Yard rules

[smolmaus]

The water thing is presumably because the YO pays for every drop used, and it can be really hard to watch people waste it. Not a rule I ever had though.

You could just charge for the approx water used tho, asking people to cart water presumably in a car from home is wild.

I passionately hate wasting water even if we don't pay for it directly so like, I get it, but its such a pain to transport anywhere!

That would p!ss me off. I have an arrangement with friends where they do the morning turn-out/bring-in (depending on time of year, the horses on overnight or day turnout), and I do the evening one. Saves us like £50 per month, and makes my life easy because the staff can't catch my horse. He comes to call for my friends, so if they are catching him, I know he'll be where he's supposed to be.

Yeah, my friends gelding is the problem child so not having to deal with him would be worth missing out on the bringing-in fee tbh. He just can't be left on his own for any time at all without turning himself inside out so it makes sense to just bring him and Sadie in at the same time. It does add up tho and makes billing a pain if you're doing odd days here and there for eachother rather than a regular schedule. A standing arrangement like yours would be easier!

 

[Ample Prosecco]

The rule that I often see which REALLY puts me off yards is time restrictions. Whilst I’m sensible and have always let yard owners know if I’m about to rock up in the middle of the night for an emergency, and I appreciate people who live on site want their personal space, it really puts me off as I want to be able to go to my horses whenever I need to.

My previous 2 yards didn’t have time restrictions until on Yard A a new livery liked exercising in the indoor around midnight. Waking everyone up with the floodlights. And in Yard B a livery regularly came to cuddle her ponies at 2 am.

Not fair on the horses who were all disturbed, never mind the on-site owners.
Time restrictions shouldn’t be necessary but people are just weird and unreasonable!!

At our camps we stop people turning lights on in the stable block after 11pm. We never thought we’d have to do that - common sense innit. But people would want to ‘say hello’ to their horse late at night. And turn all the lights on to do it! Then we had to say 5 am is too early to feed just one horse. I hate overly permickety rules - preferring to fall back on basic common sense and courtesy- but sometimes they feel necessary.

 

[Birker2020]

I can't think of any rules that are ridiculous.

The YO isn't one for making rules, she likes a harmonious yard and the more rules the more stressed people get I think. I like that yard for this reason, I'd hate to be on a regemented yard. I always clean up after my horse and my stable area is spotless outside. I try and keep my hay/shavings area as clean as I can with tarps and always pick up poo although I must admit I sometimes forget the washbox!

I suppose those are the only rules I can think of: to clean up the washbox and menage after use which are pretty obvious rules anyway. Oh, and never leave a horse out on its own unless you know it will be safe and won't run around like a looney if everything else comes in.

 

[Starzaan]

Yes please!

Haha ok then, I don’t think I can possibly do all of them, but I shall get as many as I can.
I have always had the standard rules about behaviour towards people and horses etc but I have also had (some of these apply to staff too, I have mainly owned and managed rehab and high end livery yards).

