What are you prepared to compromise on with a livery yard

S

samleigh

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 April 2011
Messages
263
Visit site
Bit of a shocker earlier in the year when the livery yard I've been on for 3yrs was sold..subsequently a huge increase in Livery costs, fast forward and I'm now much nearer to home, saving masses on fuel! but I'm struggling to get my head around lack of grazing, as new livery yard does not have a lot of grass, Really kind lovely people, Arena, jumps, very quiet, fabby at feeding whatever your horse needs, haynets in fields all times..river bank next door so do take him out and graze him in hand. What have you had to compromise?
 
My compromises change according to my horses primary needs at the time. Currently we need grazing suitable for an IR horse, so on the new yard this winter I'll be compromising on turnout times. Horses generally come in here at 3.30-4pm mid winter, so I'll have to get up and put them out at 6am to make up for the early bed time.
 
Having a big traditional lad with full feather and two foot mane, last livery yard I was on had a water shortage so yo insisted we had to bring our own, then put the livery up by fifty quid per month. Hence the change .... Water I won't compromise on or lighting in winter, for that matter.;)
 
I'm on part livery and for me I can't compromise on:

Turnout - he needs turnout every day with a herd

Hacking - need access to decent hacking,not bothered by road work but don't want to have to box to hack.

Can compromise on:

School - my yard doesn't have great school but I have my lessons at my RI's place so not that important

Obviously the care that the horse receives is my priority and I won't compromise on.
 
Achinghips said:
Having a big traditional lad with full feather and two foot mane, last livery yard I was on had a water shortage so yo insisted we had to bring our own, then put the livery up by fifty quid per month. Hence the change .... Water I won't compromise on or lighting in winter, for that matter.;)
Click to expand...

Seeing as you'd need to cart 10 gallons just for drinking, that's appalling. Except perhaps during freezing weather when everyone has to muck in.


Even during hosepipe bans, its still permitted for horses and horseboxes to be washed out using a hosepipe.
Not surprised you left.
 
I moved in Dec last year to a small yard, having always been on big (and huge, in some cases) yards.

I compromised on:
Group/paired turnout - everything goes out individually in big fields. Pony seems happy with this as long as he can touch something over the fence and see others. Fields are big with loads of grazing, fields rotated so the winter fields are rested (YO makes hay from them) in summer.
Arena lights - not ideal because we don't have them and means if I want to school in winter it's either at weekends or early in the morning. But I coped without.

That was all I compromised on and TBH that's probably all I would.
 
I'd comprimise on lighting - I have a lot of torches ;)

Stabling - my lad is out 24/7 anyway and gets a bit worried when he's stabled for more than 2 nights in a row, he just doesn't seem to like it much

An arena - as long as there is decent hacking that I don't have to box to I don't really mind not having a school although it's always a welcome bonus!

Yard looks - It doesn't have to be fancy, I quite like rustic yards as long as they are safe! Scruffy looking places suit me because I'm pretty scruffy looking too but that doesn't mean I'm not a nice person, you can't judge a place by how fancy the stables look ;)

I would not compromise on -

Grazing - there has to be decent grazing because I like him to live out

Water - that's shocking Achinghips that you had to take your own and got charged extra for the privilage! :eek:

Fencing - my last yard was a nightmare and Loki is a huge escape artist so the fencing has to be decent and fixed quickly.

Field management - I would never put my horse somewhere where a bunch of dodgy rubbish appeared in the field every day (i.e coiled fence wire left on the ground, bits of broken pallet etc) when no one seems to have any interest in clearing it out to keep the horses safe ever again! I'm just lucky he never ended up injured! Although my mum's mare did end up caught in loose fence wire and ended up dragging the lot halfway across the field attached to her leg :eek: again we were lucky we found her soon after and she didn't do permenant damage to herself but she was very sore and for 6 months afterwards would expect pain if you touched her leg so would try to kick out :(

Forage - I'm not paying for it and having my horse work for you lots for you to then tell me that my horse is only allowed one medium sized haynet in a 24hr period! Mental!

Bedding - again if I'm paying for it I want my fair share, I actually don't use a lot by most people's standards but I want his bed to be big enough for him to lie on and thick enough that he's not going to end up with capped hocks from lying on a small amount of straw that may as well not be there for all the good it's doing.

Care - if I'm paying livery fees and my horse is working for you and you tell me you will feed/hay/water/ muck him out XYZ days of the week for said money/work I expect it to be done thank you very much! Not doing so is neglectful, irresponsible and I will move my horse!

Oops that ^ turned into a bit of a rant sorry! :o
 
I've compromised on 24hr summer turnout (they're in at night all year round) because the yard gives herd turnout in big fields with lots of grass, and they're out every single day.

I've also compromised on hacking to be at a brilliant yard very close to home.

There's always a compromise, though - there isn't a single yard that ticks every single box, and I'd rather compromise on these things than end up with individual turnout / rubbish grazing / no school / people I don't like / miles away from home.
 
Only compromise I've had to make is having people around, although I'm getting used to that and they're all really nice! Aside from the increase in cost from my own place, I think I actually have a much better deal, now. I have a sandschool, hot water, a toilet, electricity and running water and a shelter in each of my own paddocks! Should have moved sooner!! :D

When I was looking for yards, this one did honestly tick every box (my criteria were same area, own field for my two, shelter in field and running water). I'm still waiting for the bubble to pop. That'll probably be when the shoot season starts, as they do a drive right past the paddocks, but it's two mornings a week and they'll get used to the shots being a little closer, I'm sure!
 
I don't need 24-7 turnout, and I'm quite happy with mine in at night all year round. I can also do without hacking.

I do need decent facilities - at the very least a good sized floodlit ménage with a decent surface. I also need ad lib haylage to actually be ad lib. And honest staff are hugely important - if you haven't had time to work my horse that's totally fine, but don't not do it and tell me you have.

Other than that I'm fairly easy going. :p
 
I have found that I am willing to compromise on location.

After looking at several yards closer to home I realised how good turnout, easy access to off road hacking and a school with lights are all compromises that I am just not willing to make.

My yard is 11 miles from home and I work 35 miles from home, so can end up doing a round trip of between 90 and 110 miles daily, but to me that seems better than not being able to ride during the week in winter or having to buy lots off bedding and hay in summer.
 
I too have compromised on location - my yard is 9 miles from both home and work and generally in the opposite direction to where I need to be!

But I like it, and haven't found anywhere with comparable facilities anywhere nearer!

Essentials for me are floodlit school (currently spoilt with an indoor!) or I can't ride during the week in winter and good well fenced turnout. I can't stand livery yards that fence horses in with pallets and bits of string!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top