A brief guide to finding livery stables - types of livery available and questions to ask.

1. FINDING A LIVERY STABLES Upper House Farm Stables, Nr Godalming, Surrey

2. What sort of livery do you want? How much assistance do you need? How much time do you have? What facilities are important to you? What can you afford? UPPER HOUSE FARM STABLES, GODALMING, SURREY TEL: 01483 208 126 Before you start...

3. Tack and feed shops Internet: Google search Equestrian forums e.g., Saddle-Up Magazines e.g., Horse & Hound Yellow pages Recommendations from other riders, trainers, farriers and vets UPPER HOUSE FARM STABLES, GODALMING, SURREY TEL: 01483 208 126 Where to look

4. Part Full Schooling DIY Grass Competition, backing, rehabilitation and holiday livery are outside the scope of this guide UPPER HOUSE FARM STABLES, GODALMING, SURREY TEL: 01483 208 126 Types of livery

5. Who is responsible for the yard? What is their experience? Where will your horse be stabled? Will he be turned out every day? Is the turnout in groups? How big are they? How are new horses introduced? Is individual turnout available, if needed? What hours is the yard staffed? UPPER HOUSE FARM STABLES, GODALMING, SURREY TEL: 01483 208 126 General questions to ask

6. What do the yard feed and when? Is haylage an extra cost? Are there any restrictions e.g., access times, visiting trainers? What are the policies on: Bringing new horses onto the yard Worming What are the arrangements for Christmas/ New Year? UPPER HOUSE FARM STABLES, GODALMING, SURREY TEL: 01483 208 126 General questions to ask

7. What it is you want – type of livery and level of support About your horse – any vices, quirks and special requirements About you – happy hacker, serious competitor or somewhere in between About your quirks – what is non-negotiable? UPPER HOUSE FARM STABLES, GODALMING, SURREY TEL: 01483 208 126 Things to tell the yard

8. Yard generally responsible for all day to day care e.g.,: Mucking out Feeding Rug changes Turning out / bringing in Owner generally grooms, cleans tack and rides UPPER HOUSE FARM STABLES, GODALMING, SURREY TEL: 01483 208 126 Part Livery

9. Part livery differs from yard to yard Check: Does the yard groom the horse? Do they pick out feet daily? Is the service 5 or 7 day? How many bales of bedding does livery include? What feed is provided? UPPER HOUSE FARM STABLES, GODALMING, SURREY TEL: 01483 208 126 Part Livery

10. All owner has to do is ride Yard generally responsible for: All day to day care Grooming Tack cleaning Exercising UPPER HOUSE FARM STABLES, GODALMING, SURREY TEL: 01483 208 126 Full Livery

11. What exercise will your horse receive (hacking, schooling, lungeing, long reining)? How often will he be exercised and by whom? What say do you have in what he does? UPPER HOUSE FARM STABLES, GODALMING, SURREY TEL: 01483 208 126 Full Livery

12. Full livery plus the yard will school or re-school your horse Who will ride him? What work will he have? How many days per week? What do you want him to achieve and by when? UPPER HOUSE FARM STABLES, GODALMING, SURREY TEL: 01483 208 126 Schooling Livery

13. The yard provides the facilities The owner is responsible for the care of the horse and provision of feed, hay, bedding What facilities are available to you? How much storage? Do you have to buy feed/ hay/ bedding from the yard? What assistance is available, if any, to cover holidays, illness etc? UPPER HOUSE FARM STABLES, GODALMING, SURREY TEL: 01483 208 126 DIY Livery

14. For field kept horses Is there a stable available, if needed? Is there shelter in the field? Is hay/ haylage provided in winter? Is that an extra cost? Are the yard facilities available to you? UPPER HOUSE FARM STABLES, GODALMING, SURREY TEL: 01483 208 126 Grass Livery

15. Make sure all of your questions are answered Ask for and read the livery contract Ensure the livery contract sets out the services you have agreed, including any special requirements Let the yard know what your horse is fed, when he was wormed, shod and vaccinated Breathe! UPPER HOUSE FARM STABLES, GODALMING, SURREY TEL: 01483 208 126 Before you arrive

16. We occasionally have spaces available for full or part livery. With 12 years at The Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace, our yard owner, Andy Pinner, is a safe pair of hands. Contact us on 01483 208 126 for further details or find us on Facebook. UPPER HOUSE FARM STABLES, GODALMING, SURREY TEL: 01483 208 126 Contact us