Retirement Livery - Questions??

M

Mbronze

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After quite alot of soul searching i have decided that it is best that i send my boy to a retirement home nearby to where i live.
I have one in mind and was going to email them to ask them a few q's?
Its just because i'm upset about it all
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i can't think of the most obvious q's to ask apart from price
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. Any help from all of you would be much appreciated!!
 
Can't he stay at home with you??

But if the retirement place is up the road to you - I would make an appointment to visit rather than just email them.
 
Try the Veteran Horse Society website. They have a list of questions you should ask, along with the pro's and con's of retirement livery.
 
It's a hard decision to reach but I'm sure you're doing what is best for your horse and you.
Questions I'd want to ask:
How much?
Do they live in/out? (Assume you already know this)
Hay? Amount? Price?
Visiting times?
What do they feed?
How often do they get farrier/dentist etc, do you have to arrange this or will they? Included in price or not?
Size of herd he will be turned out with?
What would you need to supply - rugs etc?
Sure there are more but if you send a rough email they'll probably answer most questions.
 
hi,
sorry to hear that this decision is upsetting for you, but i know you will find the best place for your boy where he can enjoy a fab retirement!
i think we are about to start offering retirment livery (most of the neds are already in their 20's) hence i have been doing quite a bit of research lately, if it was me, i'd ask:-
for an exact breakdown of the cost - what is and isnt involved (these seem to vary quite a bit)
if you have to make an appointment to go and see him or if you can just pop in unannounced?
to what extent do you chose your horses care - ie. can you chose what brand of feed etc is used or do you just rely on them - if so - how knowledgable are they?
i think i would ask what their horsey experience is/maybe in veteran care?
i would prob ask if you could speak to one of the other retirement livery owners? bare in mind though, this could end up being their friend...
i hate to bring it up but.... if it were myself, i would want to cover the issue of what happens when that time comes? so that it could all be the way that you want it for your horse.
i would also ask about a contract - you hear of too many stories of places loaning them out/selling them etc.

thats all i can think of so far, hope it helps.
 
Amymay - I wish he could stay with me but i don't have fields, i keep him on a livery yard at the minute with my younger one.
The livery yard really isn't the right set up for him, he can't enjoy his retirement because our grazing is so limited. I think it would be his dream come true to eat grass all day and enjoy himself with other horses of a similar age. I have spoken at length with my instructor about it and she is sure that this is the right thing to do. i wanted to email them in the first instance to arrange to go possibly this wkend and just thought i may as well arm myself with some questions before i go, i'm sorry if i didn't make that clear enough.

loobie_lou - He's 30 this year and i have retired him for the best part of the last year with the odd hack inbetween, he can obviously no longer do the work load and i want him to enjoy his last years on grass doing horsey things.

In the mean time i would visit him at least every day to start with until i know he has settled in.
 
Hi,

I offer retirement livery but not in your area so no good for you but this is what I offer which may help you with what you want to ask! We have large newly built light spacious stables with post & rail paddocks for safe secure turn out a superb outdoor arena which the older horses love to have a roll - sand bath in!!, I stable them at night unless the owner specifically requests 24hr turnout, they are rugged if needed and feed with Veteran Mix, chaff &Cider vinegar as standard, Haylage in stables at night and in field if needed, fresh water daily, companions either in same paddocks or next door to each other depending on individual situation, feet trimmed regularly, 6 monthly backs checked and because my husband is a Vet his service is on hand 24/7. I charge £120 per week for full retirement livery or £50 per week for grass retirement, the views are spectacular and the horses seem very chilled out with us, we only have 10 at maximum so it is lovely and peacefull with no screaming children around. The owners that are long distance receive up to date photo's and a profile letter every 1 or 2 months for piece of mind to them. I don't insist on visiting appointments, they can call whenever, within reason on evening times!! so make sure you ask about this as some yards know when to muck out and groom if you have to make an appointment!!!! I treat them as I treat my own - pampered! hope this helps you
 
my horse is on retirement livery at my friend's stud enjoying 24/7 turnout with her broodmares - he's in absollute heaven! he has a band of girlfriends and gets to eat all day. i pay £35 a week in winter, £30 a week in summer which includes as much hay and hard feed as he needs, rug changes (if he actually needed rugging), twice daily checks, bringing in for farrier. i pay for his foot trims and wormers and any vet treatment as extra. if i wanted, there is a lovely school and nice hacking too. he is fabulously happy and i visit him when i can, at least once a month - he is just over an hour's drive away. i'm happy because he's happy.
 
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