DIY v Full Livery

I am on DIY and even if I was rich I would always stay that way or obviously have them on my own farm or whatever the case maybe, the looking after and caring part is all part of horse ownership, my point is that if someone has horse on full livery they may as well just go to a riding establishment and ride however many times a week etc....just my opinion, no point in having a horse if you dont look after it...i'd be worried I'd have no bond with my horse too!
 
I am currently on part livery horse gets mucked out, fed brought in and out for me (I guess in some yards this would count as full), however I ususally ride in morning so will turn out myself but YO will then bring her in of an evening and rug up etc. Am on this becuase apart from full and competition it is the only livery available at my yard, and yes there are DIY yards around, however they certainly do not have the facilities that I have at my yard and the incredibly knowledgable and helpful staff.

Used to have horses on DIY but horse didn't have such a good routine as would go down at 6.00am on weekdays but slightly later at weekends and during the week if I got held up at work which happened often then horse would be left in the field till I could get him, plus the yard had a policy that whoever was first on the yard had to feed all horses to avoid them all kicking the doors down for breakfasts when one was fed, which meant that there was never a regular feed time or my boy would get breakfast at around 4.30 in the morning one day and then 6 the next depending on the time the first person would go down.

Whereas on part the girl is fed daily 365 days of the year at 8am and 5pm on the dot, plus if I am taken ill and can't make it down to the yard I have full confidence that the girl is not being neglected. I have full control and involvement in feeding bedding and rugging up, everything is checked before any changes are made, so it's definitely not a case of just owning a horse and turning up to ride.

I have to say I prefer being on part/full for the additional support that is given however if someone had asked me this a few years ago I would say I would always have them at home or on DIY maybe I have just been lucky with the yard that I am that has changed my opinion.
 
I have had 2 years of part livery, 4 years of "total" diy which I fully enjoyed, but desperate to get away from the last place, I am now on full livery, except for bringing in/skipping out at the end of the day sat/sun, everything else is done, I didn't think I would like it after being in total control for so long, anyway, his lordship settled immediately first day, he has a lovely roomy airy stable and can see the other horses, the yard is excellent, well run with really good facilities, friendly people, and most of all, "secure" environment, I dont have to worry anymore when I leave him, anything I ask for to be done with feeding rugging ect ect is done, so I couldn't really be happier, my oldest daughter is there with her beast, so we get to spend more horsey time together which is a lovely bonus, so no regrets at all, means I can work late without worrying about him, I get more time and energy to spend riding instead of doing jobs :).
 
in the past when I was much richer than now:( - i had mine & my daughters on p/livery - falling on hard times meant a move to a farm type DIY and i love it - i now know EXACTLY what my horse gets in term of feed/supplements/turnout etc - & having decided that my older arthritic mare is far better living out 24/7 - means we will stay on basic farm type DIY forever
 
I would love to be on full livery if...

- I could find somewhere that did things as requested, to my standards, 24/7/265

- I could afford that level of service

I've never yet come across a full livery yard that fits the first criteria and even if I did I suspect I'd never fit the second, so DIY for us. It's not even just the little things that I like to do because I'm fussy, I've regularly seen full livery horses go without hay and water for long periods.
 
I'm currently on full (excluding exercise). I previously kept mine on DIY, the main advantage of full livery for me is that my horse is on a set routine so if I get stuck at work I know he won't be waiting for his feed/stuck out in the wet waiting to come in in the middle of winter. On the down side I miss not getting called at first thing in the morning at breakfast time, and tucking him up for the night when it's cold and wet! Although I am sure that he doesn't care who does it!
 
Both of my horses have been on full livery for 2 years now, I now also run a yard of 30 part and full liveries. I think its a preference, before putting my horses on livery, i struggled going down twice a day, often 5am and then back after 8-9hrs at work. When i finally took the decision to put them on livery it was the best decision for me. I think people are wrong who have the opinion that you loose that bond with your horse when on livery, mines never been better. I actually started to have the time to groom them, fuss them, ride regular which I was never fortunate to have the time as well as looking after on DIY.

