Would you go to this yard? Why am I hesitating?

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Bigproblemo

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Ok - Good points...

Full livery (everything 7 days) = £75 CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP (£65 if I buy my own feed) - cheapest other full ivery in the area is £120.
Lady is full time on the yard - obviously knows her stuff. Has bred for decades.
Plenty of grass
Lovely stable
Outdoor school with one flood light
Hay is dampened - stables have full muck out each day
2 mins from home
Lots of hacking straight off the yard
Horses obviously beautifully cared for


Bad points...

Lady is a little 'strange'. Obviously very good at her job so I have no idea why I feel the need to mention it but it is putting me off slightly so I can only be honest.
Half day turnout is all year round and she would go out on her own (can see others) - I didn't like the idea of half day in summer/warmer months so lady was very flexible and said he could go out all night but would be out on his own.
Paddocks are HUGE (the one I was shown where my boy would be is about 15 acres or more) - he would probably have to have some kind of muzzle on as it seems she won't divide the paddocks.
Only two other liveries so concerned I would lose the social aspect.
Outdoor school isn't conventional - huge rectangle with large square on the end - rubber surface - not that well covered or maintained.
Weird indoor school - very deep sand - useful as a turn out pen if necessary I guess.


So - basically I can see that my boy would be so well cared for, I would have the most convenient life EVER, no stress and can afford the price.

So why am I not jumping at it?

Outsider perspective please!
 
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Do you have one horse or two? Because first you mention 'she could go out all night' and then you say 'where my boy would be is about 15 acres' Puzzling? But if you have two then surely they will not be alone??

And if only 2 mins from home surely also you could settle for part or DIY and hence save more?
 
very cheap for Full Livery compared to here! So is the hesitancy due to a warning sign about something seen or said which you didn't conciously recognise, or is it about moving to full livery, if you are not already on ful livery elsewhere?

Sounds like ticks a lot of boxes but if there is something holding you back I would pay attention to it. Is it maybe just that the lady is strange in an eccentric way or a bit more menacing. Lets face it you have to trust your horses to them so you want to be confident in them.

I had reservations before moving to Full Livery with part day t/o at first but my TB loves the routine more than when he was DIY and living out 24/7 in the summer. It is nice she is willing to be flexible with your mare going out longer and at night, also that they would have plenty of grazing.

Maybe you should visit again, see if the alarm bells ring?
 
Renvers said:
very cheap for Full Livery compared to here! So is the hesitancy due to a warning sign about something seen or said which you didn't conciously recognise, or is it about moving to full livery, if you are not already on ful livery elsewhere?

Sounds like ticks a lot of boxes but if there is something holding you back I would pay attention to it. Is it maybe just that the lady is strange in an eccentric way or a bit more menacing. Lets face it you have to trust your horses to them so you want to be confident in them.

I had reservations before moving to Full Livery with part day t/o at first but my TB loves the routine more than when he was DIY and living out 24/7 in the summer. It is nice she is willing to be flexible with your mare going out longer and at night, also that they would have plenty of grazing.

Maybe you should visit again, see if the alarm bells ring?
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Thanks Renvers - not concerning in any way that is menacing at all. The lady is LOVELY and I wouldn't hesitate to leave my horse in her care. I can't really explain more about her for fear of offending or appearing to be very judgemental. It isn't an issue of going to full livery as I can see the horses are cared for beautifully.....
 
the old saying "if something seems too good to be true - it usually is" comes to mind. Out of interest - why so much grazing for one horse ! 15 acres is huge - round by us you would be lucky to get 2 acres per horse and we are in somerset ! I would have a long chat with both other liveries before making my decision but the deal breaker for me would be that although it sounds lovely I wouldnt be prepared to have my horse permanently live on his own - they are such social animals that unless there is a good reason for him being on his own it seems a real shame.

Always go with your gut instinct though!
 
