Livery or horses at home?

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Lottie28

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Hi folks,

We're currently thinking about moving to a house with land. I've been on the same livery for over 30 years and I love it there, however, I think they'll end up closing it soon, I've had enough of yard politics and I've always wanted to be able to open my curtains and see my horses from the window. Sounds silly but it's always been a dream of mine and we are now in the position to do it.
However, I have questions. Do you lose motivation to ride? Is it lonely or is it the best thing you ever did? I will miss the social aspect of the livery but definitely not the daily dramas.
I don't want it to be the biggest mistake of my life but I also don't want to regret not taking the risk.
Thanks in advance!
 
I have a livery yard, and hubby says we don't make money and maybe should close, but who to ride with is an issue. The only thing you could do is join a local F group and say your looking for hacking companions are there any around, before you make the decision. It is nice having them at home, but fall backs are repairs, bills no riding peeps. Having to do them every day without a break. I now been 8 months now without a day off 7 days a week. Cannot really afford the charges of £ 18 - £ 20 per hour they charge now for yard cover as many really drag their feet in the work and are longer than I take to do it..
 
I wouldn't go back to livery if you paid me! We have several neighbours with horses, so can have someone to ride with quite easily. Also joined the local RC and met some more hacking companions. I suppose it depends on the area you move to but equestrian properties are rarely completely isolated.
 
Albus15 said:
Definitely at home! If you think you'll miss the social aspect, make a good effort to attend your local riding club things or what you're into, and box out with old/new friends if that's possible!
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Pearlsasinger said:
I wouldn't go back to livery if you paid me! We have several neighbours with horses, so can have someone to ride with quite easily. Also joined the local RC and met some more hacking companions. I suppose it depends on the area you move to but equestrian properties are rarely completely isolated.
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This - joined the local RC and found some local friends to hack with. Having them at home means you can alter how you look after them to suit you and your horses and for me that's a huge time and energy saving and the horses are happy. Being able to look out the window and see the horses and being able to just wander out and see them anytime never gets old.

I do sometimes miss the facilities of a livery yard but I can box to them and for me the pros far out weigh the cons.
 
At home, no question.

I've had my small set up of my home, 6 acres grazing, a 20x40 (lit) outdoor and 6 stables (albeit 2 of those are storage and feed room) for 15 years. I also have a little kitchenette attached to my stables and a small-ish hay barn.

I used to have a couple of liveries but they proved more hassle than they were worth so I never replaced when they left. So now it's just me and my 2 companion ponies. I live alone, and it can feel isolated at times as I'm up a drive with no immediate neighbours. But I never feel unsafe there on my own, in the house or out in the fields in the dark.

I don't ride anymore but I used to, and it was challenging fitting it in but if you want to you make it work. I never really liked hacking alone, but there are friends in the area so we would either box up and meet somewhere or ride and meet somewhere.

A lot of people have the misconception that it is cheaper not paying livery, but there is always maintenance and field management costs to consider. This eats into time as well as finances.

I don't miss the people. I'm not sociable generally, let alone at 5.30am! And I made a lot of horsey friends when I needed that social scene when I was younger. I don't compete anymore so do miss seeing so many people through not being out and about, but a few key friends are out competing and I go out with them for the day.

Having spent so many years on livery following other people's routines, the thing I love most is the flexibility (even more so when liveries left). I rotate fields when I want, I leave out when I want (generally out 24 hrs), I can bring in and turn out without having to consider who might be left behind etc. I can suit myself.

A local friend parks his trailers at mine and comes and goes as he pleases, so this helps from a security point of view and I don't charge him so in return he'll always pitch up with a chainsaw when I need a tree chopping up (recent example after latest storm!).

My personal downside is lack of cover. I have a trusted freelancer who can do a couple of mornings a week around another job if needed, and my parents live in the same village and will often appear to help me with jobs (my dad is an excellent poo picker!) but neither are horsey and wouldn't be able to cope in a medical emergency. The last sun holiday abroad I had was in 2011, and my holidays from work are often spent at home pottering about doing odd jobs and maintenance that I don't have enough time/daylight hours to do while I'm at work. That said, I love where I live and don't miss sun holidays.
 
