Full Livery

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unless you live in the UK then you should treat your horse like a person, buy it a stocking

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Oh my that made me chuckle out loud!!!
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You raise an interesting point there. Id be curious about the general cost of full livery around europe. Clearly from your post it was much cheaper in Spain.

I know we're paying half of what we did in the UK for tip top facilities and the place im at is judged as being majorly expensive by danish standards! Granted in the UK i was liveried with a good dressage rider but to be fair, she was off the yard more than she was on and the facilities were really rather poor.

I reckon we're paying less for our full livery than some are paying (in total) for DIY in the uk.

Denmark is generally known for being expensive and although my farrier is pricey, the cost of the actual livery is lower than any full livery ive encounterd in the UK.
 
Having had horses on DIY and full livery i feel i spend more time with my horse now, on full livery than when i was on DIY. I used to spend so much time mucking out etc that i would never have as much time to ride. Now i can just groom and ride and all my time i dedicate to the stables is with my horse. Although i do miss the daily contact with my horse i definitely don't miss mucking out and i have so much more time! For me full livery is definitely the best option.
 
lilym I like your point that people with horses on full livery are in fact being responsible, caring horse owners.

Quite apart from the health reasons already mentioned, I put my horse's welfare and well-being above my own sentimental wishes. Sure, I would love to 'do everything' myself, and have indeed done so in the past. But I am certainly not arrogant enough to think that this would somehow be better for my horse!

The people caring for my horse are considerably more experienced and more skilled than I could ever hope to be, and undoubtedly he is much better off in their expert hands.

He has a feeding and turn-out routine designed to suit HIM, and flexible according to HIS changing needs - NOT fitted in around his owner's working hours or family or other commitments. He is carefully monitored 24/7, and they are always puzzling over him and trying to figure out ways of keeping him calm and unstressed.

Oh, and he gets lots of love and affection and kisses and cuddles from the staff, who all adore him. They will be backing him, much as I would love to do this myself, because they are far better riders than me and will give him a better start.

It is now nearly 11pm. The stud manager will be about to start her late-night round, making sure that each horse is warm and happy and safely tucked up for the night, with rugs adjusted, full haynets, etc. etc. The staff live overlooking the yard, and will hear my horse if he makes any unusual noise in the night, and go to check on him.

I know very few DIYers who can give their horses the standard of care, amount of 24/7 attention and quality of training that my boy gets. So I'm sorry, but I refuse to be talked down to and made to feel small for putting my horse's well-being above my own whims and desires, or for being humble enough to know that highly experienced full-time professionals give him better care than I could.
 
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....and it's own specially cooked Christmas cake....
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Oooooh and can of Guiness for the extra bit of Christmas cheer..............That reminds me. Last year I noticed one of the other liveries had not arrived by 11am on Christmas day, and had made no provision for him to be fed,watered or turned out (DIY), so I called her to check all was O.K. and ask if she wanted me to turn him out, 'Oh my, is that the time she said? No don't turn him out I want to give him his Christmas treat (Can of Guiness), I'll be there in 40mins
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think the poor sod would have rather have just gone out.
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You raise an interesting point there. Id be curious about the general cost of full livery around europe.

[/ QUOTE ]Not Europe, but in The States all my horses were boarded on 'full livery'. It's common place on there and my YO would have thought I was very odd if I went up there 2/3 times a day.
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I have my crew on DIY for many reasons - I have one old boy who can be v unpredictable at times with people he doesn't know/handle him on a regular basis and would think nothing off running straight through you and at 17.3hh he can do some serious damage so even if he was on full livery no doubt I would be called up to get him from what ever field he is careering round, my mare has been passed from pillar to post through out her life so I prefer some continuinty in her life as she is a bit of a stresshead rather than a different person every day checking her over/grooming her etc and my last boy I have only had for a couple of months and was so introverted and shut off from being handled by so many different people that he's only just coming out of his shell now. With him I also felt it was important for me to get to know him as well as in the next few months we are going to be having a few adventures and hopefully the time I have spent with him both riding and on the ground will stand me in good stead. I would never condemn full livery as I think it has it's place for people eg with health probs,work etc but equally I don't think there is a smugness as in a previous post from the DIY's either. I personally take alot of pride that my horses are all schooled well, look healthy and are happy horses which is I like to think is down to the individual care I give them. It maybe that because of the previous expiriences my neddies have had and the work that I have done with them that I am maybe a little over cautious and protective about handing their care over to some one else.
 
