Working Livery - Bishop Burton

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hunter.

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:) In september i will be moving myself and my horse down to bishop burton college to study a degree in equine rehab and therapy.
I will be placing my horse onto working livery where they are contracted to work three hours a day, five days a week.

I was wondering if anyone else has put there horse onto working livery at this college or another one , and what sort of effects has it had on your horse?
Myne is eight years old and is very well behaved.. but also a little green and can be quite spooky at times! so im hoping for a positive effect!:o
 
I know a friend's horse was/is there after she was sadly taken ill and could no longer ride him. Her neice was studying there so there was someone to keep and 'eye' on him. I have heard mixed reviews from people and form what I hear the horses get little if any turnout which i don't think is healthy at all and certainly wouldn't suit my horse (he was on working ivery when i was at college - not BB - and did get turnout).
 
I have also heard that there is no turnout at BB and very few people reccomend working livery there. Some of the students have no or very little riding experience so your horse may be subjected to jabs in the mouth and flapping arms and legs rather a lot:rolleyes:.
Saying that, you may have a completely different experience and everything will be fine, but please keep an eye on your horse and if you have any concerns or problems take it to yard manager asap. Good luck with your course, bet you can't wait.:)
 
From a third party I was told they are worked quite hard to earn their keep with little or no turnout. There is no guarantee that you get "good" riders on him and he may or may not cope with different riders.

I'm not sure I would like my horse being ridden by people I had not "vetted" beforehand.

Pros and cons!
 
thanks for the all the advice:) i was told about the lack of grazing but due to financial issues i couldnt afford full livery on a yard in the area, the only alternative would be to loan him to somebody near were i currently live in newcastle, where i wouldnt be able to keep an eye on him!
 
can you not find a DIY yard nearby? I only ask as I have seen so many horses go sour on college working livery. You may find that if he is particularly talented in jumping or dressage he will do this as the majority of the lessons. By the end of the year alot are ducking out of fences, stopping or developed other invasive methods such as rearing or spinning as they've had enough of jumping and being dropped at fences etc. Flat horses are often pulled in infront and not worked from behind as lessons are not long enough to warm up and acheive this result and the pressure is put on students to pass their riding module by "looking pretty". It's not something I would recommend except for a very well established, laid back, tollerant horse.
 
my friend went to BB, kept her pony at a lovely Livery yard in nearby Cottingham- I think there are alot of yards in the surrounding area.
 
Not bb but another very well known one i went to has horses boxed 23 hours a day, did my friends horses tendons as he was a talented jumper so just jumped for an hour or two a day and did nothing else and was turned out once in 6 months. Horse started attacking people in stable and almost every other horse there had some sort of vice or stereotypie. Bb might be different tho.
 
Due to finances, I had to put my girl at Plumpton and she loves it. I have been there every year for adult camp and clinics so she knows the setup and the lady that manages the yard knows her from her owner before and I have a friend who is studying there who keeps an eye on her which makes my life a little happier about doing it. I am welcome on the yard at any time and am also welcome to watch lessons whenever I want. I am able to go and fiddle with her at the weekend and go hacking for hours on the downs. It was the best option at the time as I had no luck finding a sharer or loaner and the only other option was to sell her.
 
I'm going to have a look at some other yards in the area , but as I'm doing a degree its a worry as to how much time I would be able to devote to riding if he was on a DIY yard ... I'm confident ill be able to keep a good eye on him and hopefully there will be no problems
 
BBC do DIY don't they? I'm sure they do. If not, ask them!

I would not have a horse on working livery there. Some students have very little riding experience and the horses are worked exceedingly hard. I know two people who had their horses on working livery there whilst we attended and both took them off in the end. Don't forget its also "open house" at the yard - members of the public are welcome to come and wander round the facilities. At least, it was when I was there and no number of signs saying "Do Not Feed" and "This Horse Bites" did nothing to stop people offering up goodies or getting their face ripped off!

At the end of the day you can suck it and see but if I were you I would ask around other yards beofre you've even got there and see who has space because you may well find you need it!!

Good Luck if you pursue it and good luck with your course x
 
It is easy to hope for the best as this will be a quick fix for your problem. I dont know that yard personally but I will say be very careful. Take into account what others have said he will have alot of different riders on him most inexperienced (they are there to learn) there probably wont be any turnout which i dont feel is healthy for horses at all i think they definatly there there "own" time to just be natural. My horse came from working livery on a college yard. She is unbelievably grumpy when being having her saddle put on even more her girth ( i think it would be the only time she would bite) she's had her saddle fitted back checked etc there so physical reason for this and have been told its probably more a mental problem from students learning to tack up with her, yanking her girth up etc. Also when I did get her onto my yard she wouldnt be caught for the entire first summer I had her - I put this down to never having any turnout at the college, Now shes in her routine and knows she goes out and comes in she is lovely to catch. I Was also told she was schooled when i got her - watched her in a lesson all she done was literally run round with her nose in the air following the horse in front how on earth they jumped her i dont know she didnt even have basic flatwork. When my Riding instructor sat on her she said she feels like a horse who has only just been backed and has no clue whatsoever what is being asked of her, In short - be wary especially if you dont want your horse ruined as some put it. Im not saying it will go that - but more often than not it does, Although you may be lucky :rolleyes:
 
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BB has no turnout, and both my boyfriend and a girl who work s with us, is either an ex or current student.

No turnout, and alot of the students are poor riders. I myself wouldnt send a horse there.
Maybe look at diy there. Alot of students over my end (Howden, east yorkshire) have horses on part livery/full livery over here so they are able to concetrate on riding when they are free. Our yard has a bb student who commutes every day, its only about 20min drive.
 
hi i have just recently left bishop burton college.. i found a nice friendly diy livery yard in walkington (parkfarm livery). has great facilities flood light sand school, lunging pen, plenty of hacking . all year turn out. and only a few miles away from college. if any help to any one looking for livery close by to college
 
I was just going to suggest park farm myself - there is also a pet shop called trophy just outside of walkington where you could advertise for a part time sharer you could then vet yourself?

I wouldnt ever put my horse at BB, very bhs style livery and teaching - massive range of abilities in both the teachers and students, no turn out etc etc wouldnt suit me or my mare.

PS hope you are prepared for lots of yard sweeping ;)
 
Hi, i went to BB horses don't get any turnout and they will def work the 3 hours per day one of them most likely lunging depending on the temperment of your horse will depend on the level of experience the rideres will have if he is a laid back sort he is likely to have total beginners riding him. They do get well looked after through their routine.
They do have diy livery at the college however there is still no turnout.
It is a big horsey area with lots of yards around within a short distance.
 
Meaux Livery is 10 mins from Bishop Burton very reasonably priced and a great yard with grazing and good facilities. I think they have a facebook page or ring Hannah on 07842759383
 
Had my horse on loan to them, I am now having to re school him again, he has obviously been allowed to get away with alot from the riders who rode him. He now has paddys if he doesn't want to do something involving spinning n bucking!! There is definately no turn out they are stabled 24/7, there are some lovely yards around there id be looking for a yard. Don't get me wrong the horses were very well cared for but schooling is definately lacking.
 
Echo what others have said. I've had to go up to BB during a course and often watch the lessons during my breaks, you don't have a say on who does/doesn't ride your horse... and just becaues they're college students doesn't mean they can ride, or will be doing your horse any favours!! So just be wary! I didn't realise about the turn out, it's a shame as the rest of their facilities are really nice!
 
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