Am I missing out?

[kirstyfk]

I have always been lucky enough to have my horses at my own/the families stables and never been on a livery yard. Am I missing out? I have always wondered whether it would be more fun to be on a livery yard. Plus is there anyone else who have never kept there horse at a yard?

PS I know I am so lucky to have my horses at my back door!

 

[TGM]

Well I've done both and wouldn't go back to the livery yard situation!

 

[Weezy]

I love being on a yard with others as if you cant do your own there is someone there to fill in - HOWEVER, I havent ever been on a big yard, only teeeny small ones with 6 people tops! Its great to have people to ride with, chinwag with, etc but I couldnt do a 10+ yard - gives me the shudders thinking about it!

 

[truffles]

I've only just started - at a livery yard. It is a drag at 1hr train/bus/walk journey and would MUCH rather them be at home - but the facilities (and the tea machine

) do make up for it when you arrive!
Soo enviouse of anybody who can see their hossies from the kitchen window lol. Would love to be able to do that, sitting with a cuppa just staring outside to the mist surrounding your neddy....*sigh*

 

[Faithkat]

you are most definitely not missing out not being in a livery yard. I have vowed that if, for some reason, I had no choice but to go back to livery, I'm afraid I would sell the horse. I can't stand the bitching, interfering and "politics". I rent my own fields and it's just me and it's lovely!

 

[TGM]

[ QUOTE ]
I can't stand the bitching, interfering and "politics".

[/ QUOTE ] My thoughts entirely!

 

[_April_]

I've experienced both and I much prefer to have the company of the livery yard.

I think it depends on the liveries so perhaps I've been lucky

 

[truffles]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I can't stand the bitching, interfering and "politics".

[/ QUOTE ] My thoughts entirely!

[/ QUOTE ]

If you are like me, I almost NEED a big yard - people always there to fill in, usually I would have thought they have slightly better facilities - although I could be entirely wrong!! I also learn quicker - more people, more open etc..as they are on a big yard therefore I end up learning more!

That is just me though - I can see the pleasures of a small yard. Although at M.E.F we are quite lucky - bitching is stamped out pretty quickly, and from what I can suss out everyone is pretty chummy!

 

[claire1976]

Yeah, been on various livery yards for 6 years, now have my own place and lovin it!! No more stable politics and no-one to fall out with.
That said, I do miss my best mate who helped me loads, but you win some and you lose some!

 

[Tinkerbee]

id far rather keep my horse at home...but the yard i work at doesnt seem to bad. its small though, everyone hacks out together, share trailers, split the cost of lessons. i think we're quite lucky!

 

[Forget_Me_Not]

I have always keep them on own small yard at our home and desprate to move as hate being so isolated!! Now as it seems there is simply no were to move too we're looking at buying land and making a liverty yard! Apart from the bitching find its quite compatetive, you cant be your self around your horse, peer pressure!! Plus it harder to school and keep your horses in good habit with the other do other wise! E.g. Going for a gallop when you know he should learn otherwise for mannors! Or Lunging will other go around the Crosscountry!

 

[ladylisa]

I miss a yard, having different people to ride out with and a good chin wag. Also miss having a school to ride in.
I rent a big field and only have my sister to ride with and now that winter is arriving can't ride in the field so have to hack.

 

[Evadiva1514]

I have kept my horses at livery and they are now kept at home, and there is no comparison. I would never keep my horses at livery now unless it was for schooling/short term purposes.

You can't beat looking at them in the morning from your bedroom window!!

 

[Marianne]

Been on many ive found that the bigger ones with more horses and people on is easier, when its less people and less horses people notice things and interfere like a woman whos been in horses a year likes to tell me im underfeeding mine when she feeds hers solid feed 3 times a day.

So yeh bigger yards you dont get as noticed and kind of get on with your own thing which is what i like.

 

[jemima]

I've never kept horses on a yard. I can either keep mine at home, stabled, or on the field half a mile away with no"facilities". i still consider that I'm very spoiled although a school and people to hack out with would be nice on occasion.

 

[helenandshadow]

The livery yard i'm at at the mo is a lovely yard. Everyone gets on well and the facilities are good.

I would love to have my horses at home though *sigh*

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

I have done both, and i am also lucky and have been at a wonderful yard where we get on very well with 15 liveries plus the YO and her horses.
I am moving in just over a week (sadly in a way), i hope that the people at the next yard are as nice, they seem it,but change of situation has meant i need to move yards, though i am really looking forward to it as its lovely and the hacking is wonderful, no more dangerous busy roads for me,cant wait for that part,by my yard now,the roads are hurrendous and you cannot avoid them.
I really dont know how to answer,sorry about the tangent there *lol*
i think both have their pros and cons, i think though i would love my own small yard, that would be perfect,my horses plus a couple of liveries

 

[Helenabbey]

I am on a livery yard owned by some v close family friends, practically a second set of parents. The liveries are as follows,
Me, 1 horse 1 pony, been there 16 years.
J, AI buys breaks and schools to sell, been there 10 yrs,
L, 1 horse, been there 10 years,
M, buys breaks schools, sells, been there 5 years.
B, 1 pony, been there 5 years
B+R, friends of YO, ride YO's ponies, been coming 20 yrs

Also, the families of the liveries pop up a lot, we all know each other, are friends and help each other out where necessary. We have grown up together and hopefully will always help one another and be friends.

