Working Livery at Shuttleworth College - Experiences?

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Kungfoo-hamster

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The title says it all really - does anyone have any thoughts, experiences or useful information on the working livery option at Shuttleworth College in Biggleswade?

TIA

:)
 
Not Shuttleworth but having been to two different equine colleges to study, I wouldnt put my horse to one on Working livery or loan. The environment doesnt suit a lot of horses and i've seen horses attitudes, temperament and way of going change drastically when they spend month being ridden and handled by students whose abilities vary a lot.
 
i haven't been to Shuttleworth so cant comment on them

but did study at a different equine college which i put my horse in to be a working livery, sadly didn't work out for us he became very stressy and one very unhappy boy!

sadly he was not the only horse to turn this way, its a very busy environment for the horses to go in to and not many copped all to well!

many became unhappy with people in there stables often swinging then back end as a warning, some would box walk, other would become a handful to find

the thing to remember is they see a lot of people and are ridden by many a rider some kind then others, i wouldn't but my Tb i own now there, he would climb the walls!
 
I guess it must be similar to a riding school working livery then? I wondered if the equine college would be better as they have long with the students so, potentially more consistency?
 
Mine was on working livery at a college in the SW of England; he was fine with it and enjoyed it, and the experience benefitted him enormously.

He was well looked after and I was happy with the care he was given.

College was/is a very busy, bustling environment with lots happening all the time. Some horses (like some people) can cope with that, other horses can't - mares seem less able to be able to deal with it. My boy thrived on it; other horses would stress.

Best thing would be to talk to the staff at the college if you're considering this option? Then go and take a look and see how you feel about it.
 
Kungfoo-hamster said:
I guess it must be similar to a riding school working livery then? I wondered if the equine college would be better as they have long with the students so, potentially more consistency?
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Its different in that students have lessons and practicals with the horses all through the week whereas riding schools are mainly evenings/weekends so it is busier than a riding school. The horses dont usually get any turnout through the week, just on weekends if they have enough good grazing for it. The horse care is very good but its an environment which can change a lot of horses and often for the worse. The horses are handled by a lot more different people with varying abilities than at a riding school where quite often the staff tack up the horses for the clients.
 
JoJo_ said:
Its different in that students have lessons and practicals with the horses all through the week whereas riding schools are mainly evenings/weekends so it is busier than a riding school. The horses dont usually get any turnout through the week, just on weekends if they have enough good grazing for it. The horse care is very good but its an environment which can change a lot of horses and often for the worse. The horses are handled by a lot more different people with varying abilities than at a riding school where quite often the staff tack up the horses for the clients.
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It was the fact that the evenings and weekends are free that kind of appealed to me too, working full time means its not easy to find working livery at a riding school where they let you use the horse freely over the weekend and early evenings as that is their busiest time.....
 
Shuttleworth are quite unusual in that they have a lot of turnout available, I think all year round. They are a small college with a very experienced and stable (no pun intended) group of yard staff. The horses are extremely well looked after. Obviously as long as you are happy with other people riding and handling your horse, I'm not sure you could find a better place to put it.
 
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