Has anyone else moved from Full to DIY? Cost etc.

Littlemissmoneypenny

Littlemissmoneypenny

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 September 2010
Messages
248
Location
Somerset
Visit site
Just wondering if anyone else has done this? And what experiences you had?

I am considering the pros & cons. I currently have 1 horse on full time livery on a family run yard. However I would really like to get another horse next year but I doubt I could afford two on full livery. I currently pay £280 a month this includes hay/haylage, straw & hard feed. Currently out 24/7 unless we have a comp or the weather is really bad and in the winter they come in at night and most of the day out.

Just wondering how much you pay for DIY & bedding, feed hay etc a month? Need to work out if it would be worthwhile and mean I could get another next year.

A friend owns a field with 4 stables and a small arena who will be renting this out soon as the daughter has given up. It is only a 10 min hack up the lane where I currently am. I also know someone who would be interested in moving with me. I work full time but lucky as they are very flexible and only a 15/20min drive from work so could get there in my lunch hour if needs be.

Thanks for any advice! :)
 
It depends where abouts you are! I currently rent 2 stables on a farm ( one for pony one for rugs) I pay for both and then hay, straw feed ontop work out about £180 pm (inc use of indoor school, water, electirc ect) - I save alot on petrol though as its only 5 min drive 10/15 min cycyle from my house!
 
I pay £150 a month per horse for DIY livery.

Poor doer TB gets through £60 of haylage and £40 of hard feed a month.
Fatty four yr old gets through £30 of haylage and £20 of hard feed a month.

So I guess it depends on the horses eating habits as to whether or not you would save a significant amount.
 
I don't know where you are, but £280/month for full livery seems like a bargain to me!

The GD was on full livery for a little over £700/month . . . turnout/bring in, groomed, rug changes, medication given, held for farrier/vet/dentist/physio, all feed/hay/bedding . . . plus he was schooled three times a week.

We are now on DIY which costs me £170/month for basic livery, plus £20/month for straw, £45/month for hay and probably another £40/month for hard feed. So £275/month, not including farrier/vet/dentist.

P

P.S. I'm in the Thames Valley area
 
Thanks for your replies!

The yard is on a working farm, so the hay and straw comes from her husband (the farmer!), they bring in/turn out and stand with the farrier vet etc. I ride pretty much everyday (my bf rents a place on the farm as well) so end up bringing her in or putting her out. And on weekends when they are away on competitions I look after mine and sometimes all of the horses if no ones around so not full 'full' livery if that makes sense! I'm just south of bristol, so don't think prices are extortionate around here..I could be wrong!

Perhaps I should just beg for a pay rise at work instead :p
 
I was on a yard that was £250 pcm a horse, but I didn't have a stable and horses were kept at grass. This was supposed to also include any care they would need, such as daily checks morning and evening, any rug changing, held for vet/farrier....but they never did any of that! So I thought it was just very expensive DIY.

Now on a yard with way better facilities, only five min drive from house ( last yard was 30 min) and livery is £150 pcm a horse. Have two horses so it is a huge saving for us. This includes bedding (straw) and hay add lib. horses are fed and turned out for us in the morning but we do all the rest.
I love it and think it is a bargain!! but YO is a firm but fair old school horse woman. My horse's have never been so happy as they are now, but as my farrier said the other day, he has never seen me so content with my horses for a long time, and he has known me a very long time ! x
 
Wow! Your's is incredibly cheap compared to mine, and I thought mine was really good! I pay £130 in livery, then about £40 a month in shavings, £35 in hay, around £50 in hard feed and then add his multivit for £19 every couple of months! My YO is incredible though and if I'm ever stuck she will bring in/turn out or hold for farrier for nothing, I just then return the favour when she is. I have use of a rubber school and 260 acres of TROT rides direct access owned by YO for hacking (No roads!) and it's a lovely atmosphere. I looked at Full livery and was told £110 per week and that didn't include feed! It's really rewarding if you've got the time but 2 on DIY can be hard work - especially when it's snowing and you have to walk to the yard, lug the wheelbarrow through the snow for mucking out and defrost taps and water buckets! It's up to you completely. I love being on DIY at such a friendly yard, but if I was at a catty yard I couldn't cope!
 
Yip Budley95...but look at my location...Scotland...I don't know how you lot south of the border can afford to live let alone have horses, cost of living down there is just stupid by comparison, I know I couldn't afford to run two if I didn't live here.
 
Hi I am in scotland too and I pay £20 a week livery plus £7 per bale of shavings and £5 a bale of hay. My bill this month was £130 per horse plus I have their hard feed on top of that which would maybe be another £30.
 
Thanks for all your replies...very helpful!

I just can't make up my mind, I do love it where I am now but am quite stuck in terms of getting another!

I'm not afraid of the hard work side of it...as mad as it sounds I enjoy the looking after aspect as much as the riding part...just means I can spend more time with them.

I think it will be a task of realistically costing each one up....fun fun!
 
I pay £36 a week for DIY including haylage (for stable and turnout and other facilities e.g. outdoor arena etc). I use shavings but if you get straw from yard that is £8 extra a week. Morning turnout or feed is £1. I find it works well and, like you, really enjoy the care side as much as riding so this works well for me :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top