Questions when viewing a yard?

little_critter

little_critter

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I'm viewing two yards tomorrow.
This is the first time I have had to look for a yard - Skye is my first loan pony and she's currently on her owners yard.
The owner is coming with me but can anyone suggest what I should be looking for on a yard and what I should be asking?

As an aside - Skye had her flu jab on thursday, she had thursday and friday off but when I rode her this morning she felt stiff in canter - like she couldn't get her hind legs underneath her properly. Walk and trot were ok-ish. It felt to me like she had an achy back (ie she couldn't put the required tension through her back to support her neck and pull her legs under her). I'm assuming this is from the jab as I know in humans it can make you feel a bit rotten afterwards. Am I right to think that?
She seems ok in herself and still bright and alert.
 
Flu jab - they can get a stiff neck - not heard of stiff back before but suppose could be possible - maybe shes tweaked it out in the filed with the windy weather we've been having?

yards -
depends whats important to you/horse but I would ask the following:

1) do they turn out all year and all day in the winter or do they have limited turnout in the winter such as a couple of hours out or every other day etc

2) do they have 24/7 turnout in summer - from when to when

3) is bedding/forage included in price - if not can you buy from them or buy in your own?

4) what facilities are there - do they hire out any of them - how often

5) what worming programme to they have and is there are poo picking rota

6) whats the hacking like

7) what assistance can you have if needs be eg turnout/bring in/feed - how much are the extras

8) is there a yard farrier/dentist/chiro - if so who are they - can you have your own?

9) any particular yard rules that you may not agree with - if you think they are silly they will bug you in the end!

10) whats the atmosphere like - everyone friendly?
 
Turnout and storage are really important to me. What are the fields like? Can they go out 24/7 if you want them to? Can you fence off parts of the field with electric if you need to restrict grazing? Can you feed hay in the field if you think its necessary?

Do you have adequate secure storage for hay, bedding and tack?
 
Re Skye's reaction to her flu jab it is more likely to be that she is coming into season as this can make mare's trickier in their back. I know of one horse who had a bad reaction to his flu jab but his symptons were not as you described.

Regarding questions for new yard-I assume there is a good reason you are having to move Skye- it will depend on what type of livery you are looking for but assuming it is DIY I would want to know the following as a minimum:

1. what are the turnout arrangements
2. do I have to use the yard vet/instructor/blacksmith/etc
3. any restrictions on using the school
4. what is the hacking like
5. what are the other liveries like
6. can I supply my own hay/feed/bedding/etc
7. are there times when you are not allowed on the yard (eg. after 8pm)
8. is there a high turnover of liveries

I would also want to have a good look around the fields and yard to get an overall impression of how it is maintained and how the horses look. Does it have a good feel or is it a place where the horses look stressed.

If you are new to looking after a horse - which it sounds as though you are - also check that the YM is knowledgeable and will be able to offer you help when needed.
 
i used to have a mare that was down for about 4 days after jabs, check she isnt snotty and try a little perky hack out instead.

Yard wise - Ask if you can bring your own instructors onsite, or do you have to use YO only.
ask what plans they have
ask if they have a proper quarantine area and what is their policy regarding new horses
Ask if you can store your own hay somewhere (or if you will be using theirs, ask where they source it from) CHECK the current hay - does it look nice?
ask about floods / ice/ snow - Do they have frozen pipes or do the fields regularly swim
ask about what other people are doing on the yard - are they all happy hackers or all grand prix dressagers?!
ask if they have put their prices up recently?
ask alllll about their security procedures.
ask if they havent got a waiting list - why not?
ask what times you can access the yard - do they shut down at 5pm sharp??
ask when was the last time the surface was changed on the school and lunge pen
ask if they have jumping poles and things that everyone can use.
ask about any school rules, picking out feet, charging for the lights? max number of people at one time, have to clear away jumps? ect?
ask if they can do favours - i.e. bring in horse if your stuck at work ect?

some of these might not apply to you - but its a list! :)
hope you find somewhere nice!
 
Thanks for responses so far - I'd thought of a lot of them but will note down the ones I hadn't. I wasn't sure if I'd I'd look like a box ticking nerd if I turned up with a notepad and list of questions!
I have to move because the yard I'm on is a military yard and priority has to be given to army people - I'm civillian and there's a waiting list of army people wanting to come on the yard so i have to make space.
Ref Skye's reaction this morning. I don't believe she was trying it on because she was trying to do a 'snappy' transition into canter however as soon as canter was established she wanted to stretch her neck down and forward more than normal and it felt like she was struggling to get her hind ligs under her properly and get a proper 3 time canter.
She also had her teeth done on thursday so maybe she pulled something when bracing against the rasp?
 
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As well as asking about hacking try and explore yourself, go for a run/walk/cycle/dog work whatever and see how quiet the roads are, what the bridle paths are like - are there any tricky gates etc.

If there is an arena ask how busy it gets on evening, is it hired out to people not on livery, can liveries book the arena for themselves? There's not point having facilities if they are all booked up or they are very busy.

Good luck with looking for yards :)
 
If possible try & have a natter with any liveries there on the day - away from the YO. My old old YO used to swear blind the yard had year round field turnout to prospective new liveries which was utter rubbish. If anyone asked us we would be diplomatic but try to hint that year round t/o was more along the lines of 1/2 hr in the school every other day. If nothing else, it's still nice to get a feel for what the other liveries are like anyway :-) Good luck with the search
 
Do they have insurance for looking after your horses? It's not so applicable on DIY but the smallprint of insurance policies says that your horse is not covered under your policy if it is being handled/exercised by someone you are paying for providing that service. This means that if your horse is injured due to accident or neglect whilst being handled by the 'yard', you can only claim off their insurance, not your own. Could be bad news if they have no insurance.
 
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