Why is it so hard to find a decent livery yard...

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whiteclover

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Ive been looking for a small yard with a school and theres nothing around here. All the yards are rubbish and very bitchy or expensive.
 
cavaletti said:
Ive been looking for a small yard with a school and theres nothing around here. All the yards are rubbish and very bitchy or expensive.
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Oh dear, I am sorry to hear that. I have been going through a similar thing.

I have just found a yard which I hope is going to be super - it ticks most of the boxes which is great. Fingers crossed!

What's your location, price and requirements and I will have a look online to check you haven't missed anything.
 
Where about's are you based?
I am in Kent and the majority are now full livery only which is quite a transition from years ago!! I, personally, like to do my horse myself and enjoy the looking after of my horse so refuse to pay full livery prices so I know what a struggle it is. I am moving at the end of the month and have been lucky enough to find a yard with the requirements I needed for my ring bone horse!

They are out there, just need to keep looking and one will come along! Good luck :D
 
It certainly doesn't help that any muppet can set up a livery yard despite knowing lickety spit about horses. I'm sure most just see it as easy money (because we've got horses so we're loaded, aren't we) and have the attitude that you know more than me so you sort it out, or that great stand-by, if you don't like it you know where the gate is. How come if you are a childminder you have to jump through hoops to get registration but with horses, there are no standards and regulations at all? The yard I'm on is just a farm which has "diversified" into horses and is now actively growing that income stream ( :( - I moved on because I just wanted year round turnout, light hacking and peace and quiet for my 20 something mare, and was told it was going to be kept small so now they have built another 8 stables and the manege must finally have got planning permission. The field paths were closed for good last winter, but horsey is fully retired now so that's not my problem) and they now offer "full livery" despite being novice owners themselves with 24/7 field kept horses. TBH I wouldn't even ask them to feed my horse. One of the other liveries got a minor dose of choke last week - would the YO know what to do (or even notice frankly)?
 
theres a few round chester.... go on horse network forum or horse gossip you will find something there :)



Im moving next week to an amazing yard :) the yard im on is still wonderful but horses needs have changed. :)
 
I'm in the same boat except I'm trying to find something in a place that I don't know but I'm moving to. It's really hard and until I get there and see for myself I won know but people on here have been helpful in telling me which places to stay clear of!
 
fatpiggy said:
It certainly doesn't help that any muppet can set up a livery yard despite knowing lickety spit about horses. I'm sure most just see it as easy money (because we've got horses so we're loaded, aren't we) and have the attitude that you know more than me so you sort it out, or that great stand-by, if you don't like it you know where the gate is. How come if you are a childminder you have to jump through hoops to get registration but with horses, there are no standards and regulations at all? The yard I'm on is just a farm which has "diversified" into horses and is now actively growing that income stream ( :( - I moved on because I just wanted year round turnout, light hacking and peace and quiet for my 20 something mare, and was told it was going to be kept small so now they have built another 8 stables and the manege must finally have got planning permission. The field paths were closed for good last winter, but horsey is fully retired now so that's not my problem) and they now offer "full livery" despite being novice owners themselves with 24/7 field kept horses. TBH I wouldn't even ask them to feed my horse. One of the other liveries got a minor dose of choke last week - would the YO know what to do (or even notice frankly)?
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I agree with you fatpiggy. I have no complaints about my current yard where I have been for 5 years. But I have certainly been at yards that were just there to make a quick pound with some truely awful people prepared to cat fight over the smallest thing.

I have a very helpfull and obliging YO who leaves us all in peace. However the only thing I have to complain about is at weekends, when I want a nice quiet time with my horses, doesn't seem to matter what time I go to yard, YO will decide to chain saw logs, light a bonfire or chop down trees within a hares breath of my stables!!!
 
cavaletti said:
Thanks Im near chester. Ive found one but its expensive but it may have to do.
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Know what you mean. I have had to move out into North Wales, but have still had to compromise and have no school. But it's a friendly yard, nice stables and well looked after. Unfortunately I'm having to board the horse out to get him re-started, There is a paddock for riding in, but there are ponies in it during the day.

Keep looking, but ask loads of questions, and try to talk to someone who has a place there to see if it a happy place. Or if you go onto the Horse Network website, you can ask opinions and get replies by pm.
http://www.horsenetwork.co.uk/forum/index.php?sid=fd83e6ffd660b962bb924a3802e3e51b

Good luck
 
cavaletti said:
thanks everyone. It seems Im not alone with the bitches. Equinuis - where are you going to? Im the north Wales side of Chester.
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I'm near Mold now. I was lucky to get in as there are only 7 stables and a waiting list with no-one wanting to move. I will have an ask about and see what I can find out.
 
I'm lucky down here I guess, that there are a few I'd go to if I wanted and I guess because I don't need to be at any livery it makes the whole process a lot less stressful for me!

I think it's worth trying a few places, worst comes to worst you can always move. But sometimes people will tell you "oh yeah X yard is bitchy" when really, it wasn't that bad OR it was that person causing the bitching :D

Always prefer to suck it and see, if I can :)
 
People will be starting to move around a bit soon too, as some will be wanting just cheaper grass livery for the summer. Keep an eye on the horse network site, they come on the forum on a regular basis.
 
I tend to think that finding a good livery yard is difficult due to a difference in what clients expect to be able to find for their money and what it actually costs to run a decent livery yard.

Find a good yard at a low price and people just don't move! More often is yards trying to keep prices low and cutting corners, or yards charging what it costs and clients calling them 'expensive'
 
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