Moving to DIY

[cocoadreams]

So, the yard where I am a livery and have been for almost 6 years has been sold. I do not wish to remain under the new owner. So for the last week I’ve been on a mission to find a new home for my pony. After seeing a lot of places, the one I felt most at home in is a DIY yard, and we will
be moving there at the end of July.
there are systems in place to assist with mornings / evenings if you really can’t do them, but for the first few weeks at least I feel I need to be seen and do my own horse to be accepted.
Im quite excited and looking forward to caring for her myself, but a bit apprehensive … any tips ?

Make sure that you know what the situation is with wheelbarrows , forks , brooms etc - are they shared or does everyone have their own . Have they got a properly secure tack room , how much storage do you have for hay , food , bedding ?

This would be completely down to the yard in question.

Most DIY yards i know have no one unless you can ask a favour of another livery - not something i'd be wanting to do when new or as a regular thing.

Maybe asking around for a freelancer might be best so you have someone to cover?

Also bare in mind, generally, DIY do not organise anything for you like deliveries/hay etc.

Assuming it’s a DIY only yard? IME I’d expect it to be very hands off from the owners and a bit every man for themselves otherwise.
Generally in these set ups help is absolutely by exception, so if you regularly can’t get there one morning a week I’d expect to arrange a freelancer instead of relying on the others on the yard

Id clairfy storage space as well, when I was last on a proper DIY only yard we were given areas of a barn for hay/bedding etc and if we filled it, tough shit.

How hands off is the owner? Will someone be checking the tack room is locked, your horse won’t be stood out alone all day if half the yard meet up for a hack in the middle of the day you can’t get to etc?

@Lastqueenofscotland2 At the last DIY yard we were on there was very limited storage but he allowed you to have your own storage erected . We had 2 large lockable sheds erected and a double garage full of shavings at home . You literally couldn’t leave anything unlocked without it going walkabout which was extremely annoying .