I agree with everything FMM says.

I happen to like riding my horses and being around them. I don't like shovelling sh1t...so I don't do it. I see my horses 5 or 6 times a week for grooming, exercising and competing. They seem happy enough and definitely know who I am when I come on the yard as the y often call out to me and always lean across their doors to get closer to me. I have had horses at home and one them myself in the past but with the hours I work now it just wouldn't be possible. I have a dream of buying somewhere with enough land and stables to bring them home one day...but do you know what ? I'll still be paying someone to come in and do the mucking out
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Incidentally, I also enjoy my home...but I pay someone to clean it for me every week...I also pay someone to do my ironing, wash the windows every month, cut the grass every week in summer and cut the hedges every autumn. I pay a man to decorate inside and out as necessary and I even have a man who comes and washes the cars every week. What does that make me (apart from poor
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I take advantage of full livery, my horse is much happier in his set routine than he would be if I tried to do him around the job that I do. That is pretty much the only reason he is on full. If I didn't work then I would do him myself. Like Rambo - if I didn't work I would also do housework and ironing!!
I have someone riding for me at the moment as I can't and she offered to muck out for me but I said no, as if I have a problem with a service that I am paying for then I will have a word with YO, but when someone is doing you a favour it's different.
 
Well said FMM! I wholly agree. Some people really are clueless. Do these people expect us to apologise for having high powered jobs/children/travel/commute commitments?!?! Losers!
 
Lucky Rambo???

having said that, when I move next year (off to hotter region) I shall be putting my three on full livery.... I'd be stupid not to as it works out at £185 a month!!! (then again it is Spain) and being truthful I cant wait.... no more mucking out means I have longer to do things with the horses
 
I agree with everything FMM has said and if you choose to have your horse on Full livery then that's your choice and you are no better or worse a horse owner for it! Each to their own...

I tried my boy on full livery - he was stressed out, lost condition and attacked the grooms.... nothing to do with the yard as they were wonderful and tried everything to make him happy - he just didn't like it. I kept him at the same yard but switched to DIY and he was a different horse!!

And yes I do have a stressful job - I work up town for a large bank and travel all over the world! I have a lovely mum who helps out and a friend who my horse has got to know well and trust.

Why people feel the need to attack eachother over the choices they make on how to look after their own horse is beyond me! I BUY AN ADVENT CALENDAR FOR MY HORSE AND I'M PROUD OF IT!!!! He's my horse and i'll do what I like - if I want to treat him more like one of the family than just an object I own then that's my business and anyone who wants to take the p~~s go ahead! Really couldn't care less - my boy is happy and i'm happy and that's all that matters!
 
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i just dont agree with some people. like poeple who put their horses on full livery just because they can afford it.,
some people rely on full livery to be able to fulfil their dream of owning a horse, but some people abuse it.

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If I can afford it, and have worked d*mned hard to get the point where I can afford it, why shouldn't I put my horse on full livery? I see him 6 days a week usually, ride 4-5 of those days, just spend time with him the other days. If I can afford it why on earth shouldn't I put him on full livery?

I've done DIY for years and years throughout school and first jobs. Now I have a reasonably well-paid job (read: demanding, stressful, long hours) and can afford the luxury of paying someone else to do the dirty work (and therefore contributing to their wage and making the economy go round). I wouldn't class that as abuse of the the privilege of horse-ownership, and I'd be surprised if anyone could examine their feelings honestly and still disagree.
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ETS: And he has an advent calendar and I'm proud of it too
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totally agree with everything FMM said, I've been DIY for years and moved my boy to full livery (not grooming and riding tho) nearly a month ago and we're both so much happier. I have a full time job and can't predict when I might have to work late, and I'm also doing a degree. I used to spend hours mucking out and doing chores while he was happily munching away in the field oblivious to my presence, whereas now all the time I spend there is with him. I still go down to groom, ride and feed him 5 or 6 times a week and will skip out his stable and the school if anything needs doing, and am happy to help with anything while I'm there
 