Must be nice to have the freedom of your own facilities, but I would miss the cameraderie.

 

[Christmas_Kate]

I was on a few livery yards as a teenager, some big, some small. Preferred big yards.

Was on a small yard this year, but just moved to a yard where there's just the YO's horses, his groom and her horse. It's quiet, but no facilities.

 

[Bess]

I keep my horse at a livery yard/riding school, I've never had the option to keep a horse at home. The good points for me are that I have various friends to go hacking with, or to local little shows, to go hunting with, xc schooling etc. And especially to just have a cup of tea and a chat after riding. There are also 5 instructors there and two other specialist ones who visit, and an indoor and an outdoor school. People will look after my horse if I am away and I don't have to worry or make special arrangements, eg for shoeing or the vet. Nearly forgot, its got a saddler/tack shop on site, very handy.

I learnt to ride there nearly 30 years ago, and so did some of my fellow liveries so I feel like part of the furniture, its got a friendly atmosphere.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

I think most people would love to have a house with land to keep horses, unfortunately that isn't the case for most of us. I'm on a yard with 25 horses, so a reasonable sized yard. The way it is laid out there are 3 sections so really three small yards.

The yard has an indoor school, menage, jumping field with full set of jumps & great hacking....virtually perfect.

I think the main thing about being with others, apart from riding out together if you wish to, is that if your horse has a problem, an injury, anything, you can bounce ideas of others & decide best course of action or if vet call out is necessary.
Additionally there is always someone to bring in/put out/feed etc if you can't be there for some reason.

I think there's a lot to be said in favor of livery yards.

 

[JessPickle]

Well my horse is on working livery at a RS and I cant imagine not having loads of people around. With such choice of who to ride with I LOVE IT. Also we get full use of the indoor school and the RS showjumps which is great.

I love my yard and its closed to liveries only on monday and tuesday so we have plenty of chances to use the indoor school

I personally cant imagine being on a yard with just me and my sister.

 

[Claireg9]

I've had horses for 24 years now, and only in the last 18 months have i been on a yard! I've always had the luxury of being able to look at my horses from our kitchen window, but we only have 3/4 f an acre, we used to rent a 5 acre field a stones throw away, which we would walk them too in the mornings. the field got taken off us as the owner is a builder and is trying to get planning

One of my horses doesn't particularly like to be on her own either.
Si i find myself in a yard environment. Its fairly large with 30 stables, but everyone pretty much gets on with everyone. But that is not to say there is not the odd argument, bitch or fall out. It has lovely facilities, but not being able to use them at the specific times people want can be an issue for some.
I personally long to have my horses back at home, if i had enough land i'd build a menage as well, but i would miss people and the laughs/fun/doing stuff together/learning/helping others.... So id say stay at home... i wish i could have, but short of a lottery win, thats not going to happen anytime soon.
Im sure i'll cope more than well enough where i am!
P.s. My neddies like the company of all the other horses and people coming and going too!

 

[AmyMay]

You are definately NOT missing out. I moved my mare last year from a DIY livery yard to my friends farm. So it's just me and my friend. It's wonderful. No politics to deal with. I dread the day that I have to go back to a livery yard.

 

[filly190]

I was on small private owners land which was wonderful. Then for six months a very large livery and then for the past six years at home in the garden.

Having them at home, and doing exactly what I want is wonderful. The thing about livery is quite often the limited grazing, I like to rotate etc and would find it difficult being restricted to one area.

 

[ecrozier]

I have done both, and there are definately pros and cons to both, and a lot depends on the yard!
Originally just had my horse and a companion at my parents home...not ideal as lonely, no one to ask for help or ride with.
Then went on a nightmare yard - bitching, politics, place was a right state...didn't stay long!
Smaller yard after that, nice for the company and help, hardly and bitching but quite restrictive, no parking for trailers etc.
Then moved back home (had 2 horses plus pony by now!), had a livery in for company etc, well that was a nightmare too as their horses were SO badly mannered and destroyed our fencing, consatantly escaping etc!
Get the best situation ever now, got rid of livery, now just my 2 horses, my other half's horse, still got pony, and we go weekly to a local yard for lessons so kind of become part of the 'crowd' at that yard too...go to same shows and park with them etc, and travel down and use facilities etc. We are there 2/3 times a week and always someone you can ask for advice or just have a chat to!
So at the moment, got the situation just right! But think it is a very individual thing, and depends on your experience, how often you get out and about etc.

 

[LEC]

I was offered the chance to put my horse on DIY livery with some amazing facilities for the winter but the cost, the hacking is not as good, no all day turn out, bitching, rules and stress of it all put me off. I would rather have to make a bit more effort than deal with all that.

I have kept my horse at RC camp and that was enough for me! I have always kept mine at home and will continue to.