Home or livery - help me decide.

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tigger01

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I have the chance to take my horse home. At present he's at a very nice little diy yard 10 minutes drive from home but the farmer has offered me the chance to bring him here. Pros and cons - home - no driving, on your doorstep, fantabulous hacking round fields and bridleways, close to best friend and her horse, big barn and loads of storage; but no school, horse will have to wait til I get home to come in in winter when it's dark, no one else around if problems, and the fields would be shared with livestock inc a very large bull!!! Livery yard has pretty average hacking, horsey friends, a school, on the way home from work but think I might struggle not to smell like a muckheap when I get to work if I have to muck out before work! And there isnt anyone there who can help as all in the same boat. At least I could muck out at home before getting ready and that way at least I wont honk too much!! LOL. Please give me your opinions.
 
id kill for the chance to bring mine home. but only if i had a school !

but then again i think id even sacrifce that....


are you veery sociable?? im very quiet and like to just get on with it and a chat now and again... depends on that really!!
 
Gosh! Difficult choice for you!

I keep mine at home, having had him on working livery at equestrian college for two years.

Pro's to keeping horse at home:

He's here under my watchful eye all the time
I can look out my bedroom window and see him!
I'm totally responsible for his care and day-to-day decision-making
I can ride whenever I like
I'm totally in charge of my own yard and don't have to answer to anyone
I can choose vet, farrier, feeding regime etc etc
I can hack out with friends whenever I like without having to pre-arrange
I can take the dogs with me!
I can go out on a winter's night and my boy's all tucked up and cosy!
It's much cheaper

Pro's to keeping at livery

Always someone around to help/advise
Someone there to "do" him if I'm unable/sick or whatever (dunno about your yard tho')
Good facilities
With other horses all the time so don't have to think of company issues
People to come alongside if you need it?
Farrier & vet same as others in yard (?) so cheaper?
etc etc

The thing I'd be careful of with your farmer set-up is having a bull in the field!!!! I wouldn't be happy at that, and would be very hedgey about it, personally. My uncle got gored by a bull plus our local Field Master had a fatal injury from a bull. You'd need to check that your horse would never be turned out in the same field as the bull, and if there's any doubt, think again.
 
Tough decision!

My previous horse Paddy had to live on a yard environment as he was very dependant on other horses.
When he went to his new home and i got my next horse i could either move her to my parents (2 miles from my home) or keep her at the yard that i had paddy at (just over 2 miles from home...just up from parents!)
I decided to keep her on the yard for the following reasons......
a)the school
b)a bit of friendly banter with people that i have known for many years as well as tea/coffee/cakes and biscuits offered every five mins!
c) company for me and the horse
d) (i know i am exceptionally lucky regarding this) my yard has VERY knowledable people owning/running it and so i have invaluable help/experience/support etc 24/7 whenever its needed or wanted....but they never interfear.
e)the owner is a fab instructor and so lessons available to suit us....even before work in the morning!
f) we dont have DIY....only part livery (it costs the same as DIY!! but its easier for them to feed/turn out etc in the morning so that everything gets fed/turned out at the same time so no horses kicking up a fuss because one horse has had its breakfast and is out in the field and they arnt) so i only have to go in the evening.
g) if horse cut its self, YO would clean it/bandage it etc untill either i got there or vet came if necessary.
h) easier re shoeing as i dont have to be there
i)shared vets call outs if we get things done at the same time.
j) i dont have to organise hay/straw/tools/farrier/etc etc.....its just there!!
k) if i go away....i just pay a bit extra and i know she is in good hands, i dont have to worry about moving her etc
l) the fields are poo sucked daily....so one less job to do (more riding time)

I really thought about having my next horse at home...but to be honest...working the hours i do its so much easier having her on the yard.
I know im luckier than most that i have known the people who owned it since i was 7 years old and that they are trustworthy, reliable and its such a nice atmosphere on our yard, no bitchness or funny goings on so its worth the money!
 
If you have just the one horse I would consider keeping him at his present livery.

I have had horses at home (with very limited facilities), horses in DIY and full livery and horses at home (currently but with very good facilities).

The lack of other equine company after he has been used to it would concern me. The biggest con though as pointed out by others is not having anyone to help out in an emergency or even if you want to go on holiday.

Hopefully the bull is beef and not dairy but I would feel uneasy drudging round a field in the dark to catch my horse in a field full of cattle.
 
I would love to keep Dee at home! But thats not an option :(
As others have said I'd be weary about turnout with a Bull!!! but if thats garenteed not tho happen then i would bring him home.
 
I have mine at home but i did have to get a companion for company, basically it's just another mouth to feed & another lot of mucking out.

I wouldn't ever go on a livery as i'm so used to seeing mine from my lounge window.

Bliss.
 
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