If you could keep your horse at home, would you?

[Ranyhyn]

That's heartenning Paddy irish and i suppose you guys are right - i could always go back, it wont be the end of the world if it doesn't work out!!

 

[Cazza525]

We have land abd stables about a 2 minute drive from home...it will be going on the market in the next month or 2. I have got 2 in livery for the time being until we have sold the land and stables, sold the house and are in the fortunate position of buying somewhere with land on the doorstep.
I am really fortunate as I am quite enjoying being in livery. It is only for the interim until everything is put in place, but I can honestly say that having 2 in livery is just a drop in the ocean of what I've paid out on fencing, field maintenance, breakages and building of 6 stables over the last few years.
I am also really enjoying the banter and back up of being in livery.....something I'm not used too. Yes, some people are truly barking, but I just chuckle to myself and get on with everyone. My horses are chilled, I din't have to think about field maintenance, use the school as and when and just tidy up after myself and am able to leave it behind.....wheras the strain of building stabling, looking after the land and then dealing with the horses are a distant memory.
I will have the horses at home with me, something we've always wanted, but also am really enjoying the benefits being in livery brings.

 

[Enfys]

Yes, and I do.

I wouldn't have horses at all if I had to keep them at livery.

 

[Whoopit]

Er, yes.

My very lovely boyfriend is desperate to have the horse at home and we don't even live together! If he sells the house he has now he'll buy a place with land. Knowing him and how he doesn't do things by halves he'll end up with a farm! If he doesn't sell, he'll just buy me land and stay in the house he has. Either way, i'd be laughing. Just better make sure I keep his tummy full because the way to a mans heart is through his stomach. . .

So I'm told

 

[Ranyhyn]

I am lucky that the set up is already there for horses, as they previously had horses on the farm - so stabling, fencing etc is all done. All I'd have to do is electric fence and I'm good to go...in theory I know it's NEVER that simple!

 

[Pearlsasinger]

We certainly wouldn't go back to livery.
But equally I wouldn't ever keep one horse on its own.
Sis and I, though, share our property. OH helps with the maintenance, as does Dad and we have 4 horses so there are always at least 2 left at home. We also live in a very horsey area and neighbours and friends are always available to help out if necessary.

 

[Ranyhyn]

Yeah the main drawbacks are help at the yard ( could bring in a livery ) and horsey company ( covered with livery and a companion)

 

[Tnavas]

I loved having my horses at home - you could just sit on the deck and watch them play at dusk.

Easy to feed in horrendous snowy weather we had one winter when I lived in Christchurch. HAd access to lovely hacking and a school just down the road.

It was great - currently mine are one mile up the road and I can walk or cycle there and feel better for the exercise.

 

[Javabb94]

Interesting this thread....

In considering moving my horse into livery rather than at home

I weighed up pros and cons of both home and livery and livery actually came out top!

It's not a ordinary livery though it's a riding school but not your average riding school it's very very good and most horses are out competing most weekends and I ride their now even though I have my own

Im seriously bored with riding at home

- I have no school
- it's hard to practise what I have been learning in lessons
- I have three at home two non ridden and java
- he needs socialised and even though he is 13 he has never been to a show apart from two with me in April this year which were a nightmare to say the least
- java has become increasingly bored
- and seriously lacks motivation
- but when I take him to my lessons ect he is fine as he is happy to be somewhere
- he is such a pain at home he spoils at everything
- take him somewhere new though and he is fine
- he needs worked to keep his motivation up and to be doing different things
- there is always help If I need it

 

[Javabb94]

Meant to say spooked instead of spoils

 

[Rose Folly]

Agree with Enfys. I wouldn't have horses if I didn't keep them at home. It's a no-brainer as far as I'm concerned.

 

[traceyann]

I keep all mine at home i hate it its lonely nobody to ride out with nobody to chat to when mucking out havent got a school so hacking is only option and winter watching them trashing my lovely mantained fields working out right time to roll field spray etc. I also live on my own so if got hurt nobody to be around and nobody to bounce ideas of or advice which is what i miss most. Plus side nothing gets stolen no back biting no one to tutt when your doing it wrong

 

[tinap]

I rent a field & stable for our pony & would love to own the house where it is at so he could be at home!! I've never had any at livery & even though I'd love to have the facilities, I don't think I would stand it very long!! Yes its lonely here but I like it that way - no-one interferes & I can do things in my own way in my own time!! Would just prefer it to be at my house!! xx

 

[millitiger]

Would definitely keep mine at home if I could (and did until about 3 years ago).

