Retirement Livery Recomendation

E

ecrozier

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 October 2006
Messages
6,173
Visit site
Hi All
Looking for any recommendations really. Considering a specialist retirement yard for my old girl, she is 20 next birthday and although hacking sound, her sharer is now looking for her own horse and I don't really have time or motivation to keep her in work, especially as over last couple of years she does feel the ground a bit more each year in summer. The yard I am at currently is great for horses in work/stabled, but she doesn't really like being stabled unless weather is really dire, and there isn't much grass there - she lost a LOT of weight earlier this summer with it being so dry - I have managed to get her back to a comfortable weight but really she needs lots of grass and a chilled atmosphere.
But you hear horror stories of retirement liveries - and especially because the prices tend to be more affordable in more remote locations it might be that it is more difficult for me to visit frequently to check on her!
I could keep her where we are but its quite expensive, and I'm just not sure she wouldn't be happier in a her where they are all of a similar age, and there is more grass....
Before anyone suggests PTS that isn't even an option, she is still VERY happy in herself and the matriarch of the field, its simply a search for more grass and a more relaxed atmosphere!
 
I would look at a yard where you can keep both your horses in a way that suits you and them.

I would probably not put my horse on retirement livery.......
 
hi, don't know where you are based but Widmer in Bucks has a good retirement livery the YM seems on he ball also I think a local vets are setting a satalite base there so will have vets on site etc.
 
I don't think henryhorn takes any more long term retirements sadly.

Amymay, I have three. Its not really feasible to move them all as the yard we are at is ideal for the other two and for me and has been for her until the lack of grass this year. Also being on the outskirts of london there are very few yards in our area with sufficient grazing to keep her out all year which also have the facilities I need to keep the other two in work while working a full time job. I have also had some miserable experiences at other yards and am very happy where we are now. A friend who left our yard has since been on 4 other yards in the area is now coming back because none were as suitable...
My mum's old pony is on a fantastic retirement yard in Wales, she looks better than she has in years and every time they visit is happy and contented, its just rather pricey so I was hoping people might have some other recommendations.
 
Jockmaster how much grazing do they have do you know? Is it seperate from the other liveries? Widmer not far from me at all.
 
don't know the acarage but it is a fair bit, my friend has her 28yr TB mare who has to be out 24/7 and drops off in the winter/spring and she is managed very well, big bales of haylage etc hard if required she is very happy there and my mate only gets there to check once or twice a month. Also I think it is a reasonable price as they make their own hay/feed etc.
 
Thanks jockmaster I will drop them an email as thats probably only a 20 min drive from me so I could easily get there a couple of times a week minimum.
 
No problem, will do. Its for my old girl and possible Sam's older boy as well. Will see what they come back with re prices and subject to that will go have a look. WOuld be much happier with her that close - Widmer is literally 20 mins tops for me. And they have a feed store so could make trips there doubly useful.... Would prefer that to the option of shipping her off to the other end of the country and never knowing if she was ok one day to the next.
Might be a very good solution. Must admit I spoke to them last year when it looked like we might be moving over that was with regard to livery for all three but for me and the boys it was a bit 'big' and busy, being a RS and livery as well, I prefer smaller yards, but all the feedback I got was that it was very well run despite size and that YM was very competant.
Anyway will let you know what they say.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top