Is there a shortage of liveries around the Exeter area?would there be much demand?

S

sparky1981

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 October 2010
Messages
383
Visit site
We are potentially thinking of starting up a livery yard near Exeter. Is there much demand for more livery over there?what would people want in the way of facilities?at the moment we could offer a stable, large paddocks, a schooling jumping area and nice hacking with woodland off road riding and riding around the land as well as quiet lanes. Any help would be appreciated.
 
Having lived there for 10 years, I'd say there's a shortage of *good* livery in the area! There are some exceptions, but good affordable livery with decent, well-maintained facilities and sane, sensible, experienced support is a bit lacking!
 
Agree with above poster ..if it helps im going to looking at bringing my lad back to Exeter before winter, id want winter turn out
I need assisted livery so must be trust worthy as have had issues on current yard with a yard worker ripping me off.

Lack of other liveries always good lol ..i go to current yard when I no nobody is about so I get peace and don't do the coffee drinking.

Lights, water, and lack of mud also...all of which I have currently but its 30 miles away.
 
Thankyou so much for your replies really helpful. I know livery yards can be a mind field. We are considering it though as company for myself and to bring in abit of extra income. What do you think is roughly the going rate around this area for DIY or poss assisted?
 
It varies, but around £25 p/w is fairly normal for DIY, for all year turn out (not usually 24/7 in winter), stabling, a school and passable to decent hacking. Extras are then on top. IME, full care for a day is between £7-10 (muck out, turn out, bring in, hay, water, feed - given or made up, not provided by the yard! - and rug change), just t/o or b/i (with rugs in winter) £1.50-2.00, ditto field check, skip out incl. hay/water £3-6, etc. The better yards tend to be slightly pricier but then again so are some of the...others.

I'd also agree with jhoward, decent land management so the turn-out isn't filthy all winter (without the horses being in constantly) is a must - and it is possible! Good overall maintenance of fencing, school surfaces, stables, etc would be an advantage too. (Apparently some of these things aren't taken as standard... :eek:).
 
I pay 25 pw
Full care for the day is a fiver
To/bi 1.00
Daily check and feed 3.00
Pop picking 2.oo a Harrell

Hay..12p per kilo
Straw 2.00 a slice.

We have large stables, all year turnout in our own paddocks wash off areas, tack room
Flood lit school and gallops.

Yard is managed well with rotation, muck heap removal, weed killing, fertilising etc.
 
I would say that there definately IS a shortage of good places. There's one or two that I would consider in the "best avoided" category too!!

Bear in mind also that the new town Cranbrook is fast being built, and there's inevitably going to be people moving there that want to keep horses.

I'd say that finding decent livery anywhere in the region of East of Exeter through to Honiton area, is extremely difficult TBH. I've got my own place, and a DIY livery in situ (a good livery I might add who I'd hate to lose) - but in the last few months I could have let it more than twice over............ conversely, a few years ago I struggled to find anyone to fill the space and was desperate to find someone :)

So you can never tell. The sort of yard that suits one person ideally, another would turn their nose up at......... but I think you need to decide exactly what is on offer, how much, and what sort of client you're aiming at, i.e. the DIY'er, the Assisted Livery (and if so how much for services provided), OR all-singing all-dancing Full livery with all the frills. I'd say from experience that its best to stick with ONE thing rather than try to offer different sorts of livery at one yard - that can be disastrous.

Also you will have to be prepared to be a bit of a dragon on occasions coz people can and do take the P!ss if you come across as being too soft. Have yard rules and stick to them, and make sure they're displayed in a prominent place - and if anyone tries to be funny and bend the rules, then send them up the road.

For me at least, good off-road hacking would be vital as the roads round here are absolutely lethal.

Good luck anyway.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top