Comments on: Gryffeside Livery

By: Sarah Lovell

Sarah Lovell — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 14:24:06 +0000

I’ve been trying to get onto Gryffeside since 2016 but the stars and circumstances have never aligned, Karen has always been honest about what you are looking for and if the yard would suit (I was looking for full livery at the time).

I finally have managed to become a very proud member of the Gryffeside livery, I keep pinching myself!

We were meant to move a couple of weeks later, however, we had to move a few weeks earlier than planned and Karen could not have been more supportive, kind or helpful. Probably the most welcoming bunch of liveries as well! One of my horses arrived at the yard very lame and my other one was acting as her companion. So they were staying in overnight and out in the hardstanding pens during the day. To say he is a grot monster is an understatement – think hose pipe every morning! Karen has not once, but twice thought of solutions to help me out – first putting them into the rubber turnout overnight so I wasn’t mucking that stable out and they both got turnout, but then when my mare was ready, pairing her up with her mare so she had quiet company and introducing my gelding to his new herd.

The yard is so well thought out – my boy was starting to pile on the pounds and the hard standing pens and paddy paddock has been a godsend! That indoor is also what dreams are made of.

The yard is beautifully maintained – from the land and fencing, to the arenas, you can see the pride Karen and Willie take in it. The stables are spacious, with automatic waterers and there’s tonnes of well thought out storage space – I have a lot of stuff between two horses and it’s still all neat and tidy opposed to crammed in. Seeing really is believing (and I don’t just mean the storage).

There’s a lovely place to socialise called the Wendy house – fully equipped with a fridge, kettle, toastie maker and a microwave. So if you want to stay there all day, you can.

Karen is really accommodating of needs, so if you are thinking of coming and joining us, come and have a look around and a chat. I have two horses with varying needs – one is on the best of both package (mainly living out) and my other horse is on the standard living in at night in winter package. You also have the option of grass livery, so there really is something for everyone.

I am looking forward to many, many happy years here as part of Gryffeside and can’t thank Karen and Willie enough for having us!

By: Ryan Jardine

Ryan Jardine — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 18:29:42 +0000

Absolutely brilliant yard! I arrived shortly after i bought my horse and yards owners couldn’t have been more helpful and welcoming. facilities are absolute brilliant and livery’s are really helpful and welcoming! couldn’t recommend a better yard.

By: Nina rooney

Nina rooney — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 11:32:59 +0000

If Carlsberg made livery yards, Gryffeside’s it!
The fields and facilities are top notch, well thought out and maintained to a high standard.

My boy has terrible feet so we recently made the move to Gryffeside because of the availability of hard standing pens, to save him standing in mucky fields throughout the winter or always being stuck in his stable.

He settled super quick and his feet have already seen an improvement in the few months we have been here.

The added bonus of fantastic hacking, outside arena and don’t even get me started on how amazing the indoor school is!

Over all a very welcoming and settled yard, where a lot of effort is put into ensuring a fantastic experience for all the liveries.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 16:01:14 +0000

I have 3 horses at the yard with very different needs ranging from a 5year old to a 23 year old who are all extremely happy at Gryffeside ! The facilities are excellent year round but my particular favourite is the use of the fantastic fields for riding in during the summer months. Between the fields, indoor arena, outdoor arena and fantastic hacking my horses are never bored of working ! The winter months with horses are of course long however the mix of field turnout, turnout pens and the fantastic indoor with a range of poles and jumps all make it much more manageable and allow me to keep them fit even in the bad weather !

By: Ella Dingley

Ella Dingley — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 21:40:18 +0000

Although I am not a livery here I visit Gryffeside regularly throughout the year. My experience is always pleasurable, where horses are happy and well cared for. Owners I interact with always have a smile on their face and a yard without a negative atmosphere is so difficult to find. 5 star rating for sure.

