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Starzaan

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Ok, if you were to keep your horses on a full livery yard, what would your dream additions be? Anything goes - be as wild as you want.
 

jnb

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24/7 turnout with shelter in small groups or pairs
Hacking track (like Somerford Park)
Covered outdoor arena.
Shower area
CCTV accessible to the owner
Easy access lorry parking with somewhere to turn big lorries round

Edit: I doubt I am the demographic you'd be looking for as a client; wild horses wouldn't get me back on a yard (although a YO with a backbone who didn't tolerate bullies - and wasn't one themselves - would be a start!) I'll write a book one day...!
 
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chaps89

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All year turnout in suitable fields - Well draining, well sheltered and well maintained.
High standard of care - horses actually checked over daily rather than just a check that they still have 4 legs and are the right way up.
If there's a walker, either a very large one or ideally an oval one, with a good surface.
Canter track.
Hacking.
School with a good surface, sensible booking system and regularly maintained
 

emilylou

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water treadmill, one of those open sided, undercover indoor arenas, 60x40, home XC and gallops, full set of SJ on grass as well as in arena, 24/7 turn out, miles of offroad hacking
 

milliepops

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indoor school - if I don't have to do any jobs I want to be able to ride come what may! ideally a long arena but a short indoor and long outdoor would be great too
big washing machine would be great, I miss having access to a horsey one
as HR a really good functional wash bay
good horsebox parking ?undercover
plenty of secure dry storage
well lit stables, I hate scrabbling around in darkness
 

Flame_

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I couldn't afford it but...

Sane, friendly, knowledgeable but not controlling staff.
Sociable other liveries with varied interests in things they do with their horses.
Indoor School.
Floodlit outdoor school.
No booking systems for schools and time restrictions for access.
Off road, ideally hilly or mountain hacking.
No competitions, public access or riding school.
Ample year round, well fenced, safe turnout in well matched pairs.
Horsebox parking.
 

The Xmas Furry

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From recently helping out last winter for a month on a full livery yard, I'd be asking that those who came daytimes were at one end of yard, the after work (late afternoon/evening) crew at the other. So so much kinder to horses and staff in the darkest months of the year :)

Otherwise, decent parking for cars, boxes and trailers with space so they are not jammed in like double parked sardines!

Others have suggested plenty of other good things :)
 

ihatework

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Ok, from the years I’ve had horses and/or the times I’ve dabbled working with them these are the things that I look for

1. Honest straightforward YO who is able to set reasonable rules/boundaries and apply them fairly. Offer the services/facilities advertised. Follow livery owner directions and not assume they know best. I don’t need someone super super knowledgable, as I’m happy to take all major decisions, but they need to be able to handle most horses proficiently and use their eyes to know if something is wrong.

2. Safe facilities. They don’t need to be gold plated (that’s a bonus) and polished to within an inch of life, but they need to be maintained.

3. Access to grazing all year around. Assuming I’m thinking of working horses then I will accept 2-3 hours in the winter provided there is a walker on site or some additional all weather turnout. During heat of summer overnight turnout mandatory.

4. Facilities to include: Decent sized stables of either brick/stone OR airy American barn. No stuffy wooden stables. A school with a safe surface. Adequate storage facilities and a secure tackroom. Parking for lorry/trailer. Access to reasonable hacking. Sensible system for school access.

5. Feeding. Owner can choose feeds within reason. Choice of hay or haylage of good quality.

Then for the extra bits I generally hope to get but would concede if everything else was right:

Own professionals permitted (vet/farrier/instructor etc)
Large school, floodlit with mirrors and ideally a waxed surface
Good off road hacking
Hot water bathing facilities
Solarium
Horse walker
Choice of group/individual turnout
Nice liveries

And then the bits I’d install if I won the lottery and could have anything:

Indoor school
Treadmill
All weather gallops
On and off estate hacking
XC training facilities (all weather)
A free-choice stabling/barn system laid out with a track or equi-central type design that is suitable for managing different types of horse
On site trainer who I want to train with
On site rider who I am happy to leave unattended riding my horses

And I’m sure there is a lot more besides!!

To be honest pretty much all of that can be found if willing to pay. The biggie is the free access stabling set up which is virtually unheard of for livery.
 

ILuvCowparsely

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Being a yard owner I am biased But over and above what we offer which is what others are listing.


swimming pool;
big feedroom
treadmill
all stables have a built in cupboard for owner things
gallops
track system
big carpark
cctv linked to police
isolation stable
First aid stable with hoist
loading bay
water system for the schools
starvation paddocks



ok that is my list most of which is not on others lists
 

HeyMich

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I keep my horses at home, so I would really appreciate a kind and competent groom/slave to do all of the jobs I don't want to do, especially in the middle of winter. And a brilliant and knowledgeable instructor to be there every time I ride, just in case I have a problem/question. And fences that re-build themselves when the ponies break them. And...
 

tallyho!

