Anyone moved from part livery to DIY?

[cheekywelshie]

...how did you manage? Was it difficult?

I am on part livery at a yard down the road from me with good facilities. We pay the same all year round although the horses just live out in Summer. Hacking is accessible via road work but there are woods nearby. In winter the horses get fed, rugged and turned out but for limited TO - morning or afternooon. It's about 240 a month and includes hay and straw. It's a big yard and a riding school lessons usually saturday mornings and a few weekday evenings... I don't tend to ride out much unless can find someone to go with as I don't like going on roads on my own.

A good friend of mine has just moved to a DIY yard where there is 24/7 TO all year round. There is a small sand school, a small XC course and a few jumps. There is plenty of off road hacking. IT's a small yard with about 20 or so horses. Cost about £16 a week. It's a 20 min drive though.

Given that summer will be pretty much over soon - would I be mad to move? Main reason is longer TO and people to ride out with and places to ride that doesn't involve roadwork...but prob wouldnt get much use out of tiny school...I have a sharer too so it depends on how far it is from her. Also I have never done DIY - just part livery so only gone up in the evenings!!

 

[letrec_fan]

For £240 a month I would stay where you are! That is an excellent deal! Here in Surrey you would be hard pressed to find any part livery under £400 a month.

As you are currently on Part livery I think you will probably find DIY a bit of a shock but if you are prepared and your sharer is to and you think it will be of some good it is possible. I would make sure you are on DIY assisted though. As you have a sharer it should make it alot easier because if you cant get down they should be able to. Is the yard near your house? This is what I have found so useful about having Pete where he is now - I can walk within 15 mins and bike in about 5 mins if mum cant take me. It is a big plus to be near it.

Good luck,

Laura and Pete.

 

[Rana]

Not sure if it counts, but I went from DIY to part back to DIY lol.

I prefer DIY - more turnout, more control over what happens with your horse/bed/feed etc. I go twice a day, at 5.30am and 4pm (winter that is, later in the summer). It was a bit of a shock when I first had to start getting up so early, but now I'm used to it, it's fine.

Also, factor in your hay/feed/bedding costs - although it might look like a large saving, you might find you end up spending more than you did before! Don't forget about setting aside time for farriers/vets visits.

The yard I'm at is 20 mins drive, and I don't find that a problem at all (used to be 5 mins walk!). Find the best times to go so that you avoid traffic. 20 mins really isn't that long.

If the DIY yard can offer assisted, or you can arrange a "swap" with another owner, I'm sure you'd be fine

 

[sillygillyhorse]

Tempting as it may seem at £16 per week as others have said you need to factor in hay/feed etc. The biggest thing to factor in imo is time and cost of travelling the extra distance. I moved my horses from a yard 5 minutes from my home to a yard 15 minutes from home and am finding the commute too much and quite costly.

 

[5311]

I'd always chose DIY over part livery. It will be hard but I love seeing my mare twice a day, plus, im a control freak too and i'd much rather have me do her than someone else! ha ha ha
It'll be a shock but you'll love it eventually although it will be a good idea to have a friend who can help out when needed. Do it, you'll love it

 

[cheekywelshie]

The sand school is tiny and may freeze over I guess. Do you school more than hack in winter? I'd be stuffed then.. But I want people to ride out with...that said, for another 2 minutes i could be at an eventing centre (DIY is 45 quid though, with extras added on if you want!) and you get a full cross country course there, indoor outdoor schools, professional trainers on site etc.

Oh, I did mention I had a 14.3 welsh D (ie not a competition horse! but he likes XC) So prob no point moving there and more costly.