Full service board prices

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noraestley

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Hello everyone! I am soon moving to Hampshire from Virginia, United States. In the US I have my horse on full service board (I believe it is called livery over in the UK) this included everything full care, riding/schooling everyday, grain, bedding, hay, holding for farrier/bodywork etc, clipping, show training and grooming, 1 lesson a week. I know this board is not as popular in the UK but I was wondering what the price for a service like this would be. Thanks for your help everyone!
 
Depending on where in Hampshire you are moving to, if you are a dressage person then try the likes of Catherston nr Stockbridge.

On the Surrey/Hants borders there is Thundry Farm, look through their website as info laid out clearly.
https://www.thundry.co.uk/

I think for full livery you could be looking at £800 to £1,200 per month.
This would be full care, fodder, grain, rugging, grooming, holding for farrier, vet etc.

Riding/schooling/exercising and lessons are usually 'extras' over here and you'd need to discuss directly with yard manager/owner.

Good luck with your move and I hope you can find the right yard to suit you both.
What disciplines do you do? Might help with others being able to advise on possible yards.
 
Here is a yard in Hampshire offering what you are looking for £1,500 per month

Services - Forest Oaks Equestrian

Training livery £346.50* / weekIncludes:Large rubber matted stables2 bags of shavings per weekDaily turnout throughout summer - Turnout pens are used during winterHaylage adlib2 scoops of standard saracen feed per day(additional charges for extra)Horse walker x2 per dayFull use of all facilities...
forestoaksequestrian.co.uk forestoaksequestrian.co.uk
 
Prices vary quite a lot in Hampshire-if you’re looking for that in the New Forest for example, with incredible hacking right on your doorstep, then you’ll be paying a lot more than the bit of Hampshire by the Wiltshire border.

You’re looking at around £1000 a month for ‘standard’ full livery, and a few hundred more a month if you want specialist training and schooling rather than just general exercising.
 
For a decent service/facilities and good level of riding and training you are likely looking at a minimum of £300pw in southern UK.
There will be cheaper out there but I’d expect some not insignificant compromises.
Just depends a bit on the standards you expect.
 
Thanks everyone! We are moving closer to The New Forest! I compete in the 105 jumpers. Having a look at these websites, is it common in the UK for barns to ship your horses to the show and provide the grooms and set up. As that's the standard over here but can't see anything about it online?
 
Wow, I just looked at some of the prices for full (7 day) around me and it starts from about 650 a week (no riding... And I would not touch the place with someone else's barge pole) to 1100 then several which don't publish prices (so presumably a lot).

I must admit I am a snob who sees no point in forking out vast quantities of money for someone else to care for , groom, and even exercise your horse. You would save lots of money getting a share or just riding at a riding school. Local riding schools absolutely need our support and horses appreciate time spent with them.
 
noraestley said:
Thanks everyone! We are moving closer to The New Forest! I compete in the 105 jumpers. Having a look at these websites, is it common in the UK for barns to ship your horses to the show and provide the grooms and set up. As that's the standard over here but can't see anything about it online?
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I would think it’s unusual for the yard to ship your horse and provide a groom. I’d guess if you found a yard that offered this then you’d be paying top dollar.
 
Thanks all! I do usually ride 4-5 times a week, I prefer my horse to be schooled regularly and ridden on days when I can't make it! As for going to a lesson barn I like to be out competing most weeks! I think the UK is a bit more DIY than the US. Over here almost everyone is based with a trainer and everyone attends the shows together with your barn. I gather that isn't the case in the UK?
 
noraestley said:
Thanks all! I do usually ride 4-5 times a week, I prefer my horse to be schooled regularly and ridden on days when I can't make it! As for going to a lesson barn I like to be out competing most weeks! I think the UK is a bit more DIY than the US. Over here almost everyone is based with a trainer and everyone attends the shows together with your barn. I gather that isn't the case in the UK?
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You'd be more likely to get that sort of service if you look at basing yourself with a pro, rather than looking at livery yards. The Lesson barn thing isn't really a thing over here, and pro riders generally have horses on livery that they compete themselves for the owner, but it's worth finding someone you like the sound of and asking the question.
Th
 
You would have to travel your own horse to shows. You could get a daily groom who will help once there. It's possible to find a yard (barn) where they prep your horse but we're not so big on turn out here and don't plait (braid) for show jumping.
Think the basing yourself with a pro is a good idea as they always need money and have staff.
 
Auslander said:
You'd be more likely to get that sort of service if you look at basing yourself with a pro, rather than looking at livery yards. The Lesson barn thing isn't really a thing over here, and pro riders generally have horses on livery that they compete themselves for the owner, but it's worth finding someone you like the sound of and asking the question.
Th
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Completely this.
The US barn culture really isn’t a thing over here. On regular livery yards (irrespective of diy/part/full) amateur riders are a lot more self sufficient.

There are however pros who have amateur riders based with them whereby you’ll get regular support and can tag along to training outings/shows etc.
 
noraestley said:
Thanks everyone! We are moving closer to The New Forest! I compete in the 105 jumpers. Having a look at these websites, is it common in the UK for barns to ship your horses to the show and provide the grooms and set up. As that's the standard over here but can't see anything about it online?
Click to expand...
No that’s not common at all. Depends what level you compete at, affiliated / unaffiliated / Riding Club. Most people have their own horsebox which they often drive themselves. Some people will also have their own groom. Some will have family / friends who help, some will do everything themselves. You might find a good livery yard that is willing to do this & charge extra for this service. Welcome to a new way of life.
 
