*Summerlove*
Member
Do you find it hard to make a living from your yard?
Any yard managers on here....
- Thread starter *Summerlove*
- Start date
the watcher
Well-Known Member
Good question. I suspect many of those who do generate an income are doing it from a yard/converted farm that they already own, or disappear the actual costs because they are not paying a true market rent to parents or other family. Otherwise they are not costing their own labour properly and regarding it perhaps as a way of subsidising keeping their own horses.
Everybody I know who is paying a substantial mortgage or market rent is struggling to do much more than cover the costs of the yard and is stuck in the decision to offer only full liveries (usually thereby requiring at least one other member of staff if you ever want to get even half a day off) or only DIY which reduces the time requirement but barely covers the cost of the yard.
I must admit I am starting to think that flipping burgers might be the way forward....at least an employer pays on time every week/month...unlike many clients
Can you tell I am feeling very gloomy and currently chasing invoices?
Everybody I know who is paying a substantial mortgage or market rent is struggling to do much more than cover the costs of the yard and is stuck in the decision to offer only full liveries (usually thereby requiring at least one other member of staff if you ever want to get even half a day off) or only DIY which reduces the time requirement but barely covers the cost of the yard.
I must admit I am starting to think that flipping burgers might be the way forward....at least an employer pays on time every week/month...unlike many clients
Can you tell I am feeling very gloomy and currently chasing invoices?
*Summerlove*
Member
Oh, sounds like you are having a tough time 
I have an opportunity to take on a livery yard, the idea seems wonderful the reality not so much.
I have a good few months to decide so until then will keep my feet on the ground, won't let my dreams run away with me and make sure I do not leave myself to potentially get in a mess financially.
Hope things get better for you.
Sx
I have an opportunity to take on a livery yard, the idea seems wonderful the reality not so much.
I have a good few months to decide so until then will keep my feet on the ground, won't let my dreams run away with me and make sure I do not leave myself to potentially get in a mess financially.
Hope things get better for you.
Sx
Cuppatea
Well-Known Member
it is very hard to make a living from just horses. It is a great life if you have a second income coming in to cover late payments etc. The hardest thing about running a livery yard is dealing with the people not the horses! If the yard is already up and running, i would be keen to have a good look at their books to see just what it costs and how much you have to carry the liveries till their pay dates etc.
L&M
Well-Known Member
Don't do it!!! I am currently winding mine down as am fed up of the hassles for little financial gain.
sherbet
Well-Known Member
I used to run a small livery yard all DIY with the odd muck out for people. Its hard work for no thanks, whatever you do is wrong. You wont be told anything to your face just hear things behind your back. Will have to chase money and run around after people tidying up shall I go on!
Was my dream to run a yard I took it over as I was a livery and the place would have closed had I not. Had worked as a YM at other yards. Dream did not live up to reality
Good luck
Was my dream to run a yard I took it over as I was a livery and the place would have closed had I not. Had worked as a YM at other yards. Dream did not live up to reality
Good luck
The Xmas Furry
Old Timer
The only time I made 'profit' was when I ran the yard for breaking, schooling, selling on ponies & producing over a 20+ yr period
I 'lost' money when only running liveries for 5 yrs+
Profit meant I could upgrade fencing, stables etc - compete, eat, pay household bills and keep vehicles on the road etc - and more.
Loss, meant it cost me to have them there & it would have been better not to have anything on site. Lots of wear & tear, what seemed on paper to be easier - was a nightmare - with people expecting something for nothing, 'favours' instead of payment, bills to be chased up etc............
Now? - due to savings over the years & good office job in past 6, means I can keep my own 2 fuzzies & not be too much out of pocket as the only damage/wear & tear is done by my own - and I'm the one that has to make sure its kept tidy/maintained - for just my own benefit, so I don't get 'casual' with the yard, land & Fuzzies.
I 'lost' money when only running liveries for 5 yrs+
Profit meant I could upgrade fencing, stables etc - compete, eat, pay household bills and keep vehicles on the road etc - and more.
Loss, meant it cost me to have them there & it would have been better not to have anything on site. Lots of wear & tear, what seemed on paper to be easier - was a nightmare - with people expecting something for nothing, 'favours' instead of payment, bills to be chased up etc............
Now? - due to savings over the years & good office job in past 6, means I can keep my own 2 fuzzies & not be too much out of pocket as the only damage/wear & tear is done by my own - and I'm the one that has to make sure its kept tidy/maintained - for just my own benefit, so I don't get 'casual' with the yard, land & Fuzzies.
