Livery with no grazing.

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snooch

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Hi, I am new here so apologies if I have posted this in the wrong section.
I am wanting some thoughts on what you people think about Livery without grazing.
I am seriously thinking of starting up a small livery yard with room for approximately 15 horses, although there are no field grazing the yard does have a medium sized paddock and a full sized menage, it also boasts of lots of off road hacking as it is a countryside location.

My question is (before I plough lots of money into it ) would you be happy to stable your horse at a yard with no grazing and only limited turn out?

Thank you in advance for any replies.
 
Not for me. (What is the difference between no grazing and limited turn out in this instance? - Are you turning out in the arena?)
 
No grazing whatsoever? Not something I'd ever consider. We're on restricted turnout at the moment due to waterlogging but get 24/7 in summer.
 
No way on this planet would I consider that, regardless of how good the facilities were I'm afraid. Horses need turnout and time to be horses.
 
snooch said:
Would be limited turn out in the paddock.

Would anyone consider it if there was seperate grazing avaiable in another location?
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Again, no. You have to get the horse to another location and that would be every day. Probably on roads and would be time consuming and possibly dangerous.
 
Actually, yes under certain circumstances, for example if I had a lami prone horse, and there are plenty people who do. Grazing is not always what it's cracked up to be. I would think there is a market for a yard specialising in horses that need to be kept primarily off grass. You could turn the paddock into a track system with varied surfaces (sand, gravel, concrete, embankments and the occasional grassy patch. You could put forage stations at various points to keep the horses moving. So before writing it off I would do a bit of market research in the area - perhaps put up a poll here in one of the regional forums.
 
I can't imagine anyone would want to move on sorry but at least as you say you have saved yourself a lot of money. Turnout would be the most important item on everyone's list.
 
Before completely scrapping the idea, how do I put on a poll in a regional area asking about "all weather" turnout as apposed to grass grazing?
 
Wagtail said:
Actually, yes under certain circumstances, for example if I had a lami prone horse, and there are plenty people who do. Grazing is not always what it's cracked up to be. I would think there is a market for a yard specialising in horses that need to be kept primarily off grass. You could turn the paddock into a track system with varied surfaces (sand, gravel, concrete, embankments and the occasional grassy patch. You could put forage stations at various points to keep the horses moving. So before writing it off I would do a bit of market research in the area - perhaps put up a poll here in one of the regional forums.
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You couldn't really put 15 horses in one paddock though. I would love grass-free turnout, but not on a tiny little area, think you still need plenty of space with that many horses, imagine the mess they would make crammed onto such a small area, never mind the stress and fighting that would probably ensue. Defiantly not for me...
 
I can live without grazing, where my horse is now has none because the climate is too dry to support much. But turnout on a decent size paddock/lot/pasture with companions is a must. I prefer she is never in a stall personally.

So, if you mean horses would be in stalls with only runs. No way. But turnout with no grazing is fine. So...how big is the paddock and would they be on it all day?
 
nianya said:
I can live without grazing, where my horse is now has none because the climate is too dry to support much. But turnout on a decent size paddock/lot/pasture with companions is a must. I prefer she is never in a stall personally.

So, if you mean horses would be in stalls with only runs. No way. But turnout with no grazing is fine. So...how big is the paddock and would they be on it all day?
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I am due to go down to the farm house tomorrow so will measure the paddock and the proposed menage then, along side the paddock is also a huge orchard with apple tree's although these are separated by a fence I guess something could be done to bring them together, although I would have to get rid of the apple trees.
As it stands now I think the paddock would only be useful for limited turnout per horse or pair or horses.
 
Waits to be shot down here... But don't livery yards need local authority licenses and would a yard without turnout be eligible for a license?
 
Melody Grey said:
Waits to be shot down here... But don't livery yards need local authority licenses and would a yard without turnout be eligible for a license?
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Not as yet but I do agree that livery yards need some kind of licensing to ensure the health and happiness of the horses.
 
snooch said:
Not as yet but I do agree that livery yards need some kind of licensing to ensure the health and happiness of the horses.
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I think I may be confusing livery yards with riding school licensing- not sure whether riding schools require turnout either? I'd hope so!!
 
hollybear said:
You couldn't really put 15 horses in one paddock though. I would love grass-free turnout, but not on a tiny little area, think you still need plenty of space with that many horses, imagine the mess they would make crammed onto such a small area, never mind the stress and fighting that would probably ensue. Defiantly not for me...
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I very much doubt OP was planning to put all the 15 horses out at once!

The yard I was on had limited turnout in winter. All horses stayed in from mid Oct to mid April and had max 2 hrs per day in one of 2 small paddocks.

The horses got used to it, it was very well run and they knew the routine. Most horses were ridden each day too.

I think it could work, but you would have to b mvery careful about how the paddock coped. It would soon turn to a big bog and unusable.
 
Boxers said:
I very much doubt OP was planning to put all the 15 horses out at once!

The yard I was on had limited turnout in winter. All horses stayed in from mid Oct to mid April and had max 2 hrs per day in one of 2 small paddocks.

The horses got used to it, it was very well run and they knew the routine. Most horses were ridden each day too.

I think it could work, but you would have to b mvery careful about how the paddock coped. It would soon turn to a big bog and unusable.
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I definitely would not be turning them all out at once lol

I guess I will have to give it lots more serious thought because with the absence of any grazing in summer too (unless I can convince the farmer up the lane to rent me the field next to the paddock) the hourses will be stuck with a paddock, I could install a horse walker too but not too sure how people feel about them.
In the venture I am thinking of undertaking I would actually be living on site in the farmhouse so would be there 24/7 to make sure things are all in order and run well .
 
Depend were the location is ie I what competition do you have. A yard near me does limited turnout in summer and no turnout in winter but they do have a treadmill . It is a competition yard and all the horses seem very settled it is well run by an experienced person. It is full and prob has a waiting list. Would I stable my horse there yes I would as all the horses seem very happy and it is very well run but I think having a treadmill makes a huge difference and that the person running it is very experienced and as they are expensive completion types the horses are ridden most days
 
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