Is it possible to have a livery set up like this? Does it work?

ImmyS

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I am looking quite into the distant future here, but this has really been playing on my mind.

I'm coming up to 18 years old and recently sold my horse due to lack of time and the fact I will be going away next summer then away in September.

I went to visit my horse in her new home today and it has made me realise that I just cannot live without horses. I have a broken my leg at the moment but I've been offered lots of horses to ride at this yard (including my girl Celine I just sold) once I'm all fixed and the yard is just lovely with good facilities, the type of place I've always wished to keep a horse at.

Anyway my major question is that next September I am planning on going in the merchant navy where I will have 3 years training and I will only be home for holiday periods, but when I have qualified and I am employed I will be working away on an alternate basis - generally either 6 months off and 6 months on or 3 months off and 3 months on. once I've qualified I want to buy another horse but is it possible to alternate between DIY livery and full livery? So when I am away the horse is on full livery, when I am here it is on DIY. Has anyone done this? Does it work? Is it irresponsible to leave a horse that long on full livery with me away? The horse would be checked on and I would hope to keep it at the yard where my sold horse has just been moved to where I'm hoping to build a strong rapport with the owner of the yard.

tea and biscuits for any replies! :)
 
I don't see why not, you're the customer so as long as you are willing to pay then you can have whatever services you want....assuming you are on a yard that offers full and DIY.
 
most places will do 'holiday livery' if you ask nicely it means if your away for a year or something then it will be o full livery - when you come back it can be on part, DIY or full still etc :)
 
Thank you for the replies - I guess it will be dependent on the individual yard owner and I would have to have a clear arrangement with them.
 
I know a few people who have holiday set ups and then revert back to a more normal livery once home.... So yes as long as you have a good yard and don't mind not having a lot of in put sometime it would work fine!
 
A lot of yards offer this type of arrangement. I have assisted livery 5 days a week. Some other people have long standing arrangements for part or full livery every day. So long as you will be happy to leave your horse there whilst you are away and are willing to pay for it as full livery will be between about 125 - 150 per week depending on location then go for it.
 
A lot of yards offer this type of arrangement. I have assisted livery 5 days a week. Some other people have long standing arrangements for part or full livery every day. So long as you will be happy to leave your horse there whilst you are away and are willing to pay for it as full livery will be between about 125 - 150 per week depending on location then go for it.


Thank you, I'm hoping to spend a lot of time at this particular yard over next year and then when I am home for holiday periods to get a good feel the place - it's a relatively small yard with nice people and the yard owner seems very nice in the times I have met her, as you say I would need to be happy with and trust the people the horse would be left in the care of in the periods I am away. And of course I would willing to adjust the livery payments - it seems it would work quite well, as when I am off shore I personally won't be spending any money so I can afford to pay more whilst I am away and therefore cover full livery costs.
 
I don't see why not. Id just like to say good luck with everything, it sounds exciting! xx

Thank you I am very excited. I'm already browsing through lots of horse adverts just to get a feel for the kind of horse I would like. I like to plan ahead!

I will no doubt be on here for horse shopping help in a few years time! x
 
I see no reason why it should be an issue, if a livery asked me to do this I would be happy but I would ask their permission for any vets issues etc to have full reins on being able to contact the vet and make decisions if I couldn't get hold of you.

Best of luck for the future though sounds like a very bright one you have there
 
I see no reason why it should be an issue, if a livery asked me to do this I would be happy but I would ask their permission for any vets issues etc to have full reins on being able to contact the vet and make decisions if I couldn't get hold of you.

Best of luck for the future though sounds like a very bright one you have there

Thank you, I think that will be the main priority, making sure that the yard owner and I are completely clear on such subjects as you mention, vets, injuries etc.. But you have all made me feel more positive. When I decided to join the merchant navy I felt that I may have had to give up on horses for a long time but you've given me confident that there will be a way to make it work.
 
One of the yards I was on was more than happy to have my horse on full livery when I had to work very long hours for a month. Once the contract had finished I went back on DIY. So long as they have the staff to cope with an extra I'm sure they'll be more than happy.
 
One of the yards I was on was more than happy to have my horse on full livery when I had to work very long hours for a month. Once the contract had finished I went back on DIY. So long as they have the staff to cope with an extra I'm sure they'll be more than happy.


Thank you - sounds promising! :)
 
I am looking quite into the distant future here, but this has really been playing on my mind.

I'm coming up to 18 years old and recently sold my horse due to lack of time and the fact I will be going away next summer then away in September.

I went to visit my horse in her new home today and it has made me realise that I just cannot live without horses. I have a broken my leg at the moment but I've been offered lots of horses to ride at this yard (including my girl Celine I just sold) once I'm all fixed and the yard is just lovely with good facilities, the type of place I've always wished to keep a horse at.

Anyway my major question is that next September I am planning on going in the merchant navy where I will have 3 years training and I will only be home for holiday periods, but when I have qualified and I am employed I will be working away on an alternate basis - generally either 6 months off and 6 months on or 3 months off and 3 months on. once I've qualified I want to buy another horse but is it possible to alternate between DIY livery and full livery? So when I am away the horse is on full livery, when I am here it is on DIY. Has anyone done this? Does it work? Is it irresponsible to leave a horse that long on full livery with me away? The horse would be checked on and I would hope to keep it at the yard where my sold horse has just been moved to where I'm hoping to build a strong rapport with the owner of the yard.

tea and biscuits for any replies! :)


Depends if the yard you choose offers that facility.


My DIY pay DIY prices and when they go away they go onto part.

I would not have a part livery going onto DIY when owners are around as we need 5 part liveries to keep afloat, so they come on the understanding they are part livery full time.

The DIY livery arrangement is different, they come on DIY and are told if they want to go onto part for 1 - 3 weeks or what ever they pay the extra.

So seeing as you have to go away a bit, you want to find a yard where you want to be DIY but with th option to be part when away. Then you will have no troubles.
 
Just wanted to say good luck in your cadetship, I did a dual cadetship (qual in 97) and still managed to keep horses all the way through. I finally moved ashore (although still work in the industry) about 5 years ago and I still have my horses on livery. You'll have a ball and it is possible to run horses along side ships :)
 
Just wanted to say good luck in your cadetship, I did a dual cadetship (qual in 97) and still managed to keep horses all the way through. I finally moved ashore (although still work in the industry) about 5 years ago and I still have my horses on livery. You'll have a ball and it is possible to run horses along side ships :)

Thank you very much, it is great to hear from someone who has done what I am planning to do.
 
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