tigers_eye
Well-Known Member
As I'm sure I've gone on enough for most people to be aware I recently moved to Belgium. My two boys are on a friend's yard and in many ways it's very good, however there are a few "buts". I went to look at another today, and will lay out the pro's and con's of each and then any thoughts of yours would be much appreciated. It's in here, not NL or SY, as they are competition horses and this has to be bourne in mind imo. I should add that both places are full livery and there are very few places that will allow anything else.
Where they are now:
14 horses on yard, 5 belong to owner.
Outdoor 60x30 with some jumps, indoor 35x18, surfaces ok but not great.
Hacking is pretty decent, though if we had a really dry summer the ground might be quite hard. Fair bit of road work, boys have had current shoes on 3.5 weeks and there isn't much thickness left!
Shavings beds, well kept but a bit thin.
Hay 3x per day, excellent quality, quantity altered to exactly my requests.
Fed 2x per day, mix provided by owner, quantity as requested.
2 other international eventers based on yard, but tbh haven't even seen them since I've been there.
Turned out every day, my two in own paddock, not much grass atm but hayed whilst there. Come Sept/Oct won't be allowed 4 - 8 week total turnout holiday (will have to come in at night).
Absolute confidence that I could not show up for a week and they would be perfectly well looked after. Things like a lost shoe would be noticed.
Yard is absolutely full now, no signs of anyone leaving soon, so no possibility of buying more horses (to bring on and sell).
Yard is 22 miles away, is costing me approx 15 euros a day in petrol.
Horses cost 300 euros per month per horse.
Total cost atm (petrol and livery) = 1050 euros
Yard I just went to see:
Larger yard, approx 30 horses, "private" livery yard.
One arena, roof covering approx 40 x 25 area, then a further approx 30 x 25 area has no roof. Some jumps. Surface ok, but not great.
About 1.5 mile hack down residential streets I have to cross a busy road and then have unlimited hacking in the forest, loads of designated horse tracks with membranes and sand. Can also hack to old training circular gallops (also in the woods).
Straw beds, appear nice and deep, have been offered two outdoor stables (too small for my liking), or two indoor ones which are much bigger. One horse will have stallions either side of him though, however don't think this will be a problem.
Hay 1x per day. This concerns me. A lot of people here seem to think hay is optional and I don't think it's coincidence that you hear of a lot more colic here than in England. Mine have always had near as dammit ad-lib hay. It is given in the afternoon. If I wanted I could buy additional stuff of my own, however would have to store at home and transport in my car, so small bale haylage the only realistic possibility.
Feed 3x per day. Can either use their general mix, or owner quite happy for me to buy D&H which I've always used for competition horses and for which one of only 2 Belgian suppliers is a mile down the road
. Fed according to my instructions, and if I give him my feed receipts at the end of the month he deducts it from my bill. Could also buy chaff/similar to bulk out feeds with more fibre, and presumabley deduct that from my bill too as it's feed.
Doesn't seem to be any dressage diva's/showjumping pro's on yard, but might be wrong! More people though.
Boys would have their own field for the afternoons, seem quite a good size and even a bit of grass! Not too muddy either which is amazing atm. They also have the biggest field I've ever seen (note to self - never put a horse in there that's bad to catch), which you are only allowed to use if the horse is unshod behind. This would be ideal come their autumn/winter holiday.
A few boxes always free. The owner has to do this as the council keeps tabs on how many horses he has there (on account of the muckheap... England will be like this one day you know
). He said if I was having a few in to sell it would be fine.
Yard is 1 mile away, could cycle, or minimal petrol anyway.
Cost is 460 euros per month per horse. Once a year I have to pay 45 euros per horse to the council (horse tax!). Memebrship (for me) per year is 125 euros.
Total per month: 920 euros, plus haylage, plus 215 euros per year in fees based on two horses.
Sorry that's been an epic comparison! Should perhaps also mention in both cases I have to keep the lorry at home, so from the point of view of early starts on competition days the closer yard is favourable.
Any thoughts hugely appreciated.
Where they are now:
14 horses on yard, 5 belong to owner.
Outdoor 60x30 with some jumps, indoor 35x18, surfaces ok but not great.
Hacking is pretty decent, though if we had a really dry summer the ground might be quite hard. Fair bit of road work, boys have had current shoes on 3.5 weeks and there isn't much thickness left!
Shavings beds, well kept but a bit thin.
Hay 3x per day, excellent quality, quantity altered to exactly my requests.
Fed 2x per day, mix provided by owner, quantity as requested.
2 other international eventers based on yard, but tbh haven't even seen them since I've been there.
Turned out every day, my two in own paddock, not much grass atm but hayed whilst there. Come Sept/Oct won't be allowed 4 - 8 week total turnout holiday (will have to come in at night).
Absolute confidence that I could not show up for a week and they would be perfectly well looked after. Things like a lost shoe would be noticed.
Yard is absolutely full now, no signs of anyone leaving soon, so no possibility of buying more horses (to bring on and sell).
Yard is 22 miles away, is costing me approx 15 euros a day in petrol.
Horses cost 300 euros per month per horse.
Total cost atm (petrol and livery) = 1050 euros
Yard I just went to see:
Larger yard, approx 30 horses, "private" livery yard.
One arena, roof covering approx 40 x 25 area, then a further approx 30 x 25 area has no roof. Some jumps. Surface ok, but not great.
About 1.5 mile hack down residential streets I have to cross a busy road and then have unlimited hacking in the forest, loads of designated horse tracks with membranes and sand. Can also hack to old training circular gallops (also in the woods).
Straw beds, appear nice and deep, have been offered two outdoor stables (too small for my liking), or two indoor ones which are much bigger. One horse will have stallions either side of him though, however don't think this will be a problem.
Hay 1x per day. This concerns me. A lot of people here seem to think hay is optional and I don't think it's coincidence that you hear of a lot more colic here than in England. Mine have always had near as dammit ad-lib hay. It is given in the afternoon. If I wanted I could buy additional stuff of my own, however would have to store at home and transport in my car, so small bale haylage the only realistic possibility.
Feed 3x per day. Can either use their general mix, or owner quite happy for me to buy D&H which I've always used for competition horses and for which one of only 2 Belgian suppliers is a mile down the road
Doesn't seem to be any dressage diva's/showjumping pro's on yard, but might be wrong! More people though.
Boys would have their own field for the afternoons, seem quite a good size and even a bit of grass! Not too muddy either which is amazing atm. They also have the biggest field I've ever seen (note to self - never put a horse in there that's bad to catch), which you are only allowed to use if the horse is unshod behind. This would be ideal come their autumn/winter holiday.
A few boxes always free. The owner has to do this as the council keeps tabs on how many horses he has there (on account of the muckheap... England will be like this one day you know
Yard is 1 mile away, could cycle, or minimal petrol anyway.
Cost is 460 euros per month per horse. Once a year I have to pay 45 euros per horse to the council (horse tax!). Memebrship (for me) per year is 125 euros.
Total per month: 920 euros, plus haylage, plus 215 euros per year in fees based on two horses.
Sorry that's been an epic comparison! Should perhaps also mention in both cases I have to keep the lorry at home, so from the point of view of early starts on competition days the closer yard is favourable.
Any thoughts hugely appreciated.