DIY is equally great if you have the time but I never did between working long hours, house work and seeing the other half every so often!
 
meggyjoe said:
Hi
I am currently toying with the idea of getting my Daughter a Pony (shes almost 10 years) ideally I would like a 14/14"2 so maybe we could share, we are both novices with myself having only had about 10 lessons and my Daughter having had lessons each week since last Feb.

Am I thinking far too soon? Also, there are two nice yards i have found a few miles away both near each other and also near a Pony Club. One is DIY only although seem very nice there and the other is a very very small private full livery yard, which for a first timer and a working full time mum of 2 would be better (except for the expense) but my concern is then we would have no one to ride with.

Any advice gratefully received.
Click to expand...

Hi Meggie,

Welcome to the forum. You might have more response if you start your own thread and give it a catchy title.

IMO you would probably be better off if you put your potential new pony on full livery at a friendly yard that will help to teach you both about stable management and stuff. Plus, as you mention, there may be more people to ride out with and maybe more opportunity for lessons.

Good luck!
 
I'm always amazed how much emotion a question like this stirs up!

Do whatever suits you as long as the horse is ok. I've worked with horses for years in the past, and shovelled more than a lifetime's share of horse muck! Now I'm an air hostess, and away for days, so when I got my horse I had to put it on full livery. I had no problem whatsoever with that. Now I'm with my husband we have our own yard, and four horses, doing everything ourselves.

For those who say that you don't bond with your horse if its on full livery, I would say that I had much more time to spend grooming and bonding when my horse was on full livery, my tack was cleaner and I had more energy to ride further and compete more often... A horse doesn't need you in its face 24/7 to bond with you!

Choose whatever suits you and your lifestyle... I bet half the "I wouldn't have my horse on anything else but DIY" camp have parents that do their horses for them when they're at school/uni, and have no kids/mortgages/comittments.
 
PS. Meggyjoe, As an instructor, I would say that you should have a lot more lessons before you buy a pony - for both of you. Make sure that you can cope with it through the winter, and get some stable management lessons too. Initially I think you'd be better on a friendly full livery yard, where you can learn about looking after your horse. Being near to a pony club would be great, as its wonderful for children. Sizewise you're on target.
 
There is only one guy on my yard who has Full livery, I am one of only a handful on Part livery and the majority are DIY.

To be honest we all give the Full livery a bit of grief about being a lazy so and so (he will sit drinking coffee whilst the girls get the horse in and give her a brush etc) but it is all tongue in cheek :p

Personally I would MUCH rather spend my time querying the logic of a man who pays such a lot to have someone else look after his horse, than to spend my time worrying over the horse being neglected because the owner was trying to fit everything in around work :confused:
 
Maletto said:
Hi Meggie,

Welcome to the forum. You might have more response if you start your own thread and give it a catchy title.

IMO you would probably be better off if you put your potential new pony on full livery at a friendly yard that will help to teach you both about stable management and stuff. Plus, as you mention, there may be more people to ride out with and maybe more opportunity for lessons.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Thank You for your reply. The Full Livery Yard, is the one that does lessons however she only has one other full livery there. The DIY Yard is the yard that has lots of company but DIY only.
The Full Livery (she doesnt do Part) is 70.00 per week. Do YO mind you turning up often to see your horse etc, groom etc - My daughters got a lesson Thursday think I need to find out more.
 
