Livery near London

[mariew]

I used to prefer starting early in London as the trains are much quieter. - Even when I had 1 hr+commute each way. It just means waking up very early. You would need someone to turn out for you though.

It all depends on if you get to leave early too or get sucked into some kind of 12 hour London banking day... I'd go east and south, not north for living and commuting as central London can be hell to cross at commuting time or when the tube inevitably breaks down. Ignoring the fact that any decent accommodation would be eye wateringly expensive. Jubilee line is a good shout though. Or DLR.

 

[SO1]

If you are rich mote end farm in mill hill looks amazing. I knew someone who lived in Baker street and kept her horse there. She works in banking and had plenty of money.

There are not many places with indoor schools that I can think of. London Equestrian Centre has one.

The yard I am at would be 45 minutes from Baker street in a car outside of rush hour. We don't have an indoor school but we do have all year turnout and plenty of grass.

 

[criso]

Mote End is closing to liveries at the end of the summer, it was posted on their Facebook page.. However while you have fields to ride round, there's not much other hacking without braving a fairly nasty road. Plus while they have loads of turnout they were very prone to not turning out at the first sign of a rain cloud. Had a few friends there both on livery and on the DIY bit which they had at the time.

Just thought of another 2 options. Brook Farm or Harold's Park Farm in Essex both have indoor schools and do livery. They are competition venues as well which suits some people however alot of the shows at Harold's Park have moved to Silver Leys so maybe not as busy now. Both are under 45 minutes by car from Central London.

 

[SO1]

I expect lots of people looking to move then if they are closing.

There will always be some sort of compromise if you are wanting to livery within easy distance of London.

A lot of the places with indoor schools will be riding schools so you may find that access is restricted to liveries when lessons are on which is likely to be the times you may want to rid if you are working.

Not having an indoor school has rarely stopped me riding in the 14 years of keeping a horse and I have a good doer so not riding in winter is not an option. Floodlit outdoor and decent waterproofs and off we go. Our outdoor school does not flood or freeze.

If you are on Facebook post on London horse and pony and you should get more people posting with ideas. A1

QUOTE="criso, post: 14716142, member: 55496"]Mote End is closing to liveries at the end of the summer, it was posted on their Facebook page.. However while you have fields to ride round, there's not much other hacking without braving a fairly nasty road. Plus while they have loads of turnout they were very prone to not turning out at the first sign of a rain cloud. Had a few friends there both on livery and on the DIY bit which they had at the time.

Just thought of another 2 options. Brook Farm or Harold's Park Farm in Essex both have indoor schools and do livery. They are competition venues as well which suits some people however alot of the shows at Harold's Park have moved to Silver Leys so maybe not as busy now. Both are under 45 minutes by car from Central London.[/QUOTE]

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Harolds Park is very into shows so good facilities but very busy in the season.

 

[criso]

Harolds Park is very into shows so good facilities but very busy in the season.

The organisers of Harold's Park shows moved their operation to Silver Leys this summer, they announced recently on their Facebook page this will be permanent. There's been a couple of showing shows at Harold's Park this season but none of the dressage, jumping or eventer challenges.

Not sure what they will decide in the future but even so some people like having shows on their doorstep and it's only weekends. When they used to have evening jumping, it was outdoors so the liveries had the indoor.

 

[Mat05]

Oh indeed I checked the ULEZ extension, that’s crazy there is no way to have a car in London, I didn’t realise How do you guys go see your horse then while living in London ? By public transports ?
It makes it more and more complicated …!

 

[MinKo]

Nearly all horsey people live outside London and commute in.

 

[criso]

Cars up to a certain standard (euro 6) are exempt from Ulez and if you are getting a car here then you will need to consider that in your choice. But there is also the congestion charge to be considered. In the central areas you mentioned, there will be this to pay as well as the Ulez if your car doesn't meet the emissions standards.

Most people in London live further out than you are looking, zones 2 to 6 if you look at a tube. Alot of people with horses may live further out, commute to work and back and then drive to the horses after work. Some people leave their car at the station, get the tube in and then drive straight to the yard after work though you can only do this at outer stations and it is expensive. One friend of mine was at Mote End and went before work, she wanted to leave her car at the yard, get the tube into London however they wanted an exhorbitant amount to leave her car.

 

[Uliy]

I live in zone 3 and used to work in Canary Wharf, it took me no more than an hour to get in (an hour is a very standard commute in London).

I also live in what will be the ULEZ but my horse is outside that area. I’ll still be able to drive between the two as my car is up to standard - it’s not fancy and is 16 years old, so definitely doable!