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Fairynuff
Well-Known Member
Ive downgraded from 11 to 5, found my groom another job and now do everything myself. I make enoough to 'keep' the horses (including mine and my donkey,) and pay the household/yard bills. Im certainly not making a profit and thank god that oh's horsebox is out and about regularly. Without a second income (dodgy one at that) coming in, Id close shop. Too much blood, sweat and tears for very little reward. The dream isn't quite like the reality
Enfys
Well-Known Member
Like Fairynuff the Boarders I have pay the horse bills, and keep my daughter in eyeliner and mascara.
My stallion pays his way, his stud fees have paid for new equipment and fencing this season.
I sell my youngstock and a few 'flippers' .
If we didn't own the property and OH wasn't working then No, it wouldn't pay. The best way to make money from land where I live is to sell anything that eats grass and rent it out for someone else to grow cash crops!
My stallion pays his way, his stud fees have paid for new equipment and fencing this season.
I sell my youngstock and a few 'flippers' .
If we didn't own the property and OH wasn't working then No, it wouldn't pay. The best way to make money from land where I live is to sell anything that eats grass and rent it out for someone else to grow cash crops!
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite
Well-Known Member
I've got a livery with 3 ponies living at my place here on DIY livery.
I think it depends largely on who your livery is. We've always been lucky; have had some lovely people, and lovely horses/ponies, the vast majority of whom have always done the decent thing i.e. if their horses cause damage to fencing, stable doors or whatever, they pay for the damage and dont' quibble, plus are good, reliable, types who look after their horses well and are never a problem, they pay on time, and are a pleasure to have around as it provides company for one's own horse plus you really get to know them as friends.
However, we've had the odd one or two who've seemed to take it for granted that someone else will clean up after them & put all their tack away, repair their broken fencing/stable doors that their "quiet" pony has basically tried to climb over!!!, plus they then leave the pony in for 24 hrs at a stretch and then wonder why its unmanageable when 12 y.o. child comes to ride it!! As well as have every yobbish "friend" around the yard at odd times, drinking, smoking & revving up cars. Thank goodness this lot left: albeit without telling me - I didn't know where the blessed pony was and thought someone had stolen it, only to receive a text saying that they'd hoofed it.
I wouldn't ever say that running a yard is gonna rake anybody in a huge amount of money, BUT one thing it does do is (as I've said) provide company for mine, plus I've got a really lovely livery at the moment and its just nice to have people around the place with their little family really enjoying their horses. They put the work in, and get the results back, and when they do well at shows etc I feel pride in their efforts too, in a funny sort of way. Call me an old softy, but when you have a "good" livery, it makes it all worthwhile, even if you're not making a packet maybe, just making ends meet is good enough IMO.
I think the important thing is to wait for a good livery and not let anyone on your place unless you're really sure about them. Don't compromise! Coz its nothing but hassle if you get someone who's less than satisfactory and doesn't look after their horses, or you've got to keep hassling them for money/repairs or whatever.
I think it depends largely on who your livery is. We've always been lucky; have had some lovely people, and lovely horses/ponies, the vast majority of whom have always done the decent thing i.e. if their horses cause damage to fencing, stable doors or whatever, they pay for the damage and dont' quibble, plus are good, reliable, types who look after their horses well and are never a problem, they pay on time, and are a pleasure to have around as it provides company for one's own horse plus you really get to know them as friends.
However, we've had the odd one or two who've seemed to take it for granted that someone else will clean up after them & put all their tack away, repair their broken fencing/stable doors that their "quiet" pony has basically tried to climb over!!!, plus they then leave the pony in for 24 hrs at a stretch and then wonder why its unmanageable when 12 y.o. child comes to ride it!! As well as have every yobbish "friend" around the yard at odd times, drinking, smoking & revving up cars. Thank goodness this lot left: albeit without telling me - I didn't know where the blessed pony was and thought someone had stolen it, only to receive a text saying that they'd hoofed it.
I wouldn't ever say that running a yard is gonna rake anybody in a huge amount of money, BUT one thing it does do is (as I've said) provide company for mine, plus I've got a really lovely livery at the moment and its just nice to have people around the place with their little family really enjoying their horses. They put the work in, and get the results back, and when they do well at shows etc I feel pride in their efforts too, in a funny sort of way. Call me an old softy, but when you have a "good" livery, it makes it all worthwhile, even if you're not making a packet maybe, just making ends meet is good enough IMO.
I think the important thing is to wait for a good livery and not let anyone on your place unless you're really sure about them. Don't compromise! Coz its nothing but hassle if you get someone who's less than satisfactory and doesn't look after their horses, or you've got to keep hassling them for money/repairs or whatever.