- A horse must never enter a stable with poo or wee in it.
- All mucking out finished by 10am at the very latest.
- No clutter outside boxes - headcollar, hoofpick, and two rugs hung up, with the lead rope rolled up. I always make sure there is LOTS of storage space elsewhere, but I hate a messy yard.
- Yard, walkers, all communal spaces, pool barn, treadmills etc must all be swept after use, droppings picked up immediately, and yard always left tidy.
- There will NEVER be a time it’s not ok for a livery to visit their horse. 3am? Fine. Midnight? Fine. Your horse, you have access whenever you want. We all need to snuggle our ponies in the middle of the night sometimes.
- All ridden liveries will have Equilab app used during EVERY session, and a screenshot sent to the owner after riding.
- Photos and videos of all rehabs, full and part liveries sent to owners every day, no exceptions.
- All banks must be at least 2ft high (we measure by a certain brick on the wall) and beds need to be thick enough to hit the top of the shavings forks we use. Beds started with 15 bales of shavings, or half a heston bale of straw, no exceptions.
- HORSES BEFORE HUMANS is my most important rule. If a horse needs something, it comes before us, every time. They are the priority no matter what else is going on.
- Tails must be silky enough to run a hand through at all times, and horses must ALWAYS be groomed every day, trimmed and pulled as needed so that they look immaculate at all times.
- Boots and numnahs are put in the wash after every use, fleeces, coolers, fly and stable rugs are washed weekly, and turnout rugs are washed at the end of the season and put away ready for the next winter.
- Fly masks are washed every evening and put on fresh in the morning.
- Water drinkers and mangers, are to be cleaned every day, and water drinkers checked each time you walk into the stable.
- Tack is wiped down after every use, and stripped on a Sunday afternoon, for a full deep clean ready for the next week.
- An owners request is never too big or at the wrong time. If they need you to stand with them while they mount, walk with them while they hack, have the horse ready and standing by the mounting block when they drive in, then it's done.
- All horses are tested for strangles prior to arrival, and any contagious diseases doing the rounds at the time such as EHV.
- Staff are to have a proper lunch break every day, either from 12 - 1 or 1 - 2, and get two full days off a week without question. Staff horses are done in work time, and any staff horses stabled with me get put on a rota so that staff members don't have to come to the yard on days off if they choose not to, as their horses will be mucked out etc. as normal.
- Every livery is assigned a groom, that groom is the owners main point of contact, and takes responsibility for that horse. They muck out, groom, prep for competitions, take responsibility for rehab work etc. This allows continuity for the horse, the owner and accountability for each groom. Grooms are in teams to provide continuity on days off, so each horse is assigned a groom and then a "back up" for their primary grooms days off.
- All stables have a number, and this corresponds to everything. Buckets are marked with numbers, tack is stored in number bays, etc. for ease of use by staff. Horses are also colour coded, red amber or green, for new staff to know at a glance if they need to check what they need to know about amber and red horses.
- Nutrition is key - pre work and recovery feeds are fed to everything without exception.

Basically, horses have to be happy, and immaculate at all times, as does the yard. People pay a LOT of money for luxury full livery or rehab, they have to feel like they get their monies worth, and the dirtier workings of the yard need to be somewhat of a mystery to them - they will never see poo in their horses stable, the yard unswept etc. if they come up after 10am.

I take such pride in running yards, and am so proud of have truly exceptional references and testimonials from some of the best vets and riders in the country. I am a bit of a nazi about some things, and am very, very picky, but it's all for good reason.

 

[Birker2020]

Haha ok then, I don’t think I can possibly do all of them, but I shall get as many as I can.
I have always had the standard rules about behaviour towards people and horses etc but I have also had (some of these apply to staff too, I have mainly owned and managed rehab and high end livery yards).

- A horse must never enter a stable with poo or wee in it.
- All mucking out finished by 10am at the very latest.
- No clutter outside boxes - headcollar, hoofpick, and two rugs hung up, with the lead rope rolled up. I always make sure there is LOTS of storage space elsewhere, but I hate a messy yard.
- Yard, walkers, all communal spaces, pool barn, treadmills etc must all be swept after use, droppings picked up immediately, and yard always left tidy.
- There will NEVER be a time it’s not ok for a livery to visit their horse. 3am? Fine. Midnight? Fine. Your horse, you have access whenever you want. We all need to snuggle our ponies in the middle of the night sometimes.
- All ridden liveries will have Equilab app used during EVERY session, and a screenshot sent to the owner after riding.
- Photos and videos of all rehabs, full and part liveries sent to owners every day, no exceptions.
- All banks must be at least 2ft high (we measure by a certain brick on the wall) and beds need to be thick enough to hit the top of the shavings forks we use. Beds started with 15 bales of shavings, or half a heston bale of straw, no exceptions.
- HORSES BEFORE HUMANS is my most important rule. If a horse needs something, it comes before us, every time. They are the priority no matter what else is going on.
- Tails must be silky enough to run a hand through at all times, and horses must ALWAYS be groomed every day, trimmed and pulled as needed so that they look immaculate at all times.
- Boots and numnahs are put in the wash after every use, fleeces, coolers, fly and stable rugs are washed weekly, and turnout rugs are washed at the end of the season and put away ready for the next winter.
- Fly masks are washed every evening and put on fresh in the morning.
- Water drinkers and mangers, are to be cleaned every day, and water drinkers checked each time you walk into the stable.
- Tack is wiped down after every use, and stripped on a Sunday afternoon, for a full deep clean ready for the next week.
- An owners request is never too big or at the wrong time. If they need you to stand with them while they mount, walk with them while they hack, have the horse ready and standing by the mounting block when they drive in, then it's done.
- Staff are to have a proper lunch break every day, either from 12 - 1 or 1 - 2, and get two full days off a week without question. Staff horses are done in work time, and any staff horses stabled with me get put on a rota so that staff members don't have to come to the yard on days off if they choose not to, as their horses will be mucked out etc. as normal.
- Every livery is assigned a groom, that groom is the owners main point of contact, and takes responsibility for that horse. They muck out, groom, prep for competitions, take responsibility for rehab work etc. This allows continuity for the horse, the owner and accountability for each groom. Grooms are in teams to provide continuity on days off, so each horse is assigned a groom and then a "back up" for their primary grooms days off.
- All stables have a number, and this corresponds to everything. Buckets are marked with numbers, tack is stored in number bays, etc. for ease of use by staff. Horses are also colour coded, red amber or green, for new staff to know at a glance if they need to check what they need to know about amber and red horses.
- Nutrition is key - pre work and recovery feeds are fed to everything without exception.

