Advice on new a potential new livery yard

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DaisyChain24

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Hello All,

Just doing some research and would like some adivce, opnions and pricing if possible please!

There is a yard that has come up for sale in Kent, previously was a competition yard, but talking a good few years ago now.
It will be run as a livery yard, how much would you think full livery would be for the facilites and do you think it could work with what it has? what would be your pro's/cons?

Yard has;
18 Stables, rubber matted
Manege, 60x30
Indoor School, 20x40
Horse walker
Wash down box
Tackroom
Grass Arena
Full set of show jumps
Good hacking
Barn / storage
2 Grooms' Cottages
Owner lives on site / CCTV
Paddocks.
In all approx. 9 acres.

Another question - how would you run a place like this?!

Thanks in advance
K.
 
Sounds fantastic facilities apart from the turnout. This may have worked previously as a comp yard as many pro's turn out for only short periods and horses go back to owners for holidays etc, but I can't see how it would work for a livery yard aimed at 'normal' as opposed to high level competitors.

Fiona
 
When we did DIY livery, with all year turnout, I was suprised how many brought their horses in on rainy days anyway! Humanised them almost. If each horse can get a few hours of turnout daily people will probably put up with it. It sounds as though riders that want to compete would enjoy those facilities - so may not need as much turnout. If they can't go out as much it does up your haylage/hay bill though...

Have a look at full livery yards in the area - compare what they offer, and work out what you could charge. Are you an instructor? Thats a plus too...

I would NEVER do DIY livery again!
 
sounds great except no XC course and the grazing, I personally don't mind my horses in small paddocks in the day and stabled at night, in fact id dislike anything else, if you can section the land off for small paddocks for just groups of twos and rotate and manage it Ok and just have turnout for so many hours a day i don't think people will mind as long as they don't have to put out and bring them in as this is when it will become a problem for people who work. If they aren't allowed out at all a lot of the time i don't think people would like that. If riders on the yard compete, in most disciplines its likely they will only want small paddocks, safely fenced and limited time out, but on a daily basis.
 
I was going to say that. Ideally you need 1.5 acres per horse/pony. So if you have 18 horses (as there are eighteen stables) you are going to be severely restricted to turn out. In the summer you could turn some out night and some out in the day but it's very doubtful there would be enough quality in the acreage to support this all summer. Obviously in the winter they would all need to be out in the day unless you did morning and afternoon turnout which would be a lot of man hours bringing in/turning out. I wouldn't contemplate being on a yard that didn't offer turnout.
 
I suppose you could try to attract the more competition oriented rider who would want the facilities and possible easy access to shows and would therefore put up with restricted turn out. Does that sound like a feasible plan where the yard is based?
 
With that many boxes and that little acreage, it could only work as a competition yard. Otherwise it will be a quagmire in winter and unpleasant for liveries wanting to enjoy their surroundings.
 
i feel the same as most others, these days most people seem to want daily turnout so you are a bit short on acreage unless its limited to 3/4 hours each horse(which can work if you have the time/staff to put out and bring in) it would be more manageable with less horses so,dont shoot me down!!! how about adapting some of the stables to dog boarding or cattery. depending on your area this could be very profitable as people are ,quite rightly, very fussy where they board their animals and are prepared to pay well for the right facilities. just a thought.....
 
I agree with the others about turnout. Given the facilities that you would have there, I would say that it would attract competition riders anyway, who might put up with the turnout issue.
I don't think the 'regular' horse owner wanting livery would want such restricted turnout.
Suppose the only way it might work for owners liking good turnout is to cut down on the number of horses you take in.
I'd definitely do my research to see if there is any land available for sale or rent nearby.
 
there is no rule that you have to fill all of the boxes though is there?

my yard has approx 30 stables and probs about 8 acres of land.

the yard is run as a full livery yard with 7-8 horses, no part, no diy livery.

perhaps something to look into?
 
there is no rule that you have to fill all of the boxes though is there?

my yard has approx 30 stables and probs about 8 acres of land.

the yard is run as a full livery yard with 7-8 horses, no part, no diy livery.

perhaps something to look into?
 
tbh the lac of grazing would put me off.

Ive been on a yard of 45odd horses with 40ish acres of grazing and it was honestly rubbish. The horses were never out because of the lack of land, the fields were churned anyhow.!

tbh its probably better as acomp yard??? You could possibly manage but for me id keep looking....
 
I don't think it would work for big horses who need a lot of grass but for fatties who need restricted grazing eg some cobs/shetlands/native ponies it would be fine.

There quite a few people who want paddocks with not much grass for fatties.

It would also depend on what the ground is like too as if it is well drained and does not get too muddy then you can always put hay out in the fields in the winter which would mean that the horses could still get turned out.
 
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