The British Horse Society South East region, together with Horse Health Products (UK) Ltd, has launched a competition to find the best livery yard in Surrey, Sussex and Kent.
Livery clients who nominate their yard for consideration will be sent a short questionnaire to fill in about the yard and its facilities.
The closing date is 28 September, with preliminary judging taking place during October and visits to short-listed yards made during November and December.
The winning yard will receive BHS Approval for 2002, £100 from Horse Health Products, a trophy and a wall plaque. Liveries will receive “goody bags” from Frogpool Manor Saddlery and there will be gifts forthe horses too.
The competition, which was launched at the Royal International Horse Show, is also offering membership for next year’s meeting at Hickstead, plus a £10 BHS voucher for both the winning livery yard owner/manager and the nominee.
Nichola Gregory, spokesperson for the BHS, said that although this has started as a regionally led incentive, the aim is to take the competition nationwide.
“We have had increasing reports over the last couple of years about problems at liveryyards and complaints, but we know there are a lot of very good yards out there and we want to celebrate those. Hopefully, the ones that aren’t doing so well can learn from the livery yards which are.
“Ideally, we are looking for a sponsor to take this competition nationwide. More people are owning their own horses these days and many rely on livery services as they juggle their home, family, work and horses. In view of this maintaining standards is very important.”
For more information and entry forms contact Pat Gaywood (tel: 01689 872747) or Wendy Peckham (tel: 01580 830979)
