Ahh livery

[milliepops]

Actually, I said yards that are ridiculously expensive, meaning ridoculously expensive for what they are offering. I'd have no qualms with a yard charging 250 a month for DIY if the other facilities weren't paid for in addition, the land was decent. The fact I may still not choose to keep my horses there due to cost is then a me problem, but at the minute I'm finding no suitable yards nearby that offer what I think are basics for ridden horses (safe, decent turnout, reasonable sized stable, decent school), regardless of the price.

yeah I think some areas are just blackspots for livery.
Decent turnout from a yard isn't really a thing here, so for me a decent school is an essential so that horses can be exercised in winter. But there just aren't any. I found one place that seemed to tick the essential boxes but it is one of those that never has to advertise as always full (also ££££ so that blows the idea that people won't pay a proper price out of the water, at least in this area). so like TPO I was on the verge of giving up even trying until trainer stepped in and waved a magic wand. my back up plan was to bring them home to our rented fields and box off somewhere to ride several times a week. it would have meant having absolute no facilities except a water trough but was the least worst option. though finding a field to rent is hard enough.... OH has rented ours for decades and been waiting a similar length of time to try and get one of the others in the village, so good luck to anyone else local trying to get one!

 

[sharni]

try renting off a farmer instead of a horse place

 

[TPO]

try renting off a farmer instead of a horse place

That's not as common or as easy as people seem to think. If the land has any value to it then farm stock will be grazing it or something will be growing on it. It might even be set aside for government payments but I'm not up to speed with what is happening with that because Brexit.

My grandad used to have horse people chapping his door all the time asking for grazing and customers in buying hay would always ask just in case they got him at a weak moment (that's how I got in! ha ha). The farm I rented stables and grazing from had been a yard back in the day when the owner's daughter was in PC (3 decades prior) and even when it ended up being only me there they turned away everyone who came knocking when they could have made a killing.

I don't know if it's because previous generations spend so long following behind them with a plough, this was the excuse my grandad gave, but most farmers really don't like horses and especially don't like the damage that shoes and hooves do to land.

Chapping doors is always worth a shot and you might just get lucky but in this day and age I don't think the success rate of finding a farmer willing to just rent out a couple of decent acres will be that high.

 

[Wishfilly]

try renting off a farmer instead of a horse place

If the land is agricultural use, you're very limited in what you can do with horses on it though- I know it's not really enforced, but it's not always that straightforward, either.

 

[blitznbobs]

I’m the opposite to most I guess. I have what could be said brilliant facilities at home. A beautiful old brick built yard with a small wooden stable yard opposite, 8 acres of grass, a 60 x40 manège with show jumps and off road hacking immediately off my property. However, I choose to have my horses at livery at least in the winter as with a disabled child and a husband who is liable to sod off on business regularly with little to no notice I need someone who can get on and look after and ride them well When I can’t. A good livery yard is the best option for me at present - I would have considered employing a groom but this way of hubby and I get the opportunity to go away for a weekend we can without having to stress about the ponies. It’s not a cheap option but it’s one that works for us as a family and I get to keep my boys

 

[Frumpoon]

Climate change is definitely affecting rainfall and seasonal use of land

Try and look for a yard/field of your own

 

[asmp]

When I moved to a new area and I was at a yard I didn’t like (much too big), I asked around at a local show, including the secretary. I was given a few names of small yards (and if they were full, people often told me of other places to try). Try the local PC and riding clubs secretaries too.

 

[dorsetladette]

That's not as common or as easy as people seem to think. If the land has any value to it then farm stock will be grazing it or something will be growing on it. It might even be set aside for government payments but I'm not up to speed with what is happening with that because Brexit.

My grandad used to have horse people chapping his door all the time asking for grazing and customers in buying hay would always ask just in case they got him at a weak moment (that's how I got in! ha ha). The farm I rented stables and grazing from had been a yard back in the day when the owner's daughter was in PC (3 decades prior) and even when it ended up being only me there they turned away everyone who came knocking when they could have made a killing.

I don't know if it's because previous generations spend so long following behind them with a plough, this was the excuse my grandad gave, but most farmers really don't like horses and especially don't like the damage that shoes and hooves do to land.

Chapping doors is always worth a shot and you might just get lucky but in this day and age I don't think the success rate of finding a farmer willing to just rent out a couple of decent acres will be that high.

Thats exactly who i found my first bit of ground. Went knocking doors. I luckily knocked the door of a land owner how had just had some land handed back to him from a farmer as his subsidies had run out/finished. It had been left for wildlife, was terribly overgrown and had no fencing. I loved it! we were there 12 years. Unfortunately landowner got greedy fenced off all the surrounding fields and rented them out individually to horsey folk. They all fell out and expected him to deal with it. He did!! kicked everyone off and sold the lot! Unfortunately a small minority of horsey folk give the rest of us a bad name, which is one of the reasons some farmers don't like us.

