full livery - is it worth it?

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impresario08

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Due to ongoing health problems and attempting to hold down a full time job and studying I am considering putting my horse on full livery, probably for the next 2 years. It will be a significant part of my pay cheque but if I am careful it won't cause any damage - just won't leave a lot spare after the other non-horsey bills haha.

For those who have their horses on full livery - is it worth the extra money?
 
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I have my horse on part livery - everything except grooming and riding. It is definitely worthwhile if you find a yard you are happy with. I work full time with a long commute. It means I don't have to worry if I stay at work late. I already get up at 5 in the morning and couldnt cope with any less sleep. I can change plans without making special arrangements and go away easily. That said when I retire I will do DIY as much because I like looking after my horse as the cost!

Also when I have free time I can spend it riding rather than poo-picking!
 
I had my horse on full livery for about 4 years. It was a godsend when working away and meant I didn't have to rush around finding someone to cover for me if I was on holiday/off sick etc.

I must admit, I had her on DIY for a while (with help from the lady who owned the yard when I was away) and I did enjoy being more involved with the horses, but it can be frustrating when you are short on time and have to prioritise the daily jobs over riding. My horse is now on grass livery with a daily check, which means I have a cheaper livery bill, but also the same benefits of someone being around!

Essentially if you want more time to yourself, and to just enjoy riding your horse then go for it! It will take a huge weight off your shoulders when you don't have to juggle so many things. You really do need to put your health first.

Hope you are on the mend soon. x
 
Definitely ... but only if you find the right yard!! My lad is on Full Livery at an excellent yard, where I know I can trust the staff to look after him whether I'm there or not. It means I can go away for a few days without having to worry, I can have a "day off" to do other rings if I choose, my lad is properly cared for and in a good, regular routine which he thrives on and the whole arrangement is generally highly beneficial to both me and my horse. It also means the physical burdens of horse care are sorted out ... no mucking out, poo picking, water bucket carrying, hay net filling etc. This frees me up to enjoy my horse time, rather than having to use it filling hay nets.

It also means that, if I can't get there for whatever reason, i'm not having to make arrangements with other liveries to step in which can be a pain in the neck and a worry.

Don't get me wrong though. I do actually enjoy looking after my horse, but the time and physical demands can be very high (as well all know!). It's also a biro f a leap of faith, because the yard may well do things slightly differently to how you do them and some people can't deal with that. But to me, it's the care of my horse which is the most important thing.

And there are downsides, of course. The cost is the main one!! Also, the yard is 8 miles away from home, although there are good DIY yards closer. It really depends on how much your time and the resulting health benefits are worth to you. If you can afford it, i'd say look round for a good yard and give it a try for a while. At the end of the day, your horse really doesn't care who does the mucking out ...!
 
Yes it is for me as I don't have the time due to work, it would be lovely to spend more time but I'm glad I have a great yard to do the livery stuff, when I can't ! I know some people on diy and they seem to spend so much time doing the mucking out etc, they barely have time to ride.
 
I couldn't have a horse at the moment if I didn't have full livery. I have a long commute and sometimes have to work late or away. Knowing he is being looked after is less to worry about.
 
Thanks all. I am really miserable without my horse so am desperate to make it work if possible. I'm worried that if I spent energy mucking out etc then I'd have no time to ride or spend time with him.
 
I've had my horse on full livery for the past 5 years. I had the horse I had at the time on DIY before that, and it just meant I had no time. I commute to London, so that's a 10 min drive to the station then an hour or so on the train, and I also train at the gym 4 times a week, so I just don't have the time to be on DIY. It was weird at first but I really like it now. Lovely just being able to turn up and groom/ride/spend quality time with him rather than thinking of chores to do. And also to lie in at the weekends! Oh and also to be able to go out competing without thinking of all the muckiout etc that also needs doing at the end of a long day!
 
I don't have full livery which includes exercise but I have part which includes everything else. As someone has said, I find I have more time to ride and groom compared to people on diy who have to get there after work and then muck out meaning they tend not to ride as much.

I retain some control over my horses' care though as I decide which feed and how much hay, bedding and push for as much turnout as possible so it is important for me to find a yard that lets me have a certain amount of input.

