Which livery yard?

[littlelessbloom]

I need a bit of help deciding whether to stay at my current livery yard or make the jump to a livery yard I've been on the waiting list for a while.

A bit of background: I have a 14.2hh connemara who I am aiming to affiliate in show jumping once competitions are back open. We were jumping unaff 80cm before lockdown. She's a good doer.

Yard one
Full livery 5 days a week
Bedding/feed/haylage all included but only one bedding option. Feed supplied is good for her.
Rotated fields
In at night all year round
20 x 60 school that rarely floods
Dressage instructor and show jumping instructor on site
No free off-road hacking except for around the land
A few show jumps but not a lot of fillers
I don't particularly have friends there. I get on with everyone but there's no one I really want to ride out with or anything
Yard owner is lovely, but can ignore messages or forget things (so often feeds pony if I'm going down to ride in the evening despite telling her)
Very strict routine (in by 3pm etc)

Yard two
Assisted livery - so a lot cheaper
Nothing included, but I can make my decisions on feed & bedding and how much hay/haylage to give
They only have one field each all year round, with a couple of extra paddocks if any need to be rested
Out 24/7 in summer
20 x 40 school
No onsite instructors but they have a regular instructor who visits once a week (I'll continue to use my instructors but could potentially use this instructor in the same way I currently use the onsite instructors at my old yard - if there are any immediate problems I need to fix)
Loads of off-road hacking out the back gate
A lot of polyjumps and fillers
I have friends there, but a lot of the people who ride are teenagers and I'm 22!
Yard owner is lovely and it seems like they help each other out a bit more and therefore it seems a lot less of a strict routine
Not a competition yard

Please help because both have pros and both have cons!

 

[MuddyMonster]

Are you looking specifically for part livery? If you are, could you get enough assistance to 'top up' to part livery.

Otherwise, I'd go for option 2 personally for the good hacking and the turnout sounds better (assuming equal in winter).

 

[littlelessbloom]

To be honest, not specifically. We were on assisted before and it worked fine. It's just obviously getting back into that routine, but like I mentioned, having spoken to a few people there, it seems like if you need favours, others are more than happy to do them for you.

Turnout is the same in both in winter. I think they get less hours out at yard 1

 

[Baywonder]

Personally, I would go for Yard 2.

If you are able to do most of the work yourself, this sounds like the much better option, plus the hacking and summer turnout is a massive plus in my opinion.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Does age matter?
You mention yard 2 has teenagers and you are 22, I'm late 50s and ride with all ages (outside lockdown) , most regular hacking chum is 16 yrs younger than me!
I do find that age tends not to be a barrier in the horse world most of the time. It's just stupidity and rudeness that's the biggest drawback, (that isnt aimed at anyone), but runs across all ages, those are the ones to avoid ?

 

[9tails]

I'm over 50 and ride with any age from teenagers up. I like the sound of yard 2 because I love 24/7 summer turnout. But only you know if you can commit to doing your horse yourself most of the time. Somebody asking favours on a regular basis gets to wear thin very quickly.

 

[Leandy]

Personally I would go for yard 2 so long as I had the time to do the extra work or was able to have a freelance in to cover what I couldn't if yard would not. The freedom to make my own decisions about feed, management etc and to change routine as I wish (eg turn pony out for a month's rest if I want as well as have my own daily routine) and the extra hacking would swing it for me and I am also a competition rider. Incidentally, once you have bought the extras at the new yard you will likely find it is not much cheaper. I'm assuming you have transport and so can get out to the training etc etc you need. At the end of the day though, only you can decide what your priorities are.

 

[Gingerwitch]

Yard 2 all the way xx

 

[wiglet]

Yard two sounds nice in that they're out 24/7 in summer and you get off road hacking. If you can commit to the extra time for having to see to your horse then I'd go for yard two.

However, you mention teenagers so I'm guessing you have reservations - some (most?) are fine but, I have been on yards where it's been a free for all with them galloping around the arena and cutting you up and a breeding ground for bitchiness and cat fights. Maybe I've just been unlucky?
What about the arena? Does it flood at yard 2? Is the surface good?
Does yard maintenance get sorted out by the owners or will it be on you?
Don't forget you'll need to source all you feed, hay and bedding at yard 2 and it can sometimes get expensive when hay/straw is in short supply.

Always a tough one but something only you can decide on.

