D.I.Y versus Full livery - pros and cons

[apkelly01]

What's your thoughts and which do you prefer

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
What's your thoughts and which do you prefer

[/ QUOTE ]

With three horses, full livery would bankrupt me, and I'd really miss doing them myself.
S

 

[Holly27]

full livery ... but thats only because im opening a livery yard and i want the dollars tee hee

 

[PaintboxEDT]

much prefer diy,like doing everything myself

 

[ihatework]

I would have absolutely no qualms about never ever having to muck out again etc. Am just about to move to full from 15 years on DIY and the one thing I will find difficult is not having total control over feed and hay.

 

[cellie]

diy I want to look after my horses its all part of the package although a lay in would be wonderful any offers!!!!!!!!!

 

[beatrice]

I couldn't not do my horses feed and hay, i am rather pedantic about it. Even though i know the people on my yard would do as i asked i just couldn't!
I also quite like mucking out and doing all the mundane tasks! I don't mind on the odd day i can't for some reason get to the yard, but i couldn't have someone else doing my horse everyday!!

Again it would be nice not to get up at the crack of dawn, but to me it's all part and parcel!

However i am lucky that if something changes i can give them a quick phonecall and they will sort my 2 out, and i know they will be fed and happy horses!!!

 

[Stella]

[ QUOTE ]
I would have absolutely no qualms about never ever having to muck out again etc. Am just about to move to full from 15 years on DIY and the one thing I will find difficult is not having total control over feed and hay.

[/ QUOTE ]Full livery every time for me, but I am on a yard where there is no problem in me being in charge of what she is fed and the amount of hay she is given. I wouldn't be happy to be on a yard where I couldn't do that, but mucking out and getting up super early to turn her out, its not for me and Flora doesn't care who does that.

 

[Chex]

Has to be DIY for me, the control freak in me couldn't bear to be on full!

 

[Cobland]

I was on full DIY livery but found that i preferred to clean the horses out myself, also i had the time. Found ive got closer to my horses now aswell.

Ive nothing against Full livery, just feel DIY suits me better

 

[apkelly01]

Thanks guys

I was just wondering really. I use to keep Super on non riding livery - same as full but they didn't ride - her it was a little bit cheaper.

Now that she is going back into work I had planned to do the non ride livery again, but an option for DIY has come up in another place. Now I don't know which to do!

I'd love to do DIY but I'm scared really as I've only done full livery

 

[rrose]

DIY - Because it gives me time with my horse and time to relax. i work on a full livery yard and even though the horses are happy i feel that the owners dont have sucha good relasionship/bond with the horses seeing that they come up and ride like 3 ttimes a week.

 

[Cobland]

I was doing the livery at the first yard we were at, had a girl that was at uni that got up 2-3 times a week. She had a gorgeous tb x, but the horse got to know that seeing her meant work so would chase her from the stable!! I had to go in and get the horse for her.

However i have friends who are on full livery because of work and children. It works brill for them. I just love cleaning a dirty stable, standing back and admiring a nice clean stable. Even if they do go back in again and immediately poo lol.

 

[Murphy3]

DIY (in my own place) because I'm a grumpy antisocial old sod who likes things done my way and doesn't like having to toe the line. I'm also a bit strange in that I find mucking out/yard sweeping/poop scooping the field very relaxing and I like pottering around the horses in this way. However, I have the time for all my horsy chores as I work part-time. A lot of my friends have horses on part livery as they have major family/work commitments and just don't have the time. I think you just have weigh up all the pros and cons in your own circumstances - money, time etc.

Having said that, last week I was ill and as I shuffled around sneezing into the wheelbarrow I did have a few passing thoughts that I would like a groom! Must do lottery tomorrow.

 

[apkelly01]

I'm doing permanent nights at the momment - I work 7pm - 7am 3 nights one week and 4 nights the next week. If doing DIY, I could go up after work and feed, muck out, ride out and then turn out. Then go home and sleep - then I would go up before work and feed and bring her in.

With full livery I'd get up nearly everyday and ride but I didn't have to worry about mucking out and feeding. Full livery is expensive and if I get the horse lorry on Monday, I could save money by doing DIY. Oh what to do?!

 

[pocket]

I have always been on DIY and had the option of assistance when needed. However, having been in an RTA in July, I would love to have had the option of full livery as it has been very hit and miss over the past few months.

Luckily, there are some great people at my yard who have stepped into the breach and dug in.

