What made you switch yards the last time you moved?

[TallulahBright]

I'm moving next weekend to one with a school - got a youngster so necessary. Currently having wobbles about whether right decision as current yard very small and new one got lots of liveries there and further away from home. Oh, to win the lottery and have her at home!!!

 

[robysfarm]

Ive left 3 livery yards in total, the first due to no winter turnout, the second financial and the 3rd to a private yard which then led to us moving up the track to the house and running a medium size livery yard so now on the other side of the fence. Ive never left a yard under bad terms though and have always had the yard owner or manager say we would be welcome back which is nice.

When someone gives us notice here as well we never get nasty or silly etc have cried on a few occasions when its been a friend but there is no point in getting het up or silly about it at the end of the day as a few people have said its a business and if we cant provide the facilities or service someone requires for whatever reason then its understandble.

One of our liveries made a very good point the other day when we were talking about old yards etc it definately depends on whether the yard owner is horsey or just a farmer or someone with stables behind their house etc and just decided to make some money from it.

 

[Beth&Cleo]

The YM and the distance

She used to be a 70 mile trip away, now she's 7 miles

 

[MerrySherryRider]

How did you manage leaving- I know a lot of you had major issues but did any of you maintain a friendly relationship with your ex- yard owner and how did you do that?

I've been fortunate to have had some lovely YO's and have been touched by some of them getting a bit teary when I've handed my notice in. Its important to me to be a livery that adds something to the yard as the job is sometimes a hard and thankless task, so I do leave on good terms and always have the option of returning in the future.

 

[dollymix]

I was really sad to leave my old yard as it had a lot of plus points (lovely school, use of an indoor turnout pen, everything under one roof) and I had some great friends there too. But the YO was a little inconsistent...we were supposed to get three bales of straw a week included in the livery but sometimes it would be 9-10 days before more straw arrived meaning that you never knew when to muck out!!! The haylege was also of varying quality and he often forgot to put more out

The turnout was also pretty poor...muddy and very small for the number of horses. It was small individual paddocks, with option of putting a couple together which I wasn't too keen on either as I prefer a herd situation. It was almost all electric fencing too and as one of my girls is an evil genius when it comes to escaping it meant I had to have the one paddock which had post and rail fencing...it had NO grass after a couple of weeks and so the horses started to try and break through this too.

Where I am now is just up the road from the previous yard. It has nice Yos and liveries and I already know the hacking It's a very social yard - with wine availablem ost evenings! lol

the school is smaller though and because the YO has her horses up there (stallions and youngsters) it can be hard getting into the school without feeling in the way during the day (luckily I work FT so am there in the evenings so I'm ok!). Turnout it also not the best, muddy and wire fencing, but at least the fields are big and there is options of a fatty field for good-doers. Where i am - it rains constantly and it's a river valley so VERY wet and muddy at most yards!

At the end of the day - no where is prefect, you just have to weigh up the pros and cons

 

[Miss L Toe]

I am considering leaving because promises have not been kept, I could live with this but YO insists my horse has been out every day he has been on full livery, I know this is not true, if I explain that his rug and his grooming kit and all his tack are in exactly the same place as the day I left, she will not be pleased. but it is up to her to provide a satisfactory service every day of the year. He won't be left there next year.
I will now ask my own instructor to come and ride my horse and instruct me, so she has lost a cash paying customer, I can't understand people who are running a business and go out of their way to upset customers.

 

[Miss L Toe]

I've been fortunate to have had some lovely YO's and have been touched by some of them getting a bit teary when I've handed my notice in. Its important to me to be a livery that adds something to the yard as the job is sometimes a hard and thankless task, so I do leave on good terms and always have the option of returning in the future.

I would be happy to add a bit to the yard, but in the end, they see it as interference, so I will do my own thing, I have come to the conclusion that this is the best strategy. I just hope they don't kick my horse in the belly [some sort of "eye for an eye" strategy]

 

[ebonyallen]

Had to move as the yard was going to close to make way for new houses that was 27 years ago, will stay here till this one goes as I love it

 

[Miss L Toe]

Resurrecting this thread as I think I am going to be told to leave, according to "someone", I am "difficult", this because I did not tell them I would be at the yard ten minutes before they arrived to feed the horses, so I had upset their routine , I rather hope it is not routine to feed at 9,30 am!
I put a bit of hay in to all the horses to let them have a bit to eat.
Then I compounded this by some imagined slight when I used the yard brush which was handy, then tidied it away.
Any advice, I need to ride my horse before it start to rain, so I am bound to have another confrontation this morning!

 

[CobSunshine]

Paying full training livery. Had the day off work, yard owner wasnt expecting me. Arrived at yard my boy was stud in his stable in his own **** no food no water,and had not been turned out was so angry. So i moved him that very same day. Wasnt planing on haveing him there long any way, was just a training livery and he dint have much training there. He was good as gold once i took him off there. Think he was scared i was going to take him back lol. Now he is on a yard that az 250acres and is out 24/7 he loves it.