Bigproblemo said:
Lady is a little 'strange'. Obviously very good at her job so I have no idea why I feel the need to mention it but it is putting me off slightly so I can only be honest.If it puts you off now, it's only going to get worse!
Half day turnout is all year round and she would go out on her own (can see others) - I didn't like the idea of half day in summer/warmer months so lady was very flexible and said he could go out all night but would be out on his own. This would be a deal breaker for me - you can compromise on lots of things, but turnout is a difficult one to compromise on.
Paddocks are HUGE (the one I was shown where my boy would be is about 15 acres or more) - he would probably have to have some kind of muzzle on as it seems she won't divide the paddocks.
Only two other liveries so concerned I would lose the social aspect. That would be me off - depending on when you're up you might never see them, and equally if you don't get on with someone it isn't possibly to just keep out of their way as you can on a bigger yard.
Outdoor school isn't conventional - huge rectangle with large square on the end - rubber surface - not that well covered or maintained. Shape wouldn't bother me, or surface as well as it was safe.
Weird indoor school - very deep sand - useful as a turn out pen if necessary I guess. This wouldn't bother me unless I was paying a lot more.
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Why do you want to move? If it doesn't feel right, don't do it!
 
meesha said:
the old saying "if something seems too good to be true - it usually is" comes to mind. Out of interest - why so much grazing for one horse ! 15 acres is huge - round by us you would be lucky to get 2 acres per horse and we are in somerset ! I would have a long chat with both other liveries before making my decision but the deal breaker for me would be that although it sounds lovely I wouldnt be prepared to have my horse permanently live on his own - they are such social animals that unless there is a good reason for him being on his own it seems a real shame.

Always go with your gut instinct though!
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It is a family house and land and they have a lot of it. It isn't really run as a livery yard as ina big business. I think she just has a few liveries (no more than four) to fund her own breeding and the two other horses that she has to ride. The horses are in huge paddocks which aren't divided in any way but she likes to have mares and geldings seperatly and so he would graze on his own. He has had individual grazing before and as long as their was grass he wasn't bothered at all. I would prefer him to be in a group for my own peace of mind but so many yards have individual turnout now don't they?
 
Talk to the other liveries if you can. Find out how long they have been there. Quick turnover, with all the nice facilities that you mention, would be a sure sign that something is wrong.

If the lady is mildly batty/eccentric (I think I fall into that category as a Y O!) you can live with it - at least my liveries do....

But, if there are undercurrents of something else, beware. And remember, people can change once they have got you signed up in the deal)

A for the vast amount of grazing, it's something you'll have to make your mind up about.

Let us know the outcome. Very interesting...
 
Rose Folly said:
Talk to the other liveries if you can. Find out how long they have been there. Quick turnover, with all the nice facilities that you mention, would be a sure sign that something is wrong.

If the lady is mildly batty/eccentric (I think I fall into that category as a Y O!) you can live with it - at least my liveries do....

But, if there are undercurrents of something else, beware. And remember, people can change once they have got you signed up in the deal)

A for the vast amount of grazing, it's something you'll have to make your mind up about.

Let us know the outcome. Very interesting...
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One lady who is leaving due to total relocation has been there for 5 years. The other lady has been there two years - I made sure to ask as I know that is an important sign. No undercurrents of anything sinister - she was immediately flexible when I said I would prefer more than half day turnout in the summer which I thought was very impressive - I may try to negotiate something other than over night turnout though - even if turnout was extended until say 4pm I would be satisfied.

Love it that you admit to being batty :) I really don't want to offend anyone and I am sensitive to people's differences having worked in several sectors of the care industry but while she is clearly very capable of doing her job and riding to a good standard (medium level dressage) she is a little bit batty in a certain way.

Think Roy Cropper (but a little more exaggerated) from Corrie (and I love him).

I hope I don't sound terrible writing that. It is how I found her though. I am not worried about her capabilities at all.
 
oh bless a female roy cropper - at least you know nothing will be missed or overlooked !! a good sign that the other liveries have been there soo long - if you can negotiate more turnout then it sounds promising. I would also just check what times you are allowed on the yard as it is her home as well
 
meesha said:
oh bless a female roy cropper - at least you know nothing will be missed or overlooked !! a good sign that the other liveries have been there soo long - if you can negotiate more turnout then it sounds promising. I would also just check what times you are allowed on the yard as it is her home as well
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I know - she is lovely - I just wonder if she might also make me want to bash her with her 'shopper bag' at some point!

Great minds - she said 9pm ish. She is around from 7.30 am to 9pm.
 
I felt when looking at yards that the more you look at the more confused you get.

I've been on yards with great schools, jumping paddock, not washer, walker and all the grief that goes with it !!

I found a small yard - 5 liveries with a basic school, massive fields, lots of grass, miles upon miles of off road hacking and full livery for £10 a week more than DIY and not having to travel there everyday wasa bonus.

This yard sounds nicer than what you mentioned before and if you can work with the different school size then I think it's worth a try, even if you went with it through winter being cheap and close by.

