Livery vs owning your own land... advice please?

[Sunny08]

Currently my horse is kept at a very nice livery yard. Pro's I really trust the YO and know they will always have the horses best interests at heart, the place is kept brilliantly, they will turn her out once a day and facilities are good. Con's place is very strict on rules, sometimes typical bitchness on yard, turnout adequate but rules that horses have to go out together resultng in my horse getting kicked/bitten etc, sand school not great, 20mins drive away from home, hacking means quite a bit of roads before off road.

I now have an opportunity to buy a parcel of land about 5 mins walk from my house, 4 acres, water supply, no stables or field shelter. I would need to put in a filed shelter (I know you can do this without planning permission) and would like to look at having a sand school. I would also need a companion but I have been planning on having a second horse for quite a while now. The hacking backs straight on to a wood.

What would you do?

 

[Lollii]

I would go for it in a shot!

You will need PP for a sand school as we have just found out (after having it down for 5 years - whoops!)

And I bet you end up buying 2 more neddies, as if you take one away the other one will need company!

 

[emilyw]

Def buy the land if I had the money!! Its both mine and OH's dream to own our own little place or a house with a bit of land for the boys!!

 

[BBH]

Buy it is what I would do.

 

[Flicker]

Depends on how clued up you are on horse ownership etc. Personally, even if I could afford my own land, I would keep my horse on livery because the yard I'm on is fantastic and their help has been invaluable over the years.
We used to have our horses at home in JHB and, while I loved being able to wander over to them in my pyjamas to muck out, I did find it a bit lonely having nobody to ride with (and expensive because I was more likely to ring the vet if I wasn't happy with something).

 

[_daisy_]

personally theres nothing better than owning your own place. I got my own field last year (10 acres) and my girls moved on there in September. Its 0.6mile away from our house and weve put water on, in the process of putting electric on, had stables built (with plannin permission) and have got plans passed for our arena. i do what i want when i want, i have my horses in waht field i want and noone to tell me otherwise.
I was talking to a very good friend of mine last night who owns her own land and has just moved them to a livery yard and the land is up for sale - she hates it already, nothing nasty about the yard, just that she feels really awkward.
she just wants to go see her horses and not speak to someone if she doesnt want to! told her she was a miserable cow and should be polite lol

 

[marmalade76]

Buy it quick before someone else does! Small parcels of ground are snapped up quickly round here.

 

[MrsMozart]

Buy. Move

We're looking to move to get a house with land, much as I liek the fact that I can call on YO when having a bad day, i.e. today, the ability to do our own thing and have it just as we want it, or as near as dammit, is far too tempting

.

Just make sure you have someone who can check on neds when you can't or you're on holiday.

 

[f_s_]

I would move.

I've had my own place now for quite a few years and don't think I could back to livery, unless absolutely necessary!

You don't have the same support system when you are on your own, but I find that good common sense kicks in, and if I'm worried I'll talk to my vet, or ask on HHO if not too serious!

The advantage means I can have the horses how I want them, when I want them, and not be dictated on when to turn out and bring in.

The disadvantage is it is 24/7 365 days of the year, and you are the only one there, unless you have good horsey friends or neighbours.

Finally, good luck, if you do go for it, you'll end up with more horses than you originally wanted...I did!!!

 

[Sunny08]

I will definately have a look into the lack some more and see what happens at auction. I would have no concern about keeping my horses away from livery as been riding and have had horses for over 20 years so feel experienced enough. I am more worried about security as the land is surrounded by woodland with a single lane down to it which has some houses on but none that overlook it?

 

[MrsMozart]

Padlocks on gates. CCTV. Make friends with one of the local people. If you can afford it, have a security firm drive past.

Our last yard (we rented all of it), wasn't overlooked, no house on it, etc., but we had the above safe guards in place. No issues, other than a water trough being taken one night (full of ice!).

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

Buy it if you can, we got our land three years ago, and whilst I probably don't ride as much as I did as I'm always going to be going out alone now, it's so relaxing. Our land already had stables, feed room, hay barn etc on it, but all our horses live out, so if you want a lie in you can still have one, you don't have issues of other liveries horses bullying or being bullied by yours - it's got to be the way to go! We are in a National Park, we've never considered a school but we would probably struggle to get planning for one - just consider if planning was denied, would you still be happy to be there?

