Want do you want from a livery yard?

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wkdfilly

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Hi, I was just wondering what people's likes and dislikes are in regards to livery yards? I am one step closer to getting my own yard, and know what I want but what does everyone else want? What makes a good livery yard? What would make one yard stand out from a range of similar yards? Any help or advice is very much welcome. Cheers.
 
Must haves
On site supervision/ management by a qualified/experienced manager
A fair contract
Identified yard rules which everyone follows
Good sized safe stabling which is well lit
Water easily accessible
Sufficient grazing for the amount of horses on it, with water direct to fields which are well maintained, no more than 4 horses per field
Winter and summer fields to allow resting of pasture
Appropriate safe fencing, with electric tape around the top
Floodlit min 20x40 arena
Set of jumps
Locked, alarmed tackroom with individual lockable tack lockers and identified marked out areas for feed and equipment storage.
Toilet facilities
no dogs running around, crapping in haylage
Children under 16 directly supervised, not just mother somewhere in the yard
On site shavings hay/lage
No smoking
Good hacking
Instructor of your choice able to vist
Bookings diary for school for private lessons ( busy times excluded)
Repair book to identify repairs rather than several people passing it on to yo
Kettle, access to hot water

DESIRABLE

Wash/farrier bay
Solarium
Tearoom
Assistance if required
 
A contract and yard rules - so everyone knows where they stand
Fair size airy boxes with good drainage
Winter turnout - perhaps in surfaced/sacrificed paddock to preserve summer grazing
Summer grazing in well fenced paddocks which are rotated regularly and properly managed
Strict worm control/management
Good security/padlocked gates/cctv
Toilet / tea / coffee making facilities
 
Personally and realistically, I would look for
1. Decent all year round grazing, good acreage ratio to horse.
2. Secure fencing.
3. Electricity (or easy to start generator)
4. Secure tack room.
5. Good sized ventilated light and airy stabling.
6. Toilet
7. Concrete and secure yard.
8. Good safe hacking or if failing that an good sized outdoor school.
9. Concrete and secure yard

My expectations are not high, obviously there would be loads more I would want but I am been realistic. :)

Obviously there lots
 
Ooooops damn phone pre-emptied me, as an aside I would like running water and sensible yard rules that are enforced
 
Essentials:

1. Nice atmosphere (was ready to type 'no bitching' but we can safely assume that is impossible :p).

2. Decent sized stables.

3. Good size arena (indoor or outdoor) big enough to put up a small course of jumps. It is vital the the surface is in satisfactory condition and is properly maintained throughout the year.

4. All year turnout. Not fussed about overnight turnout as our horses are always stabled at night, but must be able to turnout all day.

5. It is essential that there is enough grass in the field and is kept in decent condition (ie not too many horses, not left to the point that it becomes a bog).

6. On-site supervision.

Desirables:

1. Rubber matting.

2. Assistance in turning out/bringing in if required.

3. Outside stables as opposed to barn stables.
 
For me:
-year round grazing, I bring in overnight Dec-march. Don't mind haying but not a mud bath
- decent size stables
- electric & water
- either a lockable tackroom or somewhere I can have lockable storage.
- good hacking
- somewhere to school (covered school ideal but can manage well enough with a field I can jump in)
- reasonable yo/ym. Doesn't have to be an expert but must be capable of dealing with issues.
- must allow well behaved 7yr old child & dog.
That's for diy, if it was assisted or full I'd want an experienced manager & staff.
And somewhere to store hay/straw & safe fencing & buildings.
 
1. Grazing all year. Shared or own, don't mind! As long as nothing sharing the grazing is going to kill me.

2. Use of own stable for emergencies / overnight in winter.

3. A warm room we can have a cuppa in in the winter.

4. Electric and running water. Doesn't have to be hot, but that would be a bonus!

5. Decent fencing, or to be allowed to use my own (electric) fencing.
 
All that other people have said and lots of lovely people to hack out with. And when I say hack I don't mean 30 mins round the block and then in the school for an hour. I mean a good old 2/3 hours. :)
 
I have moved yards twice in the last 2 years - one was forced (i.e they were selling up) and one was of my own choice and a vacancy came up nearer to home.

Interestingly I saw this article on choosing the right livery yard http://www.hoofon.co.uk/choosing-the-right-livery-yard-498652/ and I can honestly say that after turnout, stable - by that, I mean condition of both - for me it came down to the attitude of the people working at the yard and the liveries there.

I moved from a yard previously because the yard owner was critical and thought it was her job to "take over" and the liveries constantly gossiped about other liveries and their horses! It doesn't make for a nice environment. The yard I'm at now is occupied by very busy owners who don't have the time to gossip about each other and it is a breath of fresh air...

As a yard owner you can set the tone of what's acceptable and unfortunately my previous yard owner gossiped as much as the liveries!
 