Also regarding the turnout if they are willing to give you longer hours and they stick to it then that sounds great, what about skiing if someone else would like longer hours over night and happy to stay out with your boy. How fussed is he about being on his own ?
 
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amymay said:
Because actually, it doesn't sound that great a yard.

I wouldn't be jumping at it either.
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Tell me more AmyMay - is is the large paddocks putting you right off?

I just can't find the ideal yard and I guess I have to compromise - I am trying to work out what is best to compromise while making sure the horse is happy.
 
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I think it sounds awful. Half of daylight hours individual turnout all year round? NOT good. Also, I don't know any horses who would want to be out completely on their own overnight. For me, it sounds like she doesn't know anything about horse nature or welfare.
 
Write a list of pros and cons, as you have.

a) Screw it up, throw it away, go with your gut feeling and keep looking.

b) Screw it up, ignore the niggles and give it a go, but, have a Plan B ready just in case your concerns were correct.

I used to have an Aunt who would always tell me "Suck it and see", this is the same.

You may scrub along nicely together and feel very comfortable there, or you may not.

I think the most important thing about keeping your horse anywhere, be that on some sort of livery, or outside your own back door, is that you enjoy being there and look forwards to spending time with your horse - who should also be happy.
Coming home fretting, or even worse, feeling uncomfortable, or intrusive, or creeping around so that you avoid others is not what you need. :)
 
Half day turnout: Would not be for me I'm afraid. I want my horse out 24/7 during the summer (if I wish) and out all day in the winter (if I want)

She would go out on her own: I want my horse turned out with others, as they are herd animals and should be allowed to interact naturally.

Lady was very flexible and said he could go out all night but would be out on his own: Why? What's the difference between all day and all night. A horse out alone at night? Again not for me.

Paddocks are HUGE (the one I was shown where my boy would be is about 15 acres or more) - he would probably have to have some kind of muzzle on as it seems she won't divide the paddocks: If she has that much grazing, she could more than manage 24/7 turnout during the summer.

Outdoor school isn't conventional - huge rectangle with large square on the end - rubber surface - not that well covered or maintained: A school needs to be well maintained and covered to be safe and a viable area in which to exercise a horse.


Weird indoor school - very deep sand - useful as a turn out pen if necessary I guess: So no good for riding in then.
 
9tails said:
I think it sounds awful. Half of daylight hours individual turnout all year round? NOT good. Also, I don't know any horses who would want to be out completely on their own overnight. For me, it sounds like she doesn't know anything about horse nature or welfare.
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I may have made the weird bits sound more weird because my judgement was a little skewed by the lovely Roy Cropper lady. The outdoor school is certainly better than the one I have now which is tiny, and filled with very deep builders sand.

Thanks for the eye opening each way so far. I just can' find exactly what I want and when I attempt to compromise it is sometimes on what I really don't want to compromise on.

I think I would go for this place if the grazing situation was more conventional. I did always say that I didn't to go back to individual grazing but the last three places I have considered have ALL had individual turnout.

If this place was 8-6pm turnout with at least one other I would go. It is that which is putting me off I guess. Everything else I can work with, thanks for helping me to make it clear.
 
I don't think I would move to that yard as the limited turnout would be a deal-breaker for me. Also as well as the school issues that people have discussed, I think it would be a bit dark to school in the winter as there is only one floodlight. Your potential YO does sound very sweet, but having been on a yard with a lovely but batty YO before, she might well just irritate you after a few weeks. The social aspect is also quite important to me and I like to have lots of people around - I've found that people at small yards are can be very set in their ways and funny with new people sometimes. If they claim to be really friendly, then they are usually just nosy and interfere with everything. Just my experience though.

Are there any other yards that you have looked at in your area? Do you really have to move?
 
amymay said:
Half day turnout: Would not be for me I'm afraid. I want my horse out 24/7 during the summer (if I wish) and out all day in the winter (if I want)

She would go out on her own: I want my horse turned out with others, as they are herd animals and should be allowed to interact naturally.

Lady was very flexible and said he could go out all night but would be out on his own: Why? What's the difference between all day and all night. A horse out alone at night? Again not for me. Because she doesn't split the fields - she would have her three ponies on it during the day and then put my horse on it at night. Maybe I could ask if he could just go with them but she seemed quite clear on individual...
Paddocks are HUGE (the one I was shown where my boy would be is about 15 acres or more) - he would probably have to have some kind of muzzle on as it seems she won't divide the paddocks: If she has that much grazing, she could more than manage 24/7 turnout during the summer. Yes, not quite sure about this one - she said - there isnt much in there really when you look - it was more grass than my horse has seen in the last 10 years I think!