Auslander said:
You'd be more likely to get that sort of service if you look at basing yourself with a pro, rather than looking at livery yards. The Lesson barn thing isn't really a thing over here, and pro riders generally have horses on livery that they compete themselves for the owner, but it's worth finding someone you like the sound of and asking the question.
Th
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Yes, this.
There are a few that do this service here but they are few and far in between.
 
At our old yard if you were on full livery, you would get everything, including exercise. You just turned up and your horse would be ready to ride. But you got what you paid for and pride in how your horse looked. Tack cleaned, horse washed the works.
 
Gosh in shock at the full livery prices above, even schooling livery round here is only £600-£700 a month which obviously includes riding etc! There's a full livery round here which is £800 but that includes 5km of private off road woodland hacking, an XC course and instructor on site so that is top whack
 
noraestley said:
Thanks everyone! We are moving closer to The New Forest! I compete in the 105 jumpers. Having a look at these websites, is it common in the UK for barns to ship your horses to the show and provide the grooms and set up. As that's the standard over here but can't see anything about it online?
Click to expand...

No.
 
UK shows tend to be 1 day affairs at most a couple of hours away, horses are kept on the lorry for the time they're there so there's no real setup needed. Plaiting isn't a thing we do for lower level showjumping and most people are self sufficient enough they can tack up and warm up without needing their hand held so the average person doesn't need a show groom, it can be helpful bringing someone to put up the practice jump but loads of people show by themselves and randomers are normally happy to help put a jump back together.

If you have the money and view your horse as nothing more than a piece of equipment you can pay so that all you need to do is turn up and ride before passing the horse back to the groom but that's a fairly alien way of doing things over here.
 
Daiquiri said:
" most people are self sufficient enough they can tack up and warm up without needing their hand held so the average person doesn't need a show groom,"

If you have the money and view your horse as nothing more than a piece of equipment you can pay so that all you need to do is turn up and ride before passing the horse back to the groom but that's a fairly alien way of doing things over here.
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Unnecessary. You may not be aware that things are done very differently in other countries.

OP the majority of equestrians in the UK are extremely helpful and nice. As you say you ride 4 to 5 times a week and will adapt to how we do things over here.

Although not Hampshire this yard offers similar to what you are used to so they do exist. Friend keeps her horses here and turns up to ride. She does drive herself ro competitions but has a groom with her who preps her horses and is on hand to help.

Netherwylde https://share.google/TNBjUYoiTIm914M4L
 
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noraestley said:
Very interesting. Around me everyone is based with a "pro" and everyone follows the barns show schedule and we all travel around together. I pay a set singular price per month which includes everything including showing. I think I will have to adjust my approach!
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I had a few horsey American friends and they were a bit surprised by how different things can be, a few kept horses at home, and they found it wasn’t so different but ones who “board” find it odd that it’s very different here! You may have already had a bit of culture shock!

I think that if you had your own place or a DIY you could probably look into getting a freelancer? Or you could have a share 3/4 days a week, where they do chores/care and then ride, and possibly pay you if your horse is a schoolmaster?
 
Hi, I just relocated over here about a year ago from DC myself, so recently went through the process. I was also looking for - and found - a full service training program just outside London. (Before you all get up in arms, I'm a former groom but I work a nice office job now that runs my life - but pays my bills and the horse's.)

Our yard: (1) accessible from London; (2) 100% full care; (3) 8-10 training sessions; (4) horse being exercised when you're not there and (5) plus walker and/or turnout: about £3500 a month. Pretty in line with what you'd see for the same in the US. Billing for shows on top of this, also roughly in line with what you're probably familiar with. There is a bit of a premium for this yard due to London proximity.

I think I might have some ideas around where you'll be for options that might fit the bill if you want to message me.
 
I am further north but a yard I have used has this kind of set up, if wanted. All horses are on full livery with all care, including washing rugs and numnahs. Tack is kept immaculate and clipping etc is included.

They will ride as a given, but if you ride they will still tack up and come with you to the arena to support, as they are being paid to ride, so watching is taking the same time. There is daily turnout too.

They go to shows regularly and are obliging about sticking an extra one on the box, and the rider will either ride for you or you will have support on the ground.

I have used this yard numerous times: for sales livery, for training livery, for when I had building work.

I am unsure of current prices but would imagine £1,500 a month would buy all the riding/support you needed and a show transport (plus show entry fees and a rider fee if they are riding at the show). I live in a less expensive area but just to show that such facilities are available.

I would look for a pro training yard in the discipline you are interested in and see what they can offer. Mine even took my horse on a hunt ride for me! They were selling one and so went together for their horse's experience and mine is a sensible chap so went along. They are primarily a SJ yard but I was offered XC training too, when again they were selling one and they wanted photos/videos. Mine is sensible enough to stand still while jumps were jumped and videos taken. I think it is about flexibility both ways.

They are not ridden every day but that was fine with me. There is also no hacking, which was fine with me for short term.
 
www.nfed.co.uk

www.nfed.co.uk

Connecting the central southern equestrian community since 1999
www.nfed.co.uk www.nfed.co.uk

This is a good website to start with to get a feel for what is available in the area. There are a few dressage trainers in the area that look to have available spaces for full/training livery.

I'm sure you would be able to go along with people or the yard owner to competitions if there is space on their lorries. Then everyone just mucks in together rather than a set 'groom' service away from home.
 
Quite a few of the professional show jumpers do offer exactly this service. I think you would have more success if you go to Facebook and post on the BSJA page (British Showjumping) or UKSJ page. The pros often answer ads there. Good luck.
 
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