 

[Miss L Toe]

Paying full training livery. Had the day off work, yard owner wasnt expecting me. Arrived at yard my boy was stud in his stable in his own **** no food no water,and had not been turned out was so angry. So i moved him that very same day. Wasnt planing on haveing him there long any way, was just a training livery and he dint have much training there. He was good as gold once i took him off there. Think he was scared i was going to take him back lol. Now he is on a yard that az 250acres and is out 24/7 he loves it.

Glad your boy is happy now, I think you were unlucky but not the only person to suffer this sort of "professional" treatment.
I got a told [grumpily] "he has been done" when I turned up to ride unexpectedly, I put him on full livery because my my plans were disjointed, then when I came back a day "early" he had a dirty water bucket and had not been out for several days, there was poop in his stable which had been "slept on", so not picked up when he was "mucked out"

 

[MerrySherryRider]

Paying full training livery. Had the day off work, yard owner wasnt expecting me. Arrived at yard my boy was stud in his stable in his own **** no food no water,and had not been turned out was so angry. So i moved him that very same day. Wasnt planing on haveing him there long any way, was just a training livery and he dint have much training there. He was good as gold once i took him off there. Think he was scared i was going to take him back lol. Now he is on a yard that az 250acres and is out 24/7 he loves it.

Thank goodness he has an owner like you. Well done for getting him out the same day.

 

[FionaM12]

Moral of the story, don't use a yard that's just been built with too of the range facilities that seem to attract the "town people"

What are "town people"? Everyone who keeps a horse at the yard I'm at lives in a town as far as I know. Lovely people and conscientious horse owners, the lot of them.

Or are you talking about a particular class of people? Looks a bit snobby to me.

 

[Oldenburg]

Because I was lucky enough to be moving my horses home!! :0)

 

[Fantasy_World]

There isn't enough room to type all the reasons I left my last yard.

Lol Pedantic you and me both

 

[Frozen Hoof Boots]

There isn't enough room to type all the reasons I left my last yard.

Ditto... I could write a book on the the reasons I left my last yard

 

[Miss L Toe]

Resurrecting this thread as I think I am going to be told to leave, according to "someone", I am "difficult", this because I did not tell them I would be at the yard ten minutes before they arrived to feed the horses, so I had upset their routine , I rather hope it is not routine to feed at 9,30 am!
I put a bit of hay in to all the horses to let them have a bit to eat.
Then I compounded this by some imagined slight when I used the yard brush which was handy, then tidied it away.
Any advice, I need to ride my horse before it start to rain, so I am bound to have another confrontation this morning!

As anticipated, here is a list of offences I have committed in the past three weeks, mostly in the last three days:
1] sneaked up early to catch out the staff, upset horses as they are used to a routine, ie getting fed at 9.45!
2] not apologising for above [otherwise I would allowed to stay [sic(k)]
3]not feeding horses when up before staff [even though they all get different feeds]
4]feeding them all a peck of hay instead, but giving mine his bucket feed
5] mounting inside the stables
6]changing my yard visiting times so I could avoid paying the rent
7]not advising staff when i would be coming up quote: "as you knew when you were coming"
8]being rude
9]causing people to leave the last yard I was at [seven people left when the arena got dug up, I only know two of these people, and one helped me out later]
10] coming up to yard when I was on full livery
11] riding in to the stables
12] not speaking
13] assaulting person who was stood outside my stable having a go at me, so I opened the door, he did not move back
14] talking to person when not asked, he is talking to my instructor, not that I asked him to.
15]dissing the yard to my instructor
In addition I have had to listen to all this rubbish while getting pointed at by an unstable person who is not under control of the YO, oh and btw "we will remove your horse after 14 days" . .... now I don't know much, but I do know this is illegal!
Most of all I had no idea my horse was in a dark stable 18 hours per day, being fed at 9.30 and 4.00pm.
Can anyone cap this?
I love my horse, but really this is unreal, I think some people are living in a soap opera world.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

As anticipated, here is a list of offences I have committed in the past three weeks, mostly in the last three days:
1] sneaked up early to catch out the staff, upset horses as they are used to a routine, ie getting fed at 9.45!
2] not apologising for above [otherwise I would allowed to stay [sic(k)]
3]not feeding horses when up before staff [even though they all get different feeds]
4]feeding them all a peck of hay instead, but giving mine his bucket feed
5] mounting inside the stables
6]changing my yard visiting times so I could avoid paying the rent
7]not advising staff when i would be coming up quote: "as you knew when you were coming"
8]being rude
9]causing people to leave the last yard I was at [seven people left when the arena got dug up, I only know two of these people, and one helped me out later]
10] coming up to yard when I was on full livery
11] riding in to the stables
12] not speaking
13] assaulting person who was stood outside my stable having a go at me, so I opened the door, he did not move back
14] talking to person when not asked, he is talking to my instructor, not that I asked him to.
15]dissing the yard to my instructor
In addition I have had to listen to all this rubbish while getting pointed at by an unstable person who is not under control of the YO, oh and btw "we will remove your horse after 14 days" . .... now I don't know much, but I do know this is illegal!
Most of all I had no idea my horse was in a dark stable 18 hours per day, being fed at 9.30 and 4.00pm.
Can anyone cap this?
I love my horse, but really this is unreal, I think some people are living in a soap opera world.

