Antw23uk
Well-Known Member
That you need VERY deep pockets and livery is actually cheap and that YO isnt so bad after all!
I wish I had known...before I bought my own yard.
- Thread starter TheChestnutThing
- Start date
Mudfukkle
Well-Known Member
Where to dispose of the muck - this can be a big problem!
Smogul
Well-Known Member
A colleague said she had not realised how much time and money would be spent on ferrying reluctant children to their post-school activities. Her two kids bitterly resented being stuck out in the middle of nowhere after living in a big town. She realised after 6 months that she had made a huge mistake but it took her two years to sell the property.
Polos Mum
Well-Known Member
This is a good point - we have been looking at somewhere larger but our current home while private (I could, if I wanted, topless sunbath in the garden all the time - this was my definition to estate agents who told me places were 'private' that weren't!) we can walk to pub, local shop, easy bus stop into town.
I've found looking around that it's a rare beast to be private 10+ acres but still teenager friendly.
baran
Well-Known Member
Do not assume that your OH who has never show any interest in DIY or horses will suddenly develop this overwhelming urge to mend fences.
catembi
Well-Known Member
That you will spend every weekend spraying weeds, mowing, creosoting and grading and weeding the school! Luckily I love pottering around outside but I never run out of things to do!
honetpot
Well-Known Member
Our last long term house, we lived there for over twenty years, was a bungalow in a commuter village on two thirds of an acre, with a building we converted to a stables. The main plus about it was, it was ten minutes walk from the school and when they got older it was on the school bus route. You can not live in a field and if the children a happy, and as they get older independent, they had jobs at sixteen in the village it makes life a lot more pleasant. I had a yearly space at DIY livery, rented as and when I could get fields, and used the stables at home.
Our present house we have no really close neighbours, there would be plenty of room for children to play ponies, but as I have discovered very few of their friends at school were interested, and I would have to take them in a car everywhere. My friends who have both lived out in the sticks spent a fortune on fuel getting the children to school, so I would factor that in the budget.
FestiveG
Over the hill and far awa
Our hamlet isn't that remote, but it's over half a mile to the rather infrequent bus service. Any of the kids who grow up here get driving lessons for their 17th birthday and a car for their 18 th! The kids can go to the local primary on foot and then go to tea, in the nearest village. When they get to secondary, then they become much more isolated and parents turn into taxi drivers and the kids are much more restricted than most teenagers.
Jellymoon
Well-Known Member
Firstly, congratulations, hope it all goes through and you get your dream of having horses at home!
I’ve not been on a livery yard for about 25 years now, I rented various places and now have them at home. I’ve never looked back, I love being my own boss and hated livery yards.
I think the main thing is lots of electric fencing, don’t be in a rush to throw up permanent until you’ve done a couple of winters. Also, winter turn out areas are an absolute godsend, mine are tarmac planings.
You’ll prob need a freelancer or three if you ever want a life or a holiday! My advice there would be to test out a few before booking any one person for all your holidays. If you decide you don’t like them, it’s then really hard to backtrack. I have three I can choose and I rotate them a bit so all three know the horses and the routine.
Same thing with local kids who suddenly ask if they can help for free as they love ponies, seems like a great idea at the time, until they start turning up all the time and you can’t get rid of them! Just keep at arms length a bit.
Other than that, love it!
I’ve not been on a livery yard for about 25 years now, I rented various places and now have them at home. I’ve never looked back, I love being my own boss and hated livery yards.
I think the main thing is lots of electric fencing, don’t be in a rush to throw up permanent until you’ve done a couple of winters. Also, winter turn out areas are an absolute godsend, mine are tarmac planings.
You’ll prob need a freelancer or three if you ever want a life or a holiday! My advice there would be to test out a few before booking any one person for all your holidays. If you decide you don’t like them, it’s then really hard to backtrack. I have three I can choose and I rotate them a bit so all three know the horses and the routine.
Same thing with local kids who suddenly ask if they can help for free as they love ponies, seems like a great idea at the time, until they start turning up all the time and you can’t get rid of them! Just keep at arms length a bit.
Other than that, love it!
Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
Nothing beats having your own land and stables .
It’s still the high light of my life to have my horses at home .
However it is hard work land does not look after it’s self and there’s a constant to do list .
Things I have learn .
Certain tasks require your own equipment because you need to do them just the right time it can be perfect to roll one day and to dry by the next if you are an clay windows for tasks are tight . I have may own rollers ,Harrows and toppers and I also sometimes use contractors for tasks .
