Full Livery - Sick and Tired of getting STICK about it!!!

It is up to you what you do! So long as your horse is well cared for. Full livery is not for me, I have tried and failed, but I can understand why some people choose it if only to get excellent facilities. Plus if you want to go on holiday you can!!!!
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Each to their own, I keep mine on DIY, always have since I moved out of home, and then they were DIY as they were kept at home!

That being said, if I earned enough I would definately have them on part livery - for me it would be wonderful to have someone to feed, rug and turn out in the weekday mornings, and muck out, and then i would happily get them in, feed, do hay, water etc and ride in the evenings (not sure how many yards would offer that exact arrangement though lol). I probably wouldn't do full livery as I quite like doing them - it would be a convenience thing pure and simple as i work full time and commute.

One thing I dont understand though is having witnessed someone who kept 3 horses on f/l, and she literally turned up, had someone get horses in for her, tack them up for her, she would jump on ride and ride them and then go straight home. That I couldn't understand - why not go to a riding school? But yes I know she was probably in the minority.
 
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So i guess the obvious question is why have a horse?.What do you get out of owning a horse and what does the horse get out of you??.

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Part livery so I can ride every day!
 
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One thing I dont understand though is having witnessed someone who kept 3 horses on f/l, and she literally turned up, had someone get horses in for her, tack them up for her, she would jump on ride and ride them and then go straight home. That I couldn't understand - why not go to a riding school? But yes I know she was probably in the minority.

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I have witnessed that too, at the yard my horse went to for schooling livery. Not for me but the horses were top show horses so i suppose it was better that the owners didnt ride too often! I was even asked if i knew how to tack up!!
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After having my horse on DIY for 6 years she is now on full livery. I work shifts and so it would be impossible for me to have her on DIY, plus I work a lot of hours so I am often tired. My horse is happy and healthy and I dont have to worry about always being there for her. When I go to the yard I sometimes muck out or do the hay, but it is done because I still enjoy it.
If I was on DIY I wouldnt have the time to spend riding and grooming her which she loves. She doesnt care who mucks her out.
Oh and I have just bought another which will also be on full livery.
 
From a slightly different point of view...I would prefer to keep my horse on part or full livery, purely from a welfare point of view. I know enough to look after my horse on a day-to-day basis, but if she hurts herself or there is something wrong, i like the reassurance of having a more expert person to turn to.
 
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From a slightly different point of view...I would prefer to keep my horse on part or full livery, purely from a welfare point of view. I know enough to look after my horse on a day-to-day basis, but if she hurts herself or there is something wrong, i like the reassurance of having a more expert person to turn to.

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We have a guy where I work who had to buy a horse as he's so ridiculously tall he couldn't find anything to learn on! Bless him he knows so very little but he is keen to learn and we ensure his horse's welfare is ok. If he was on DIY he probably would have half killed the horse by now
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At the other end of the spectrum, my YO bought a horse to ride because her friend has a horse and because she has some land. So obviously the horse is on DIY as she is the YO herself, but she hasn't a clue. The liveries have to teach her (we get cheap livery in return though so it balances out!), run round after her checking her horse is being cared for properly, etc. The hardest bit is that this lady has so little time to do her horse anyway that she has very little enthusiasm to learn - the time she has she wants to be riding, not learning basic horse care.
So there's nothing wrong with being on full livery. After all it's YOUR horse, YOUR choice! If we all wanted DIY the world would be boring, eh?! I LOVE doing my horse so it works well on DIY but I also enjoy having my friend or my mum sort her out on the odd morning so I can have a lie-in
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Awww, ignore them.

I've done both DIY and Full Livery. DIY just wasn't doable for me with a toddler, full time job and a home to run.

I would consider DIY when the kids are older though. The early mornings don't bother me and there is always holiday livery if needed.
 
I have to be honest and say that now I'm totally DIY (horses at home) there are days that I would kill for them to be on full livery.

