livery yard, how difficult? YO

[stacey_lou]

Since i have had my new horse my dad has become more interested in horses and livery ect and since finding out that the general care of mucking out, turn out and feeding isnt as difficult as he thought and also since hes realsied how much ppl are willing to pay for full and part livery hes started saying stuff like wel if we had a yard with atleast 10 stables and if half were on Diy / part and the other on Full we could make xx amount minus xx for feed and hayleage and xx is left take home we could make a nice living out of that. Maybe not a huge amount more money than we currently earn but would be worth it for less stress and to do a job we can enjoy.
So what I was wondering is (obviously depending on location) but how difficult would it be to set up a livery yard once you have the basics like a tack room, feed room and barn as possibly a manage, This would also be a yard with all year round turn out.

 

[ajb]

ha if only it was that simple!!!..I run a small 7 horse yard with mine and 3 on full livery and 3 on DIY. I work full time and my OH is a gamekeeper so he helps out of "season" so to speak with the day to day stuff. Although you can make a living you have to be prepared to put in a large amount of hours to keep a decent yard running..for example in the winter its maintaining lighting, gateways and fencing not to mention sorting haylage and shavings delivery etc and management of muck heap and pasture which in my case includes poo picking daily..mine are out 24/7 from Easter to Nov but this still leaves fields to be topped, rolled, harrowed, poo picking and fencing that always needs to be maintained to keep it safe and not tied up with twine...then the school needs harrowing and in the summer its the time to do essential stuff to stables, pathways, water supplies etc..the list is endless...having been a livery I wouldnt change it for the world but its blooming hard work and thats before youve tackled the liveries themselves!!!!.....

 

[Rowreach]

Has he included insurance, business rates and planning permission in his calculations? Also, it's 24/7 and that includes Christmas! If he is not very horsey or experienced that could also be a problem, as some owners rely very heavily on YOs for help and advice.

I used to run a very busy livery yard in the south of England, but it didn't matter how much money I took in and how hard I worked, the overheads ate most of it up, and left me with little money and no time for my own horses. I now just take schooling liveries, and teach and do a few other horse related jobs to make my money, and life is altogether more pleasant and relaxed!

 

[BBH]

Judging by some of the ' clients' i've seen on previous livery yards I've been at I wouldn't touch a livery yard as a business. It is a lot of hard graft for very little profit and a huge load of customer lead hassle. Also you would have very little time for your own horse.

 

[stacey_lou]

Ive worked yards from Livery to riding school to competition so I have a rough idea of the Manual labour needed and the maintenance side of things just a tad rusty lol. I was just wondering on a buisness overview. Id be running the yard management side of things and my mum and dad the books and clinetell if you like.
We have seen a couple of nice yards with stables pre built and paddocks already fenced off.
My dad is a very cleaver man along with my mum whos done accounting in the past and is now a manager so I am only asuming they have that all in mind as they are the brains im the labour lol.
I didnt know how difficult it would be to gain clients as such on a new yard to get it off the ground

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

I don't have any idea about the intricacies to be honest, but i think that some areas are short on livery yards, but i would go in slow as i think we are in a fairly deep recession.
With your background and your mum having the accounting background, as long as you can all pull together and make it your living and get all your planning right there is no reason not to give it a darn good go, good luck

 

[stacey_lou]

Thanks hun. I am hoping so but the only issue is to move into a place with land and stables we need to sell our house first. and even though prperty prices are not as high now if we can sell we cant take advantage of low prices but I thought whilst i wait Id do some reasearch, lets hope my dad takes this serious.