 

[Mat05]

Oh I understand now ! My car meets these requirements (euro 6), it is a French car (we call that « Crit’Air 1 ») so apparently I should be able to drive in the ULEZ zone! I then need to find an accommodation outside the congestion charge zone therefore I would be able to go see my horse by car
Thanks a lot I better understand now!!

 

[SO1]

I live in zone 5. Takes me an hour to get to work on tube and costs £66 a week for a travel pass. Been working from home since the pandemic and we are looking at hybrid working which means I I could consider moving further out and nearer to the yard saving on rent.

The further out you live the more you pay in commute but the less you pay in rent.

Getting to horse is a bit of a nightmare as the yard is about roughly 1.5 hours away on public transport from home and work sometimes longer if traffic bad or bus takes ages to come or train cancelled Train is only every 30 minutes. I can get there in 45 minutes in an emergency by going a different route and getting a taxi part of the way. Taxi costs £12. I could also get it down to a hour if got taxi from station for £6 instead of 30 minutes walk.

However we do have all year turnout on our yard, reasonable hacking, it is not really busy, I usually have the big arena to myself in the evenings as I get there at 7.30 but most importantly the care is 5 star. I work quite long hours can't go every day and family don't live locally. My parents are ageing my dad is 80 and live in France and I expect gradually will need more help and more of my time. They do plan to move back to the UK in a few years time thankfully.

I go to the yard 4-5 times a week normally. Pony is currently on box rest and controlled walking due to tendonitis but that is all the dealt by the yard, I am helping with the walking in hand in evenings and weekends because I like to but if I could not they can handle it. I am off to France to visit my parents soon for 6 days and pony will be happy enough with staff looking after him.

However cost of any livery within easy access of London is pricey. Supply is limited and in lots of cases turnout limited finding places with decent turnout is difficult. Ours go out every day unless heavy snow if snowing they go on the horse walker for a leg stretch. There is no benefit for the yard staff to keep horses in as it is extra work skipping them out 3 times a day instead of twice and extra hay and if they can't go out due to snow we are not charged extra. Horses go out 7-8 hours every day which means grass can be rested so we have plenty in winter.

Unless your working hours are reasonable or you are on grass livery you are going to need assistance. I was on grass livery for 7 years and it worked quite well except it was fully DIY which meant no assistance and had to ask other liveries for favours if you could not go every day. I was the only grass livery who went every day and so ended up doing a lot of favours which I used to cover xmas.

It did mean that I stayed longer in another job than I should have done as it had reliable hours. I am now in a better job paid more which makes life easier as I can be on part livery at a yard with full service.

 

[Mat05]

@SO1 what is the name of your livery ? It looks just like what I am looking for, my mare really needs to go out as much as possible, she is very used to go in the field everyday and I want her to be as happy as she is right now!

 

[teapot]

Could go always go south and commute in by mainline before jumping on the tube.

I know a couple of people who park their car at closest station to the yard so on way home it's a lot easier.

 

[SO1]

I am at Priory Farm in Langley, not sure if there are any vacancies for mares at the moment.

Absolutely loads of grass though even in winter. My good doer pony has to be muzzled quite a lot due to the amount of grass. They don't do 24/7 turnout though it is day time only but all year round 7-8 hours.

QUOTE="Mat05, post: 14716815, member: 155490"]@SO1 what is the name of your livery ? It looks just like what I am looking for, my mare really needs to go out as much as possible, she is very used to go in the field everyday and I want her to be as happy as she is right now![/QUOTE]

 

[Bernster]

Nearly all horsey people live outside London and commute in.

Yep! When the office was open I’d drive in and then drive to the yard, expensive to park though. I used the just park app which was pretty good but not totally reliable which was annoying. Or take the tube, pick up the car and drive to the yard from there.

 

[coblets]

If you want lots of turnout all year round, your best bet is looking round Epsom area where they don’t have clay soil. Don’t quote me on this but I think Chessington EC has grass liveries, and then there’s always the Durdans.

N.London, Barnet area, gets very muddy in the winter so turnout limited.

Ultimately worth keeping in mind that you’re always going to have a long commute, either to work or to yard. Closest livery to Canary Wharf that I can think of is Lee Valley but that’s very expensive with limited turnout.

 

[MinKo]

North London, Barnet area, gets very muddy in the winter so turnout limited.

Nope that's not true, each yard is different. I'm in Barnet and my yard has no limits at all

 

[mariew]

A lot of Thurrock/Essex is on very heavy clay so if you head in that direction make sure the yard is honest about turnout if that is something you prioritise. Especially in the winter.