 

[Ish2020]

I'm sorry you feel that you should be in a position to comment on which threads I respond to. I do feel strongly that a number of horse owners do not recognise that for livery yards to continue to exist, that they have to compete financially with other demands on land. That will be reflected in the amount charged and I'm afraid a lot of horse owners are going to have to accept that in the future

I find it funny that you only comment on this thread. I have been on very expensive yards and they care was terrible to the point I was surprised They haven’t been reported . It not about money or land it yard owners not wanting to work.

 

[chocolategirl]

I think it’s an area thing tbh? if you’re lucky enough to be in an area saturated with yards, the prices are more likely to be lower. That’s not to say they’re fair, as livery in general is priced too low. A farm near me, not a former livery yard I might add, has gone into high end caravan storage, they charge £1200 pa for inside storage, and £570 pa for outside. I think this is the way some yards have ended up going too, either for something like this or for planning for houses. It’s a no brainer when you think about it?‍ Yards will become fewer and farther between in years to come is my prediction ? OP, have you looked on regional boards etc? Facebook groups are also a good way of finding decent yards. Good luck?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I find it funny that you only comment on this thread. I have been on very expensive yards and they care was terrible to the point I was surprised They haven’t been reported . It not about money or land it yard owners not wanting to work.

I thought OP's problem was lack of winter turnout, because, basically, YOs are overstocking their available land? I don't think anyone has said YO's don't want to work. That's not really a problem; people who don't want to provide livery services don't have to. They either allow DIY only, or just don't have liveries. Then horse owners have to look elsewhere.

 

[FestiveG]

I find it funny that you only comment on this thread. I have been on very expensive yards and they care was terrible to the point I was surprised They haven’t been reported . It not about money or land it yard owners not wanting to work.

I beg your pardon? What on earth do you mean? If your experience is of yo not wishing to work, then I presume you are not speaking of DIY yards. Every "customer " has the ability to choose not to use a particular supplier, if you can't find a supplier who you feel you can use, then your options are severely limited.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

***NOT AIMED AT ANYONE IN PARTICULAR***
Or you could pay £10-20k per acre and buy some land (if you can find some) - £25 per week per acre (one horse) x 52 = £1300 a year, it would only take 7-14 years to pay for itself (unless you need a school, stable, water, electricity, hardstanding, fencing, water troughs etc)

I have no idea how yards keep going to be honest. I see both sides, I have struggled to pay DIY livery and paid full livery, and known people who have bought yards and been unable to make them pay.
I don;t know how I have been so lucky to have my yard, and the one opposite that my Mum rents and shares, still cheaper than DIY livery but no electric. We make it work for us and I thank my lucky stars every day.

Try that round here, grazing land under 8 to 10 acres is at least 50k per acre, often higher as there are bidding wars for anything that comes up, especially on the sandy soil areas.

 

[Ben2684]

I found my current yard by going though my trainer and it was more pot luck than anything as she only has a handful of liveries and just happened that one of hers had given up horses. I’ve always been a little bit lucky that no yard I have been at has been horrendous, but one thing I have learnt is that I can compromise on what I want/need for me but I will not compromise on what is good/needed for my horse. Thankfully at current yard we are both extremely happy so win win.

 

[Lots of Gift Bags]

I ended up buying my own land a couple of years ago, I was on a good yard but there were quite a lot of irritations. There are a couple of yards round here that never advertise and spaces rarely come up (like the one that @Sussexbythesea is lucky enough to be on). A friend has just been lucky enough to get a space on one that I have never seen advertise, and I was only vaguely
aware of it as a friend was there a few years ago. If I'd had the opportunity of moving there, I don't think I'd have bought my own place but spaces rarely come up and you have to know someone there and be invited. As someone else said, hen's teeth!
I love my own place but miss the hacking that I used to have, and the facilities.

 

[FlyingCircus]

After this post I started complaining to a friend of mine who had the number for a reasonably local yard. £220 a month DIY, but indoor and outdoor school with great hacking. Viewing tomorrow!

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I ended up buying my own land a couple of years ago, I was on a good yard but there were quite a lot of irritations. There are a couple of yards round here that never advertise and spaces rarely come up (like the one that @Sussexbythesea is lucky enough to be on). A friend has just been lucky enough to get a space on one that I have never seen advertise, and I was only vaguely
aware of it as a friend was there a few years ago. If I'd had the opportunity of moving there, I don't think I'd have bought my own place but spaces rarely come up and you have to know someone there and be invited. As someone else said, hen's teeth!
I love my own place but miss the hacking that I used to have, and the facilities.

It is a good yard but it’s definitely not been without its issues over the years but location and what it provides for my horses has made me stick it out. It’s (touch wood) all good at the moment.