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That is true she did say be unrealistic...

1. 215 acres of mountainous region with hacking galore
2. Pleasant weather
3. My own personal cowboy to round up my chosen horse for me
3.a. Horses all fitted with GPS trackers (obvs)
3. b. Cowboy fitted with GPS too (obvs) with tracker app on phone so I can check on progress while in the bar
4. Many horses (all fit of course and can do what you want them to) that I own
5. Tack cleaner
5. a. essential oils only please thank you
6. My own tack room
6. a. Masseuse
6. b. Gym included
7. Personal trainer
7. a. has to be yoga trained (I'm always so stressed and you can't have that when riding your mountain athlete)
8. Simulator
9. Fly killing drones over the arena & xc course
10. A bar (oh did I mention that already?)
11. A pool to soothe my aching limbs after hours of waiting for my cowboy and 45 min lesson with International Trainer of my choice
12. Accommodation in case I get too blotto'ed to drive my Velar home
14. Babysitter/trainer/disciplinarian for the kids and their ponies
15. Oh bugger almost forgot..... butler to tell husband I'm stuck with the vet.
 

DabDab

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Must haves for full livery would be:
Decent turnout (preferably some all weather, and a varied terrain track system would be amazing), dry well lit stables, lorry parking, some type of school, good secure storage, and a capable, professional yard owner & staff.

Top picks in terms of extras would be:
Indoor arena
Tie up bay with infrared lights
 

Lintel

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That is true she did say be unrealistic...

1. 215 acres of mountainous region with hacking galore
2. Pleasant weather
3. My own personal cowboy to round up my chosen horse for me
3.a. Horses all fitted with GPS trackers (obvs)
3. b. Cowboy fitted with GPS too (obvs) with tracker app on phone so I can check on progress while in the bar
4. Many horses (all fit of course and can do what you want them to) that I own
5. Tack cleaner
5. a. essential oils only please thank you
6. My own tack room
6. a. Masseuse
6. b. Gym included
7. Personal trainer
7. a. has to be yoga trained (I'm always so stressed and you can't have that when riding your mountain athlete)
8. Simulator
9. Fly killing drones over the arena & xc course
10. A bar (oh did I mention that already?)
11. A pool to soothe my aching limbs after hours of waiting for my cowboy and 45 min lesson with International Trainer of my choice
12. Accommodation in case I get too blotto'ed to drive my Velar home
14. Babysitter/trainer/disciplinarian for the kids and their ponies
15. Oh bugger almost forgot..... butler to tell husband I'm stuck with the vet.

Fly killing drones. YES ??
 

NinjaPony

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A special laminitis track without any grass with lots of shade and plenty of space! That would be the dream right now. Lots of other good suggestions!
 

Cloball

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1. Access to off road mountain hacking.
2. All year round turn out (24/7) with barn and hard standing preferably with a variety of options small groups, tracks for fatties. Option for full/part 'grass' livery.
3. Space for friends with horses to visit on holiday.
4. Indoor and outdoor school
5. Outside professionals allowed
6. Near to the beach
7. Approachable knowledgeable YO/YM
8. Nice liveries who like hacking to the pub
9. Hacking distance from the pub
 

Pippity

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A lot of what people have mentioned, my yard already has. So, additionals...

Track system for fatties
BIG covered/indoor school
EVEN BIGGER outdoor school
Off-road hacking with hills
Swimming lane for horses
Gallops
CCTV in each stable that owners can access
No more than twenty horses, all of whom have owners who are friendly and pleasant

And the thing that bugs me every day - an automatic gate, rather than having to keep getting in and out of my car!
 

milliepops

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A lot of what people have mentioned, my yard already has. So, additionals...

Track system for fatties
BIG covered/indoor school
EVEN BIGGER outdoor school
Off-road hacking with hills
Swimming lane for horses
Gallops
CCTV in each stable that owners can access
No more than twenty horses, all of whom have owners who are friendly and pleasant

And the thing that bugs me every day - an automatic gate, rather than having to keep getting in and out of my car!
Oh god yes, electric gate ?
 

The unicorn

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Gallops
Off road hacking
Big hot water shower
CCTV that owner can access
Indoor arena and outdoor arena
A big walker
Big stables
All day turnout
A swimming pool for horse.
All day Turnout with other horses

My list actually is very unrealistic but I can dream. I have actually had my horse in fancy small barn it was brilliant I actually only moved because it was sold. It actually had a few of this things on my list.
 

MrsCentaur

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I want to be able to ride at very antisocial hours - 10pm before-bed schooling sessions, a quick hop on at 4am before showering (on-site) and dashing for the train to get to the office.

The stud/livery yard/riding school where I learn is otherwise perfect - we have incredible hacking, an indoor school and a culture of kind, supportive and knowledgable people. I feel tremendously lucky to have the opportunity to learn here.
 
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