A Guide to Finding Your Horse a Reliable Livery

A serene space

Wide open paddocks with lush green grass are great for horses that love to play and relax. The open space and serenity of the surrounding countryside invokes a sense of rejuvenation. In the absence of dedicated exercise, walking, trotting or galloping around this space allows for some physical activity. Post and rail fences secure your horse from getting slightly too adventurous. An efficient drainage system flushes out the excess rain and snow during the winter, allowing the livery to use the paddocks all year round.

A comfortable yard

Well-organised courtyard stables are equipped with running water, power, and security cameras in and around the area. In addition to the basic facilities required for your horses comfort, a yard will normally have a feed room, tack room and heated washroom. Some livery yards offer your horse spa facilities such as a highly therapeutic horse solarium which promotes the formation of Vitamin D and strengthens the immune system to improve your horse’s performance.

A home away from home

Well-equipped with all the amenities that your horse may need, a good livery always has clean and comfortable stables, CCTV surveillance, equestrian clinics, therapeutic facilities and most importantly, a professionally-trained, friendly staff that care for your horses the way that you would.

A nurturing retreat

Behind every healthy and happy horse is someone who dedicates their love and time. With the experienced hands of a well-established livery, you can be rest assured your horse receives adequate nutrition, uses natural feeding practices, and is given a daily routine that balances exercise and relaxation.

Always the best for your horse

You always want the best for your horse, and professionally managed livery services can provide you with that. Consider a livery to be a rejuvenating retreat for you and your horse. If you are looking for livery yards in Winchester, Andover, and the surrounding area make sure you book one offering 5 star facilities facilities.

All you want to know about a full livery service

A full livery service tailored for your horse

When looking for an ideal livery service why not look in the country side - this would be an ideal location for you and your horse to unwind and rejuvenate. There are a range of modern and immaculate equestrian farm stays that provide a 5 star full livery service, from taking care of your horse’s daily exercise routine to personalised bespoke pamper packages, these are all available in the Hampshire countryside and surrounding areas such as Winchester or Andover. However, before you book a livery service there are a few things you need to check first.

Safe and secure stables

Keeping your horse’s comfort in mind, the livery stables should be well-designed, with ample space, good ventilation, and an efficient drainage system. Some liveries attach hay bars to their stalls to encourage natural feeding. If you have a recuperating horse you could opt for a double size stall if the livery has this facility.

Look for more than just an equine retreat

Apart from a secure livery yard, well-maintained paddocks, and comfortable stables, liveries can and do offer a range of services and facilities to ensure your horse feels at home and stays in excellent condition:

• Training exercises: A full livery package includes training programmes and exercises that are designed to keep your horse in excellent fitness and health. Since you know your horse, you can choose the exercise best suited for your horse.

• Health and hygiene: Improvements in hygiene technology such as the Mira Sport air boost hot shower, and the wahl shampoos, are used to keep your horse clean and rejuvenated.

• Rejuvenation: Horse solariums are equipped with infra-red and sun lamps that not only dry your horse after a bath, but also aid in the natural formation of Vitamin D3, improving their immune system and heightening their resistance.

• Relaxation: What better way for your horse to relax than with a chiropractic massage. With the help of their equilibrium massage pads, your horse can relax after a rigorous exercise routine.

Take advantage of premium service

At a premium livery, you can customise the package to your horse’s needs - everything from the nutritional programme the hygienic care through to the exercise routine can be bespoke to your horse. Once you have discussed your requirements, and enrolled your horse for either a five or seven day programme, you can rest assured that your horse will return fitter, balanced and calmer.

Characteristics of A Good Livery For Your Horse

For horse owners, time with their horse is relaxing and enjoyable. Therefore a good livery should focus on providing a tranquil environment, hygienic surroundings and professional care. Overall, the livery should believe in making every horse owner happy by providing good facilities and outstanding livery services. Several characteristics make a good livery Hampshire, livery Andover or Livery Winchester. Let us find out more.

• The availability of professional staff – The staff should be highly professional and available around the clock to ensure that your horse is fit and well
• Customised livery services – A good livery should be able to customise their services based on the needs of the horses and owner.
• Training and bespoke exercises – The training should be effective in such a way that the condition of horse improves over time.
• Solariums – The solarium provided by a livery should be highly efficient and well equipped. The red-light therapies in these solariums are designed to help improve the muscle elasticity and the overall horse’s health.
• Part livery service – A livery should be willing to provide part livery care as well as full livery care.
• Health and Safety regulations – The livery should follow all health and safety regulations prescribed by the government. The staff who work in the livery should treat every horse as their asset and ensure that no horse owner should go home unhappy.
• Preparation for shows – Sometimes horses are used in shows, weddings, and other important events. There are liveries where horses are prepared for various kinds of shows.
• Provide pamper packs – A good livery will understand the importance of pampering a horse. If the horse has any health issue, good liveries provide pamper packs to help the horses.
• Spacious riding arenas – This helps horse owners enjoy riding and even improve their skills.
• Provide additional services – A good livery should be able to provide additional services such as, physiotherapy sessions for horses that are chartered, excellent support for planning a nutritional diet, chiropractic sessions, washing and reproofing of rugs, sports massage sessions and much more.

Five Star Horse Facilities

Most horse owners want their horse to receive the best care and treatment at the finest livery yard near their home. For this, they look for a good livery yard that offers the best care and facilities in the perfect environment.

Some livery yards claim to offer five star facilities as well as bespoke full and part livery packages. You can look at 5* horse facilities Hampshire, Andover, Winchester if you live in or around these areas.

Let us look at what constitutes 5* facilities for horses.

Facilities for the care of your horse

Most good livery yards these days provide facilities that help in the promotion of good health for your horse. These include a  chiropractic massage and infra red therapy in a horse solarium.  Here, your horse would also be rubbed down and receive a shampoo followed by a hot shower. Then they are dried properly and are taken for a light muscle-warming exercise. This treatment is not merely cosmetic. Exposure to infra red lights helps to increase the formation of Vitamin D3 that improves the immune system, coronary health, appetite and tones muscles. It also helps with better fertility, balance and temperament.

An Olympic size riding arena

Your horse loves to gallop and trot and he can do so in a wonderful Olympic sized riding arena complete with protective windbreaks on one side and a suitable enclosure. Some liveries also offer a floodlit school that allows horse owners to exercise their horse at any suitable time. Other facilities offered are mirrors for dressage, viewing patio areas and a new sand and fibre surface.

Excellent Spacious Stables

Stables need to be clean and well structured to ensure your horses comfort. A good livery will always have airy and spacious stables with proper light, running water, CCTV and 24 hour supervision as well.

Paddocks

No ordinary, swampy riding range will do for your horse. Let him run on well kept soil that has been perfected using a rotation system. Other features of well maintained paddocks are post and rail fencing and mains electric fencing.

Company

If you think of five star facilities then the company your horse keeps is just as important. You can be sure he is in good hands.

Horses do have a sense of gratitude and so always make sure you get your horse the best care and attention possible.