Basically, horses have to be happy, and immaculate at all times, as does the yard. People pay a LOT of money for luxury full livery or rehab, they have to feel like they get their monies worth, and the dirtier workings of the yard need to be somewhat of a mystery to them - they will never see poo in their horses stable, the yard unswept etc. if they come up after 10am.

I take such pride in running yards, and am so proud of have truly exceptional references and testimonials from some of the best vets and riders in the country. I am a bit of a nazi about some things, and am very, very picky, but it's all for good reason.

Wow. And how much do you charge for full livery?

 

[Starzaan]

Wow. And how much do you charge for full livery?

£1200pcm to include all care, exercise five days a week, ad lib forage, unlimited bedding (either shavings, paper or straw), nutrition plan and all hard feed, and your horse is treated like a KING. ?

 

[Kaylum]

Our yard has a focus on safety.
Including Riding Hats must be worn when working in the same field, stable or leading a horse.
Proper footwear must be worn - no trainers or soft shoes.
Gloves must be worn when handling horses.
Hi Viz must be worn when hacking out from the yard.
Also there are strict quarantine rules for new arrivals.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

What yard rules do you have (if any)?

I have recently moved yards and there are a LOT more rules than my last place. Never a bad thing just takes some time getting used to. Very embarrassing to have been told off for these things when you don’t know! ?

1. sweep up ? out of walker (last yard was dealers yard so was swept by grooms daily)
2. Some parts of grass off limits (could hand graze anywhere before)
3. Rake lunge pen after use (no lunge pen before, so makes sense!)

What rules however silly or sane do you have and do you agree with them?

We have many rules to suit yard working.
Main ones:

1. No one on the yard before 7 am or after 8.30 pm unless previously agreed.
2. If an owner wants to change the feed quantities within the allowed amount, they must inform the yard owner, they must not change the board themselves.
3. No smoking / E Cigarettes within xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx premises
4. Yard feed must not be used to catch horse’s in
5. Only Muck buckets to be left outside the stables (no grooming kits etc)
6. No dogs allowed on the premises (unless previous agreement with yard owners)
7. Please do not leave lights on when the schools are not in use – switch them off as soon as possible after vacating them
8. Please respect the privacy of the owners by only contacting in the house when necessary or in case of emergency
9. Tack room should be locked and / or alarmed when out riding or in the school (unless others using it)
10. Grooming is allowed in the horses stable/back yard/gangway/haybarn only.
11. Clipping is allowed in the Haybarn / horses stable only
12. Shoeing/trimming is allowed on the back yard/haybarn only (unless previously agreement)
13. Do not let any visitors see the combination code under any circumstances.
14. Only liveries - sharer’s and instructors must know the combination
15. Put jumps / poles away after use
16. breakages must be paid for or replaced
17. Hard hats must be worn when mounted
18. Livery Owners must ensure their friends/relations/visitors read and abide by the yard rules
19. Children must always be supervised and not allowed to run around unsupervised.
20. Liveries must clear up after their horse/themselves of hair/mud/hay/droppings/farrier cuttings
21. Please familiarise yourself with the yard routine to avoid any confusions of when things are done
22. £ 50 deposit for holding a stable is valid for one month only.
23. Please spread manure on the manure heap and not leave it in a pile for others to level off.
24. As we are on a water meter, there is no washing of numnahs, rugs etc allowed.