There were days last winter when mucking out at 10pm was the only time 'left' to do anything with them!! I was at the time working full time, with 5 to do and it was more than a bit crazy!

Part time now though with only 3, soon to be 2 so this winter is almost looking inviting.

I think at the end of the day how you keep your horse, so long as it's looked after, is down to your own personal preference and either way, you shouldn't be berated for it.
 
I enjoy having my horse on DIY - even getting up early on winters mornings to do tedious chores. I went onto DIY for financial reasons and the first winter thought it was going to kill me, but now I really do prefer it. However, I have friends who just wouldn't be able to keep a horse other than on full livery.
We make the arrangements that suit us and it is no-one else's business. What is important at the end of the day is that the horse receives a good standard of care and I don't think they care too much who gives it to them.
I suspect this is a case of jealousy and I would ignore.
 
I've got full livery as it's all that's available here, but it's not very good and frankly I'd be happier DIYing as I have to clean out PF's water trough (all 100ltres of it!) myself and I'll soon be doing the mucking out too. If it were GOOD full livery I'd be ecstatic although I'd still tack my own horses up (nobody else does!)
 
Absolutely not!
I think it's a form of jealousy when people have a go, and would ignore their comments.
My liveries are on a sort of full grass livery and I pride myself knowing they can sleep at night knowing sometimes I can't when it's wet or cold.
I treat them all as my own, if anything needs treating or is ill it gets fixed. I couldn't rest otherwise.
Leaving your horse in the care of a professional is often better for the horse than botched DIy care. I know, I've seen both.
A simple example.
Horses on full livery will all get fed at the same time, meaning none are upset by their neighbours on either side being fed and them having to wait until their owner turns up.
Of course not all DIY'ers look after their horses badly, but I would say full livery care is usually pretty good.
Ignore any sarky comments, they're just ignorant...
 
I could afford full livery but keep my mare on DIY.

I don't work and she is my baby so I am quite happy to do everything she needs. Mornings I muck out while she is letting her brekkie go down then ride. Afternoons she gets a nice groom and fuss and put to bed.

However I don't poo pick fields or clean troughs, I pay one of the other owners daughters to do that for me. She's happy, I'm happy. It works!

I don't have a problem with people using Full Livery, if that's the best way for them and their horse then great. I guess in some instances it means the horse gets better care than having to rely on a harrassed working owner, with kids and houses to sort out.

Horses are meant to be fun after all.
 
What's it got to do with her anyway? When I was younger and had a 9-5 job I did DIY. Now I'm older, work longer hours and work away so she's on full livery. She likes routine, she's well looked after, happy and when I go up (about 4 times a week) I spend quality time grooming her (although she's always clean) hacking out and schooling her. What's more I have now have choices about whether I go up or not which means I can spend time with OH who is on DIY when I'm working away - LOL
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Alot of people have other commitments apart from horses so if they can afford it why shouldn't they have full livery - it's the owners choice at the end of the day
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She is a muppet
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!!Had my lad on full when had baby..meant time i had(which was limited)was spent with my horse...they dont give a toss who mucks them out,or picks the [****] out the field....spending time grooming etc is were your bonds are formed..if i could afford it i would be on it like a shot
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Each to their own, I keep mine on DIY, always have since I moved out of home, and then they were DIY as they were kept at home!

That being said, if I earned enough I would definately have them on part livery - for me it would be wonderful to have someone to feed, rug and turn out in the weekday mornings, and muck out, and then i would happily get them in, feed, do hay, water etc and ride in the evenings (not sure how many yards would offer that exact arrangement though lol). I probably wouldn't do full livery as I quite like doing them - it would be a convenience thing pure and simple as i work full time and commute.

One thing I dont understand though is having witnessed someone who kept 3 horses on f/l, and she literally turned up, had someone get horses in for her, tack them up for her, she would jump on ride and ride them and then go straight home. That I couldn't understand - why not go to a riding school? But yes I know she was probably in the minority.