 

[Tash88]

I think Yard 2 for the reasons others have said, but as long as it isn't too far from home. I moved from part livery to DIY a couple of months ago (I have been on DIY before for many years and much prefer it) but it's only doable because it's within 15 minutes from home. To be honest, with going up to the yard twice a day I wouldn't want to be any further away. When I was on part livery I was a good 30-45 mins away and the difference now is life changing!

I'm sure you could get the same feed at Yard 2 if it suits your horse? I was a bit worried about ordering everything in and running out of hay/bedding/feed but there are a few local suppliers who deliver to the yard weekly and so that hasn't been a problem so far. I find that even with sourcing everything myself I am still saving money. Not a fortune, but a bit.

I think Yard 2 sounds like a bit of a happier place, probably for the horses and the humans, and that means an awful lot.

 

[littlelessbloom]

The teenagers thing is not really a worry, as I don't think they're the kind to be galloping around the arena and they all seem nice. It's just the fact they're all younger than me whereas at this yard the range is about 19 - 40

The arena does flood slightly and the surface is good. Yard maintenance is sorted out by yard owners. In terms of feed, hay and bedding, I have done a lot of calculations. Thankfully, pony is a good doer and I've sourced bedding that's £4 a bale (wood pellets) it's obviously just hay and working out how much I will go through

 

[littlelessbloom]

I think Yard 2 for the reasons others have said, but as long as it isn't too far from home. I moved from part livery to DIY a couple of months ago (I have been on DIY before for many years and much prefer it) but it's only doable because it's within 15 minutes from home. To be honest, with going up to the yard twice a day I wouldn't want to be any further away. When I was on part livery I was a good 30-45 mins away and the difference now is life changing!

I'm sure you could get the same feed at Yard 2 if it suits your horse? I was a bit worried about ordering everything in and running out of hay/bedding/feed but there are a few local suppliers who deliver to the yard weekly and so that hasn't been a problem so far. I find that even with sourcing everything myself I am still saving money. Not a fortune, but a bit.

I think Yard 2 sounds like a bit of a happier place, probably for the horses and the humans, and that means an awful lot.

Yard 2 is about 30 mins away, but I'll only need to go up once a day. I've factored petrol into my budget. However, I am planning on moving over that way when my tenancy is up in May

 

[EnduroRider]

24/7 summer turnout is appealing but with a good doer will you use it? Or will there be a need to restrict grazing and thus bring in for part of the day year round? Just something to factor in to your calculations for hay and bedding.

 

[doodle]

Yard 2 for the summer turnout and hacking.

 

[littlelessbloom]

She was out 24/7 before I moved to our current yard. With management, it seemed to be okay. It will also depend on how lush the grass is as it's very lush where we are now - especially when they rotate as it's not so much a summer and winter paddock but an as-and-when. I would definitely prefer her to have the option of 24/7 turnout in summer, but it's one of those things I'll have to keep an eye on

 

[bouncing_ball]

Yard 2 is solo turnout?

 

[Gingerwitch]

Yard 2 is solo turnout?

I missed that, I just assumed horses in same field all year unless it needed a rest. Oops

 

[littlelessbloom]

Yes both are individual turnout. This is my preference as my mare can be a bit too playful with others and when she’s managed to get in with others or vice versa there’s been a few minor injuries but I worry about her upsetting others and causing a bigger issue/injury. At both yards they can still interact and play with others over the fence, just in a safer way.

Again, just my personal preference. Please don’t tell me individual turnout is wrong

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I need a bit of help deciding whether to stay at my current livery yard or make the jump to a livery yard I've been on the waiting list for a while.

A bit of background: I have a 14.2hh connemara who I am aiming to affiliate in show jumping once competitions are back open. We were jumping unaff 80cm before lockdown. She's a good doer.