 

[CazD]

Having previously been on a livery yard and now having purchased my own land I would say definitely buy! The only drawbacks are that everything such as field maintenance, muck removal, painting etc then becomes your responsbility. Holidays are difficult as you need to find someone to look after the horses while you are away.

We also have land along a quiet lane with no overlooking houses. From a security point of view we padlock the gates both ends, freezemark the horses, mark everything else removable, dont keep tack etc at the premises etc. We have a little dog tag with our details on the gate in case anyone passes by and sees a horse in trouble. Other than a couple of bits and pieces which we think were taken by the next door farmer, we've never had a problem.

 

[mtj]

if you can budget to put them into livery when you go on holiday, then having horses at home is unbeatable. my guys have just been mowing the front lawn while I supervised from a garden chair browsing H+H.

as mentioned before, a chat with the planners regarding any facilities you may wish to construct is essential prior to purchase

 

[Enfys]

BUY.

It is an investment pure and simple, regardless of whether you put your horse/s on it.

I have my horses at home and I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[BBH]

I worked out how much livery I would pay for my broken down horse if he lived too a ripe old age and it was the same cost over the term of buying a house so a no brainer imo. I bought a piece of land and build a stable yard. I love it and so do my horses. The only problem is you start ' acquiring ' more of them.

 

[Bowen4Horses]

buy buy buy buy buy!

 

[Pearlsasinger]

There's no comparison! I wouldn't go back to livery if some-one else paid. BUT our horses are at home. I'd just be worried a bit about security/safety if this land isn't overlooked.
Although as MrsMozart says you can take measures to overcome this. It also might be possible to befriend any dogwalkers who regularly pass the land and give them your phone number in case of emergencies.

 

[jordanross]

yep! sounds ideal! I keep my horse at home... converted garage into stable and large feild all for her.

id seriously consider it yes..

 

[tedster]

DEfo buy the land

so much nicer than being on a yard!!

 

[hopppydi]

I bought my house purely because it has a barn (now stables) and a 3 and half acre field running alongside the garden boundary. I am looking at my horsey now from the office window!! Could not imagine the hassle of going to a livery yard and the lack of contact between me and my horse. My horse is a part of the family and is mega chilled out!! I dont have to put up with bitchy comments and there are always horsey people in the area i can call on when i need it..and not when i dont!!
I dont have a school but my horsey neighbour a mile down the road does so will be using that when i need to in exchange for a freebie supply of free range eggs from my chickens!!
I honestly think if you are calm and sensible with a network of horsey help when you need it keeping them at home is 100% better and alot more chilled out!

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Before you consider buying the land you need to make some enquiries with your local planning office. You may not need planning permission for field shelters but you will need 'change of use' for the land. Horses are not classed as agricultural, they are classed as Leisure so change of use must be sought. Additionally you will need planning permission for an arena. If you don't do these checks & you go ahead & buy then you could lose a substancial amount of money on land you cannot use....Good Luck

 

[debsflo]

DEFINATLEY MOVE.WE HAVE 2 ACRES ADJOINING OUR GARDEN AND 3 STABLES WITHIN OUR LAGE GARDEN.DESPITE THE FACT WE HAVE TO HIRE A SCHOOL ETC AND ITS HARDER IN WINTER I LOVE BEING ABLE TO DO EVERYTHING MY WAY WITHOUT HASSLE AND TUCK MY GIRLS IN ANY TIME OF NIGHT.

 

[smirnoff_ice07]

How good is the grazing?
I kept mine at home for a few years which was great being able to go and see them whenever, but we were completely responsible for field maintainance etc and as a teenager that side was quite difficult, esp as parents aren't really horsey though Dad does tend to look after the grazing.
Now I have both of mine at work, though it is only my 2 and my bosses horses I really enjoy the company and having the support from someone else if i need it. Also they look after the fields and DIY stuff, though the grazing is much better than ours ever was anyway. She doesn't ride so still have to hack a couple of miles to meet friends, and the only con is that I have someone bossing me around sometimes!
But yeah, if the land is good and you can manage the upkeep etc, go for it!