Moving to a new yard can be a stressful time, possibly more for the owner than the horse, and you need to decide if it’s the right yard for you and your horse. Like all professional relationships, clear communication is key – both you and your Yard Owner have expectations of each other and if these are clearly defined, miscommunication can be avoided.
The first decision is what type of yard to look for. DIY will be less expensive as long as you have the time and flexibility to be there several times a day. There are other considerations – how far away is the new yard from home, are feed and bedding available on site, can it be delivered or will you have to go shopping and play car Tetris with big bags of feed each week? Also, it’s essential to find out if any services are available should you need help or plan to go on holiday. Maybe full/part livery might suit you and your horse better.
Here are some of the questions our horse owner users have suggested for visiting a new yard. The top tip seems to be – don’t be scared to ask!
Yard Routine
This may apply to more full/part livery. You can be specific and ask what time staff usually start and what times the horses get fed and turned out.
- How does the routine change between summer and winter? For example, what happened last winter?
- If the fields are too wet, is there a horse walker or hard-standing alternative?
- What are the usual yard hours? Does anyone live on site?
- How long has the manager been running the yard?
- How does the yard prefer to be contacted for standard queries or in an emergency?
- What are the procedures for contacting next of kin if there is an accident? Do all staff have immediate access to emergency contact details?
- Is there a first aider on site?
- Is the arena free to use at any time, or is there a booking system? Are there any set times that the arena is unavailable, and how would you check this?
- Can you use your own farrier/instructor? How much notice does the yard need for professionals visiting?
- What feed is available? Can you supply your own if you want something they do not provide?
- Storage space – look at the space available for your tack, rugs and feed/bedding (if you’re DIY and storing your own)
- What is the worming programme?
- Do new horses go into isolation?
Prices and services:
- How much is the stable rent, are different packages available? To help you budget ask for a detailed breakdown of what is included/not included in your stable rent so there are no surprises
- What additional services are available?
- What is the preferred notice period for booking services and is there an additional charge for short notice requests?
- What happens on bank holidays/Christmas Day? Are services available?
Paperwork and general housekeeping:
- Ask for a copy of the yard rules and a contract
- Be clear about your deposit and notice period
- Ask about their insurance. For example, do they have Care, Custody, and Control insurance alongside their Public Liability insurance?
- What does the Yard Owner need from you regarding Insurance or vaccination records?
- What is the fire evacuation procedure, and where is it displayed?
- Is lorry/trailer parking available?
Yard life:
- Does the yard run competitions?
- What’s the hacking like? Do liveries go out together regularly?
- How long have most of the horses been on the yard?
- What’s the approximate mix of DIY and full/part livery?
- Are children and dogs allowed?
There’s a lot here when you list elements individually, but it’s essential that everyone is completely clear about what’s being provided. The more questions you ask, the fewer surprises there will be and expectations on both sides are much clearer.
Yard Owners’ rules have often been put in place through long experience of keeping the yard up to a safe standard for everyone. For example, you may be asked to keep nothing more than a headcollar outside your stable. ‘‘How inconvenient – you’re a very tidy person!’’ However, it’s likely this rule is in place because untidy storage of rugs, grooming kits and tools has caused a real hazard for people and horses previously walking through a barn.
Finally – local knowledge is invaluable! Ask your farrier, ask your physio, ask your friends.
