141. Livery Yards and their responsibilities (or rather lack of responsibilities)....

Today i am going to write about something which i feel very strongly and passionate about which is the way in which horses are kept. Throughout the Uk there are an estimated 10,000 livery yards and currently there is NO law which requires livery yards to be regulated in anyway. There is a voluntary licensing scheme run by the BHS which ensures a certain code of practice is followed but as this is not compulsory it only lends itself to those that are willing to register and currently the number willing to do so is described as 'dissappointing'.

The code of practice necessary for registering as a licensed BHS livery yard is as follows:

STABLING 
1.  The construction and size of the stables must be appropriate for the type of 
horses to be accommodated. The normal size ranges from 10’x10’ to 14’ x 16’. In 
each case:­
The animal must be able to stand, with its head in the normal position with 
adequate clearance, at least 2ft from the roof
The animal must be able to lie down and get up without difficulty
The animal must be able to stand, with its head in the normal position.
The animal must be able to turn round in comfort
Special attention must be given to very small and very large breeds 
2.In the case of stalls:­
The sides must be wide enough to enable the animal to turn round and be led 
out without the necessity of backing.
The length of the stall floor must allow the horse to stand on the same level 
with front and hind feet.
The animal must be able to lie down and get up without difficulty
Special attention must be given to very small and very large breeds 
3.Walls should present a reasonably smooth uninterrupted surface free from edges 
or projections on which an animal could injure itself. Partitions if used, must be 
down to floor level­tin sheeting must not be used. 
4.Access to all stables /  boxes / stalls should be possible for individual horses 
without risk from other horses or equipment. 
5.Windows if fitted must be at a high enough level to prevent injury to horse or 
alternatively must be barred. There must be adequate ventilation. 
6.Adequate  suitable  bedding  to  protect  stabled  horses  from  injury  and  disease 
should be provided. The stable should drain adequately, or deep litter should be 
provided in order to maintain a dry bed. 
7.Each box should have provision for feeding and fresh water. 
8.Adequate safe lighting whether fixed or portable shall be available to enable the 
horses to be thoroughly inspected at any time. If power points are provided they 
must be protected and the switches placed outside the boxes and not within reach 
of the horse. 
9.Suitable storage for feed, forage and bedding must be provided. 
10.The yard must be capable of being gated. 
11.Vehicle access to the yard must be provided

MANURE STORAGE 
1.There  must be provision  for adequate storage away from the stable area. 
FEEDING AND WATERING 
1.The  horses,  if  required,  will  be  given  supplementary  feeding  according  to  their 
age,  size  and  amount  of  work  being  carried  out  in  order  to  maintain  them in  good health, satisfy their natural needs and promote a positive state of well being. 
2.All  horse  must  have  access  to  or  be  provided  with  an  adequate  supply  of  fresh 
drinking water each day. 
3.Feeding  and  watering  equipment  of  non  stabled  horses  shall  be  placed  and 
maintained  so  that  contamination  of  food  and  water  are  minimised  and 
competition between horses avoided. 
GRAZING LAND 
1.Grazing  land  must  be  maintained  in  a  suitable  condition  for  equines,  restricted 
areas  must be provided  if required. 
2.Pasture  and  hedges  must  be  regularly  inspected  for  poisonous  plants  and  they 
must be removed  if present. 
3.Where grass  is used as sustenance, there  must be sufficient to keep each animal  in 
that field. 
4.Horses  that  are  not  stabled  shall,  when  necessary,  be  given  protection  from 
adverse  weather  conditions,  and  at  all  times  have  access  to  a  well  drained  lying 
area. 
FENCING 
1.Secure and safe horse proof fencing  must be provided. 
2.Barbed  wire  is  unsuitable,  but  if  present  must  be  separated  by  a  secure  guard 
fence or electric t ape. 
HEALTH 
1.The  horses  under  the  care  of  this  livery  yard  shall  be  inspected  at  intervals 
sufficient to avoid any suffering. 
2.Any  horses which appear to be ill or injured;
shall  be cared for appropriately wit hout delay and
Where  they  do  not  respond  to  such  care,  veterinary  advice  shall  be 
obtained  immediately. 
3.Where  necessary,  sick  or  injured  horses  shall  be  isolated  in  suitable 
accommodation wit h, where appropriate, dry comfortable bedding. 
4.Records  should  be  kept  of  all  medicinal  treatment  given  to  horses.  This  is  the 
owner’s responsibility. 
5.A  yard  parasite  control  programme  and  vaccination  programme  must  be  carried 
out under veterinary control/advice 
6.All  animals  must  be  registered  with  a  veterinary  practice  and  wit h  a  registered 
farrier.

STATUTORY WELFARE CODES 
If  the  livery  yard  owner  employs  or  engages  a  person  to  attend  to  the  horses  he  shall 
ensure that the person; 
a)It  is  advised  that  all  livery  providers  are  acquaint ed  with  the  Equine  Industry 
Welfare Guidelines Compendium  for Horses, Ponies and Donkeys ­ December 
2005 NEWC 
POWERS OF AN AUTHORISED PERSON 
Where  an  authorised  person  considers  that  horses  are  being  kept  in  a  way  which  is 
likely  to  cause  unnecessary  pain,  suffering  or  injury  or  in  any  other  way  in 
contravention  of  any  provision  of  these  Regulat ions,  he  may  serve  a  notice  on    the 
person  appearing  to  him  to  be  in  charge  of  the  animals  requiring  that  person,  within 
the  period  stated  in  the  notice,  to  take  any  act ion  that  the  authorised  person  considers 
to  be  reasonably  necessary  to  ensure  compliance  with  these  Regulat ions  and  the 
authorised person shall give  his reasons  for requiring that action to be taken. 
Produced by BEVA, BHS, RSPCA, ILPH on behalf of the horse Industry


I think it is reasonable and fair assumption to make that any long standing livery yard which is not registered with the BHS scheme does not meet the above requirements and therefore is not providing horses with the basic care and management they require.

Although the BHS Scheme is definitely a step in the right direction what i find odd is that no mention of adequate turnout time is stipulated. So, literally at this moment in time there is no law or legislation against keeping a horse in a stable for 24hrs a day every day. This means that currently owners and managers of livery yards who do not have enough grazing can make more money by building a few more stables even if it means it is detrimental to the welfare of the horses.

Let's face it, all businesses are in business to make money (that's a given) but as a society don't we have a responsibility to make sure that this isn't to the detriment of our animals?

It seems strange to me that you can get a way with keeping a horse in a stable 24hrs a day but that keeping dog in a kennel for 24 hrs a day you'd probably find yourself reported to the RSPCA and possibly prosecuted.

I believe most livery yards open up because they have a genuine interest and care for horses but somewhere along the way it seems that these emotions are clouded over by greed and the temptation of earning more money.

What i would ask these livery yard owners and managers is...if they consider their horses to be happy would they happily swap places with them?

I keep my horse out 24/7 with 5 other horses in a field that is poo picked every day with the best food money can buy but i still can't say yes to this question for i realize it is no substitute for the life of a horse that lives in the wild but i can say 'i am doing my very best' and that my desire for money only ever enhances her quality of life.