You need to be prepare to look after the grass for example direct drilling grass seed to repair paddocks and spray out clover now and again and contain annual weeds .
Take time you learn you land and how it works and which bits to use when and how , apart from boundary fencing consider using electric fencing until you learn exactly how you want to use it .
It can be lonely if you are used to horsy people’s company daily however I the time quietly enjoying your horses alone is the best time .
Invest in a hard standing .
Have fun nothing beats it .
It’s still the high light of my life to have my horses at home .
However it is hard work land does not look after it’s self and there’s a constant to do list .
Things I have learn .
Certain tasks require your own equipment because you need to do them just the right time it can be perfect to roll one day and to dry by the next if you are an clay windows for tasks are tight . I have may own rollers ,Harrows and toppers and I also sometimes use contractors for tasks .
You need to be prepare to look after the grass for example direct drilling grass seed to repair paddocks and spray out clover now and again and contain annual weeds .
Take time you learn you land and how it works and which bits to use when and how , apart from boundary fencing consider using electric fencing until you learn exactly how you want to use it .
It can be lonely if you are used to horsy people’s company daily however I the time quietly enjoying your horses alone is the best time .
Invest in a hard standing .
Have fun nothing beats it .
maya2008
Well-Known Member
How much machinery makes your life easier - seriously, spend the £££ on second hand sprayer and harrow at least. In terms of time and effort they are life changing! A small tractor with post basher, hedge trimmer if applicable and topper would probably be on my wish list!
brighteyes
Pooh-Bah
I have mine at home (I had my first pony at home) and have been a livery in between. Still friends with a livery and the YO of the livery many years on, so not dissing that, but having them right outside my door is heaven.
As Goldenstar said, many hours will be spent on maintenance and improvements and you'll need 'equipment'. I think the muck heap removal was the trickiest thing but we live in a rural community and a local farmer took it. Then, the best development happened when my eldest got into farming and tractors and all my land maintenance problems ended. Long story and honestly, I couldn't manage without the boys' input, but if you can find the manpower to help, its unbeatable.
I don't want to go away without my horse anyway, so holidays aren't an issue for me.
As Goldenstar said, many hours will be spent on maintenance and improvements and you'll need 'equipment'. I think the muck heap removal was the trickiest thing but we live in a rural community and a local farmer took it. Then, the best development happened when my eldest got into farming and tractors and all my land maintenance problems ended. Long story and honestly, I couldn't manage without the boys' input, but if you can find the manpower to help, its unbeatable.
I don't want to go away without my horse anyway, so holidays aren't an issue for me.
Ceifer
Well-Known Member
I feel we’ve all said the negative aspects of having horses at home.
I had my old horse on a fantastic livery yard in the South West. But they only offered full livery. When we decided to relocate the choice of livery yards was very few, none of them offered year round turnout which is a big thing for me. I don’t mind restricted turnout in winter but all of the yards I contacted shut off their fields.
Having them at home means I can manage my land and my turnout. I keep mine as cheaply as I can - I maximise my grazing by managing the grassland carefully. When they’re in overnight I do a late night check - skipping out and topping up hay. Saves me money on bedding and ensures they have enough food for the night.
The fencing has been a pain. I knew on viewing the property it wasn’t in the greatest nick, but also due to the Covid panic house buying we weren’t in a situation to negotiate.
Finding a good freelance groom is essential to allow you some freedom and for longer breaks depending on how many horses you have, holiday livery maybe cheaper.
I had my old horse on a fantastic livery yard in the South West. But they only offered full livery. When we decided to relocate the choice of livery yards was very few, none of them offered year round turnout which is a big thing for me. I don’t mind restricted turnout in winter but all of the yards I contacted shut off their fields.
Having them at home means I can manage my land and my turnout. I keep mine as cheaply as I can - I maximise my grazing by managing the grassland carefully. When they’re in overnight I do a late night check - skipping out and topping up hay. Saves me money on bedding and ensures they have enough food for the night.
The fencing has been a pain. I knew on viewing the property it wasn’t in the greatest nick, but also due to the Covid panic house buying we weren’t in a situation to negotiate.
Finding a good freelance groom is essential to allow you some freedom and for longer breaks depending on how many horses you have, holiday livery maybe cheaper.
SantaVera
Well-Known Member
how lonely it can be
Kaylum
Well-Known Member
If you have a school you cannot hire it out even to friends. Someone I know got caught out doing this.