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Arghhhh,this is the difference..full livery here is probably what most would class as part..i used to,i always assumed full livery was the works when i was in grimsby,however came to scunthorpe and that is called hunter livery??Strange i know,lol
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,have got used to it now
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Around here, DIY livery is getting harder to find. Most yards offer 5 or 7 day "full" livery which doesn't include exercise , tack cleaning or grooming. However , on the yard my daughter's horse is on, the YM is very competent and trustworthy.
 
I have George on full livery and it really suits me and him, but I know it is not for everyone and I think people should just keep their horses the way that suits them and makes them happy. I work f/t in London and I want to spend the precious time I have with George and I also want him to have a steady routine which he wouldn't if I had him on DIY - but that is only because of my circumstances. I still go up every day, groom, ride etc. and help out round the yard because I want to - live and let live.
 
OP it's YOUR money, YOUR horse, YOUR choice. Sod what anyone else thinks!

Our horses are on DIY through personal choice. We could afford full livery but choose not to go that route. But I don't see what the problem is with people having horses on full livery. As you say, you get to spend quality time with your horse and if the care is good then why not?

Let whoever made those snotty remarks punch her way out of a paper bag. You just keep enjoying your horse.
 
All 7 of mine are on full livery - unfortunately it's a service provided by myself to myself !!
They really couldn't care less who mucks thm out, poo picks or even who feeds them, so long as they are fed.
Like a previous poster I'd kill not to have to muck out all those boxes in the winter. Plus by the time I've done all that with haynets , water etc I'm too tired to ride!!
I'd love to have a groom to do the yard work so that I could just do the nice bits!! I've had 30+ years of working with horses one way or another so it's not like I haven't done my bit!!
So here's my question. Do those who think that having a horse on full livery defeats the object of owning one also think that the same philosophy applies to those fortunate enough to be able to employ someone to do the donkey work & to be there so that the horse's routine isn't disrupted for any reason?
 
I don't see anything wrong with full livery and had mine on this for about 6 months. Actually we've had a couple of horses on full livery over the last couple of years.

The only difference I can really see is that sometimes an owner can feel a bit more detached from their horse as a result of not being the "primary-carer". But heck....unless you are a professional horses are supposed to be fun, so do whatever is most fun for you! And if you think your horse is getting excellent care, then no one has any right to chastise you for it.
 
I am on full grass livery as I could not find a yard near to where I work or live that was suitable for my special needs pony. The yard is a good 1.5 hours away and when I made the decision to move yards I knew I could not get there every day as I work full time in London so it is not near work either.

I was on DIY at a yard within walking distance of my house but it was just not suitable for my pony and he was having quite a few issues so for his benefit I moved him to a lovely peaceful place in the coutry where he has settled in wonderfully and never needs to go into a stable again unless he gets sick. He lives with a group of gentle ponies and cobs and is a very happy pony, the downside is that I only get to see him 3/4 times a week but I make those days count and spend the whole of the weekend days with him and I also take half days off work if I want to spend more time with him.

Sometimes full livery is not just about you but about your horse and providing the best care possible. If I am exhausted then I am probably not going to be in a fit state to look after my horse probably and not travelling 1.5 hours twice a day to check my pony is ok in the field and paying someone else responsible to do it I think is fine.

My pony is so much happier on the far away grass livery and that to me is what counts - he does not care who checks him in the field. If he got really sick then I would take the time off work to look after him.
 
As long as your horse is looked after and happy its no ones business if its DIY or Full. Its almost like reverse snobbery I am DIY so I am better than you well what a load of b*ll*cks.

Keep smiling knowing you have the best of both worlds A happy horse & a lie in whenever you want
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I leave for work at 7pm I get home at half 7pm

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JLD You have the best job in the world
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Can I come and work with you??
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