Tips to help your horse get the best care on full livery

[Jango]

I was just reading through the full livery thread and although I've not had my horse on full livery I've worked at full livery yards and been on a yard that offers full livery. There's lots you can do to ensure your horse gets the best care, apart from the obvious thing - being there as regularly as possible.

Firstly make sure your horse has decent manners, no one wants to have to deal with really bad behaviour when handling horses at work. If your horse is awful to turn out for example he's going to be the one left in the day they are short of time. Not saying it's right but yard staff are more likely to take better care if your horse is easy to deal with.

Secondly write lists for EVERYTHING! feeds, rugs, boots for exercise etc. A whiteboard on the stable door or in the tack room is good for this. Then when it isn't done correctly you can point them to the instructions and they can't use ignorance as an excuse. It also helps prevent messages being lost through staff changes.

Thirdly if you go away for a while get someone not on the yard to go and visit your horse. It doesn't matter if they aren't horsey, just bring them down with you once before you go and show them what to look out for, no hay/water/filthy bed etc. Then just let the YO know when you leave your mum/OH/friend will be popping in every now and again.

Lastly make sure you leave clear contact instructions for yourself or an emergency decision maker, also vet phone numbers etc and keep them updated! Also make it clear whether you or the vet should be called in an emergency.

Obviously a terrible yard will take terrible care of your horse but things like this might just help you get better care on an average yard.

 

[Kat]

All good advice, shouldn't be necessary but it is.....

Not that I can complain, the yard my mare is on is great there have been a couple of minor slip ups but nothing bad, and I go down almost everyday.

Communication is key I think and yards should have systems for things like feeding etc. Ours have a list in the feed room of who has what. We also have a diary to write messages in either staff to liveries or liveries to staff.

 

[Kaylum]

All good advice, shouldn't be necessary

Certainly should not be necessary. If your finding it necessary you are nannying your way through full livery your not getting the service you pay for. All our horses at the yard 33 of them we know what the owner wants and pays for. There is a waiting list which speaks for itself and we can pick and choose our liveries. our YO runs a business and thats the way it should be.

Your horse is not left in during the day because its not good being turned out. We will turn it out with the rest.

The best advice is a yard with a waiting list is a good yard. Get your names down.

 

[conkers]

Two pieces of advice from me.

- Make it clear from the outset what you expect from the yard. Most people simply ask what the yard does but if there is something specific that you want to make sure of - ask.

- Visit at times when they're not expecting you. This isn't babysitting their full livery service. It is simply putting your mind at rest that things are as they should be.

 

[soulfull]

Two pieces of advice from me.

- Make it clear from the outset what you expect from the yard. Most people simply ask what the yard does but if there is something specific that you want to make sure of - ask.

- Visit at times when they're not expecting you. This isn't babysitting their full livery service. It is simply putting your mind at rest that things are as they should be.

Echo this I went to look at a livery yard the other day, supposed to include turn out and bring in. It was 12.30 sun was shinning and there wasn't a horse in ANY of the paddocks, all were inside

What was even more worrying was that you were only allowed 2 medium hay nets in the price so were they all in without anything??

 

[Bikerchickone]

Certainly should not be necessary. If your finding it necessary you are nannying your way through full livery your not getting the service you pay for. All our horses at the yard 33 of them we know what the owner wants and pays for. There is a waiting list which speaks for itself and we can pick and choose our liveries. our YO runs a business and thats the way it should be.

Your horse is not left in during the day because its not good being turned out. We will turn it out with the rest.

The best advice is a yard with a waiting list is a good yard. Get your names down.

^ This

My livery yard is exactly like this and I'm never worried about my horses not being cared for properly. If that's the case you aren't getting what you're paying for. The yard with the waiting list is the way to go. Mine has a very long one lol!!!

 

[Renvers]

- Ask as many people as you can for recommendations. The yards with a bad reputation are often well known for their poor service.

- Visit a couple of times and at different times of day. I was lucky I was already friends with YO before O moved to her yard so has visited a lot and seen the level of service and horse care my horses would get.

- If possible visit when other liveries are there and try to chat with them.

Like Kaylum, my place has a waiting list and so I would say this is also a big plus for a place - but no help if you need a quick move.