If I were looking for a yard now (which I might do) then I would go onto 5 day livery, because I will still have some input into Ralphs care! It has been a very trying time and I would not want to be in this position again

 

[Ravenwood]

I thank God that I have my own yard - I don't own it, but have full control rent free and in return I look after the yard owners horse, treat her as my own (third & fourth pic in my sig with daughter on board) (owner rarely there) and the holiday cottages that go with it. I just don't think I could cope with a livery yard, I have to have everything just so.

 

[apkelly01]

Sounds great Ravenwood

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm doing permanent nights at the momment - I work 7pm - 7am 3 nights one week and 4 nights the next week. If doing DIY, I could go up after work and feed, muck out, ride out and then turn out. Then go home and sleep - then I would go up before work and feed and bring her in.

With full livery I'd get up nearly everyday and ride but I didn't have to worry about mucking out and feeding. Full livery is expensive and if I get the horse lorry on Monday, I could save money by doing DIY. Oh what to do?!

[/ QUOTE ]

You have to do what's best for you at the moment. Perhaps do full livery during the winter months, then in the spring move over to DIY, when it's easier?
I miss my horses when I don't do them...but as a friend and I do our horses between us (with my OH doing them sometimes, too) I can get a day off when I want without worrying...
S

 

[sfward]

I would definitely prefer DIY if there was a yard closer to me or I could keep them at home. My yard is a half hour drive away so it makes life much easier to be on assisted DIY so I only need to go down once a day; less now that she is living out. DIY would not be economical for me as it costs me nearly £4 in petrol every time I do the round trip to work stables and home again!
I've been on full livery and didn't really like it, I felt a bit redundant and it was too expensive, so this is the best of both worlds.

 

[tabithakat64]

I would like to be able to afford a job service on the days I'm busy at work so I don't have to alter my horses routine or rush around like a mad thing. I'd like to turn out, catch in and feed them myself, not to fussed about mucking out though

 

[muddy_grey]

I think it all depends on the yard. When I was a teenager my horse was on full livery at a yard run by my best friend. This was perfect. I never had to worry. I have also been DIY recently and although I liked having control over the care of my horse I found it hard as I don't work set hours. I am hoping to get a new horse next year and will go for full livery, though it may take a while to find the right yard. I think if you work a lot then full is a better option. In someways you can have a better relationship with your horse as the time you don't have to spend mucking out can be spent really spending time with your horse

 

[BeckyD]

Much prefer DIY, but nearest good yard is too far away for it to be feasible for me, although working hours may be more suitable at my new (current) job, but assuming the finances hold out I'll stay on full during the week and DIY weekends. DIY's much more enjoyable for me though, I have a horse to enjoy doing all of it!

 

[Ainoga]

Hi

I'm on DIY for the first time in my life (I've always had full livery for my other horses) and I've got to say I'm so glad I took the plunge with my little mare.

I've built up a wonderful bond with her and she's really come out of herself having one - to - one contact with 'her' person.

 

[harrihjc]

I'd always been DIY until 2 weeks ago when i moved to full livery. Unless I'm ill I go every day, even if I'm not riding because I like to give him his dinner and a groom so he doesn't just associate me with work! I'm absolutely loving him, before I used to spend so much time doing all the chores I hardly had any time left to just spend enjoying and bonding with him

 

[Puppy]

I don't like anyone else handling my horses,

(in fact no one but my Mother is allowed to when I'm not there) so I have to say DIY

 

[Chunky_Monkey]

Have only just moved my boy to full livery (after being on DIY since I had him 5 years ago), so can't comment on which I prefer just yet. So far, these are the pros and cons:
PROS - fantastic routine for horse, no early morning turn-outs, no mucking out/poo picking/bucket washing/haynet filling, etc; I can take time off without worrying about horse's routine changing, I trust YO implicitly, and I know that horsey has exactly the feed I have specified, and that he is fed the amount of hay I asked for (it's weighed daily); more time and inclination to ride; one payment going out each month for everything (including vaccines, dentist, farrier, etc) so easier to budget
CONS - feel a little bit 'lost' and 'surplus to requirements' (I'm also a bit of a control freak!) - but I'm sure that's just about me adjusting

Can't think of anything else, but definately more on the 'pro' side than the 'con' side!

 

[happihorse]

I keep mine at home at the moment, but couldn't bare to put them at full livery. I really enjoy caring for them and like to be in charge of exactly what I do with them!

 

[Merlotmonster]

I have done both. I keep them at home now and thats great, although its a lot of hard work after a long day at work. I used to love them on full livery because I wasnt tied to them, could go for weekends away etc and not have to worry.

Think I prefer having them at home though as I love the fact I can see them out the window. I wouldnt want to do DIY anywhere else though and would chose full livery every time if they had to move elsewhere.