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Thank you everyone, really appreciate your replies. I think I'm just a bit nervous about the whole 'moving/changing my current routine' which is perhaps why I'm dubious. Where we are looking at, there are plenty of other horses so I'm sure I'll find a riding buddy. I do also like the fact, as you've said that I will be able to sort them in my own time and not the yard's which doesn't always suit my working hours.
Thanks again, feeling far more positive about it now :)
 
94lunagem said:
At home, no question.

I've had my small set up of my home, 6 acres grazing, a 20x40 (lit) outdoor and 6 stables (albeit 2 of those are storage and feed room) for 15 years. I also have a little kitchenette attached to my stables and a small-ish hay barn.

I used to have a couple of liveries but they proved more hassle than they were worth so I never replaced when they left. So now it's just me and my 2 companion ponies. I live alone, and it can feel isolated at times as I'm up a drive with no immediate neighbours. But I never feel unsafe there on my own, in the house or out in the fields in the dark.

I don't ride anymore but I used to, and it was challenging fitting it in but if you want to you make it work. I never really liked hacking alone, but there are friends in the area so we would either box up and meet somewhere or ride and meet somewhere.

A lot of people have the misconception that it is cheaper not paying livery, but there is always maintenance and field management costs to consider. This eats into time as well as finances.

I don't miss the people. I'm not sociable generally, let alone at 5.30am! And I made a lot of horsey friends when I needed that social scene when I was younger. I don't compete anymore so do miss seeing so many people through not being out and about, but a few key friends are out competing and I go out with them for the day.

Having spent so many years on livery following other people's routines, the thing I love most is the flexibility (even more so when liveries left). I rotate fields when I want, I leave out when I want (generally out 24 hrs), I can bring in and turn out without having to consider who might be left behind etc. I can suit myself.

A local friend parks his trailers at mine and comes and goes as he pleases, so this helps from a security point of view and I don't charge him so in return he'll always pitch up with a chainsaw when I need a tree chopping up (recent example after latest storm!).

My personal downside is lack of cover. I have a trusted freelancer who can do a couple of mornings a week around another job if needed, and my parents live in the same village and will often appear to help me with jobs (my dad is an excellent poo picker!) but neither are horsey and I wouldn't be able to cope in a medical emergency. The last sun holiday abroad I had was in 2011, and my holidays from work are often spent at home pottering about doing odd jobs and maintenance that I don't have enough time/daylight hours to do while I'm at work. That said, I love where I live and don't miss sun holidays.
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Thank you for your in-depth reply. Yes, I was worried about cover but where we're potentially moving to is only 25 minutes from where I am now so I think I may get by with help from friend's, paid of course.
It's a 2 acre paddock so not too bad and I'd try to maintain regularly, but I understand where you're coming from re maintenance costs. I currently pay £400 per month for livery so I'd try to keep some of that aside for repairs etc.
I definitely won't miss having to fit around the other horses though, that part is a nightmare as some come in at 1ish which then means everything else wants to come in so having that flex is a definite positive.
 
When I kept my horse at home the majority of my riding was when my friend came with her horse. After she left (leaving the horse with me) I rode now and then but no set routine. It fizzled out massively. I ride a lot more now that I’m on a yard but I go through ruts I suppose. I’m so just cold and can’t get warm and it shuts me down. I anticipate if it starts to warm up I’ll start riding more.
 
Well, I was at livery for a few years where I was the only person! All the benefits of being able to manage my ponies my way, and somebody else was responsible for managing the property - a win-win situation :)
I loved it to start with. Being my own boss, and I had friends to ride with if I wanted. But, it could be lonely and getting holiday cover was complicated and when I got a young unbacked pony I realised that there are many occasions when having horsey friends around was invaluable. I did move and now at a lovely place where there is just me and one other, so just about perfect.
 
