Stable yard hours of operation

[crazybootlady]

I have been researching boarding stables in advance of getting another horse (planning to have one in about 3 months). Having only been at two stables in the last ten years, both of which were owned by friends, I have never been subject to hours of operation. Many nights before shows we were in the stables preparing until 10pm or later.

I am looking at a stable now that, on paper, I really like. 12x12 matted stalls, well maintained pasture, indoor arena, round pen, gallop track, within hacking distance to equestrian trails, mandatory egg counts, bathroom/shower, locked tackroom, wash stall, full care...basically everything on my wish list. However, upon reading the contract, the hours are 8am-8pm, no visiting without prior permission.

I'll soon be working shiftwork (once home from overseas and on full time employment by a police agency) which could and probably will require visits to the stables to ride/groom etc outside those hours, not to mention if I were to go to a horse show I would be leaving well before 8am.

Is this standard? Do any of you have flexible YO's that work around it with you?

Just not wanting to scrap this yard as theoretically it's perfect and I'm leaning toward placing a deposit to hold a stall (only one more available) until I can get home and check it out.

Thanks for any replies!

 

[AmyMay]

Seems rather restrictive.

Most of us who work would be doing our horses at say 6.30/7.00 am before work - and in the summer would perhaps expect to be on the yard until 9.00 - with the lovely light evenings.

 

[Chestersmummy]

On the yard I am at the yo says people are to be off the yard by 9pm but thats because she lives on site, however if people are there preparing for a show shes not that fussed.

 

[wiglet]

If it's a full livery yard then it would be reasonable - no reason for liveries to be there to turn out or muck out before work. Open till 8pm... most full livery I've been at are open till 10pm - gives all liveries plenty of time to ride in the evening.

Am sure for horse shows/emergency vet visits there are exceptions to the rule - you'd need to discuss it with them.

If it's a DIY yard then it's not going to work.

 

[MillionDollar]

My opening hours are 6am - 9pm. Most are here 7am - 8pm. I live on site so there is no way I would want people here until 10/11, especially as I have to lock up too.

I think 8-8 is a bit mean though!

 

[WestCoast]

I saw a number that were closing at 8 - 8.30 and most of them wouldn't let me come in at a time I'd need to to ride before work in the summer. The yard I've chosen is a bit more flexible I think (they are certainly on the yard 7am to 9pm, but at present I generally don't need to be there early or late.

Paula.

 

[Enfys]

I'd tel! them to go whistle, but I am a grumpy old bat who frequently cuts off my nose to spite my face!

I am a YO.
My house is 25m from the barn, I have no set hours.
People come and go as they wish, I might change that ruling if I had awful disrespectful owners, no, I wouldn't, I'd get rid of them

It doesn't bother me, the dogs may as well bark at Owners as at a cat, bat, rat or fairy crossing the yard in the dead of night.

 

[crazybootlady]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I bit the bullet and emailed and asked since due to what will be scheduling conflicts with work if it would be possible to work out different hours. (note: I don't normally question rules, more of a go with the flow type ) The question paid off in an agreement that if I was tidy, made sure lights were turned out and things properly locked up she had no issue if I needed to come earlier or later as long as I was off the yard by 10pm-ish. For once being a little annoying paid dividends! Now just crossing fingers that a box is still open for me when I get a horse!

 

[horsesatemymoney]

Good that you've been able to resolve it and get more flexibility...I have respect for people living there, i/e wouldn't be on there at 10pm, but I don't expect to be dictated to within a 12 hour window- with work etc often you have to do horses before/after work...one yard I was (briefly) at had the opening hours 8.30am-6.30pm!! They didn't tell me that before I moved on!

 

[Hexe]

I have been on a DIY (!!!) yard where the opening times where 8am-7pm (actually only 6pm, but noone could make that)

On my current yard the usual opening hours are 8am - 10pm and its 5-7 day full livery
When I have had shows they have always been very helpful to let me in before that time, seems perfect for me

 

[skint1]

Never been on a yard with time restrictions, I think it might worry me as my work can be unpredictable

 

[Caol Ila]

When I was first looking for a livery stable around this area, I visited a yard that was open 'till 8 or something like that on weekdays and 5 on weekends. Needless to say, I didn't go there.

