Should livery yards vet horse owners?

B

Britford

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In the interests of horse welfare, and for the sake of a good atmosphere in the livery yard, should Yard Owners vet new horse owners coming onto the yard? After all you wouldn't rent out a room in your house to someone without some kind of check regarding their suitability, financial situation etc. If you were a Yard Owner what kind of checks would you make?
 
YES YES YES!!!! I'm not a yard owner but if I was I would want references etc etc. There are two many people who don't care for their horse properly, steal other peoples belongings and do a bunk without paying. Obviously that's a sweeping statement - not wanting to offend anyone, but it does happen.
 
be nice if they at least considered if the person is likely to fit in with the existing liveries (assuming YO and existing lot actually get on !) and not just think this is money to fill an empty box.

also if the horse will fit in with the horse profile of the existing liveries - mares/geldings/young/old/resting/etc

one place I was at took in a young gelding when it only had one other gelding on the yard and he was used to having his own paddock and was elderly - needless to say the youngster tormented the poor old boy as he wanted to play. Not fair on the oldie - it did work out ok in the end but not nice to start with.
 
I heard the other day there is a website where you can name bad liveries, and why they are bad, to warn other YOs. Can't remember what it's called though. Useful check tho.

ETS- I would ring the previous livery yard to see what they had to say about them.
 
Mmmm...a name and shame website. Doesn't sound like a good idea to me, particularly if people make unfounded and malicious entries. It could ruin a perfectly good yard's reputation. Perhaps its better to endorse yards with the BHS Approved Livery status, at least then you know there will be an accepted standard of care and management.
 
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Mmmm...a name and shame website. Doesn't sound like a good idea to me, particularly if people make unfounded and malicious entries. It could ruin a perfectly good yard's reputation. Perhaps its better to endorse yards with the BHS Approved Livery status, at least then you know there will be an accepted standard of care and management.

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I'm sorry but BHS seal of approval doesn't mean anything. I've seen alsorts of things go on at BHS approved establishments, horses whipped with lunge whips, horses practiaclly starved and staff that didn't have a clue. And then when the BHS come to do an inspection they give you notice so you can clean the place up and make it look like you run it that way all the time. Sorry if I've offended anyone, I suppose times could have changed but this is what I saw 18 - 20 years ago. Please feel free to tell me times have changed and I will be very glad to hear it! (Oh man, that makes me sound old - I was a child then!!!)
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Should livery yards vet horse owners?

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They do, don't they?? I certainly did when I lived in England.

When I had my yard in England, I had brochures which I always sent out to potential customers - I wanted their addresses so that I new whether they were the sort of people that would get along with all of my other boarders....perhaps a bit elitist but I didn't care, my first loyalties were to my existing boarders.

I also asked where they were boarded at the moment. I knew pretty much all of the other livery yard owners in the area; so I would call them to ask what this person was like.

I would also ask my farrier and vet, who were very good friends of mine.

If all of this was positive, then I would ask the person to come and visit my yard and then I decided whether I thought their personalities would be similar to my other girls; if it was then they were allowed to come, if not then I would say I would put them on the waiting list.

Over here, I rarely do checks on anyone as hardly any of my boarders ever come to see their horses so it doesn't matter whether they are decent folks or not....so long as they pay their bills.
 
wow tia - if they never see their horses then why do they have them ?

youngsters unbroken or aged/retired I suppose ?
 
Some are youngsters but most are riding horses. I don't care whether they come or not. Most of my boarders visit about once a month, although some I don't see for 3 or 4 months at a time.

It's very different over here as people don't actually look after their own horses if they are at boarding stables - the boarding stables owner looks after them, so the owner has nothing to do unless they want to ride or just come to visit their horses.

Odd I know, but that is just how it is over here. I get cheques, I look after their horses, I rarely see most of them - suits me fine.
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No not around my area. Anyone who wants to do their horses themselves generally buys a small farm rather than boarding out.

Most places over here are like me; where the YO does all the care, grooming and feeding of all of the horses on the yard.
 
My YO doesn't even know where I live, she has never asked! She obviously has contact numbers though. The reference thing could be difficult if it is your first horse, or if you are moving yards because you didn't get on with a YO?
 
this could be difficult - Ive had livery managers claim I dont look after my horse properly because he gets tuned out every day *gasp* EVEN in the rain!!
Seriously, if someone rang for a reference, they might say 'oh she neglects her horse' or whatever, and that would be me turned away!
Also, I come from an area with a 'reputation', I actualy live on a council estate... but I have never failed to pay bills, get the vet out for my horse when needed, or not been a very good livery in any way... unlike some people who come from very *nice* areas....
 
also, what suits one yard might not suit another.. I think its best to maybe chat to prospective liveries and get an idea from that if they are going to fit in with the way you like your yard run, with the other liveries etc. Most people are quite honest about how they keep their horse (i.e lives out a lot, always stabled etc), and I think these sorts of things tend to be the start of problems.
When looking at yards, Im always totally honest with the owners (horse weaves, I like to turn him out a lot, wont use a waving grille ever etc etc) and I feel that has always helped me.
 
As a YM I always vetted quite rigorously. Present YO does too and will quite happily eject anyone unsavoury who falls through the net.

Ours is a very happy friendly yard.
 
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