For me, being realistic the basics I'd want..
1. Running water and electricity - a must!
2. Very good hacking - IF possible Indoor (and potentially outdoor field?) school
3. Good grazing - personally, grazing for me isn't TERRIBLY important, but I know for a lot of people it will be
4. Good quality secure boxes
5. On-site management, hay, straw and a good clear set of rules (inc. no smoking and no unsupervised children!)

It would be nice to have....
floodlit arena
jumps and equipment for everyones' use
XC course
individual secure tack lockers
American barn style stables - just gorgeous!
Horse walker, horse solarium - I know they are pricey, these are why these are 'ifs' :p
A decent toilet!!!!!!!! :D


K x
 
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Essential:
All year turnout in decent sized paddocks (enough acreage per horse)
Running water
Decent sized stable that keeps the weather out
Electricity
Storage for forage, feed, bedding and tools
Lockable tack room

Nice to haves:
Good hacking
School
Tea making facilities
Fairy who pulls ragwort and poo picks field and returns tools other people have borrowed

Our yard has all the above (apart from the fairy)
 
in addition to everything everyone else has said, one of my requirements is that the yard needs to keep everyone on a pretty strict routine; turned out at the same time, brought in at the same time, fed at the same time, that sort of thing. I can't keep my horse at those yards where all the DIYs do their own thing and follow their own schedule or worse, her own routine changes. She has a nervous breakdown.
 
I was thinking about this the other day as I'm not that happy on my current yard due to politics!

My absolute essentials are:
1) Good, safe turnout (i.e with good fencing and not over-grazed, horse-sick etc)
2) a Decent sized arena with flood lights
3) Reasonable hacking - I don't mind road work if it's on quiet lanes...But I don't want to ride down A roads!

Other than that, I can be flexible and let some things go. Ideally, I'd like a bigger stable than where I am now (one of mine is 17hh) and I prefer grazing to be in small herds rather than individual.

I prefer somewhere nice and tidy (i'm not a neat freak but I don't want somewhere with piles of rubbish and machinery lying around), with an effective yard-wide worming programme and preferably an owner living on site - someone who is knowledgable and who doesn't have 'pets' - favourite liveries who get away with murder!!!!!

You wouldn't think all that would be too hard to find would you :(

My dream yard would be as described - and have a horse walker, miles of off-road hacking, an additional school for jumping (so you don't spend hours lugging heavy wings around), a cross country course, hot and cold water and a horse solarium!! Lotto win might be needed :)
 
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dollymix said:
I was thinking about this the other day as I'm not that happy on my current yard due to politics!

My absolute essentials are:
1) Good, safe turnout (i.e with good fencing and not over-grazed, horse-sick etc)
2) a Decent sized arena with flood lights
3) Reasonable hacking - I don't mind road work if it's on quiet lanes...But I don't want to ride down A roads!

Other than that, I can be flexible and let some things go. Ideally, I'd like a bigger stable than where I am now (one of mine is 17hh) and I prefer grazing to be in small herds rather than individual.

I prefer somewhere nice and tidy (i'm not a neat freak but I don't want somewhere with piles of rubbish and machinery lying around), with an effective yard-wide worming programme and preferably an owner living on site - someone who is knowledgable and who doesn't have 'pets' - favourite liveries who get away with murder!!!!!

You wouldn't think all that would be too hard to find would you :(

I have everything you have listed but I get liveries who want all of this for £20 a week.:eek: I myself have 18 hand horses I make sure all of the big horses get the biggest stables, fields are well managed, worming programme in place I dont have "pets" friendly with everyone we organise nights out. horsey trip, bbq.s pub outings hic, but you just cant please some people it does my head in honest
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Easy. Peace of mind and a happy horse, and facilities to work the horse as desired.
Of course this varies depending on the horse.
 
topclass said:
I have everything you have listed but I get liveries who want all of this for £20 a week.:eek: I myself have 18 hand horses I make sure all of the big horses get the biggest stables, fields are well managed, worming programme in place I dont have "pets" friendly with everyone we organise nights out. horsey trip, bbq.s pub outings hic, but you just cant please some people it does my head in honest
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TC - please can me and my horses come and live on your yard? :) Sounds lovely and I'm more than happy to pay more than £20! :) lol
 
I only ever do DIY, so here are my essentials and what I have currently.

Sensible size individual paddocks with good fencing and the option for 24/7-365 turnout.
Running water, lights and a seperate electricity supply. ( for clippers or to boil a kettle.
Adequate size and well maintained outside stables.
Enough storage space for at least a months supply of hay and bedding.
Outdoor or indoor manege that is regulary maintained.
Safe hacking without the need for too much road work.
A loo
A YO who's fair but doesn't stick their nose in.
No screaming Kids or dogs ( sorry but been there)
No restrictions on times to come and go.
Space to park a trailer.