HORSE RIDING IS A HIGH-RISK SPORT AND HOLDS POTENTIAL DANGERS. HORSES MAY REACT UNPREDICTABLY AT TIMES.

 

[Starzaan]

I forgot one of my most important ones! ??‍

Horses boxes are their place of rest. The only things that are permitted to be done with a horse inside it’s box (unless on strict box rest) are rug changes and feeding, and a quick skip out at 10pm. Nothing else. Ever.

 

[Red-1]

Haha ok then, I don’t think I can possibly do all of them, but I shall get as many as I can.
I have always had the standard rules about behaviour towards people and horses etc but I have also had (some of these apply to staff too, I have mainly owned and managed rehab and high end livery yards).

- A horse must never enter a stable with poo or wee in it.
- All mucking out finished by 10am at the very latest.
- No clutter outside boxes - headcollar, hoofpick, and two rugs hung up, with the lead rope rolled up. I always make sure there is LOTS of storage space elsewhere, but I hate a messy yard.
- Yard, walkers, all communal spaces, pool barn, treadmills etc must all be swept after use, droppings picked up immediately, and yard always left tidy.
- There will NEVER be a time it’s not ok for a livery to visit their horse. 3am? Fine. Midnight? Fine. Your horse, you have access whenever you want. We all need to snuggle our ponies in the middle of the night sometimes.
- All ridden liveries will have Equilab app used during EVERY session, and a screenshot sent to the owner after riding.
- Photos and videos of all rehabs, full and part liveries sent to owners every day, no exceptions.
- All banks must be at least 2ft high (we measure by a certain brick on the wall) and beds need to be thick enough to hit the top of the shavings forks we use. Beds started with 15 bales of shavings, or half a heston bale of straw, no exceptions.
- HORSES BEFORE HUMANS is my most important rule. If a horse needs something, it comes before us, every time. They are the priority no matter what else is going on.
- Tails must be silky enough to run a hand through at all times, and horses must ALWAYS be groomed every day, trimmed and pulled as needed so that they look immaculate at all times.
- Boots and numnahs are put in the wash after every use, fleeces, coolers, fly and stable rugs are washed weekly, and turnout rugs are washed at the end of the season and put away ready for the next winter.
- Fly masks are washed every evening and put on fresh in the morning.
- Water drinkers and mangers, are to be cleaned every day, and water drinkers checked each time you walk into the stable.
- Tack is wiped down after every use, and stripped on a Sunday afternoon, for a full deep clean ready for the next week.
- An owners request is never too big or at the wrong time. If they need you to stand with them while they mount, walk with them while they hack, have the horse ready and standing by the mounting block when they drive in, then it's done.
- All horses are tested for strangles prior to arrival, and any contagious diseases doing the rounds at the time such as EHV.
- Staff are to have a proper lunch break every day, either from 12 - 1 or 1 - 2, and get two full days off a week without question. Staff horses are done in work time, and any staff horses stabled with me get put on a rota so that staff members don't have to come to the yard on days off if they choose not to, as their horses will be mucked out etc. as normal.
- Every livery is assigned a groom, that groom is the owners main point of contact, and takes responsibility for that horse. They muck out, groom, prep for competitions, take responsibility for rehab work etc. This allows continuity for the horse, the owner and accountability for each groom. Grooms are in teams to provide continuity on days off, so each horse is assigned a groom and then a "back up" for their primary grooms days off.
- All stables have a number, and this corresponds to everything. Buckets are marked with numbers, tack is stored in number bays, etc. for ease of use by staff. Horses are also colour coded, red amber or green, for new staff to know at a glance if they need to check what they need to know about amber and red horses.
- Nutrition is key - pre work and recovery feeds are fed to everything without exception.

Basically, horses have to be happy, and immaculate at all times, as does the yard. People pay a LOT of money for luxury full livery or rehab, they have to feel like they get their monies worth, and the dirtier workings of the yard need to be somewhat of a mystery to them - they will never see poo in their horses stable, the yard unswept etc. if they come up after 10am.

I take such pride in running yards, and am so proud of have truly exceptional references and testimonials from some of the best vets and riders in the country. I am a bit of a nazi about some things, and am very, very picky, but it's all for good reason.