However, I wouldn't keep one by itself and would need an arena to keep working them through winter.

 

[Wagtail]

Ok so you have one horse, if you could keep it at home - would you choose to? Or would you prefer for it to be kept at livery? Am I missing a trick here?! I'm in a quandary about yards at the moment and wondering whether I should just take missy "home".
However home is just grazing and a stable, in the fullness of time I could have a school put in - but for now its very basic and I'd likely be alone...
BUT that means my livery bill £100+ could be spent on lessons...

Thoughts please?

You would likely be alone? Wht about Missy? Sorry, but it doen't seem that you are thinking of her at all here. You are concerned about you being alone and there not being a school. I wouldn't concider keepig a horse on its own. Get her a friend and then take her hme, yes. Sorry but this is one of my pet peeves.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Ive been livery now keep them all at home including all my liveries big dis they don't leave u alone just sit down or have a shower the bell goes so i added only ring on door bell in an emergency

but i would still say i would prefer to keep them at home as long as i had a stable and grazing for the the convenience but only if i got something small to keep as a companion or a donkey. Unless my horse is one of those rare horses that cant be kept with another, as i knew one called Mac and belonged to the (old) family who owned Park Farm in Northwood he was 16.3 black tb x top dressage horse and you couldnt put anything with him as he would chase it and kill it i remember one time the shetland got into him and it was by the grace of god we got him out , then i wouldnt need a companion as i am sure most big yards would let you use school for a fee .

 

[xBumblebeex]

HOME!! We do not have a school, but you can do without one! (in winter it would be nice though) having said that, as part of Pony Club we go to lots of other places for practice/rallies etc... So we have the best of both, the peace and quite of home, and the social aspect of Pony Club. Plus I can check on them anytime. Even walked over to get them in when the weather has changed in the middle of the night. Or made hubby go Lol!
I have 4 so they have company. Occasionally our mini is left for a while, but I usually put him in the stable, with hay and maybe a treat. And our dog will stay in the stable next to him. They are best of pals!!!!

 

[amandap]

I'm another who wouldn't keep horses if I couldn't have them at home.
The trouble is you can't just have one...

 

[Ranyhyn]

Sorry Wagtail - you need to read the rest of the thread - I don't and never have kept horses alone, we're onto getting two companions OR getting a livery in to share my private yard

I have reaearched the area, there's a large venue 5 mins away, so now just need to ascertain if they will hire it out - but either way, riding club is held Mondays and there is always a comp Saturday/Sunday so that's two outings a week. School will likely be started September if at all, not sure on the turnaround time - more background research needed!

 

[Wagtail]

Sorry Wagtail - you need to read the rest of the thread - I don't and never have kept horses alone, we're onto getting two companions OR getting a livery in to share my private yard

I have reaearched the area, there's a large venue 5 mins away, so now just need to ascertain if they will hire it out - but either way, riding club is held Mondays and there is always a comp Saturday/Sunday so that's two outings a week. School will likely be started September if at all, not sure on the turnaround time - more background research needed!

Sorry to have jumped to conclusions. It's just the way you worded your post as the companion thing is something I would have made clear immediately. There are far too many people who keep horses alone andit really gets to me. Really sorry that I was a bit harsh, but very pleased that I was wrong.

 

[Ranyhyn]

I keep all mine at home i hate it its lonely nobody to ride out with nobody to chat to when mucking out havent got a school so hacking is only option and winter watching them trashing my lovely mantained fields working out right time to roll field spray etc. I also live on my own so if got hurt nobody to be around and nobody to bounce ideas of or advice which is what i miss most.

You sound just like I felt when I was younger, I had my own yard then and it really didnt work at all!

However now, I only ever hack alone, due to my shifts its becoming increasingly difficult to find company to ride out with - which is something I need if I'm going to be riding out at present anyway. I'm basically paying for something I have at home and hoping to find someone like minded who can share it with me. That way I have someone to chat to IF we co-oncide on the yard and as we're right close to the riding school, hopefully I wont find it too difficult to find someone to join me!!

