Does a full livery need a lot of storage?

SuzySue

SuzySue

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After the sad loss of my old boy a month or so ago, I now have an empty stable on the private yard I rent. There's just me and my friend, both of us currently with 2 horses each. I've decided to try to offer the stable on a full livery basis as we just don't have enough storage for a DIY person and I would have been mucking out 3 this winter anyway so may as well get paid for it; the tackroom we share between us is choc full of our stuff/feedbins etc. and our barn is only the size of one of the stables. As I would be supplying the hay/straw/shavings/whatever the barn is not a problem, and I could probably squeeze a couple of feed bins in with mine. I'm assuming they won't have any tools cos they won't be mucking out? Would it be unreasonable to expect them to keep their tack at home and bring it with them each time? The stable is at least 12x12 (haven't measured it yet) and we could board up down one side making it 10x12 or something like that for a smaller horse, thus giving a long thin storage area within the stable - would that work do you think?

They could get themselves one of those plastic storage/shed things you put in the garden but we have had the odd visit from kids so couldn't guarantee the security of it outside.

Any ideas gratefully received.

Thanks :-)
 
Hi, I think you need to decide what level of full livery you are providing. If you are doing all the stable duties, then the owner shouldn't have to provide tools or need storage for them. Personally I would prefer a yard where my tack can be stored securely. Everyone needs storage for feed, grooming kits, tack, travelling stuff, rugs, first aid stuff etc. What else are you offering to a full livery ie all year turnout, floodlit arena, good hacking, grooming, hard feed?
Have a sit down at your computer and see what other people are offering in your area - that should give you an indicator of what you could reasonably charge for what you are able to provide
 
Hi, thanks for your reply. I'm basically gonna treat the horse like one of my own and do absolutely everything for it. It would be turned out with my 2 all day every day (a rare thing over the winter in our area), option of 24/7 turnout in summer, outdoor school, great hacking, etc. etc. and I'd muck out, turnout/bring in, change rugs, feed, pick feet, groom, whatever they want really, and my friend is a brilliant rider so they can even have their horse ridden as well if they want. I thought I might advertise it as "with or without storage" and if they do want it then the stable will be slightly smaller that's all.

Unfortunately this is the only way I can do this, definitely couldn't accommodate someone with tons of stuff, even though we all have it don't we. Though I keep the rugs I'm not using at home just to keep them clean :-)

If I can't fill it my hens can live in expensive luxury for the winter :-)
 
Oh I do hope so!! Thank you! It will be very strange having a stranger around - I do hope we all get on! And the horses too!
 
don't forget things like council rates and income tax, also there is the insurance you will need and i am sure someone else will add to the above list
 
Hmm, I don't think any of that will apply. YO pays the rates, the piffling amount I'll charge for mucking out won't reach the income tax threshold and they should have their own insurance. We're all there at our own risk on that score. Any hassles like that involved and I'll definitely just stick the hens in there!
 
Your personal insurance doesn't cover you the minute you do something for money. Its no good saying the livery will have to be insured, it won't be valid if you were in charge of the horse in your capacity as livery provider - you need to be insured for the service you are offering (care, custody and control) plus public liability as a minimum. For one livery it is likely to be not worth the hassle!

Back to the original question... I would be very aggrieved in the position of full paying livery owner not to have anywhere to put stuff, I'd need a lot less room than a DIY but would feel like a second rate source of cash for you rather than a valued client if you couldn't shove up your stuff a bit to make some room for the livery's basic belongings. Particularly as a full livery is likely to not be up everyday and what will you do about having rugs to change into for example if they are wet or different weights are needed in changing weather conditions?
 
You know what, you're right. I wanted to offer someone a brilliant home for their horse but if it's that complicated it's really not worth it, financially or otherwise. I'm not, nor do I want to be, a yard manager.

The hens get it then...........at £30+ a week, the most expensive henhouse in the world probably, but at least they won't sue me for lack of care!!!
 
Gosh what a sad world we all live in, shame really as I know of lots who would cry out for this kind of livery in a small personal yard, but everyone jumps on the 'ohhhh lets sue' bandwagon and the hen's bag the stable!!
I remember years ago when you got liverys in, chucked them out with your horses gave them a stable, stored there stuff in a communal tack room, everyone was happy. Times have changed, and im fast thinking for the worst.

One a positive bet your hens are delighted :p:p!
 
You're so right, DollyCoblet. This was never planned, I didn't anticipate losing my old boy, and I was just trying to put the stable to a constructive use. Everyone who's ever visited loves our yard and wants to move in, but unless it's on a DIY basis it's just not going to work, and like I said we just don't have the storage for a DIY. Once we start buying in hay and hard feeding ours again, and storing spare water for when it freezes, etc. we have even less room than we have at the mo.

I guess I just can't risk it. Though I know any horse would probably be 100% fine, as are ours, accidents do happen. :-(

Thanks all for helping me think it through more clearly. I had a rose-tinted vision of "happy ever after" - hah!

At least we might have winter long eggs as we can set a light on a timer in there so they still have a 12 hour day :-)
 
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