Retraining/livery yard

[ajz]

I am hoping to set up a retraining/backing/schooling yard in the near future and have a few questions:
Do I need qualifications to run this type of yard? (The BHS exams are very expensive, though I'm sure worthwhile!)
How would I start it up? How would I get my first clients in?
Anyone know if there is much demand for this type of yard or will I often have empty stables?
Any other information I may found useful would be gratefully received!

I have competed at BSJA, unaffiliated dressage, riding club teams, XC, ODE, POYs etc, I have backed a friends pony for her, been part of the junior academy and had training with lots of riders/professionals/trainers in various disciplines. My pony was very difficult when I first got him (and still is at times) so I know what it takes to bring on naughty horses. I have also re-schooled my 16hh mare and taught her basic lateral work alongside competing her at BSJA.

 

[HBM1]

I would want to see your competition results and if I was happy with those then I would get personal recommendations. That is how I found my horse's backer. I wouldn't take someone's word for what they had done but nor would I particularly want to see any exam results

 

[ajz]

Thank you. So maybe if I had some references/testimonials from people who I've previously helped with their horses on my website and some competition results?

I'm sure after a few clients have been satisfied and pleased with the service a good (hopefully ) reputation will spread by word of mouth; it's just how to get those first clients before a reputation has been built..hmmm

 

[Hackie]

I would want to see your competition results and if I was happy with those then I would get personal recommendations.

Agreed - I would only put my horse with someone who I have observed do well in the competition arena, having seen them produce a few different horses myself. To be honest, this is where someone's reputation is very often gained.

You'll find most good riders out there competing will be approached to ride others horses, rather than the other way around, and this is how they progress into a training career.

 

[coen]

Yes you tend to need a bit of a reputation to get referrals they also generally have good comp record.
BHS qualifications wouldn't make a difference to me.
I would want to see that the person had successfully produced a lot of different horses. Maybe base yourself with someone more established for a while first.
Best of luck

 

[ajz]

I've been approached to ride and bring on lots of horses from the yard I'm currently on and have helped sell some of them too. Unfortunately, due to a lack of money and my A-levels I no longer compete however, we're moving to a house with equestrian facilities when I finish my A-levels (sept 2014) which is where I'm hoping to run this yard so will have the opportunity to start competing again then.

You've definitely made me realise that unless I have a portfolio of good competition results and happy clients it will be hard to run this sort of business. Thank you!

 

[The wife]

Don't do it!!! It's harder work than you will ever, ever imagine, soul destroying, extremely low paid ( works out we get paid about £1 per hour pro rata) diminishing social life, never enough time and definitely not for the faint hearted as you will be dealing with problems that nobody wants or is capable of doing. I say this because the busy already established yards don't need the really horrible ones - unless like us they enjoy a challenge. Why should they? To start with we took on literally everything to get established. Ones that bolted into walls, reared, severe buckers, the works. Work comes in fits and starts, one minute you'll have 3 in for a month, next 4 months nothing. Be honest with yourself about your capabilities, your bravery, your sense of humour, patience and honesty towards owners. A back up person that can do the job to the same standard as you is also essential for if you are injured or poorly.

We set up in 2009 with nothing more than an empty yard, a few fields and a school with limited competition experience but with an already established reputation for taking on everything and anything, regardless of what the problem they had. Sometimes they came good, other times they didn't! Both the sister and I had a solid grounding in breaking yards, top class showing yards and NH racing, so I guess we were already relatively well established as we were. Started off with the odd breaker, a few hunter liveries (who are still with us now!) and built from there. We now have a waiting list and have been full to over flowing for a year now, how long this lasts no one knows and we appreciate that work can dry up overnight.

Get good insurance without a doubt. BHS exams and qualifications will mean nothing to somebody who is sending a horse to you that stands bolt upright in traffic and want the problem solving in 2 weeks, neither does it make you a natural horseman.

It's a very rewarding job at times, seeing a horse that has been an absolute monster for months before an owner seeks help and seeing the smile upon their faces after the first ride can still sometimes wet the eyes however during the hunting season at 10pm, after a 14hour day, trying to get a horse dry, it does take a very understanding husband and a serious sense of humour!

Lastly (apologies for the essay) best of luck, speak to yards around you and get an idea of how 'unique' you'll be and where your nearest competitors are. No point opening a yard a mile down the road from an already establish and well respected, competitively priced yard.

 

[ajz]

Goodness! Thank you for the reply. I understand it won't be the most glamorous job however you've definitely highlighted thing I hadn't thought about (eg the well established yards not taking the naughtiest ones because they don't need the money...). Ill have to talk to my mum and sister (who would run it with me) and have a serious think about it. I think we're glamourising it in our heads!!!!!!!!! Thank you!