What is a normal notice period for leaving a yard?

C

coblegs

Member
Joined
28 December 2017
Messages
15
Visit site
Just as the title says really! I’m going to look at another yard for a second time today with OH for his opinion but am 98% certain already. My current yard doesn’t have enough grazing for the number of horses living there in an ideal world and my girl has only been turned out in the school for 2 weeks to try and preserve the fields, so is bored and fed up and starting to break the fencing around it which is not ideal! We are on clay and the fields resemble a swamp atm! It’s also costing me a fortune each month (Have just brought a house so money is tight) and I’m up at 4:30am Monday to Friday to do her before heading to work in London which is an hour and a half commute each way. It’s impractical and I’m exhausted. I was never given a formal contract and for the reasons above I’m keen to leave fairly swiftly. The owner is lovely and I don’t want to upset anyone, so therefore what would be an acceptable notice period to give? Would 2 weeks be acceptable?

Thanks in advance :)
 
Last edited:
Generally the notice period (if not stated in a contract) is the period you pay. So if you pay monthly then a months notice, if you pay weekly then a weeks notice.
 
Two weeks sounds fine, but I'd just ask. IME yard owners like it if you do and It's a much better starting point than guessing and guessing wrong.
 
Usually it depends on how you pay. If you pay monthly. it’s normally a month. You can leave earlier though if you wish to go to the new Yard as soon as possible but pay the month so the YO isn’t suddenly out of pocket.
 
Thanks all! :) I pay monthly at the moment but livery prices are quoted on a per week basis. My payment is due on the 1st every month so I’ll speak to her today to let her know my intentions and see what she would prefer/allow me to do. I don’t really have the money to pay a month at my existing yard and also move at the same time and pay livery there which is frustrating. It’s a lovely little yard but it’s just not working for me and my horse. I’ll be sad to leave but I’ll be glad to have a bit more time in bed back and my horse will be glad to be living out again!
 
Last edited:
I'd just stick to the shorter commute as your reason. YOs can take it personally if you say It's because of something like turnout!
 
Theocat said:
I'd just stick to the shorter commute as your reason. YOs can take it personally if you say It's because of something like turnout!
Click to expand...

Thank you :) that was my plan and to be honest, is one of the main reasons. I’m exhausted and fed up and it’s not fair on me, my partner or my poor horse who I’m too tired to ride atm.
 
I’m moving yards on the 3rd Jan. I gave a month’s paid notice but leaving a week early. All the yards I looked at were very nice and willing to hold a box free of charge whilst I did my notice (not at all what I was expecting) so you may have that option and not find yourself financially challenged.
 
coblegs said:
Just as the title says really! I’m going to look at another yard for a second time today with OH for his opinion but am 98% certain already. My current yard doesn’t have enough grazing for the number of horses living there in an ideal world and my girl has only been turned out in the school for 2 weeks to try and preserve the fields, so is bored and fed up and starting to break the fencing around it which is not ideal! We are on clay and the fields resemble a swamp atm! It’s also costing me a fortune each month (Have just brought a house so money is tight) and I’m up at 4:30am Monday to Friday to do her before heading to work in London which is an hour and a half commute each way. It’s impractical and I’m exhausted. I was never given a formal contract and for the reasons above I’m keen to leave fairly swiftly. The owner is lovely and I don’t want to upset anyone, so therefore what would be an acceptable notice period to give? Would 2 weeks be acceptable?

Thanks in advance :)
Click to expand...

well done for getting your horse off that yard-been there bought the t-shirt-too many horses and not enough fields--total mis-management-all about the money! hopefully you can leave sooner rather than later-BUT make sure YM is truthful out turnout! My biggest bugbear!
 
sunshine100* said:
well done for getting your horse off that yard-been there bought the t-shirt-too many horses and not enough fields--total mis-management-all about the money! hopefully you can leave sooner rather than later-BUT make sure YM is truthful out turnout! My biggest bugbear!
Click to expand...

