| If you are trying to choose the right livery yard | | | | regime for horses in different work |
| at which to keep your horse it may sound like a | | | | There are a range of other benefits to visiting |
| really obvious piece of advice to compare several | | | | lots of yards. You will become a local expert on |
| livery yards before making a decision. But you will | | | | who has what and how much they charge. It will |
| be surprised when you realise how many people | | | | make you a much better informed rider and |
| do not bother and go to the first yard they visit. | | | | enable you to help others who need to find a |
| Most horse owners have made their minds up to | | | | livery yard. |
| move to the yard before they visit, having been | | | | By seeing lots of different ways of organising and |
| persuaded by discussions with other horse | | | | managing yards enables you to compare different |
| owners. | | | | systems and set ups and to decide what you |
| Even the most experienced horse owner should | | | | think is the best. You might be able to find a yard |
| take a look at a wide range of yards, even those | | | | that fits your ideal set up. |
| they are not considering or that at first thought | | | | The more liveries you visit, the easier it will be to |
| seem to be wrong. | | | | assess them. You quickly learn to take in the |
| There are three very good reasons for making | | | | standards of housekeeping and maintenance, |
| sure you visit as many other yards as possible | | | | identifying the positives and negatives of each |
| and ideally a total of at least ten, making sure | | | | yard and understanding the relationships between |
| that they include some that are known for their | | | | good maintenance and good welfare. |
| fantastic range of facilities and consider | | | | As in all choices there are compromises to be |
| themselves to be international standard and | | | | made. It is unlikely that you will find exactly what |
| others that have lower aspirations. | | | | you want and may have to decide to trade a |
| The three key reasons for visiting as many livery | | | | horse walker for all year turn-out or accept a |
| yards as possible are: | | | | slightly higher price than you want for the right |
| - You will be better informed about what options | | | | facilities or location. When buying a house it is |
| are available and where they are | | | | more than likely that you will view lots before |
| - You will know the range of prices that are | | | | making a decision, so why not when you are |
| charged and have an increased knowledge of | | | | trying to decide on a new home for your horse? |
| what you would get for your monthly livery | | | | By putting in the extra effort and going to view |
| charge | | | | lots of livery yards you will out yourself in the |
| - You will become aware of the range of facilities | | | | best possible position to make a balanced and |
| that may be available and how they fit into the | | | | objective home for your equine pal! |