By: Gail Cameron

Gail Cameron — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 09:14:23 +0000

My cob has a range of complex health needs and in recent years he has struggled with allergies, EMS, laminitis and recurring colic (particularly related to grazing for more than a few hours at a time). But I can honestly say he’s never been better, happier and more bright-eyed than since arriving at Gryffeside. For any horse needing a break from the field, the hard-standing pens are amazing. They allow the horses to be outside munching on their nets, with their pals right over the fence to groom, while offering shelter from the elements …. without the worry of over-grazing. My horse sometimes chooses to head for his pen rather than the field if it’s a miserable day because he knows he can have all his creature comforts without having to stand in his stable, where he tends to get bored.
That said, the stables – which are in “pods” of four – are beautifully light and airy….with automatic drinkers and individual tack rooms per “pod”. Bedding, hay and haylage are available on site. And everything is undercover which is so appreciated in winter!
Hacking is fantastic, there is an outdoor school and the indoor is spectacular.
Karen and Willie have been so supportive and accommodating of my big lad and all his “quirks”…. And I feel very reassured knowing he’s getting everything he needs in the most beautiful surroundings. 5 stars!

By: Jane Sim

Jane Sim — Wed, 01 Mar 2023 21:38:45 +0000

I moved my horse to Gryffeside nearly two years ago and we haven’t looked back. From the moment we arrived my boy settled like he had been there for a long time.
Before moving yards I had been gone round several others but nothing was quite right. That was until I went to Gryffeside. While the yard was not the closest to home but I was impressed as soon as I arrived.
The yard was spotless, the facilities offered from the large airy stables with automatic water drinkers and stable mats, to the fact you were also supplied with a hard standing pens not only that a round pen, and outdoor school and now we have the indoor school for those not so nice days that we typically have.
Karen and Willie work hard to keep the yard in such good condition and often go above and beyond to assist you to ensure you and your horse are happy.
Turnout at Gryffeside is 24-7 during the summer months and while restricted during the winter the horses still are allowed time out as their needs are top priority here.
I could go on and on about the yard as I and my boy are very happy. This is not only due to the owners but also the other livery’s as they all are a fantastic bunch of people and horses.
Don’t take my word for it phone up and book a yard visit and see what you think. You and your horse won’t regret it.

By: Mary McCreath

Mary McCreath — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 22:34:20 +0000

I have been a livery client at Gryffeside for 15 years. This is a fantastic yard with excellent facilities for my horse. The stables are large and airy with rubber matting and water drinkers. Each horse also has a covered hard standing pen which is great in the bad weather, for laminitis, rehabilitation or just chilling.
There is access to all year round grazing, separate grazing for summer and winter with the fields and fencing always being maintained to the highest standards. The yard is kept neat and tidy by everyone lending a hand and taking a pride in their surroundings. Oh and there is also a lovely clean warm toilet.
I am quite lazy so having access to unlimited home grown hay or haylage means that I do not have to source this every year. Bedding is also available on site. There are various companies that will also deliver hard feed and other supplies for your horse and dog. Another benefit is that well behaved dogs are very welcome and love a run in the fields. This means a lot to me to have this privilege.
After enjoying the great hacking the liveries can relax in the comfortable heated common room affectionally referred to as The Wendy House. Here you can drink as much free tea and coffee as you want. There is also a fridge/freezer, microwave and toaster.
The owners Willie and Karen go above and beyond for their clients and this as I can vouch for on many occasions.
I thoroughly recommend this fantastic yard to anyone. Why not come and have a look around?
I have no hesitation in giving five stars. Would go higher if I could.

By: Georgina

Georgina — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 19:54:47 +0000

I have two horses at Gryffeside who couldn’t have more different needs – a 21 year old poor doer and a 2 year old good doer – and yet Gryffeside seems to offer the perfect package for both. My oldie has access to great quality haylage, well maintained fields and a gentle herd, keeping her in good condition even in the depth of winter, whilst my baby has the ability to live out 24/7 hill grazing, growing up, developing her muscles and staying trim. The facilities here are second to none, with an indoor and outdoor school, round pen and hard standing pens. The whole yard and fields are perfectly maintained and immaculately kept. The yard owners Karen and Willie are lovely, as are all the other liveries, and I trust them completely with my horses – they’ve held them for urgent vet appointments when I’ve needed it as well as providing on going support. I really trust Karen to do the best by all the horses in her care and I couldn’t recommend the yard enough!

By: June Ramsay

June Ramsay — Sun, 27 Mar 2022 20:28:07 +0000

This is the gold standard of livery facilities.
Owners are gold standard people and then some.
My horse settled so quickly, loves it.