Classical dressage, Patchetts just to name a few.

There is a shortage of good yards within 30 minutes train ride from London especially with turnout and accessible by public transport. I know a few people who were looking for these sort of yards not just for dressage but for SJ or general all rounders. Don't forget there are people with money who don't compete and still want top facilities for their horses so don't sell yourself short by just aiming at dressage.

Turnout is a big thing for the British compared to other european countries and people are willing to pay more for good turnout especially individual turnout all year.

Part livery - eg everything but riding and grooming is between at least £120 a week at a yard with good facilities.

Full same as part but with grooming, tack cleaning and riding would be looking at £150+ a week.

I am not a dressage rider and have a special needs pony who needs to live out all year but if he could live in I would be would be happy to pay £100-110 for part livery (based on him being only 14h so not consuming much food compared to 17h!)

One thing I would want that lots of part/full livery places don't do is to be able to chose what is fed and when - so I would not want my pony fed at 4pm and then get nothing till the morning.

On site clinics might also be good, and being able to have your own instructor come and teach you if you want rather than having to use the YM.

People working in London would also appreciate an indoor school so they can ride in the dry during the winter as they might not get to the yard till later late opening hours so if they did finished work late they could ride late.
 
Brilliant, thanks very much SO1. Really appreciate it.

Do you know of any good areas? I need to have a look arround, but am not sure of all the places that would be good close to London.

Thanks!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Classical dressage, Patchetts just to name a few.

There is a shortage of good yards within 30 minutes train ride from London especially with turnout and accessible by public transport. I know a few people who were looking for these sort of yards not just for dressage but for SJ or general all rounders. Don't forget there are people with money who don't compete and still want top facilities for their horses so don't sell yourself short by just aiming at dressage.

Turnout is a big thing for the British compared to other european countries and people are willing to pay more for good turnout especially individual turnout all year.

Part livery - eg everything but riding and grooming is between at least £120 a week at a yard with good facilities.

Full same as part but with grooming, tack cleaning and riding would be looking at £150+ a week.

I am not a dressage rider and have a special needs pony who needs to live out all year but if he could live in I would be would be happy to pay £100-110 for part livery (based on him being only 14h so not consuming much food compared to 17h!)

One thing I would want that lots of part/full livery places don't do is to be able to chose what is fed and when - so I would not want my pony fed at 4pm and then get nothing till the morning.

On site clinics might also be good, and being able to have your own instructor come and teach you if you want rather than having to use the YM.

People working in London would also appreciate an indoor school so they can ride in the dry during the winter as they might not get to the yard till later late opening hours so if they did finished work late they could ride late.

[/ QUOTE ]

thats nice to know you have just described my yard (apart from the indoor) !!
 
I know quite a few people looking in Borehamwood, Potters Bar, Crews Hill, Enfield areas at the moment.

Mill Hill already has quite a few yards so probably would be lots of competition!

[ QUOTE ]
Brilliant, thanks very much SO1. Really appreciate it.

Do you know of any good areas? I need to have a look arround, but am not sure of all the places that would be good close to London.

Thanks!

[/ QUOTE ]
 
Amersham may be a bit far out and there is already classical dressage and crosslanes and some other dressage yards in that area so quite a bit of competition.
 
£150 a week for full livery including professional training sounds very reasonable!

In Italy most of the top dressage yards charge around £1,000 a month for something like that!

I can't see how the lack of British qualifications could possibly be a problem. Considering it's a dressage yard you're trying to open, I would say your previous employment would be more than enough to attract clients!
 
SO1 great thanks for that snippet of info. You're very helpful!

FrodoBeutlin, you're right, it's never been a problem - the lack of UK based qualifications. Personally I've never had a problem with it and always been very busy based on my reputation and previous training. I have noticed that the British are a bit more for the qualifications - but that's not a bad thing I suppose
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It will be a bit of an uphill battle to get it going, and it will take time to get the clientele, but I'm up for that.

Now what would you want in the property?
I'm going to look for nice, clean, airy stables with good lighting.
An indoor school as well as outdoor, turnout, and hacking.
What else would you want if your horse was in training/livery?

Thanks!
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I keep mine at home and full livery for holidays.

the last time I choose a yard, it had all the features you have described (except the indoor school).

key issues for me were daily t/o, experienced YO who lives on site,
security of tack and proper rug drying facilities. actually it was the rug drying that swung it!

i know this is hard to control, but a peaceful ambience - ie no loud/squacky types sounding as though they are trying to lay an egg as they strut around the yard broadcasting all their intimate business. rant over - but does the whole yard need to know if someone's piles hurt
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haha oh i agree!! I would try to encourage a friendly yet professional yard. TBH I'd mainly want people that are really keen on training and dressage as a whole. I'd like it to have the feeling of more a training yard than just liveries.

Do you think that would be too restrictive?
 
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