Why does anyone care whose horse is on full livery and whose is on DIY?
As long as a horse has all its needs met, I don't see a problem either way.
It's a choice for the individual to make depending on their circumstances - full livery is good if you are ill, work long or unpredictable hours, travel frequently, have family commitments, are not knowledgeable or confident enough to do DIY....and it's a whole lot better to put them on full livery than to struggle to look after them.
Mine are on DIY, but as I explained earlier, because I had mares and foals, and youngstock which a lot of yards won't do. And I have time, am well, am confident in looking after mine....etc.
I also don't think it's the end of the world if you have your horse on full livery and have to do Christmas day - why not take the family with you for fun?
S
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I must be the worst of the worst then as I see Mac about once every four months! He's retired , he's happy I leave him to it.
Atty I usually see 3 times a week but sometimes I miss a whole week!
Other people manage DIY with the same demands as me but it's not for me especially with the kids .
Ah yes see I am evil the children are in childminders before and after school every day until I pick them up at 6 so as I can work.
And yes it's my horse and I spend my money on it. I really am evil
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I must be the worst of the worst then as I see Mac about once every four months! He's retired , he's happy I leave him to it.
Atty I usually see 3 times a week but sometimes I miss a whole week!
Other people manage DIY with the same demands as me but it's not for me especially with the kids .
Ah yes see I am evil the children are in childminders before and after school every day until I pick them up at 6 so as I can work.
And yes it's my horse and I spend my money on it. I really am evil
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Are you replying to me? I didn't say anything against full livery people as you seem to be implying?!
S
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I have George on full livery Mon-Fri and part at weekends, I work really odd hours, so it means that he has a routine for feed/turnout etc. (even at weekends), also as the yard is a 20min drive away it means I save time not having to muck out after work. Apart from one day a week when I work late and then spend the evening properly with OH I go up every day, even though I don't have to I make up G's haynets and feeds and sweep my part of the yard because I like to. I've only been there 3 weeks but so far it is working well, and George always comes to the door when I drive up. I think it is each to their own with livery and what suits them and their horse.
 
I personally couldn't give a flying fig what other people think of my horse being on full livery (by a groom at a DIY yard)......I've worked incredibly hard to build my career up, and it often involves long hours and going abroad, so DIY isn't really an option.

I also have quite a poofy horse, who would not be at all impressed by being turned out at 5am, and brought in again at 8pm - he far prefers his regular routine, and it means that he's not turned out on his own at any point.

I'm still DIY at the weekends, and always muck out myself if I'm off for any reason during the week, and holidays etc.
I also see him nearly every night, and don't have to rush around mucking out, making up feeds, haynets etc, can just spend the time riding or grooming.

It's each to their own, if people have the time and energy to do DIY, good luck to them - personally full livery suits me and my horse much better, and I can't see it changing anytime soon.
 
Well said Twiglet, I couldn't care less who is on DIY, Part, Full or whatever as long as it suits the owner and the horse is cared for.
I am DIY by the way.
 
Well as someone who in my limited horse owning experience has done both I think its each to their own.
When we bought Sidney we had full livery so we could learn from others and not put Sid at any risk. The yard wasn't the greatest and I don't think it was a fair reflection of how good full livery can be. We recently moved sidney to another yard where they only offer DIY or assisted DIY. We went with the intention of doing DIY til Sidney settled then getting some help. Two months later we now have two horses and are still on DIY. Hubby and I both work and I'm knackered!
BUT I have (personally) learnt more in the last two months than in the previous year. So from a learning point of view i have found DIY to be amazing. From a "having-a-life-not-being-permantly-tired-and-smelling-of-horse-poo" point of view I so prefer Full!
 
Absolutely! I agree
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I am more than confident that the horse we have on livery is happy, and very cared for both pysically and physcologically (prob spelt wrong).

If he wasn't, he wouldn't be there, its as simple as that.

We have our own yard, and have had liveries, problem horses for schooling/handling etc. We still have youngsters on turn out and have now let the stableyard out.

And i LOVE IT!

We have a life aswell as our horses..... running a business and enjoying family and occassion time out.
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How you chose to look after your horse is a personal thing and also a lifestyle choice.... Ideally given my work commitments you could argue that my horses should be in full livery...

But there aren't any nearby that I think are any good, so I do mine myself... they live at my friends house, so I go up at silly o'clock before work and give breakfasts and hay round.. Then friend turns out mid morning and fecthes in before dark.. I will then go up again after work and we muck/skip out and have a glass wine.. So im lucky that the situation works for us both and the horses are all happy.

Cost wise I dont think you save a great deal if at all when you start adding up all costs and your fuel etc.... I did though stop adding up what my horses costs years ago.
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