You have to be able to trust the yard as I have been in the situation where I have come up in the evening to find a filthy bed and no hay at 6pm, so I was paying for livery but have to redo everything myself.
 
For me, it wasn't - I've gone back to assisted DIY & pay extra for services I need from the YO. I've got friends that swear by full livery though. Good luck :)
 
impresario08 said:
Due to ongoing health problems and attempting to hold down a full time job and studying I am considering putting my horse on full livery, probably for the next 2 years. It will be a significant part of my pay cheque but if I am careful it won't cause any damage - just won't leave a lot spare after the other non-horsey bills haha.

For those who have their horses on full livery - is it worth the extra money?
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Depends what you mean by full


Back in the 70/ 80 full means full everything including riding and tack cleaning. These days some call full everything but riding and tack cleaning, this I call part as part means a bit off where as full means complete.


If you mean actually full which is including riding and tack cleaning I would get a half loan to do part of it this will save you money all round.
 
Yes it's worth it IMO. ( full is no riding here, although he is being ridden for me currently, to confuse things :p) Knowing they are well cared for when you can't make it, no huge pressure to be there every day. Happy settled horse in a perfect routine, lots of turnout and no worries for me :)
 
My 2 are on part livery (i.e. everything apart from riding and grooming). I have a long commute and quite often have to work late so having them on part livery means they are able to be kept in a set routine and where they are now they have never been happier and more settled. You do have to trust the yard owner/manager though.
 
I moved to full (no riding/grooming) in April and have been really pleased. She looks great and I am really pleased with how they care for her. I occasionally much out or tidy her bed if I turn her out at night, but don't have to. I thought it would "damage" our relationship, but think it has done the opposite. When I am at the yard I am there to spend time with her and nothing else. She has never been groomed this much and I feel like I know her better. There is no rushing to get xy and z done. I just groom and ride (and cuddle). Also I went away for 2 weeks and although I missed her I didn't have to organise anything. My boss (also OH) is much happier as if there is loads of work on I don't have to leave so all good.
 
I've only been on full for a week so not sure if I'm qualified to comment but so far I'm loving it!! I enjoy going to the yard now knowing all I have to do is ride. It's a lovely feeling knowing that if I'm ill/ away with work/ on holiday I don't have to get someone else to go and do them and I'm content knowing someone else is doing them to the standard I'd do myself. And for the first time in years I'm actually not dreading winter :D
 
I've been on assisted DIY and full (no riding no grooming), DIY is great in the summer if your horse lives to be out 24/7 (or winter even). Its tiring and can be expensive depending on your yard for extra services. It works out not much more a week once I factored fuel/feed/services for me to be on full livery esp as horse likes to be in on a night during summer.

It is worth finding the right yard as you need to be able to trust them as its odd handing over the reins, but worth it in terms of having more time to do as you please (whatever that may be)
 
I used to keep my horse on full livery because I was out of the country a lot of the time. They did everything including hacking him out each day, cleaning his tack, arranging and being in attendance at shoeing and any veterinary issues. It was worth every penny. .... and when I got back all I had to do was phone them up and tell them I was coming up and they would have him all groomed and tacked up ready for me to hack him out.
 
I have mine on full livery though my definition of full is everything but riding and cleaning tack. I just show up and ride.

I love to be involved with my horse, and on the weekends when I have more time I do odd jobs like washing her water bucket out, general grooming/cleaning, skipping out etc. I often help out around the yard she's on too. I love doing the work and love caring for her but with a demanding full time job that often involves travel, I love that I don't have to worry about her if I can't make it up.

Worth every penny IMO - I can just enjoy being with her rather than doing all the jobs and not having time to ride.
 
I've been on full livery for 20 years (although this is all care but excludes exercise / tack cleaning etc), it means I can just go and spend time enjoying being with my horse, rather than mucking out etc.
 
I'm on part (everything except grooming and riding), and I'll never do anything else! I like having time to go the the gym, I ride more than any of my friends on DIY, I can have a night away without worrying or making special arrangements, and horse gets a routine even if I'm having a horrendous week. Once you factor in feed, forage, bedding, petrol, trailer parking and necessary services (morning turnout) it probably only costs me about a tenner a week more than DIY!
 
It's a god send. I don't know why there is some kind of demented view in here that unless you have your horse on DIY your a bad owner!
 
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