Brilliant!

I have mine at home, but still have 'rules' that I and OH stick to.

1. No smoking for visitors (we don't smoke).
2. Always 2 barriers between horses and road (so stable door and yard gate; or tied up and stable door; or field gate and ring fence gate; or horse being held and yard gate; etc. etc).
3. Stables squared away in the morning and poos picked twice more a day minimum (including stable or turnout).
4. No running/squealing/shouting on the yard. It is a relaxed atmosphere.
5. Banks to the stables and a deep enough bed that you strike it with a fork and it doesn't hit the bottom.
6. Gates and doors are either closed and bolted, or open and clipped back. Never half way.
7. No halter on in the stables unless tied up.
8. Tack room locked unless needed.
9. Water fresh twice a day.
10. Feet picked every day for Rigs, twice a day for anything shod.
11. Poos are picked off the yard immediately, and off any enclosure as soon as the horse leaves it (stable etc).
12. Hoof picks are outside every stable and won't go missing!
13. Electric fences always on.
14. Poos picked from the arena as soon as riding is finished.
15. Arena/patio area rolled every week.
16. Dropped hay swept and removed daily.
17. Riding hat on whenever mounted.
18. If a horse starts pawing etc (or any unwanted behaviour), it is ignored not paid attention to/shouted at.

 

[Red-1]

I forgot one of my most important ones! ??‍

Horses boxes are their place of rest. The only things that are permitted to be done with a horse inside it’s box (unless on strict box rest) are rug changes and feeding, and a quick skip out at 10pm. Nothing else. Ever.

I used to do this, had a grooming box especially for the purpose, but we lost half our stables when the yard was split after mum died. Needs must now.

 

[ycbm]

The water thing is presumably because the YO pays for every drop used, and it can be really hard to watch people waste it. Not a rule I ever had though.

It's certainly a bonus to be on a yard with a private water supply. Nobody bats an eyelid how much water we use.
.

 

[ycbm]

Ludo dislikes being groomed and always has. I read recently that's not uncommon. I couldn't be on a yard which had a rule that he be groomed daily.
.

 

[Caol Ila]

I forgot one of my most important ones! ??‍

Horses boxes are their place of rest. The only things that are permitted to be done with a horse inside it’s box (unless on strict box rest) are rug changes and feeding, and a quick skip out at 10pm. Nothing else. Ever.

Interesting rule. In 25 years of horse ownership, I have only been at two yards where I haven’t tacked up or groomed in a box. One is Hermosa’s yard, because there are no stables. The other was in Colorado and had extensive hitching rails, many of which were under cover, so most people used them. Didn’t really think about it. It was just habit.

Does your yard have a large hitching area? Most yards (including Fin’s current one) don’t have much (if any) space to tie outside the stable. When I have to do it, he’s massively in the way as his stable is on a main thoroughfare.

 

[Starzaan]

Interesting rule. In 25 years of horse ownership, I have only been at two yards where I haven’t tacked up or groomed in a box. One is Hermosa’s yard, because there are no stables. The other was in Colorado and had extensive hitching rails, many of which were under cover, so most people used them. Didn’t really think about it. It was just habit.

Does your yard have a large hitching area? Most yards (including Fin’s current one) don’t have much (if any) space to tie outside the stable. When I have to do it, he’s massively in the way as his stable is on a main thoroughfare.

All the yards I have owned and managed have had space for tying up - if it wasn’t already there when I arrived I had it made. Either outside boxes or in specific grooming/tacking up bays.
I like horses to know their stables are their space, and have found that particularly rehab horses settle incredibly well once they realise this is the case.
It’s something I heard Carl Hester say about 20 years ago and it’s stuck with me ever since.

 

[Annagain]

99% of our rules are common sense and I agree with them but there is one that I really don't understand. In winter, the horses have to be in by 6 (which is fine) but if we get the horse in during the day, we're not allowed to put them back out after 3pm "to save the grass". A horse can be out grazing for 11 hours from 7am to 6pm with no problems but if you get him in for the farrier or to ride you can't put him back out after 3 even though by taking them out and riding, you're already saving the grass for the time you are out of the field. If you get him in at 2.58 and put him back out at 2.59 (so only saving 2 minutes worth of grass - not a likely scenario I know but it illustrates my point) that's fine but if you get him in at 10 and want to put him back at 3.00 (saving 5 hours of grazing) you can't. It doesn't make sense!