Equi said:
When I kept my horse at home the majority of my riding was when my friend came with her horse. After she left (leaving the horse with me) I rode now and then but no set routine. It fizzled out massively. I ride a lot more now that I’m on a yard but I go through ruts I suppose. I’m so just cold and can’t get warm and it shuts me down. I anticipate if it starts to warm up I’ll start riding more.
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I'm barely riding at all at the minute even at livery, due to the weather and work commitments. Doesn't help my mare is being a complete nut job either, but this tends to be because other horses are coming in earlier than she is. That's one benefit as I'll only have my two and can being them in etc when it suits.
 
I totally go against the grain. I’d love to have a horse on a livery yard.
However it would have to be a yard with all year turnout and company turned out.
I really miss the company.
 
poiuytrewq said:
I totally go against the grain. I’d love to have a horse on a livery yard.
However it would have to be a yard with all year turnout and company turned out.
I really miss the company.
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I think they’re few and far between. We can’t do that, especially since we get far wetter winters so poaches the land. I get it though. I just hope if we do move, I find someone to ride with, not only for company but for motivation too.
I do like riding alone though and my horse is actually better on her own
 
Lottie28 said:
I think they’re few and far between. We can’t do that, especially since we get far wetter winters so poaches the land. I get it though. I just hope if we do move, I find someone to ride with, not only for company but for motivation too.
I do like riding alone though and my horse is actually better on her own
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That’s the problem. Also recently I did have two at a sort of yard and it took me forever as I kept chatting to people 😂
At home they are out every day in every weather, I make my rules and I do like that of course.
I miss the coffee after a group hack thing though a lot
 
Haha, my husband hates coming to the yard as I’ll say ‘I’ll just be 5 minutes’. 30 minutes later I’m still chatting yard politics 😂
 
I love having mine at home. The only thing I miss sometimes is the social side of it as it can get a bit lonely but it’s lovely having your own space, no rules and no yard politics.
 
I was on a livery yard just across the road for over a decade and I loved it there. It did swallow time though. Then we bought some land that came up for sale behind our house and put up a little stable block. My OH thought it meant I would spend more time at home, but in reality I spend more time on our premises but less in the house, and definitely less doing housework!

Advantages of having the horses at home are being able to manage my horses exactly how I want - which actually is basically the same as when I was on livery, except for more turnout in winter - never having to wait for the hosepipe, being able to keep an eye on them all the time and, selfishly, knowing they look to me for their needs rather than a YO.

Disadvantages are: Having no company - I am still in the old yard WhatsApp group but I feel quite an outsider now. And I always have something to do, so even though I often intend to pop over for a catch up I never seem to get chance. There's always mucking out, de-cobwebbing, tidying the muckheap, collecting feed, arranging hay deliveries, sorting out the tack room/hay store, painting anti chewing stuff on wood, field maintenance etc. I'm trying to think where all my time goes! Also obviously having to get up early every morning to get done before work, and then having the rug changes, feeding, skipping out to do again after work.

I also had to get another horse as I only had one on livery (not sure if that counts as an advantage or disadvantage).

I love having them at home and it's finally fulfilled a dream that I've had from childhood. But if I just had the one horse I would go back on livery and give myself a break I think.
 
I have literally just (2 weeks ago!) moved home having been at the same livery yard for 13 years.
I loved the livery yard, it was great but I am loving having the horses at home even more 😁
Even now in the early days I have an ever increasing list of jobs to do (fencing, drinkers, blah blah blah) but it is just lovely having the lads literally on my doorstep.
OH and I had talked about it for years and finally decided to take the plunge.
In some ways yes it’s scary - I am the only sensible adult around here now 🤪 but I am really happy with how things are going. I’m actually riding more as well, mostly because I am saving about 1.5hrs a day in driving.
 
94lunagem said:
At home, no question.

I've had my small set up of my home, 6 acres grazing, a 20x40 (lit) outdoor and 6 stables (albeit 2 of those are storage and feed room) for 15 years. I also have a little kitchenette attached to my stables and a small-ish hay barn.

I used to have a couple of liveries but they proved more hassle than they were worth so I never replaced when they left. So now it's just me and my 2 companion ponies. I live alone, and it can feel isolated at times as I'm up a drive with no immediate neighbours. But I never feel unsafe there on my own, in the house or out in the fields in the dark.