It works both ways we used to allow unlimited turnout in winter so the fields got trashed ,as soon as spring arrived they all toddled off to cheaper yards for the summer. Only Once though. Our best day for land management was getting rid of liveries.
Thats why the number of yards is getting fewer.
 
I’ve never known anywhere less than a month, and if you pay monthly on the first you should be prepared to give your notice tomorrow and pay for all of January
 
coblegs said:
Thanks all! :) I pay monthly at the moment but livery prices are quoted on a per week basis. My payment is due on the 1st every month so I’ll speak to her today to let her know my intentions and see what she would prefer/allow me to do. I don’t really have the money to pay a month at my existing yard and also move at the same time and pay livery there which is frustrating. It’s a lovely little yard but it’s just not working for me and my horse. I’ll be sad to leave but I’ll be glad to have a bit more time in bed back and my horse will be glad to be living out again!
Click to expand...
All I will say is don’t burn your bridges! Things can change in the future and you never know if you may end up having to go back, so always better to leave on a good note. I say this as a YO myself who has taken people back onto my yard in the past but only because they left on good terms. Just sayin:-/
 
Last edited:
chocolategirl said:
All I will say is don’t burn your bridges! Things can change in the future and you never know if you may end up having to go back, so always better to leave on a good note. I say this as a YO myself who has taken people back onto my yard in the past but only because they left on good terms. Just sayin:-/
Click to expand...
Second this! We're leaving our yard on Saturday because of some problems we've been having but we were careful not to burn our bridges in case we ever have to go back.
 
As you seem to really like the owner of the yard and don't wish to upset anyone, I would just sit down with the YO and have a chat, they may be very happy with 2 weeks notice and may have someone waiting to rent a space at their yard
 
one of our horses moved here as their yard did not offer turnout in the wet weather or ice, so her horses was in over 2 weeks. We require 1 months notice to allow the livery to find somewhere and us to find replacement. That said once they pay their notice period they can leave anytime.

I would sit down with YO and explain your issues and that you are sad to leave but turnout is important. Honesty is the best policy imo
 
ILuvCowparsely said:
I would sit down with YO and explain your issues and that you are sad to leave but turnout is important. Honesty is the best policy imo
Click to expand...

This. Always be honest but there is no reason to make it personal. Be nice, it was a difficult decision but you’re making the decision because turnout is important to you. Everything seems to get very emotional when people leave yards. At the end of the day it’s a business, and if it doesn’t offer what you want you move. Same as if sainbury’s stopped doing your favourite food, you would buy it somewhere else. No need to be rude or burn bridges :)
 
Hi all, thanks for the advice, it’s much appreciated! Will not be burning any bridges, I can assure everyone of that! Finances and the 4:30am starts come in to it too (As well as the turnout) and YO is well aware I’ve struggled a lot over the past couple of months so I don’t think it will be hugely surprising. I’m going to ask whether I can pay the monthly amount for grazing and stable (I buy hay from them too) and leave earlier on in the month as I ideally don’t want another month of struggling. Will see what is said...

Thank you all, you’ve been very helpful!
 
I take a months deposit when people arrive, and when they give notice, they have the option of me using their deposit to cover last months livery. This means that they can leave whenever they want, without having to find a second lot of livery for wherever they're going.
 
coblegs said:
Hi all, thanks for the advice, it’s much appreciated! Will not be burning any bridges, I can assure everyone of that! Finances and the 4:30am starts come in to it too (As well as the turnout) and YO is well aware I’ve struggled a lot over the past couple of months so I don’t think it will be hugely surprising. I’m going to ask whether I can pay the monthly amount for grazing and stable (I buy hay from them too) and leave earlier on in the month as I ideally don’t want another month of struggling. Will see what is said...

Thank you all, you’ve been very helpful!
Click to expand...

You can leave whenever you like, provided you've paid for the appropriate notice period.

And Pedantic, there is a contract.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top