What to look for in a good livery yard

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flump

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Hi!
After making the decision to buy another horse and move new horse and other horse onto a livery yard I'm a bit scared! Have kept my horses either with friends or at work so never
really been on a busy livery yard with people I don't know!
My retired horse will be staying at work but I just feel all though I have it easy keeping horses at work I never have 'me' time with my horses!

What shall I look for? Questions to ask etc when viewing yards??
Anyone recommend decent but cheap yards in Abingdon/ boars hill area? Work near didcot so that's a poss but will be living in Abingdon whitecross so nice if they r up the road!

Sorry for any spelling or general mistakes I'm on stupid phone!
 
Hi I'm window so a bit far out I guess but Wed looking for a yard I'd check how much turn out inc winter and wot fencing like, individual or group and wot other horses r like if group.

What bedding is available *my horses eats straw! What hay/hayledge is available and cost if not inc.

What arena is like, is lighting inc in cost or extra, how busy does it get, is horse walker inc or extra.

What is feed room and storage like.

What times u can go up yard - earliest and lastest.
X
 
I want turnout all year - 24/7 in summer. All on decent well manged grazing.

Decent Hacking

A School

Services when needed

Good sized stables

YO on site, and involved.

No kids.
 
I think you need to make a list of what you want in an ideal yard, then each one you hear about or go to see, you can compare them to your 'ideal' and pick the best one- thats how my super-organised mum has always done it :)
 
Well you did say anyone!

I have no experience of being a livery. I worked with hunter liveries in the 80's and in an excellent yard till full then part time till 2006.

I know what I've looked for to weigh up a place when buying a horse and more recently when I ditched an RS for my daughter, I know what attracted me to a fantastic yard to work in.

These are the things I look for:
  • Punctuality/customer service. I think good yards run on time and when you arrange to view someone should be there and able to talk at the time arranged - barring accidents etc.
  • Horses really mattering, casual questions or comments about a nice looking horse or a cheeky fellow should get an active/positive response.
  • Gossip, if there's one place/person someone doesn't like that's ok, but there should also be those equally respected. I stay very wary of anyone with nothing but horror stories because it begs a question over their judgment and why (if genuine) they attract nutters! Also if someone has remained in business with another - i.e. the horse is still in the yard then it should be respectful, if one party is really out of order they shouldn't still be there.
  • Good horses - that probably should be above some of theother stuff but it does tend to all go together. Good yards attract good stock, poor yards, poor stock.
  • Facilities - this isn't about how good the yard is, it's about what you want to do with the horse and whether the place is a good match. It's easier to transport yourself than a horse so better a yard further away but with what you need.

It's got to be a very hard task to find somewhere to care for your animals.
 
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