 

[Pippin79]

Our yard is 6am-9pm, although with prior notice later is fine (such as travelling back from a show). We live on site and from a security point of view we then know that once we have locked up any activity outside is to be treated as suspicious. This has never caused problems with any of our liveries although I would agree 8pm is a bit tight in the summer evenings. Years ago one of the liveries did get a shock once when coming up unexpectedly at about 11.30pm, he was accosted by my husband who had hidden up and jumped out thinking we were being burgled . Obviously made him jump a bit and needless to say he remembered to let us know in future if needed to come up late

 

[MerrySherryRider]

Once I briefly found myself on a yard where the YO failed to mention an 8.30 pm curfew. In practice, he would remark about having no home to go to if you were still about after 7pm on a summer evening.
Apart from that, never had a curfew imposed on a yard, its always been very relaxed with YO's happy to have the added security of other people about the place.
I could see a problem if everyone is trying to ride during a 2 hour period after work, particularly if the yard isn't open in time for early morning riding.

 

[sarahann1]

Ours is 7am-9pm though in practice if due to shows/illness or something else crops up, if you ask they don't mind you being earlier/later. On Thurs a few of us will be there at 5am to go to a show!

They forgot to tell me the opening times when I moved and I was often there at 6.30am and they never once told me off for it.

 

[Ebenezer_Scrooge]

No time restrictions on the yard Im on. Only me & one other livery who has 2 ponies. Rented off local farmer the only rule we have is that there are no rules:-D

 

[crazybootlady]

I totally understand it from the point of view of a live on site YO. Heck if it was my farm and people were coming on the yard without prior notification past reasonable hours (obv depending on time of year/daylight/prior arrangements) I can't promise not to have a gun in hand...but that's the distrustful cop in me coming out.

 

[micramadam]

Great that you've got it sorted and hope they still have the box for you.

Have never been on a livery yard with anything other than 24/7 access to your horse. YO's believed that owners should have access to their own horses at all times and as long as the yard was left tidy and the lights turned out and everything locked up there were never any problems.
Even had YO get up in the middle of the night to join us watching a foaling mare.

 

[mandwhy]

I would want to be there until it is dark really so ten in the summer if I am catching up on things. That's why I like grazing, stupid other people's restrictions!

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Our times of opening(exceptions)



Is 7.30am - 8,30pm

If there are early shows or late returns- or someone late returning from work its fine as long as we know in advance.

 

[Choccie]

Some yards are only able to operate between certain hours due to planning restrictions, and had this imposed on a planning application that i was involved in. The planning system does not understand the nature of a DIY livery business and the commitment involved in keeping a horse at DIY livery. I got the impression that if you could afford a horse you were rich and therefore a lady or man of leisure!!!!!!!

I am currently on a full livery yard where the hours are 8am - 8pm and the yard is staffed 8am to 5pm, but providing i let them know i am leaving for a show at 6am they are fine. YO competes herself and has early starts.

 

[RainbowDash]

Hi,

The yard i'm on is full livery and staffed from 8am to 8pm. The livery side is locked up but the riding school side is unrestricted - If I want to ride earlier or later I can but need to take tack home (tack room double locked at 8pm unless there's a late lesson or show to prepare for) and clean the stall/lock up afterwards.

It's a good friendly yard with excellent facilities so worth the little bit of compromise - besides the YO is brilliant

 

[caramel]

I'm on a large riding school/livery yard. During the week it's normally open at around 5am, staff arrive at 7:30 (unless they have own horses), and leave at 4:30. Normally at night yard is closed at 9pm, unless emergency vet visits/coming back from evening shows etc.
When my boy coliced last year I was able to park at the YO's and walk over at 11pm and again at 2am to check on my boy... she's good like that no need to disturb her though as she knew I was going to do that.