Yard one
Full livery 5 days a week
Bedding/feed/haylage all included but only one bedding option. Feed supplied is good for her.
Rotated fields
In at night all year round
20 x 60 school that rarely floods
Dressage instructor and show jumping instructor on site
No free off-road hacking except for around the land
A few show jumps but not a lot of fillers
I don't particularly have friends there. I get on with everyone but there's no one I really want to ride out with or anything
Yard owner is lovely, but can ignore messages or forget things (so often feeds pony if I'm going down to ride in the evening despite telling her)
Very strict routine (in by 3pm etc)

Yard two
Assisted livery - so a lot cheaper
Nothing included, but I can make my decisions on feed & bedding and how much hay/haylage to give
They only have one field each all year round, with a couple of extra paddocks if any need to be rested
Out 24/7 in summer
20 x 40 school
No onsite instructors but they have a regular instructor who visits once a week (I'll continue to use my instructors but could potentially use this instructor in the same way I currently use the onsite instructors at my old yard - if there are any immediate problems I need to fix)
Loads of off-road hacking out the back gate
A lot of polyjumps and fillers
I have friends there, but a lot of the people who ride are teenagers and I'm 22!
Yard owner is lovely and it seems like they help each other out a bit more and therefore it seems a lot less of a strict routine
Not a competition yard

Please help because both have pros and both have cons!

What I refer to as full livery includes riding and tack cleaning. What your describing is our part livery.

I would opt for yard 1

1. rotated fields for me is a must so they look after their grazing.
2. not many jumps but you could buy some or make some or club together with others to get some.
3. instructors on site is not major as many do travel so this one not that important to me
4. nice school is always a plus to me
5. I am sure you could make friends or meet your friends up if not far from your current yard
6. you could get a small black board for your requests to make easier for yard owner to remember
7. could you make a laminated sign and pin to your horses door to help remember not to feed horse
8. off road is not the b all to me as long as there is hacking locally

 

[teddypops]

She was out 24/7 before I moved to our current yard. With management, it seemed to be okay. It will also depend on how lush the grass is as it's very lush where we are now - especially when they rotate as it's not so much a summer and winter paddock but an as-and-when. I would definitely prefer her to have the option of 24/7 turnout in summer, but it's one of those things I'll have to keep an eye on

When I was on a livery yard and had my own paddock, I strip grazed it with electric fencing to keep my ponies weight in check.

 

[Lipglosspukka]

Yard 2. Sounds like a happy place.

 

[littlelessbloom]

When I was on a livery yard and had my own paddock, I strip grazed it with electric fencing to keep my ponies weight in check.

Thats probably what I’ll end up doing. She’s got a grazing muzzle as well which I will put on - she just has the tendency to ask the nearest horse to get it off her

 

[sport horse]

You will find it hard to progress you show jumping much in a 40 x 20 arena

 

[littlelessbloom]

Thankfully there are a lot of good arena hires nearby that I can go to. Plus I don’t specifically like schooling over courses at home too much. I like doing things like grids or “scary fences” and I’ve ridden in 20 x 40 arenas and know that it’s possible to set up decent grids and exercises. It may be tighter and less of a run up than a 20 x 60, but that’s kind of what my girl needs as she gets strong and forward if too much of a long run up

 

[Equi]

If they are the only two options, probably 2. Im assuming you are already at yard 1? Or have i picked that up totally wrong.

 

[littlelessbloom]

Yeah I am currently at yard 1! There are of course plenty of other options around but I want to move somewhere where I know people and it’s within my budget and yard 2 has both of those

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Yard 2! My connie has thrived since taking her away from a livery yard where everything was taken care of to diy and I’ve loved reading up about diet and feet etc. Also our diy yard has much better turnout and I think this made a huge difference to her. So I now place turnout above all else when looking at yards.

 

[splashgirl45]

yard 2 mainly for the off road hacking and being able to decide on what my horse eats and is bedded on...i am a bit of a control freak though

 

[muddybay]

yard 2 sounds a bit happier! I like the idea of offroad hacking and I have to say I love jump for joy jumps. The only thing is on assisted you don't have the help in the week.

 

[littlelessbloom]

I was talking to a friend and one thing I forgot to mention was that yard 2 have more of a social side (obviously not so much at the moment) but they have yard competitions and go out for meals and stuff whereas there’s not really that atmosphere at yard 1.

I guess my biggest concern is going from a competition yard to a non-competition yard. I guess it won’t affect our show jumping career if I don’t let it and continue having lessons with my instructor etc.

Having thought about it and seen all your comments, yard 2 does seem better. Yes I’ll be poorer time wise as I’ll have to go up every day, but when I move closer to the yard I’ll get some of that back. Plus I’ve been stuck in a weird limbo at the moment with not HAVING to go up in the week so lacking motivation to do so because it seemed a long way to go up there just for a cuddle if I didn’t feel like riding but I know if I have to muck out and feed every day then I will do, even if I don’t ride. Thanks everyone