Tier 4 livery yards

[hopscotch bandit]

Just interested to know how indoor barn livery yards will work with owners being able to attend. I'm on diy and not sure if y.o will allow me to attend to my 2. My friends yard allowing normal with masks, another friend in Coventry allowing 2 hour slots with 7 per yard, her yard is even bigger than ours.

Surely if a supermarket allows 50/60/70 people in it depending of metre squared space then four/six/eight people can be in an indoor setting if they wear protective face coverings where they are no exempt from doing so due to health conditions and socially distance?
I'm in Wolverhampton on a yard with and approx 30 stables and a tea room/ tack room on one of 2 aisles.

 

[lannerch]

Indoor barn livery’s are usually a lot safer than supermarkets as they are a lot more open with a lot better ventilation, but it’s up to the individual livery owner to do what they think is best to keep everyone safe.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

I’m a cynic and think if yards dont allow you on its because they want more money off you. Open fresh air spaces should be fine...clean frequently used points obviously perhaps close tea cabins but I don’t think there is a reasonable argument to prevent owners looking after their own horses.

 

[COldNag]

I am tier 4 and on DIY.

It is a small yard and we have all been careful right through. There is plenty of space so we keep our distance.

 

[Shay]

Ditto - T4 and DIY. We have been allowed on yard throughout - as well as instructors and other professionals. Keep distance, don't congregate or sit together. Far safer than a supermarket IMO!

 

[Frumpoon]

I think if the regime imposed doesn't suit then you need to vote with your feet

Appreciate this is hard because of unsettling horses etc

But you need to be able to attend in order to look after them properly

 

[daydreamer]

I am at a large (40 horses) livery yard with 2 American barns. It is part or full livery. We are still allowed on although they have asked people to only go once a day, one person per horse and to try and keep visit time to a minimum. There is one bottle of hand sanitiser at the gate on the driveway.

 

[Amun]

I live in tier 4 and our fairly big yard is open, we only have to wear face masks even when outside with no-one around. Don't want to judge but this "nobody can visit" seems like a poor attempt to make extra money by forcing people to go full livery or that owner simply doesn't want to take any responsibility. I'm really grateful our yard stayed open, it's keeping me sane.

 

[chocolategirl]

I’m a cynic and think if yards dont allow you on its because they want more money off you. Open fresh air spaces should be fine...clean frequently used points obviously perhaps close tea cabins but I don’t think there is a reasonable argument to prevent owners looking after their own horses.

This could not be further from the truth in my circumstances? I run a DIY yard, with optional services, and I can assure you I DO NOT want more work to do at all! I’ve put a set of rules in place which most of my clients have largely ignored, so I basically have just let them get on with it?‍ I think for those who are ignoring the guidelines, it’s going to take the loss of a loved one to make them take this virus seriously. I think clients have to respect each individual yard owner/managers rules, I doubt any one of them is enjoying all this or seeing it as a money making opportunity? you sound like the kind of livery client who probably doesn’t appreciate anything about your yard, but happy to be corrected of course?

 

[dogatemysalad]

I think we have 70 horses on our yard. Half are full livery and some use occasional services. Instructors are banned and liveries visitors aren't allowed, but partners who usually help out, are.
Otherwise, we've been able to carry on fairly normally. No time restrictions, but no hanging around to socialise. Do your jobs, ride etc and leave.
If a YO banned me from seeing or caring for my horse properly, I'd leave.

 

[Muddywellies]

Just interested to know how indoor barn livery yards will work with owners being able to attend. I'm on diy and not sure if y.o will allow me to attend to my 2. My friends yard allowing normal with masks, another friend in Coventry allowing 2 hour slots with 7 per yard, her yard is even bigger than ours.

Surely if a supermarket allows 50/60/70 people in it depending of metre squared space then four/six/eight people can be in an indoor setting if they wear protective face coverings where they are no exempt from doing so due to health conditions and socially distance?
I'm in Wolverhampton on a yard with and approx 30 stables and a tea room/ tack room on one of 2 aisles.

What makes you think your yard owner 'won't let you attend to your two'?

 

[hopscotch bandit]

What makes you think your yard owner 'won't let you attend to your two'?

We got a text early this morning to say we are allowed an hour max inside per horse but no limit on time outside poo picking, fixing fencing, or riding. Masks essential. Fair enough. I will get 2 hours as i have 2 animals.

 

[ecb89]

I’m in tier 4 and have been for a while (Essex). I’m on a full livery yard. Nothing has changed for us apart from we have been asked that you do not bring friends/family to the yard and use some common sense I.e no gathering in the tack room.

Edited to add - the yard was closed during lockdown 1. Myself and other liveries are trying our best to ensure that doesn’t happen again.

 

[Kahlua]

I’m in Oxfordshire (Tier 4) on full livery and no change for us. We can come whatever time suits us. We are a small group but there’s a huge amount of space so unlikely to be right next to each other for long, even though one arena is indoors. I’m coming to realise I’m very lucky to be where I am, the YO and grooms are amazing, the other liveries are all extremely respectful, and aside from the first lockdown where they did have to close for a time whilst everyone understood the rules they have worked with owners to operate within the rules but without being restrictive or banning visits. We do also use a lot of hand sani ?

 

[hopscotch bandit]

I’m in Oxfordshire (Tier 4) on full livery and no change for us. We can come whatever time suits us. We are a small group but there’s a huge amount of space so unlikely to be right next to each other for long, even though one arena is indoors. I’m coming to realise I’m very lucky to be where I am, the YO and grooms are amazing, the other liveries are all extremely respectful, and aside from the first lockdown where they did have to close for a time whilst everyone understood the rules they have worked with owners to operate within the rules but without being restrictive or banning visits. We do also use a lot of hand sani ?

You are lucky I guess. One hour is extremely restrictive for people. But at least i can still go and visit.

 

[Kahlua]

You are lucky I guess. One hour is extremely restrictive for people. But at least i can still go and visit.

I agree, I only have one horse, don’t do any mucking or feeding etc and would still find it difficult to be in and out in an hour!

I must say though I do feel for a lot of YOs, it must be quite tricky trying to navigate all the changing rules, whilst keeping paying people happy, but also keeping your property and staff if you have any safe.

 

[Circe2]

I know our indoor arena doesn’t count as being “indoor” - it’s classified as “covered”, but still treated as being outdoor. Would the same apply for an American-style barn, given the level of ventilation?

 

[Iris1995]

It may be because the law said all indoor riding centres had to close to customers but it has been clarified that it is indoor arenas that cannot generally be used for lessons but can be used by owners for exercising their horse for welfare purposes but not lessons.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/1646/contents/made

Arenas with a roof will only be classed as outdoor if they have more than 50% of the surface area of the sides, not including doors and windows, completely open. If the arena has partial height walls the open area must be larger than the walled area.

 

[claret09]

it's an old cattle shed