Honey08 said:
PS. Meggyjoe, As an instructor, I would say that you should have a lot more lessons before you buy a pony - for both of you. Make sure that you can cope with it through the winter, and get some stable management lessons too. Initially I think you'd be better on a friendly full livery yard, where you can learn about looking after your horse. Being near to a pony club would be great, as its wonderful for children. Sizewise you're on target.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply, yes your probably right.
The two yards I mention are around the corner from the Pony Club and the YO (full livery yard) is a young woman whos involved a lot in it.My Daughter has had weekly lessons since Feb. How long does it take to be ready, will it take years or maybe this time next year she will be ready?? (any advice appreciated)

The yards i mention are both friendly but the Full Livery one only has one other full Liv. Horse on it.
 
I`m on DIY, I cant afford full livery and i prefer DIY. It is a killer waking up at 5am every morning during the winter but i love it!
I`ve got no problem with most people who are on full livery, but I know one girl who has her horse on full livery who falls into the turn up and ride attitude, she has a youngster and i was talking to her a while ago and she is never planning on riding her horse she`ll pay someone to ride her, she never brushes her horse someone else does, her horse injured itself she got someone else to ring vet stay with vet, basically she has the horse just for status updates on facebook its really annoying!
 
I've kept my horse on DIY the whole time I've had her (9 yrs) and her mother before that (6 yrs) because I could never afford full livery. I always got on fine, yes it's difficult in winter but I've never had any choice before.

Now, due to work commitments I am going to have no choice but to put her on full livery this year even though it will be more expensive. I'm pretty disappointed as it will mean far less time with her but I'm not going to be getting home till very late during the week. I know she'll be well looked after but it won't be quite the same....

I don't understand though, the people that seem to think there's no point having a horse if you're going to have it on full livery - am I supposed to sell a mare that I've had her whole life just because I can't muck out her stable every night?

Don't think so..... and it's only till summer when it won't matter how late I arrive!

I hate that kind of reverse snobbery attitude. Not everyone who is on full livery does it because they are lazy or don't care. Not all of us are lucky enough to be able to get a job close to home
 
Last edited:
Mine are currently on part livery so I have the best of both worlds! I much prefer DIY to Full Livery because I like looking after my horses myself.

There are good and bad things about both types of livery though. It really depends on the individual tbh. Somebody who works full time may benefit from full livery, as may a novice owner who needs assistance - better this than the horse not getting looked after properly.
 
QR

I have no objection to either, as long as the horse is well looked after. I'm on DIY because I prefer it, and because I work locally (and can alter my hours if needed), I can manage it. When I worked further away with fixed hours (and expected overtime!), I was on part livery.

What I do object to, though, is people who complain they can't get there twice a day, won't pay the YO to do it for them, and expect you to help them out because it's such a hardship. 3 options - don't have a horse, do it yourself, or pay someone else. Don't expect me to look after it for you or give me a guilt trip when I say no!
 
I havent got a horse:mad: although if I did i would love Part as I work full time and have two Children (one who has no interest in horses whatsoever) however the two decent livery's near me, the first one is DIY only and the second one is only Full. I would find the morning to be a problem, esp in Winter as my Husband works shifts so is not always there and i wouldnt be able to leave Children Home Alone whilst I went to the stables. However I would want to groom and tend to the Horse as much as possible so ideally part would suit me
however what I can gather is a good yard is sometimes hard to come by.
 
I am of the opinion that, it should be each to their own, I have only kept mine DIY through choice as I like to be in control of my horses, ie feeding exercise etc, but there we are, as for council house horses it works out dearer in some cases to keep DIY when you take into account fuel costs two to three times aday etc. feed and i could go on
 
been on both and dont have a problem with those who choose full livery....

however i will always do DIY except round exams and put horse on full livery.... just prefer to be 100% involved with my horse..

on full livery i didnt bond as well i dont think as somone else fed him... etc
 
I interact a lot with people who are on a full livery yard. I can honestly say they are not anything like the "turn up to ride then hand it back" stereotype - they get all the fun, worries, benefits and bills of a DIY, but pay a little more for living without the hassle of turning out and mucking out of a morning, and the reassurance that their horse will be done if they can't make it over to the yard for whatever reason. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top