A how much - private yard rent

[Polos Mum]

How much value do people place on renting a private yard vs. livery on a yard with lots of others?

I know broadly what basic DIY livery is around here but I think there is a premium to having the place to yourself for someone with 3-4 horses. Would you wise people agree?
Nice big boxes together in barn, private lockable storage, big barn for hay/ bedding storage, trailer parking, floodlit school with flexi-ride surface and your 'own' c.3 acres to manage as you like (within reason not 25 horses on there all winter!)

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

There are lots of people wanting their 'own' place (even if rented).
If a plot comes up near me, you can guarantee that IF it even gets as far as being advertised, the owners will get more than a dozen immediate serious replies!
Usually places here seem to go by word of mouth tho and price is usually a premium over std DIY. eg, its at least £100pcm per stable plus £50 over, so a 3 acre plot with 3 stables & storage is £350 pcm (and a limit on how many can be kept there too). More on top if it has power and/or arena.

Most of these places near me have stables & storage, good-ish grazing, parking but no power or school. This only resulted as a huge farm was sold off piecemeal back in the late 70s and early 80's, in 2 to 10 acre plots.

That said, most local YO's have wised up and a, taken 2 months deposit up front - as well as a months rent, and b, usually only let to one person (much easier for rental payments).

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I wouldn't want 3 - 4 horses on 3 acres, tbh. When we get such wet weather as we have had over recent years, the land just won't sustain that level of stocking. So if I were the landowner, I would prefer to lower the rent slightly to keep the land in good order with just two horses (or maybe 3 ponies).

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

I wouldn't want 3 - 4 horses on 3 acres, tbh. When we get such wet weather as we have had over recent years, the land just won't sustain that level of stocking. So if I were the landowner, I would prefer to lower the rent slightly to keep the land in good order with just two horses (or maybe 3 ponies).

^ Very much depends on the ground though - and if the animals are stabled overnight too during the winter.
Even with my sandy soil, I bring mine in on the odd night or so to let the ground have a rest - and the fuzzies to have a dry night too. This really helps protect the land

 

[Polos Mum]

I wouldn't want 3 - 4 horses on 3 acres, tbh. When we get such wet weather as we have had over recent years, the land just won't sustain that level of stocking. So if I were the landowner, I would prefer to lower the rent slightly to keep the land in good order with just two horses (or maybe 3 ponies).

Appreciate that, even if it is 2 horses - what would be a reasonable premium for having the place to yourself, no livery bickering, no silly rules, no opening or closing times, no turnout restriction etc. - or not much if it's just 2 horses.
If DIY with floodlit school, trailer parking and as much personal storage as you'd like (i.e. plenty to store a years worth of hay) is around £25 a week what would you add for making your own rules/ arrangements? Or is it not really valuable to have it to yourself?

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Appreciate that, even if it is 2 horses - what would be a reasonable premium for having the place to yourself, no livery bickering, no silly rules, no opening or closing times, no turnout restriction etc. - or not much if it's just 2 horses.
If DIY with floodlit school, trailer parking and as much personal storage as you'd like (i.e. plenty to store a years worth of hay) is around £25 a week what would you add for making your own rules/ arrangements? Or is it not really valuable to have it to yourself?

Our horses are at home and I wouldn't go back to livery if you paid me. It is so long since we were at livery (over 20 yrs) that I have no idea of prices in this area now. My point was that the LO might want to consider that someone who has been on DIY livery with 3 -4 horses might think the cost of renting a yard was worth it, rather than paying £100+ per week, while someone with only 2 horses might think that a premium of £50 per week was too much for the privilege of doing it *all* yourself. Equally LO might prefer to have one person renting the lot rather than trying to find separate owners to rent one stable and grazing each.
On balance I think possibly 2 horses with the extra cost of a third horse, as a premium, if the LO will provide some help with the heavier maintenance, e.g. fencing, or other work which needs a tractor.
There does need to be a reality check on both sides though if the horse owner is expected to do all maintenance.

 

[Polos Mum]

Thanks, all stone walls so fencing is professional job and we have someone in to muck spread, harrow, weed kill and they do the whole lot (if renter wanted - some people don't like fertiliser I appreciate that).
Poo picking would need to be done by renter (if they wanted) the land has been used for hay making for 100+ years is on a good slope largely used by cows recently so in good nick.
I don't poo pick mine and have 4 out 24/7 about 335 days a year on 3.5 acres.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Thanks, all stone walls so fencing is professional job and we have someone in to muck spread, harrow, weed kill and they do the whole lot (if renter wanted - some people don't like fertiliser I appreciate that).
Poo picking would need to be done by renter (if they wanted) the land has been used for hay making for 100+ years is on a good slope largely used by cows recently so in good nick.
I don't poo pick mine and have 4 out 24/7 about 335 days a year on 3.5 acres.

You couldn't do that on ours, we are just above a reservoir and the land gets very wet. I would imagine that you would have a lot of interest if you advertised the yard for rent, for pretty much anything you liked within reason, if as well as the facilities you mention you have access to reasonable hacking and the yard doesn't open straight out onto a main road.

 

[dixie]

I rent a yard to myself. It’s 3 acres and we have three horses on it. We’re paying £260 pm. It got lovely stables but no school and the fencing is very ropey. It’s also only 2 mins from my home.
However 3 horses on it is too much as it doesn’t drain well and the ground is trashed. We’ll be dropping to 2 horses in a month so I hoe it will be more manageable in future if and when the grass grows back.
I would definitely pay more if it had a school.