I still stick to it though - I rarely ride in the middle of the day so it doesn't really affect me.

 

[Fieldlife]

99% of our rules are common sense and I agree with them but there is one that I really don't understand. In winter, the horses have to be in by 6 (which is fine) but if we get the horse in during the day, we're not allowed to put them back out after 3pm "to save the grass". A horse can be out grazing for 11 hours from 7am to 6pm with no problems but if you get him in for the farrier or to ride you can't put him back out after 3 even though by taking them out and riding, you're already saving the grass for the time you are out of the field. If you get him in at 2.58 and put him back out at 2.59 (so only saving 2 minutes worth of grass - not a likely scenario I know but it illustrates my point) that's fine but if you get him in at 10 and want to put him back at 3.00 (saving 5 hours of grazing) you can't. It doesn't make sense!

I still stick to it though - I rarely ride in the middle of the day so it doesn't really affect me.

I guess the logic is ideally all in by 3pm every day in winter to save ground, BUT recognise if everyone works not aways possible so 6pm cut off accommodates working day needs?

But still ideally want all in by 3pm winter when someone is around to achieve it.

 

[milliepops]

99% of our rules are common sense and I agree with them but there is one that I really don't understand. In winter, the horses have to be in by 6 (which is fine) but if we get the horse in during the day, we're not allowed to put them back out after 3pm "to save the grass". A horse can be out grazing for 11 hours from 7am to 6pm with no problems but if you get him in for the farrier or to ride you can't put him back out after 3 even though by taking them out and riding, you're already saving the grass for the time you are out of the field. If you get him in at 2.58 and put him back out at 2.59 (so only saving 2 minutes worth of grass - not a likely scenario I know but it illustrates my point) that's fine but if you get him in at 10 and want to put him back at 3.00 (saving 5 hours of grazing) you can't. It doesn't make sense!

I still stick to it though - I rarely ride in the middle of the day so it doesn't really affect me.

I had the opposite at last yard. YO ran it to extremely rigid rules, all horses turned out by him at 4pm in the summer even if you were coming up at 4.05 to ride, you'd have to go and catch in again.

eta. my horses got a bit neurotic about the rigid timescales for everything. On pure DIY again now my timings vary a bit and it helps that the horses aren't manically looking for the next daily task to happen at x o'clock. they just seem more relaxed to continue with their own existences in between times.

 

[Annagain]

I guess the logic is ideally all in by 3pm every day in winter to save ground, BUT recognise if everyone works not aways possible so 6pm cut off accommodates working day needs?

But still ideally want all in by 3pm winter when someone is around to achieve it.

The 6pm still applies on weekends. Surely it would be earlier Sat/ Sun if that was the intention?

 

[Ratface]

Well, this thread has been an eye-opener! For the last twenty or so years, I've been on three yards. One was a dealer's yard, which was quiet and very low-key. I could go up any time between 8am and 6pm week days, and 8am to 8pm weekends. I knew the owners' routine and did my best to fit in round them. If I or my pony made any sort of mess, I cleaned it up. I poo picked pony's stables and field every day that I was there, as a courtesy.
Next yard was a bit of a free-for-all. There was a clique, and I wasn't in it. Children, dogs, motor bikes, drunks, drug-users, criminals, bullies etc. Some of my rugs were stolen, bits of tack went "astray". "Oh, I just borrowed it. I didn't think you'd mind".The owner was a truly lovely person and wanted a quiet life. The hacking was fabulous, the facilities were good, the grazing, fencing, security excellent. I lasted about a year.
My current yard owner came to visit, saw the the set-up and suggested that I might like to move. A month later, I did.
Where I am now is a small, secure, boutique private yard. It's kept immaculate by the owner. My access is very limited, but my horse's care is beyond compare. The owner is a world-respected specialist in "our" breed. She has dedicated her life to them. It's ideal for my horse, but not for me. I feel a lonely outsider, but he doesn't. He's my last horse (I think . . .) and he deserves the best.
When I'm there, I sweep up, skip the stable, groom him, pick out feet, do hand massages and carrot stretches. Ride if I feel well enough. I always skip out the school, before and after I use it. I'm polite and friendly to the YO and the staff, taking biscuits when I can afford them. I'm respectful with the dogs (who are spoilt, unpleasant darlings).
I have a friend who owns/runs a big yard nearer to me. It's much more relaxed there, and the people are nice. I sometimes dream about having a share pony there, but financially, that would be irresponsible. So I wander down and help out. It's very relaxing.
I have been invited to move there, but I think it would be unfair on my horse, who is old, settled and cared for and about to an achingly high standard.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Why do horses have to be immaculate at all times? And why not allow them to go back in a box with say one wee or one poo? My cob was often left dusty overnight, he was retired, pointless grooming him massively bar a check for injuries and a proper groom every few days. Plus, if the weather turned awful, I’d haul him in to a dirty box.

