Working livery

blackwidow

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Hi I am new to keeping a horse but not riding one and have decided that now (in my 40's ) is the time to sort this out and move into buying a horse. I am looking for a working liverly in derby has anyone any suggestions or warnings re stables in the area
thanks
 
Don;t do working livery unless you are in an exceptionally well run school yard. Your horse will likely be abused and treated as a low cost riding school horse where someone else (you) carry the liability for any injuries and mistreatment

You can't build a bond with your horse when he is being ridden by other people - and worse, once he realises that you are allowing these people to ride him badly and knock him around his trust in you will disolve.

Been there, done that, will never do it again.
 
If I were you I would look for a sharer for your horse rather than working livery. That way there will only be two of you riding it and not loads and loads of different riding school clients.
 
I did working livery quite happily, and would again with the right horse. First time around the YO and staff taught me what I needed to know about ownership in a safe envrionment, so please everybody don't be so quick to judge. OP sounds like she/he is aware that there are better and worse establishments.

OP, have you thought about loaning a horse from a riding school first?
 
My horse is currently on working livery and he is certainly not mistreated in any way! He only gets used a stipulated number of times a week and because he can be a bit tricky he is only used by the more experienced riders and its almost always the same riders each week. My horse gets a variety of work within the school - lessons, jumping, riding in the xc field and hacking.
If its a good establishment that you trust then defo don't write it off - it CAN work!
 
I think it can work as long as research is done and an appropriate riding school chosen.

I looked at it briefly but being the slightly jealous type, I didnt want anyone else riding my boy.

The suggestion of a sharer is good.
 
one of ours was on working livery and it did her the world of good! She came back much better schooled
smile.gif
 
My horse was in working livery - he was the very best horse that they had available. They then gave him to a guy to ride that had spun them a story about trining with Carl Hester and he was there on holiday.

Idiots - why would someone who trained...need to ride when they were on holiday

Came to the yard to find my horse well thrashed, lame, sweated up, bleding from the corner of his mouth, emotionally disturbed and that this a*****e had proclained to anyone who would listen that he was the worst horse he'd ridden.

That was the end of working livery and the end of that yard/school. Moved the next day.

ON the other hand, it would not be fair to relate that story without also saying thatt there were two ladies who rode him who absolutely doted on him and spoiled him rotten. Even bought him presents at Christmas time.

But the lack of control is the problem. Don;t do it.
 
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