Oh dear, you haven't been very lucky with yards. Have you got somewhere to go ?

 

[Miss L Toe]

Oh dear, you haven't been very lucky with yards. Have you got somewhere to go ?

LOL, understatement, made me laugh anyway, :lol:
I like hacking and this is a problem round here, plus it is part of my social life, so really want a friendly yard and a good arena and turnout, can get find anywhere does all these..... will try today, as it seems to be pot luck anyway, I might as well go to the first place available. My instructor only does full livery, I can't afford it.

 

[Miss L Toe]

To be honest I am a bit concerned this person will turn violent, any advice, I mean should I text YO and confess how I feel, or just ask her when this person will not be around so I can go up to yard?

 

[wizbit]

Only moved from my last yard as it was full livery only and i bought a second horse so couldn't afford full livery for both it was perfect though! am now at DIY and, just like every other DIY yard i've been at, bitchy as hell.

 

[Miss L Toe]

OK. I have contacted the Police, and they will visit me at 4.00 pm to discuss, lets hope I am not nutted before this time, will update you later.

 

[tracyandtokyo]

I moved off my old yard becuase mainly my horse kept going lame. I got a job as a groom on a small dressage yard and saw very quickly how things should be done properly. I also saw that it was easier to have my horse with me at work, rather than back and forth to two yards. My horse is much happier in a loose box, rather than an american barn were he got very stressed! He has individual turnout along side other horses, this is better for him as he is VERY playful so very often came in with cuts/bruises at my old yard.
Then a new group of people moved on, they were nasty and made it hell. ALWAYS had an opinion, and said it weather you liked it or not! My old yard had two outdoor arenas, both floodlit. and an indoor arena which was also flood lit, 4 gelding fields with about 6 horses in each field.
i had a nice group of friends there and thats probably why i stayed so long, but i do miss it and if my horse was easy and streight forward and could cope on a big yard, i probably wouldnt have left.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

OK. I have contacted the Police, and they will visit me at 4.00 pm to discuss, lets hope I am not nutted before this time, will update you later.

That sounds serious. Has this person been aggressive to anyone else ? I think perhaps you should have a word with your YO particularly as you have contacted the police.
You most likely need to arrange alternative livery as it seems relations have broken down at this yard. Is the list of complaints against you from this person or the YO ?

 

[fjordhorsefan]

Hope you're OK Miss L Toe - stay safe. I am going to have to find another yard asap - paying for full livery only to discover that my horse is not being fed to my instructions and gets nothing to eat most of the day. It worries me that some YO's offer full livery but are actually unable to provide the service and then lie about what they have been doing.

 

[Janah]

I moved yards last week as pony has developed headshaking and I wanted more of an eye kept on him. Previous yard had no one available during the day. He also had lone turnout in sight of others. New yard, turnout with 3 other geldings.

 

[Miss L Toe]

I'd just get him gone fast.

Unstable.people + my horses normally doesn't end pretty.

Why should you have to avoid people at the yard, do they.pay more than you?

err no , he is there to look after the horses, just cannot find anywhere else immediately/

 

[Miss L Toe]

Hope you're OK Miss L Toe - stay safe. I am going to have to find another yard asap - paying for full livery only to discover that my horse is not being fed to my instructions and gets nothing to eat most of the day. It worries me that some YO's offer full livery but are actually unable to provide the service and then lie about what they have been doing.

It is just a matter of integrity, if they don't have it they will lie through their teeth.. lying by omission is just as bad I suppose, I am OK, but the person was not there and the yard was full of liveries, the YO apologised for losing her temper with me, but it is not her that I am worried about. Anyway I have a police incident number, which means I have my concern logged, and that was the only action open to me at this time, as far as I could see.

 

[Kiristamm]

I moved off my old yard because they had promised to do the fences - never happened so the horses were in really bad barbed wire. They hay was awful and really expencise. The school was tiny, you couldn't turn out if it rained! the fields were fertilised twice a year, a death sentence for my pony and it was REALLY b*tchy!

I have moved onto a 12 horse yard with a phenomonal "No B*tching" policy in our contacts along with a 20x60 school, amazing fencing and hay and a wonderful, knowledgable yard owner.

The one before that we went because the YO was off her head on Drugs!

 

[Miss L Toe]

That sounds serious. Has this person been aggressive to anyone else ? I think perhaps you should have a word with your YO particularly as you have contacted the police.
You most likely need to arrange alternative livery as it seems relations have broken down at this yard. Is the list of complaints against you from this person or the YO ?

The list is from the person, police were very nice, said not to wind him up [I think I will try never to go there when he is there] and leave asap.
I think they thought he sounded unreasonable :big grin: