How hard is DIY livery?

[Gorgeous George]

Just wondered how hard it really is to have your horse on DIY? I am on part livery and already getting frustrated that I'm not in control. However I have time issues, due to working funny shifts, I am also a worrier and would panic about covering things like w'ends away, holidays and illness (I don't have a network of horsey friends) - just curious really.

 

[RunToEarth]

Really depends what kind of a yard you are on. We used to do DIY livery for some of ours but because we were only a small yard odd days when they couldn't get down we would do their horses- xmas day we would do everyone's lot as it was just easier. Some yards will run DIYs to a time though, so all of the horses are out of the field by Xpm and all fed by Xpm, regardless of what livery they are on.

 

[Smash]

Some yards offer the option of 5 days (Mon-Fri) Part/full-livery whilst weekends are DIY - would this be a potential option you could discuss with YO to see how you find it?

Also depends on whether your yard has set time by which horse must be fed/turned out etc.

There's also assisted DIY that you could consider - turn in/out is usually included so early mornings are less of an issue.

 

[parsley]

During the week I get up at 5.45 to 6 am - go to stable, sort him out to get back by 7.30 am. In the evening I spend about 2 hours there. In winter he is out during the day so I muck out, do haynets, water etc in the morning, in the summer hes in during the day so I do these at night. In summer I pick up a barrow load of poo each day - in winter I pick up 7 barrow loads on Sat or Sun. If I have to work really late I pay someone £5 to get him in and sort him out, although I leave everything ready. The person who used to do this has gone now so goodness knows what I am going to do next time.

As for holidays...... far too broke for them

DIY is a lot of work and committment - I have had my horse on it for about year so that means I have visted the yard about 720 minimum in that time

 

[grandmaweloveyou]

im on diy and personally wouldnt have it any other way. having experienced other yards with assisted and full livery its too routine, too geared towards making money out of people that work full time (like me) that have no choice and i would hate to be someone that just turns up every couple of days with friends to show my pony off whilst having no time nor bond with him. each to their own but if you think you can cope with diy, try it, if you find you cant, noone can say, nor you, that you didnt try your best. let us know!

 

[Christmas_Kate]

We're DIY. As there's only us, Yo and the groom at the yard I do everything myself. I don't work full time though, but work ponio around the family. It means very early starts but you get used to it.
If you're on a friendly DIY yard it's usually a case of helping each other out. Ie if you turn out a friend's in the morning, they'll bring in for you in the evening.

 

[hadfos]

depends on the yard you are on,i am lucky,he is on diy field livery which includes his hay and feed,i only have to go down once aday as the girl is happy to feed him when she feeds others!i still go twice,lol!!If you look around alot of yards are happy to cater for your needs,you may pay a few pound more than the average but you are guaranteed someone to watch em if you want ya hols and wkends away!HUGE bonus too if you are ever sick or the car wont start!!I could never go full diy with no help at all!!

 

[piebaldsparkle]

I work shift, but still have Sparks on DIY. I do have a very good friend who does my horse when I'm working day shifts and I do her horses in the mornings, after my night shifts. I couldn't be on DIY, without some assistance.

 

[YorksG]

Did ours on DIY and now have them at home, only ever worked because I share with sister, Dad helps ot sometimes (not often now as he is nearly 80!). Both sister and I work full time and I sometimes end up working wierd hours (on call) but it usually works out ok. Was very hard earlier in the year when sister broke her leg, while you never expect it to happen, it is as well to think what you would do in case of illness or injury.

 

[Ludi-doodi]

I've only ever known DIY as the yard I'm on is very close to home. It's hard work and I've always has some kind of help with others from the yard - either paying them or doing jobs in return. At the moment, I pay someone to bring him in during the day and drop a haynet in at lunchtime. In the winter, I go up before work (about 7am) and feed, muck-out and change rugs. Helper then turns him out after he's had breakfast and then brings him in again mid afternoon. I do it this way as I want to ride when I get there in the evenings (sometimes as late as 7pm) I don't want to have to wait for him to de-gas when he's been on the field all day. I tend to pay £10 a week to my helper summer and winter - it balances itself out in the summer she only goes to the field once a day, in the winter it's 2 trips. Realistically in the summer I could go up in the mornings and bring him in myself, but this way I do get a bit of rest from the early morning starts!

 

[Bex7]

I don't find it hard, except in the winter Although now I am nearer the am's for winter wll be 6 not 5 starts

Get to the yard for 6, ride and chores and away by 8/830 for work. In the winter when they are in I will do haylage/water/feed in the mornings and leave in stable. I then have a great arrangement with squeeley who does the evenings and come winter will fetch him in and chuck him in his stable, I repay he favour with her mare in the mornings.

If you can find an arrangement like I have with squeeley it does take some of the pain away.

In the summer it is a doddle.....drag in from field groom,ride sling back in field

 

[LauraBR]

[ QUOTE ]
i would hate to be someone that just turns up every couple of days with friends to show my pony off whilst having no time nor bond with him.

[/ QUOTE ]

What a ridiculous comment.

Several people on my yard are on part livery. Their horses are turned out in the morning, mucked out, and brought in at the end of the day. Can't see the horse missing out on THAT much bonding whilst his empty stable is being mucked out nor when being walked the good 20 yards to and from the field. They get plenty of fuss and get worked in the evening by their owners.

My horse is on DIY, it's hard work but I worked regular hours and could manage it. That said, if my next job involves varying shifts I wouldn't hesitate to move to part livery. Routine is very important to my horse when he is stabled, he gets quite stressed if his routine is messed with therefore it would be in his best interests to maintain it.

 

[madgirl]

Ditto LZT, ok so I am at boarding school so don't have much time to bond with my horse during the weekdays in term time, but during weekends and all through the holidays I spend lots of time with my horse, he is ridden for me during the week but that doesn't make me someone who turns up with my friends and just shows him off, my YO changes my livery to assisted DIY livery when I am there in the holidays as I like to do stuff myself.

 

[goeslikestink]

well i have tried it all ways and prefer diy
for many reasons-- and now i have my place so diy everything myself

diy is an easier cheaper option, depending on th yard and facilties they have
dont just look for somewhere to go that just has box and grazzing for your money you wish to spend
average box and grazzing is about 20. to 25pw

must go up to the horse morning and evenings
always look for the closes of yards neaerest the closes of bridle way access no point doing diy if the ride are so far away from the yard and have lots of traffic to get there

always look att how the ard is run- wether its tidy or a sloppy place
as this will give you an indecation as to the yard owner and how there care management is..

be aware also that some yards shut there gates at 8pm
this is and can be a pain when you working shifts

also look to size of stables and size of turnout and how many to that that turn out-- overcrowding can cause problems and not only in injuries but in the grass itself as over crowding and not enough grass then half the time the field is bare and full weeds and ragwort

alway check to see if they have a rota in place as to hay going out in summer or winter

must stress always take your tack home
and always lock your stuff up so no else can access it only you or an associated freind by you

ask around for hay and straw prices as sometimes a yard will charge extra to supply them but at the same time ask the yard if you can have your supplies brought in from elsewhere as not to upset the yard owner

sometimes this alone can cut your expenses a bit more

but make sure they do a deleivery service and be aware some do charge for that so -- if the yard is reasonble then cost the cost of getting your own and compare whats the cheapest option for you

on the whole you will have more time with your horse
and more time to ride your horse
so diy is better for some and to be honest mmost of us do it becuase if we are truthful its a cheap way of keeping a horse

 

[grandmaweloveyou]

lzt - dont take it personally - seriously im lucky enough to live in "horsey central" and i only speak from experience. some diy owners ALSO just turn up every few days and expect the rest of us to check and care for theirs, it was not meant to be a generalisation but when i was at a yard that had diy / assisted / full, none of the full liveries ever showed and did exactly what i said in my thread.

 

[Chex]

I find it easy on DIY, and I would't have it any other way (I'm horribly controlling when it comes to Chex

). But I work normal hours, and rarely go away on holiday. If I am really busy then my mum can nip up and check him which is handy. Its not hard work, just sometimes hard to juggle other commitments and the horse.

 

[dozzie]

Ive nearly always had mine on DIY because they are at home!!! But I put my horse in full livery just down the road after I had an operation. Horse was really well looked after but I couldnt cope with it at all!!! Would go down and muck her out, change water etc. It was a yard where you could turn up and horse was tacked up ready to go! Id book a lesson then turn up an hour early to get her ready!!! The head girl got really frustrated with me(in a nice way!) and kept saying why are you doing that, that is what you are paying us for!!!

I also hated the fact I didnt see my horse every day and the first couple of weeks I was a pain in the butt!!! But by the end of six weeks i managed not to go to see her if I was really late home from work! I dont think I was like their normal customers!

The only thing I was happy to let them do was clean my tack!!

 

[Hayleycob]

I think I know what you mean, DIY sounds scary because you have no one else to rely on, but I think if you "took the plunge" you would soon work things out, and if you are willing to help someone else out, they will be willing to help you out. Of course there are so many things to take into consideration, only you know what will work for you and your horse.

 

[not_with_it]

Its not hard its just something you will have to get used to. ATM I work evenings so I get to spend all day playing with my pony. It has just become a way of life for me and something I do. When I start working shifts in my new job im considering doing part livery as I wont be able to always turn out or bring in. Im dreading it as I like doing everything my way.

 

[nona1]

On a DIY yard everyone is in the same boat; everyone has to deal with holidays/emergencies/sickness sometimes.

You'll find that people swap helping each other out. I'll bring in and feed your horse this weekend while you are away and know that means that I can then ask you to do my horse when I'm away.