Thanks for all your pros and cons guys, think I'm going to stick to someone to share the yard with me and maybe ask to borrow a friends oldie too

 

[Ranyhyn]

Sorry to have jumped to conclusions. It's just the way you worded your post as the companion thing is something I would have made clear immediately. There are far too many people who keep horses alone andit really gets to me. Really sorry that I was a bit harsh, but very pleased that I was wrong.

No you are right, I was off out the door on my lunch break and just slapped it together. I do agree, I always feel awfully sorry for horses kept alone, but some people say they like it, or they have got used to it? Who knows, but not for me personally

 

[soulfull]

No I prefer yards even when they are not perfect.

I had my own small yard once and even though there was 2 other liveries I chose to close up and move back to a yard.

It was hard work keeping up all the jobs of fencing etc and I am a really socialable person so need company, especially as I live alone, it would be too lonely for me

It is perfect where I am there is always someone around to talk to even if I have to go to main college yard

I am also on a competition yard so always something going on to watch or take part in.

It has its problems but I love it!!!

If I won the lottery and could buy a house and biggish yard where I could invite my friends for a low price I would do, but other than that NO

 

[Ranyhyn]

Thanks Soulfull.

I think the main issue with my personal situation, is the fact I work shifts and there are no big competition yards locally, everywhere is just hobby riders with a few competitors thrown in for good measure, so I'm always alone anyway!

And I am lucky, OH is a tame farmer and very useful with farm tasks - he just loves it! And would love to have horse at home I know..

With the money I save on livery I can do my trailer test and then go for lessons and riding club round the corner to where C will live, so that HOPEFULLY will slake my need for company! (In theory..!)

 

[MagicMelon]

All my horses have been kept at home (parent's house) so no livery bills wahey! I didn't have a school till this year (well its my cousins) & the hacking was very restricted as my horse doesn't really do gates .. but the choice of saving money & being able to see my horse out of the window for most the year or having the facilities but having to pay for livery... I'd choose home everyday

Same here. I keep mine at my mums house. The only downsides are not having a school though, and not having anyone to hack out with. But I wouldnt ever choose a livery if possible.

 

[dibbin]

If I could, I would, definitely.

 

[Nathalie]

Go for it !
We're just in the process of buying a house with land for that very purpose and taking the plunge. Scary but so exciting. OH is not a farmer and not horsey either but there is an outdoor arena.

Today, I'm just fed up of not being able to manage my horse the way I want : not enough grazing, a dusty school with more hardcore than rubber and I pay nearly £100 per week...

I can't wait to paddle downstairs in my slippers late at night for a goodnight kiss (to the horses not the OH)

 

[bumblelion]

Do you have more than one?

Never one horse alone or even two tbh. I have mine at home but wouldn't if I had only one or two as the horse would need company and then when you want to ride one it is ideal that there are then two left to keep eachother company. I would go for livery over keeping a horse alone but the money you save on livery could finance a companion to have both at home. I know some people only have two at home and some horses would cope ok with being alone for short periods of time so it could work out ok. If you have just one could you offer to have a friends horse at home or take on a companion?

Yeah this is the problem I have! I have two horses at home which I love (could never go back to livery as I'm too set in my ways now!!) but I can't separate them! Makes hacking very difficult and if I need to get one in, I have to get the other in also, which makes twice the work! Looking at getting a pony for this reason (and for my daughter). Although I know what will happen, if I bring one in and leave two out, the one that's in will stress that it's on its own! So I'll need four!

I have got a menage though so I can ride without having to hack, otherwise I'd find it very difficult. As for the loneliness, it doesn't bother me! I love it just being me and the horses! I can ride when I want, do what I want and when I want! Plus my baby comes out with me in her pushchair or travel cot and there's no one who stands there disapproving that babies and horses shouldn't be mixed!! I'v also found that my exracer has calmed down no end now he's away from the hustle and bustle of livery! He used to get very upset by the other horses and their routines, always had to be turned out first so if anyone left early to compete etc I'd arrive to a sweaty snorting horse, who was great fun to turn out, even in a chifney!!!

 

[Jade&Syrah]

I live and work on the same yard my horses are on.. does that count?

It'd be weird without living with them or atleast a 5 min walk from them. It's so handy, I can get up at any hour and ride (providing im not work) I can go throw rugs on at 10pm without driving or not having transport, can take them off first thing in the morning. Or if I ever feel lonely I can go see them
x

 

[jeeve]

yes if that extra money went on lessons - i would have horse at home