Greylegs
Well-Known Member
I was having a friendly debate with a horse owning pal the other day about the relative benefits/disadvantages, costs, time commitments etc of full livery versus DIY - a topic which has been discussed many times on here.
My friend (on DIY at a good yard locally) said she would expect any yard offering a good full livery service to also include daily - or at least 5 times weekly - exercise for the horse. So she would expect someone competent to tack up and ride her horse, for a meaningful period of time (at least half and hour or more) regularly during the week, as part of the livery package. I am on full livery at a very good yard where my horse gets the very best of care in every way, but is not exercised by the YO or her staff. In our area I can only think of one yard where this is offered, and that is on a schooling livery basis, where the (extremely competent) YM schools horses for owners at extra cost (£35.00) per session, on top of their other livery services, which would add a significant amount to the monthly bill if it was done 5 times per week.
I argued that she was asking a lot, that such an arrangement was unusual and that she would struggle to find a yard that did this routinely. She maintained that she would expect it as part of the service "for what you pay per month" (£500 all in, for the record). I asked my YO about it and she said, apart from anything else, she wouldn't have the time, that the fees charged at my yard are fair for the services offered (I agree) and would also be worried about liability issues if something went wrong - horse got injured, she/staff member fell off etc.
So ..... who's right?
Is anyone here on a full livery package which includes, as part of the monthly cost, regular exercise for the horse by a competent rider. And if so, is it charged for as an integral part of the livery fee, or added on as an extra.
My friend (on DIY at a good yard locally) said she would expect any yard offering a good full livery service to also include daily - or at least 5 times weekly - exercise for the horse. So she would expect someone competent to tack up and ride her horse, for a meaningful period of time (at least half and hour or more) regularly during the week, as part of the livery package. I am on full livery at a very good yard where my horse gets the very best of care in every way, but is not exercised by the YO or her staff. In our area I can only think of one yard where this is offered, and that is on a schooling livery basis, where the (extremely competent) YM schools horses for owners at extra cost (£35.00) per session, on top of their other livery services, which would add a significant amount to the monthly bill if it was done 5 times per week.
I argued that she was asking a lot, that such an arrangement was unusual and that she would struggle to find a yard that did this routinely. She maintained that she would expect it as part of the service "for what you pay per month" (£500 all in, for the record). I asked my YO about it and she said, apart from anything else, she wouldn't have the time, that the fees charged at my yard are fair for the services offered (I agree) and would also be worried about liability issues if something went wrong - horse got injured, she/staff member fell off etc.
So ..... who's right?
Is anyone here on a full livery package which includes, as part of the monthly cost, regular exercise for the horse by a competent rider. And if so, is it charged for as an integral part of the livery fee, or added on as an extra.