Luxuries

Hot running water/wash bay
Indoor school
Lockable reinforced tack room
Room to sit in while waiting for vet/farrier etc
Horse walker
 
dollymix said:
TC - please can me and my horses come and live on your yard? :) Sounds lovely and I'm more than happy to pay more than £20! :) lol
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Course you can hun im just sorry you just missed out me and liveries where just sat in the kitchen having tea and biscuits :D Off to the pub with them on Friday night for dinner and a few beers hic ! looking forward to a girlie night out :cool:
 
marydoll said:
Must haves
Children under 16 directly supervised, not just mother somewhere in the yard
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I think this is a little unnecessary. My friend always had her own horse from when she was about 14, her mum had no interest & despite living about 10 miles away she used to cycle down there every day and do everything herself. She was perfectly capable and didn't do anything stupid and if this rule had been on her yard she would never have been able to have a horse.

I just think 16 seems a little high for a minimum age and I agree some teenagers might need adult supervision for being stupid/having no common sense/not being capable etc but I would say most teenagers are a lot more sensible than people give them credit for (and before anyone asks I am 22 with teenage siblings so know the good & bad sides to teenagers without being one myself).
 
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After reading this thread, it looks like I'm somewhat simple minded...:D

Somewhere small/quiet...
Year round, adequate sized turnout...
Good sized stables (currently have an american barn style and I love the airiness)...
Water and electricity...
School/menage and nice hacking...
The ability to choose how to feed, bed, turnout, rug and exercise the horses without someone else imparting their unasked for opinions... :)
 
Mad_Cow347 said:
I agree some teenagers might need adult supervision for being stupid/having no common sense/not being capable etc but I would say most teenagers are a lot more sensible than people give them credit for (and before anyone asks I am 22 with teenage siblings so know the good & bad sides to teenagers without being one myself).
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I agree... My son is 14 and one of the other liveries has a similar aged daughter... If they go out for a hack they always sort the horses out when they return and make their own way home... If the other lady has got the younger two kids home from school, her daughter will often see to their three horses on her own... They're both quite competent youngsters...
 
I love my yard, and we have the following (£100 per week):

Year round turnout, stabled at night during winter.
Large stables with rubber matting and wood chip bedding.
•No DIY liveries so all horses fed, turned out etc at same time.
•40x20m flood lit arena with jumps.
•electricity, hot water, toilet, secure tack room, kitchen, solarium wash bay.
•all hard feed & hay brought by YO.
•staff will change rugs, get in for farrier/vet/dentist, good worming program, fields poo picked.
•horses turned out in paddocks with post & safety tape in 2s or 3s and groups reassessed as necessary.
•good hacking around fields and access to bridleways. We also have xc jumps.
•own instructors allowed on site.
•friendly, approachable, knowledgable YO who has sensible rules so yard remains tidy, safe and enjoyable for all.

I count myself very lucky!
 
Essentials:
1. Well fenced all year turnout, nor necessary for it to be 24/7 but would want some access every day no matter the weAther.
2. Minimum of 12x12 stabling
3. A contract so everyone is treated the same
4. Floodlit arena
5. Hacking must be good (access to some sort of bridleways)
Would like:
A) indoor school
B) Individual tack lockers
C) yard not to big or small so there people to talk to and hack with but no fighting over facilities
D) clubhouse with kitchen, toilet sofas etc.

Lucky my current yard has all these and a gallops!
 
topclass said:
Course you can hun im just sorry you just missed out me and liveries where just sat in the kitchen having tea and biscuits :D Off to the pub with them on Friday night for dinner and a few beers hic ! looking forward to a girlie night out :cool:
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Now very jealous :) I miss this kind of set up so much. To be fair, my current yard used to be like that, but in recent months...I won't go into the horrid details...afore mentioned politics!!! :(

Hopefully it will get back to that - although I am out for drinkies with my old yard mates next weekend and CAN'T WAIT :)
 
Ladydragon said:
I agree... My son is 14 and one of the other liveries has a similar aged daughter... If they go out for a hack they always sort the horses out when they return and make their own way home... If the other lady has got the younger two kids home from school, her daughter will often see to their three horses on her own... They're both quite competent youngsters...
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I agree. :) I was 13 or 14 when I got my first horse and my parents would drop me off at the yard and pick me up later. When I was 17, I got my driving license and then they didn't even have to put in brief barn appearances as part of their chauffeur duties. If the parents are horsey, that's one thing, but my parents (still!) are not in the least bit qualified to supervise someone around horses. When they would hang out at the barn on the odd occasion, or help out at a show or whatever, I had to supervise them. ;)

I've seen Mum-and-child combos at my last couple yards, but mum has been just as into (and in one case, probably more into) the horse thing as the kid.
 
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