Livery without a school

[Nari]

I've seen many yards with schools I wouldn't be prepared to work a horse in, I don;t se why you should charge less than them. At my current yard plenty of liveries don't use the school so people like that also wouldn't expect a lower rate bcause you don't hav a facility they don'twant anyway.

 

[MadWorld]

I've seen many yards with schools I wouldn't be prepared to work a horse in, I don;t se why you should charge less than them. At my current yard plenty of liveries don't use the school so people like that also wouldn't expect a lower rate bcause you don't hav a facility they don'twant anyway.

Okay, thanks for that. As I say, all the other facilities are very nice.

 

[KikiDee]

Are there local arenas available to hire? If so, as a livery, I’d work on the basis of what livery would cost me at your yard plus hiring a local arena a couple of days a week, versus what livery at a yard with an arena would cost. If I broke even I’d consider it. Do you have anywhere to put a canter track in? Or is any of your hacking off road? Not being able to school wouldn’t be a huge issue for me as I box out to lessons and clinics regularly anyway, but only being able to do roadwork would personally be a big downside as I’d struggle to keep my horse fit.

Of course I’m likely not your clientele and happy hackers would potentially be delighted with your set up, just thinking how you could appeal to a broader audience.

 

[MadWorld]

Are there local arenas available to hire? If so, as a livery, I’d work on the basis of what livery would cost me at your yard plus hiring a local arena a couple of days a week, versus what livery at a yard with an arena would cost. If I broke even I’d consider it. Do you have anywhere to put a canter track in? Or is any of your hacking off road? Not being able to school wouldn’t be a huge issue for me as I box out to lessons and clinics regularly anyway, but only being able to do roadwork would personally be a big downside as I’d struggle to keep my horse fit.

Of course I’m likely not your clientele and happy hackers would potentially be delighted with your set up, just thinking how you could appeal to a broader audience.

Thank you.
Yes, local arenas to hire and the hacking is good (a mix of country roads and bridleways). The ground is quite sloping which makes a grass arena/canter track/school more difficult/expensive to install. 20 minute ride to a local estate that sells yearly passes (canter tracks and some xc fences), 20 min box journey to a local forest with riding tracks. There's lots to like, but it will obviously best suit people that like their hacking and outings and can exercise their horses within daylight hours.

 

[Exasperated]

That's a good figure to work with, thanks. If, for example, a nearby yard charges £180 pcm, would a charge of £135 for the same type of set-up re stabling/storage/fields etc (BUT without a school) seem reasonable?

If that’s the local going rate, yes, very fair. Good luck

 

[MuddyMonster]

There are plenty of people who work from home, work shifts or flexi time though who wouldn't be affected. Or people who will only ride at weekends over winter or semi retired horses etc.

I work full time and hack before work all year round. Would I do it with a flighty 4 year old? Probably not - I'd probably want a school - but my bold native is perfectly happy to do so and I'm not the only one.

It might make the yard not for everyone (just as yards with fancy facilities but not great hacking wouldn't be for me) but it doesn't mean it should automatically discounted.

Re: Bringing in - again, for the right people it won't be an issue. I've been at yards similiar in the past and with a combination of using a freelance groom (a few of us clubbed together for the groom so we split their hourly rate) and/or returning favours with other owners it was fine. It was actually better than some part livery I've been on as we had more flexibility.