I don't ride anymore but I used to, and it was challenging fitting it in but if you want to you make it work. I never really liked hacking alone, but there are friends in the area so we would either box up and meet somewhere or ride and meet somewhere.

A lot of people have the misconception that it is cheaper not paying livery, but there is always maintenance and field management costs to consider. This eats into time as well as finances.

I don't miss the people. I'm not sociable generally, let alone at 5.30am! And I made a lot of horsey friends when I needed that social scene when I was younger. I don't compete anymore so do miss seeing so many people through not being out and about, but a few key friends are out competing and I go out with them for the day.

Having spent so many years on livery following other people's routines, the thing I love most is the flexibility (even more so when liveries left). I rotate fields when I want, I leave out when I want (generally out 24 hrs), I can bring in and turn out without having to consider who might be left behind etc. I can suit myself.

A local friend parks his trailers at mine and comes and goes as he pleases, so this helps from a security point of view and I don't charge him so in return he'll always pitch up with a chainsaw when I need a tree chopping up (recent example after latest storm!).

My personal downside is lack of cover. I have a trusted freelancer who can do a couple of mornings a week around another job if needed, and my parents live in the same village and will often appear to help me with jobs (my dad is an excellent poo picker!) but neither are horsey and wouldn't be able to cope in a medical emergency. The last sun holiday abroad I had was in 2011, and my holidays from work are often spent at home pottering about doing odd jobs and maintenance that I don't have enough time/daylight hours to do while I'm at work. That said, I love where I live and don't miss sun holidays.
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I tried liveries, what a headache and I would rather pay my freelance, who has worked for me for about six years, and covers holiday, dog sits and anything else.
When I was at livery because I was there on the dot twice a day I ended up doing other peoples extra's which came to a head one Christmas when we had five extra to do for a bottle of wine.
 
Have done both. Given the choice now? No way would I swap livery for my horse at home.

It's far too much expense, worry, responsibility, loneliness, stress .... did I mention the responsibility & expense?
And that was at my parent's yard, not my own.

We had liveries who were (mostly!) lovely, but the fun & novelty wore off pdq.

At livery now, the fences are not my problem. Nor the electricity. Nor the water supply.
Yard insurance? Horses trashing paddocks? School needs a harrowing/a top-up?

The Poles have a wonderful saying: 'Not my circus, not my monkeys.'
 
I ride more with horses at home than I ever did at livery. I've always managed to find people to ride with, either by riding about with a manic smile on my face talking to anyone else I see on a horse or through horsey Facebook groups.

I've had friends horses stay with me before but never had liveries, mainly due to not enough space as am a horse hoarder, but would be something I'd consider if really needed someone to ride with ☺️

I've had my horses at livery even with own land for rehab, winter turn out etc as well as years of being on yards before but wouldn't want to go back to livery now. Maybe when am older and creakier and if I were down to one horse, but for now much prefer them being at home.
 
I've had mine at home for 2 years and it's amazing.

The biggest pro, you can keep them how you like. They're far more chill because other horses aren't coming and going. As for maintenance, it's an investment.
I think it'd be easy to become less motivated re-riding but if you're determined to, you'll always find other people in the same boat nearby :)

I don't miss livery at all.
 
honetpot said:
I tried liveries, what a headache and I would rather pay my freelance, who has worked for me for about six years, and covers holiday, dog sits and anything else.
When I was at livery because I was there on the dot twice a day I ended up doing other peoples extra's which came to a head one Christmas when we had five extra to do for a bottle of wine.
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Been there but didn't get the bottle of wine!
 
I love having them at home, but there is a lot of maintenance work to do.
I would 100% suggest having a freelancer one day a week to give yourself a break. It also means you are a regular client for them and they’re more likely to fit you in if there is ever an emergency or if you need holiday cover.
We also once had a lovely sharer, who was great company to ride with and who covered for us now and then.
We have had several liveries over the years. Most of them have driven us bonkers, one was an absolute nutcase. Thankfully we have two now that are both lovely. Hopefully they’d agree that we have a nice give and take relationship and we all like how things work. It does help having someone who will bring in/turn out for you if you’re struggling.
 
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