Livery yard advice

[Emma Louise]

Hello,

Can I please have some advice on livery yards! I'm so absorbed by it all and I need to take a step back.

We moved our horse to a very small DIY yard in August(only 3 other horses and 2 owners). All was fine and we loved it. Our horse settled well etc. A couple of months ago we brought another horse as I have two younger sisters. He has not settled as well as obviously he is new to us and to the yard. I am now struggling as the YO is trying to be horsey but has no experience (just a couple of lessons at a riding school) but tries to interfere all the time and the other two liveries don't ride their horses-2 are their daughters ponies but they don't ride over winter and the other is retired. The yard has planning for a school but when we moved on we were under the impression that it was going to be built sooner rather than later and they still have not sorted out a contractor etc.

Anyway our new horse is getting on top of us a bit and I feel like we need some more support with him and a school as I want to get him going in there before playing too much in traffic as no off road hacking.

I am now debating whether to try and find a part/full yard and move them both. I'm currently up 3 times a day in between work as they are only allowed 30mins turnout in the snow(another thing that I was not told) The only problem is that I know I will have to travel further away. Those on part/full livery-do you go up everyday? My sister's are helping too but they can't drive so I have to go with them. They are both in the middle of GCSE's and one comes up at 6:30am before school and the other after school. I feel like I need to take the pressure off and just enjoy our horses as currently they are causing a stressful household! Our new boy needs consistent handling as when brought in from the field he tends to flick his legs around which we are working on but could do with some more help.

I know this is the hardest time of year and we just need to get through it but it's hard!

This has turned into a rather long essay but it's good to write it all down!

Any words of wisdom?

[hammie]

Doesn't sound like you're getting what you need from your present yard. So you might have to go further to another, but you have to drive to this one anyway. 30min turnout? Nowhere to ride due to lack of school and reluctance to ride on the roads till he's better schooled? No wonder you're struggling. Tough on the sisters I think too to have to go every day in the middle of GCSEs.

[orangetails]

This is the hardest time of the year, and the weather has made it particularly difficult.

However it does sound like your current yard is not suiting you, not least the lack of turnout which isn't going to help your new chap settle, and the lack of school/safe hacking.

Personally I wouldn't like to relinquish the control of DIY :lol: but I know part/full does suit some people - I'd want to be very sure about the staff/handling thought, particularly with your new horse and particularly if you are thinking you might not make the journey every day - it's possible being handled by you and your sister's as well as various yard staff could make the issues worse. I'd also want to be very sure the next move you make (if you do) is the right one, because it'd be worse to jump out of the frying pan and into the fire so to speak, and to find that you need to move AGAIN for whatever reason, which is only going to unsettle your new boy still further.

I'd certainly investiage other yards around you - but I wouldn't look exclusively at part/full. A different (maybe bigger?) DIY yard with better facilities, a more knowledgable YO and other liveries to ride with might be just what you need. Perhaps one that offers assisted DIY so you could have some of the jobs done some days to take the pressure off.

Good luck - I think the right yard is so much part and parcel of enjoying this hibby!

[KimT]

Agree with the above. I used to be at a lovely yard where the YO charged for 'jobs'. I just paid for her to turnout and then went up in the evening to muck out/ride (we had a school). Would something like that be more suitable?

I sort of know how you feel. I have 2 horses who have never had a stable until this year and didnt cope well with spending over 4 weeks in with no turnout what so ever. I am moving but to a private yard. I get up at 5am, go to yard, turn out 3, muck out 2, go home, work full time then back to the yard to put to bed. I feel like I dont spend any quality time with the girls except on weekends. I cant wait till this winter is over to be honest. I also can't wait until the move. The fields are closer so it won't take me as long in the mornings (currently have to go out of yard and down road).

[Deleted]

I'd think it might be worth looking for assisted DIY too, then you might be able to just have someone turning out or bringing in and feeding at one end of the day which would allow you to only visit once per day and your sisters every second day while they're studying. It might ease the workload a lot (you've have more time to drive further if you only have to go once) for not a lot more money but I do know from experience assisted seems to be hard to find.

[marychick]

Another vote for assisted! I moved my pony from part livery to assisted and personally wouldn't go back. If you can get someone to turnout in the mornings and just go down in the evening I'm sure that would take the pressure off alot!

Good luck with finding something that works for you!

[Mellymoo]

I'm on full livery now, and cannot fault it at all. I have a brilliant IH YO, and I spend so much more time doing fun stuff like grooming and riding because I don't have to do jobs. Jos and I have a much better relationship, as we spend more quality time together. I don't go everyday, but I can trust YO and her staff totally to care for him to a high standard.

[jes]

I'm on full livery and also love it. I go up once a day after work, even in winter when all I can do is groom, although I do poopick their stables, top up water and make feeds up for next day. It suits me because if I can't get there for any reason I know they'll be well looked after. My YO is fab and looks after them really well.

[cookie]

I'm on full livery. I don't go up every day, but its my second full livery and the first was awful. I've been on assisted diy too and agree its a good option. Working, with a toddler, the full livery suits me at the moment but you do need to make sure you get on with the yard owner and that you share ideas and aims. Its no use if you and yo aren't on the same page.

Had a vet call out today, not exactly emergency but couldn't wait 24 hrs either, my yo handled it. I have to take time of work if my toddler is sick, taking time of for the vet too really would lose me favour at work I'm afraid...

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