Tips for choosing livery yards

Finding the right livery yard is important, not just for your horse, but also for you.  You’ll be spending your free time there; facilities and the riding need to meet you’re requirements.  Before setting out to look for a new yard here are a few pointers to consider:

Distance:

Your Discipline:

Be serious about what you do with your horse.  We can all dream of being a top show jumper and put our horse on a competition yard, but, if in reality you are a happy hacker, finding a yard that has other likeminded liveries will benefit you more in the long run.  Make sure the local riding is varied and accessible.  Equally, if you are looking to compete, you’ll need to ensure your chosen yard has the facilities to allow you to achieve this.  An all-weather schooling area should be on your list of requirements.

Turnout:

Does the yard have all year turnout available?  All horses need to have access to grazing throughout the year, even if this does become a little limited during the winter months.

Introduction Process:

How does the yard introduce new horses?  If your horse is going to be turned out straight away into a large established herd this may cause you problems.  Ideally a small paddock next to the other horses for a few days provides the ideal ice breaker for our four legged friends.

Storage space: 

How much of your equipment can you keep at the yard?  If you have limited space at home this is especially important.  Does any available tack room have a suitable lock?  If you are leaving expensive equipment at the yard you want to ensure that it will be safe.

Cost:

Ask what the price includes.  Some yards will provide bedding and hay within the cost of the livery, whereas others will not, only including your stable and grazing.  Check this out before signing a contract and agreeing to take the space.

The Viewing:

You’ve short listed a couple of yards that have a space, now what?  You need to view them.  Make a point of viewing the yard during the times you would normally be visiting your horse and get a real feel for the place.  Talk to some of the other liveries, this will usually give you a good understanding of how the yard works, and what it is like to keep a horse stabled there.

Write it down:

When viewing new yards, prepare any questions before you go and have them written down.   The viewing is the time to establish if all your boxes are ticked, for example restricted grazing for a pony with laminitis.