Things to consider when booking an equestrian facility
Posted on 9th April 2021 at 17:27
Finding the right facilities when looking for your horse or pony takes time and there are certain factors you will need to consider, especially if you want a yard which hosts regular clinics and fun competitions.
Clinics and Competitions
How often does the yard run clinics and competitions? As part of the experience of creating a relationship with a yard, find out how often they run competitions and clinics, Sacha Hamilton runs weekly clinics and regular competitions, watch out on our events page for dates and prices.
Questions to ask the Yard manager when looking around a new yard.
Fire & Security
Are there fire sensors in every stable?
You need to feel reassured the yard owner is managing fire risk as a top priority – Sacha Hamilton takes all aspects of security very seriously, all of the stables have smoke alarms, which are linked to the fire station along with CCVT cameras throughout the yard, monitored by staff regularly.
Ventilation in the stables
Is there good air ventilation in the stables and can these be closed during bad weather?
The team at Sacha Hamilton’s Equestrian Yard are available on site, all stables have a rear window and these are closed as a part of the regular checks to ensure your horse or pony is protected in bad weather.
Communication on the yard
Does the yard have a good communication strategy to keep you updated with changes?
Is there a notice board available for staff, owners and visitors and its clearly visible and kept updated regularly? At Sacha Hamilton’s stables there are information boards on every stable for boots, medication and hay.
Water availability
How is the water made available to your horse or pony in the stable?
Is this an automated supply or is this manual by you or the yard grooms? Sacha Hamilton has installed automated fresh water drinkers in the stables and also in every field has an automated water trough which is regularly maintained by the facility handyperson.
Rug drying facility
How are your rugs going to be dried?
Is this in your stable or are there external facilities available on the yard? There is a separate rug drying facility on the yard.
When visiting a yard for the first time, what investments should you be looking for in the tack room?
Security in the tack room is a top priority
The Cost of Rural Crime was £54m in 2019, with the South East being with in the top 3 worst affected areas in the UK, this report published by the NFU in 2020 highlights the key areas affected.
The tack room on a yard will be housing thousands of pounds worth of owner’s tack, including saddles, saddle pads, girths and bridle with reins, halters, bits, harnesses, martingales and breastplates.
Sacha Hamilton makes security one of her top priorities, along with the health and wellbeing of your horse or pony, and she has invested in a CCTV system and a double padlock for the tack room, along with a series of cameras throughout the yard.
Why did Sacha invest in the rubber and sand surface on the outdoor arena?
Creating a competition area isn’t just about the generous lighting or the mirrors around the perimeter, which are all available at Sacha’s arena, it is about the foundation and especially the surface products used. There is a science behind a good quality arena surface and it’s there to ensure the health and safety of the horse and rider is maintained, but it also needs to remain a consistent surface and it must be durable to allow for the more advanced riders.
It is important to have a well-drained arena, with a good quality sand base foundation, along with a 3-6inch rubberised surface.
For an in-depth coverage of finding the correct arena surface, read what The Horse Magazine has to say
Another significant investment in the facilities at Sacha Hamilton’s Equestrian Yard is the Horse Solarium
What are the health benefits for a horse using a solarium?
It is important for competition horses to be on a yard with a solarium due to the intensity of some of the exercise programmes, but there are also significant benefits for retired horses as well light workers.
Before and after exercise
Recovery from injury
Drying off
Safety and relaxation
For more information: here are the highlights from HQ magazine along with the highlights from a UK manufacturer of Horse Solariums.
All of the facilities at Sacha Hamilton’s Equestrian Centre have been thought through to ensure our owners, staff and horses have the ultimate experience when using the centre.
If you would like to see around our facilities and meet the team please get in touch or call Chris on 07757 649342 for an initial chat..
Tagged as: Horse Boarding Stables, Horse Livery
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