Outdoor school isn't conventional - huge rectangle with large square on the end - rubber surface - not that well covered or maintained: A school needs to be well maintained and covered to be safe and a viable area in which to exercise a horse. I think I just meant it certainly doesn't look like Lee Pearson's outdoor school :) It does look safe.

Weird indoor school - very deep sand - useful as a turn out pen if necessary I guess: So no good for riding in then.
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Arggghhh why can't I find what I want!
 
I would call the lady and ask if you could have more turnout, she has already offered you night time. others there might also want more turnout but have not been offered this because it's what the ,any has always done.

I always wanted 24/7 turnout during the summer is I was DIY as didn't want to go twice a day, now I'm on full, I like that fact that my good door can come in and get away from the heat and flys and I still only go once a day.

I think it's a balance between 24/7 and 3/7.
 
My horse goes out on his own during the day, don't think I'd want to do it overnight unless there were horses directly near by.

If the indoor school is too deep I wouldn't use it at all, riding or turnout unless you want a tendon injury on your hands.

It depends what suits you, I don't really understand what's holding you back apart from the woman being weird ?? and overnight turnout, why can't it go out during the day ?
 
wallykissmas said:
I would call the lady and ask if you could have more turnout, she has already offered you night time. others there might also want more turnout but have not been offered this because it's what the ,any has always done.

I always wanted 24/7 turnout during the summer is I was DIY as didn't want to go twice a day, now I'm on full, I like that fact that my good door can come in and get away from the heat and flys and I still only go once a day.

I think it's a balance between 24/7 and 3/7.
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I agree - I do like to get him off the grass so all day turnout suits us fine all year rather than 24 hours a day. Good advice - perhaps the right deal can be struck. I will go and see her again I think and see what the best offer is and then see if that is suitable or not.
 
For me the inability to control grazing would be the deal breaker. My pony is a really good doer so to me a 15 acre field with no way of dividing sounds like a nightmare!
 
NOISYGIRL said:
My horse goes out on his own during the day, don't think I'd want to do it overnight unless there were horses directly near by.

If the indoor school is too deep I wouldn't use it at all, riding or turnout unless you want a tendon injury on your hands.

It depends what suits you, I don't really understand what's holding you back apart from the woman being weird ?? and overnight turnout, why can't it go out during the day ?
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I think she is a bit stuck on not mixing liveries and her own and so the deal of more turnout hours was said to be night time so that hers can go on it during the day and then mine at night. This is going to be a deal breaker for me as the turnout deal that is on offer at the moment isn't quite right!
 
I would call and confirm what you can have as summer turnout and winter turnout. Also if she does maintain the schools or if the indoor is roughed off for winter turnout to save the fields.

I feel your pain as have been there and realised that the all singing dancing yards came with the massive costs and too many opinionated people. Which didn't suit me.

I see no issue with her not mixing, I wouldn't want my horse with someone else's , if things go wrong people fall out
 
Bigproblemo said:
I think she is a bit stuck on not mixing liveries and her own and so the deal of more turnout hours was said to be night time so that hers can go on it during the day and then mine at night. This is going to be a deal breaker for me as the turnout deal that is on offer at the moment isn't quite right!
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Ahhh I see, what if you got some electric fence, would she let you fence off a part of the 15 acres, seems big not to be able section off if you wanted to rest half, how to the other two go out individually ? is there more than one field, sorry I don't understand

Also what happens in the winter when they all want to go out in the day, guess that's where the half day turnout comes into play
 
NOISYGIRL said:
Ahhh I see, what if you got some electric fence, would she let you fence off a part of the 15 acres, seems big not to be able section off if you wanted to rest half, how to the other two go out individually ? is there more than one field, sorry I don't understand

Also what happens in the winter when they all want to go out in the day, guess that's where the half day turnout comes into play
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I know - it's complicated! There are five (from what I could see) massive paddocks. She mixes her own and then likes to have the liveries separated.

My minimum deal for turnout here would be to fence off part of the 15 acre paddock that she showed me and have daily turnout 8am-6pm - minimum! I am ok with less in Winter - as is the 'orse as he likes to be in his bed!
 
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