?'s to ask when viewing a part livery yard?

[SNORKEY]

Hi, going to view a new yard tomorrow, ive never done anything but DIY before, but need part livery now due to work hrs.
My main fears are that he wont be given enough hay and may be left in for long hours when he is ment to be out all day.
How can you make sure that the yard is going to be good and do what they say?

 

[jon1210]

See if you can have a little chat to some people at the yard and ask all the basics like turnout times and about the feeds and hay. Also ask about will they hold for the farrier and vet if you cant get down and ask about wormers.....

Jon

 

[quirky]

I would turn up unannounced (on a 2nd visit) if you like the feel of the place tomorrow. That way, you can see if things are done that you'd expect to be done at the time you arrive.

If there is a notice board, have a look at that, to see what sort of messages the YO leaves (if any).
Also, ask straight out the things that concern you. ie. what time are they fed/hayed/turned out etc.

 

[misterjinglejay]

Worming routine, field maintainance, pooh picking, storage of stuff, feed and bedding, insurance, vet and farrier (theirs or your own). security, lighting (v important this time of year!)
When you are allowed on site - times. Um..... ?

 

[SNORKEY]

Thanks, I didn't think about poo picking and farrier, or to turn up unanounced on 2nd visit.
Fingers crossed its a nice yard.

 

[MissMincePie&Brandy]

Thanks, I didn't think about poo picking and farrier, or to turn up unanounced on 2nd visit.
Fingers crossed its a nice yard.

If it's part livery you shouldn't be expected to do poo picking! Usually farrier and vets are taken care of too, just remember to always make sure your horses appointments are in the yards diary. Some yards bill your farrier fees in with your livery at the end of the month, and some expect a cheque to be left for the farrier.

Part livery usually means everything is taken care of except ridden exercise. You are right to be concerned about forage. A lot of the horses on our yard seem to be out of hay by 9pm, but I have a 17.2hh TB who I want to have ad lib hay so I pay extra to ensure he is never out of hay, and he's given a lot more than the others, but I'm paying so I get what I request.
Usually feed is included apart from supplements, so check with the yard if they buy your suppliments and bill you at the end of the month, or if you are to supply the supplements.

You need to check what times you can come to the yard, and what you need to do, if you want your horse left in, say for a show on a particular day.

 

[Bosworth]

check out the yard yourself and see what your gut feel is. My part liveries are treated exactly as I treat my own horses, some have ad lib haylage as they need it, Some have restricted haylage as they are extremely good doers. We feed according to need, and we turnout according to need. We have some that are out 24/7 and some that are out only 5 hours a day. So what you really want is a yard that will work with you to provide the horse with the individual attention and service that it needs. Check out the contracts, see what is expected from both sides, have a look at the feet of other horses see what the farrier is like. Find out what the worming programme is like and check out the quality of the fields. Now is a great time to do that as many will be waterlogged from all this rain.