Labour, Leisure and Love: an Exploration of UK Livery Yard Management and Decision-Making Around Equine Care

Abstract Background: Livery yards are important in UK equine management, catering for over 60% of the UK’s horses. Decisions made by the managers of livery establishments shape the lives of horses and their owners; livery yard owners and managers (LYO/Ms) are therefore a highly important stakeholder in equine welfare. This study aimed to explore the experiences of LYO/Ms around yard set-up and management, and how yard managers make decisions around horse wellbeing within the context of their ongoing business. Methods: This study used qualitative research methods to bring together 52 semi-structured interviews with yard managers from over 45 diverse yards, 2 focus groups, and 20 forum discussion threads. Data were analysed using constructivist grounded theory methods. Results: Our research highlights the complexity of livery yard management, with each yard functioning as a unique ecosystem based on a balance of interdependent factors, including the management of the horses, clients, land, business, and facility management. Livery yards in this study were frequently run from a desire to work with horses, and this shaped the yard manager’s provision of services and care. While yards were organised around the physical tasks of looking after horses, participants suggested that the core of their workload was, in fact, related to the organisational and emotional work of managing clients and horses. This included negotiating around interspecies individual needs, managing disagreements, and building relationships. Collectively, this required complex organisation and emotional labour. Much of LYO/Ms work is under-recognised; for example, negotiating preventive health measures between vets and clients, managing horse neglect, and supporting clients with euthanasia decision making. Conclusions: This study has highlighted the complexity of the LYO/M’s role, and the lack of support available, which culminate in slow changes to practice and frequent clashes between clients and LYO/Ms. Understanding these factors will enable equestrians to support and facilitate LYO/Ms work, and collaborate with LYO/Ms to better improve equine welfare.