Questions to ask at livery yard viewing!

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AppyLover1996

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Hello fellow Horse and Hound-ers,

I have a lovely friend who is looking to move livery yards, however she is unsure of what questions to ask when she goes to view.

So far we have compiled the below questions between us, but would love to know if you guys would ask anything else - it'll be a DIY yard she'll be moving to :

1. What time do people generally bring in/turn out
2. Is there usually someone to go riding with whilst I learn the new hacking routes
3. What are the yard rules
4. Is there a booking system for the school
5. What is storage for rugs/feed/tack etc like
6. Is there a restriction on opening and closing times (She works from 8.30 till 5, so needs to be able to be on the yard from about 7.30 in the morning and able to be on the yard after 5.30 in the evening - even more important in the nicer weather months as she often enjoys going riding after work!)
7. Can I have my monthly feed store order delivered (She orders all feed and bedding required for the month in one go)
8. Can I use my existing vet/farrier etc
9. Are we allowed to use the yard water to bath our horse (obviously will be sensible and not bath every waking hour!)
10. What is the size of the yard
11. What are the rules regarding worming - is there a yard worming programme, or is everyone left to worm on their own accord
12. Is water supplied to the field or do we have to organise this
13. What security measures are there
14. Is there access to electricity
15. With fields - do we get a winter and summer field that we have to manage ourselves or are there throw away fields
16. Is poo picking of the fields done on a specific basis
17. Are there any bedding restrictions
18. Where and when do I sign the yard contract
19. Are the jumps in the school for everyone's use
20. How much is livery per month
21. What are the other liveries like in terms of friendliness etc
22. What bio-security measures are there
23. Is there a toilet
24. How does everyone keep in contact
25. Are there any show grounds nearby
26. Can I have my own instructor on the yard
27. Is there help available if I can't make it to the yard
28. What are the rules for turnout - are horses ever required to stay in
29. Is the yard insured

Thanks so much in advance for your help :)
 
What are the real turnout restrictions? Going out "every day, subject to weather conditions " isn't good enough. If possible, ask liveries, not the YO.

What is the booking system for the arena. Do lessons have sole rights, or can you ride while a lesson is going on as long as you don't get in the way. How far in advance can you book the arena? Does anybody block book it at certain times and how do they deal with that.

What is their anti bullying policy

Does anybody live on site

What time do most liveries turn out and catch in? How do they deal with the last horse and is it always the same one

What is the security on the tackroom
 
Yep don't make the mistake I did.

I asked "is turnout 365 days a year?" Was told yes.

But what I didn't know at the time was that from Oct- April that turnout was 2 hrs a day in the winter in a 'sandpit' area.

Tbh it did my horse a favour as I was rehabbing him at the time and waking through sodden peat fields would not gave done him any favours.

The one livery said "we take it in turns to turn out between us liveries so it will be once every six weeks of you turning out 6 or 7 horses at the weekends" .

As it transpired, I did 8 months of turning out at weekends without a break! So make sure you're clear on the specifics OP 😉
 
Ask about winter turnout during a bad/wet winter. A lot of yards will say they have winter turnout but then this changes when the weather is particularly wet.
Ask how many days the horses have had spend ‘in’ over the last couple of winters.
 
I would definitely speak to liveries about turn out. The yard i was on years ago, (thank god no more!) had no turnout from October until May!!! It was horrendous, i keep seeing a girl tag the YO in livery wanted ads and every ad i have seen wants turnout all year round. It makes me go cold thinking about people moving to the yard under false pretenses. Besides the fact the YO is a total and utter lunatic!
 
Check leaving notification that needs to be given by both parties, method of payment, is a deposit required and then rent in advance, is there room for trailer/horsebox parking and cost, are the yard gates locked at night, check that there is no barbed wire anywhere, does the owner or yard manager live on site, any isolation rules when new horses move to the yard, stable sizes most important if you have a large horse, are there restrictions to keeping your horse stabled if its bouncing it down for 24 hours or snowing/very icy, or to hot. If visiting a number of yards take your ticklist with you to compare at a later date as things can be misunderstood or forgotten.
 
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Are services available?
Is full livery available when you go away on holiday/ are ill?
Parking and cost for trailers or horse boxes.
Are there rules about dogs/children/visitors on the yard?
 
Hidden costs of arena lights, hot water, trailer or box parking. Extra services. What time do people feed in the morning is a good one, will the first one on the yard throw feeds in.
Tbh, I've found the strangest rules are on fully livery yards! The liveries on the yard are always best to quiz if it lives up to what is offered!
 
KC31 said:
I would definitely speak to liveries about turn out. The yard i was on years ago, (thank god no more!) had no turnout from October until May!!! It was horrendous, i keep seeing a girl tag the YO in livery wanted ads and every ad i have seen wants turnout all year round. It makes me go cold thinking about people moving to the yard under false pretenses. Besides the fact the YO is a total and utter lunatic!
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Seems to be a few of those about!
 
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