Problem: I need to move livery yards, but don’t really know what I’m looking for.
Solution: There are several things to consider when choosing a livery yard that suits you and your horse. Below are a few of the major considerations that you need to bear in mind.
Money matters
It makes sense to start looking at livery yards according to your budget. There is no point trawling livery yards that all cost way too much for you – unless you are bringing a whole herd of horses, it’s unlikely anyone is going to negotiate on their prices. Ask yourself how much you are willing to spend on your horse per month, and then subtract the cost of the farrier, insurance (if you have), supplements and any other monthly costs like physiotherapy sessions. On top of this it is advisable to budget an extra R1,000 per month minimum to cover the cost of a vet call-out fee, or to replace fly masks, fly spray or grooming items. You will also need to factor in the cost of your lessons, according to what your instructor charges and how many lessons you have a month. Once you’ve done all of these subtractions you’ll be left with what you can afford to spend on your monthly livery.
It is often easiest at this stage to then ask around or check the oracle that is Facebook to see which yards fit your budget. When you go and visit the yards that interest you, make sure you ask about extra costs that you should anticipate besides the standard livery, such as grass levies or other compulsory supplement costs. Be honest with the yard owner and stable manager about what you are looking to spend so that you don’t end up with any nasty surprises when your first monthly bill arrives!
Location, location!
The location of your yard is one of the most important factors, as you don’t want it to be so far away that you never actually get to your horse. Consider the cost of petrol to the yard and work out how many days per week you are planning on being there. If you want to ride every day, a closer yard is certainly an advantage to allow you to save both valuable time and money.
If you’re a competitive rider, you will also need to think about the yard’s location in relation to competition venues in the area. If, on the other hand, you are a leisure rider who enjoys hacking out with friends (and have thus obviously joined HQHack1000), you should try and find a yard that is close to your friends’ yards so that it’s easy to meet up for rides together. If this is not possible, then look for a sociable yard where you stand a good chance of meeting like-minded people.
Facilities
Once you’ve settled on a budget and an area, you’ll want to pick a yard with facilities that best match your and your horse’s requirements.
Paddocks
The first thing to ask the stable manager about is the paddocks. What size are the paddocks available, and is there the option of turning your horse out with other horses? How is water provided in the paddock and is there a shelter for shade? How much natural grazing is available, and is there a cost for providing additional grass in the paddock?
Bigger competition yards often tend not to provide large, social paddocks, as this increases the risk of injury. Turnout time is also usually only for a few hours in the morning, as competition horses are then exercised in the afternoon. This type of paddocking is entirely unsuitable if you are a leisure rider who only rides a few times a week. In this instance, you need to be looking for a yard that turns horses out all day in big paddocks with other horses, so that your horse can move around a lot and spend time with his buddies.
Arenas
When it comes to arenas, most yards have a lunging arena and a dressage and/or jumping arena. Consider your own schooling routine, and what you enjoy doing. If you are looking to climb the jumping grades, going to a dressage yard with no jumping equipment is not wise. Similarly, if you want to practise your dressage tests, you will undoubtedly find it frustrating to be dodging jumps and jumpers every time you ride.
When considering arenas it is also important to examine the arena surface. A surface that is too deep or shallow, uneven or hard is a recipe for leg injury disasters. It is almost always better to school on a grass surface than on an unsuitable arena surface. Some yards have fibre or artificial mixes in their sand, which make the arenas super to ride in, but these yards usually cost a bit more. If you ride regularly, make sure your horse is schooling on a good surface.
Stables
Inspect the stables at the yard thoroughly: look at the size of the stable; the stable doors and how secure they are; the type and amount of bedding provided; how grass is provided (in a haynet or on the floor); and the water supply. The stable should be large enough for your horse to lie down flat comfortably and should be airy with sufficient ventilation. Doors should be sturdy, with no loose bolts or missing bits of wood. The bedding should be clean and thick, and if there is rubber matting, that’s a great bonus! Ask about how much hay is provided for your horse overnight, and how they monitor the water intake. Assess the fly control and ask about what measures are put in place to keep flies to a minimum.
Look at how the stable block itself is maintained as well. The walkways should be well maintained, safe and even, and the yard should be swept and tidy. There shouldn’t be bags of rubbish or piles of manure lying around. It is also worthwhile to look at the tack room, to ensure it is secure, and also to check out the feed room.
Other facilities
Some yards offer other facilities like solariums, hydro spas and horse walkers. If there is something specific that you are looking for, make sure to ask about it in advance.
Feeding
Correct and careful feeding is important for any horse, whether competitive or not. All horses should be on a balanced diet that correspond to their exercise levels and demands. It is important to ask what brand/s of food the yard feeds, and to do thorough research on it beforehand. You also need to know how often the horses at the yard are fed. Do they get one, two, three or even four meals a day?
Forage is the most important component of your horse’s diet, and good forage is vital for your horse’s health, so inspect the forage they have available to assess the quality. Look at the paddocks and check whether there is enough grazing (natural or supplied) for all the horses in each paddock. Find out if they feed lucerne and teff and what the extra cost (if any) is for these. It is also worth checking that the stable manager is happy to feed the supplements that your horse is on.
Discipline
Your preferred discipline is important to consider when choosing a yard, because being in a discipline-focused yard can benefit you from a facility, coaching and competition point of view. It is nice to ride with people competing in the same disciplines, and if the coach on-site is from a specific discipline, this can cut down some of the travelling costs.
Instructors
It is important to check with the stable manager if there is a permanent instructor at the yard, or if riders are welcome to bring their own instructors. Note that if outside instructors are permitted, you may need to pay an additional ground levy fee (on behalf of the instructor) for the use of the arenas, and you are likely to need to fit in around the other riders’ lessons if their coach is the permanent coach for the yard. Be up front with the stable manager about who you would like to use as a coach – sometimes personality clashes mean that certain instructors are not welcome at certain yards, and you want to find out about this before you move your horse and then encounter issues having lessons.
If, however, you are interested in starting lessons with the yard’s instructor, make sure you try and meet them before you commit to the move and find out about the cost per lesson and the lesson packages on offer. Lesson packages usually entail an upfront fee that entitles you to a certain number of lessons per week, but there are often rules that allow you to catch up those lessons within a month if you miss them due to illness or holiday.
Work riders
Just as with instructors, you will want to find out from the stable manager who they use as work riders, and if you can bring your own work rider. Try and meet the person before moving if you think you may use their services when at the yard.
Other services
The stable manager and grooms will oversee your horse’s routine day-to-day care, but you will need contact numbers for other service providers such as a farrier, vet, dentist, saddle fitter, physiotherapist and chiropractor. Ask the stable manager who they use, and if they are open to you using your own professionals, or if it is one set of professionals for all horses.
Besides service providers, ask what other services the yard provides. Competition yards, in particular, provide a lot of added extras, which are at a cost, such as numnah and blanket washing services, clipping, show preparation, plaiting and turnout, grooms’ assistance at shows and lunging. Find out the costs for these in advance.
Special cases
If you are the owner of a stallion, broodmare, colt, filly, yearling or retiree, or if you’re looking for DIY livery, you might need to look a little harder for a yard that suits your needs.
Take home message
Moving yards can be a stressful process, but spending the time and doing your homework properly can seriously increase your chances of success!