One yard had an 8-8 rule, understandable when the owners lived on site, but gave me just enough time to turn out, muck out and leave the full barrow in my stable then fly to work, luckily down the road, for 8.30. Drove me nuts.

 

[milliepops]

In fairness if I was paying 1200 for livery I'd want it to all be spotless.
I don't care that much though which is why I pay a fraction of that ?

 

[SEL]

I forgot one of my most important ones! ??‍

Horses boxes are their place of rest. The only things that are permitted to be done with a horse inside it’s box (unless on strict box rest) are rug changes and feeding, and a quick skip out at 10pm. Nothing else. Ever.

My mare would love you for that. She hates people faffing in her bedroom - I even bring her out to groom

 

[SEL]

In fairness if I was paying 1200 for livery I'd want it to all be spotless.
I don't care that much though which is why I pay a fraction of that ?

I'd want my horse groomed daily with a silky tail plus everything else on offer too.

My rules?
Keep the yard gate shut unless horses are shut in stables.
Don't over feed the cat

That'll do!

 

[Caol Ila]

The shared tacking up rails were not without issues. My mare was very protective of her space. She didn't like horses very much. Telling people, "Please don't tie your horse right next to mine" could get super old. When I tacked up in the stable, I didn't have that problem.

 

[Starzaan]

Why do horses have to be immaculate at all times? And why not allow them to go back in a box with say one wee or one poo? My cob was often left dusty overnight, he was retired, pointless grooming him massively bar a check for injuries and a proper groom every few days. Plus, if the weather turned awful, I’d haul him in to a dirty box.
One yard had an 8-8 rule, understandable when the owners lived on site, but gave me just enough time to turn out, muck out and leave the full barrow in my stable then fly to work, luckily down the road, for 8.30. Drove me nuts.

Because I feel if I’m charging a premium I need to offer a premium service. I wouldn’t ever put my own horses back in a box with a poo in it, so why would I do that for liveries paying me for a service?
I fully appreciate that my standards are ludicrously high and a lot of people think they’re insane, but I am offering a seriously premium service and if I was paying the money I charge I would expect my horse to always be shiny, beautifully groomed, and happy.
The thing that makes me happiest is when my liveries say they trust me implicitly with their horses. I never want a client of mine worrying about something not being done or something being missed. Every horse is treated as if it were my own, and I love them all like they were my own too.
I had a a good old sob yesterday when I got an update from a client whose horse I had on rehab for two months last year. They are just as precious to me as they are to their owners - my horses are my best friends, my family, my solace. I want my liveries to breathe a sigh of relief as they drive in, knowing they’ll be greeted by a clean, happy, relaxed horse, and nothing has been missed.

 

[Starzaan]

In fairness if I was paying 1200 for livery I'd want it to all be spotless.
I don't care that much though which is why I pay a fraction of that ?

Yep, it’s a lot of money. And my rehab liveries are often paying well over £2k a month, so I feel they need to get the kind of super premium service they’re paying for!

 

[catembi]

Gosh, being able to run a hand through the horse's tail? I don't think I can even do that through my own hair! A yard run like that would be amazing! (My yard is NOT run like that as I am idle )

 

[Starzaan]

Told you all I was mad ?

 

[Nasicus]

Told you all I was mad ?

If you were inflicting those strict rules on the liveries, I'd be side eyeing the heck out of you. But as that being rules for the yard staff for service provided to the customer, then I totally understand and appreciate that you're going the extra mile to make it damn sure it's worth the cost