Livery yard vs own (small) yard

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hiddentalents

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Own yard
sole use of 30x50m menage with jumps
6.5 acres
No livery £
Grow own (cheap) hay
Water on site
Lorry storage
Amazing hacking out, hack for days without hitting too many busy roads (and only to cross)
Can do what I like with my two mares, bring in/turn out etc when I like
People to hack with regularly

Cons
So much maintenance work
No electric
Menage isn't brilliant surface wise
Due to upkeep, don't ride that often

So would it be better on a livery yard...
Less turnout
More dictatorship from YO/YM
More cost

What else will I expect? Had own yard for 6.5 years so it'll be a shock if we do decide its for the best.

What would you do?
 
I would go for the private yard every time. Mine are at home and the only thing I miss is people to hack with, so if you have that the private yard would be perfect IMO. Bit of a disadvantage if surface not too good but can you hire anything locally ?
 
Based on your post it sounds like the yard is ideal. But the only part that would concern me would be the upkeep and it cutting into riding time - will the yard be solely for your use or are you planning on getting liveries in? I wouldnt be concerned about the lack of electrics - you could use a generator.

Livery yard - getting the right one is key - esp. If theres help available when you need it for those unexpected things .

All the best with whichever option you go for.
 
I kept my horse at livery for years until I rented a small yard which I shared with a friend and kept daughters pony at as well as mine. I have moved back to a livery yard now as daughter gave up and friend moved away. Personally I prefer the livery yard as I can have my horse looked after when I need to. (At own yard I was rushed to hospital one evening and had to leave non horsey OH to care for three horses). There are always people to ride with/ talk to. It is a really nice friendly yard and not at all bitchy.

At my own (well rented) yard there was electricity and water to the stables but none to the fields and no arena. I totally understand what you mean about maintenance. All fencing, pooh picking stable maintenance etc was down to me. Strimming weeds etc took forever. I love not having to worry about it now.

I think you have to make the decision based on the yard you could go to. I am lucky to be at a fantastic yard that I love where my horse can live out 24/7 which she couldn't on the rented yard due to trashing the grazing in the winter. I would choose the own yard over some other local livery yards but my current yard over the rented yard. (Does that make sense?)
 
private every time! when you're on a yard, there is a high chance of bitchiness, not getting everything done as people want to talk! people with stupid opinions etc!

I'm moving on my own in a couple of weeks and the only thing im worried about is the horses not being so socialised and you always need a companion when you ride one! but the companion is on its own if you take both out! I have 2 big horses and one mini!
 
both have their Po's and con's,
-Private more freedom but lonely,
-Livery Expensive but sociable.
Why don't you try the private and see how you go? you can always go back to livery.
 
I use to love being on my last yard i got on well with all but now on my new yard i get told off pretty much every other day, my dog is not allowed but everyone elses dog is allowed i really want to be on my own now i feel it would be far calmer :confused::confused:
 
i thought my own yard would be wonderful-and it is as long as you dont mind not riding much cos youll be doing fencing /repairing/ up grading etc ALL the time
i prefer a small livery yard now-i arrive and just ride -no worrying about harrowing seeding fencing leveling poo picking the fields etc etc etc much easier!!!!
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Well, yes, me too but we have very few facilities, no school etc and I wouldn't go to a livery yard for them.
Click to expand...

Me neither, but am lucky I have two friends, 15mins in either direction, that have schools, one has a 20x60 outdoor and an indoor, that are kind enough to let me use them.
 
Thanks all, you've all highlighted what I've been thinking. We have 2 mares, so whilst it would be brilliant to have a groom, it would be unrealistic, so stuck with jobs.

Holiday 'cover' etc not a worry - local livery owner covers outreach too for £5-10 a day depending on muck out or not (includes 2 visits, feed, check and rugs for £5, add in muck out for another £5).

The main concern really is that there's just always to much work to do - fence maintenance, weeding, and when baying its hard work but obviously very beneficial as it works out between £1-1.50 a bale and we know what's in there.

The only bonus I can really see to moving to a livery yard is spending less time on weeding etc and more time actually riding and grooming.

And I agree about the social thing, but I do have hacking pals who are round the corner/down the lane.

We've tried having liveries on site, but tbh they're more trouble than they're worth! The first ones we had were brill till they fell out! Then they moved off and we got others, who trashed the fencing to bits, broke stables etc and were so dirty. She allowed her toddler daughter to ride an unbacked pony of about 18-24 months old! Without a hat, or tack. So I'm afraid to say we asked her to leave, and replaced all the broken fencing etc.

Kerrieberry, I have that problem - did have 3 horses (all rideable) but only 2 of us rode, so one was always left behind, now only I really ride, and having sold the third (lack of time to work him), now leave mums cob in the field!

If anything does happen, it won't be for another year or so anyway as I'm currently away at university, and it seems financially stupid to pay livery on a horse I'm not riding (not can anyone else). And then ill move if necessary to wherever there's a job for me, with one of the mares.
 
we are lucky and Tess is kept at the bottom of the garden :)

But i would aways choose private yard, but then to me my time with the horse doesn't involve talking to others and the bitchy nature of some yards :)
 
I've recently rented a small yard, I have no electric or running water... Just stables and a field.
I like being on my own but its awful for my teenage daughter. There's no company for her, and I do feel her confidence has dipped without her friends egging her on.
I am considering putting one mare on diy... Decisions.
 
That would be a no-brainer for me - I'd move my horses home. And with the money you'll save from not paying livery/gas to go to the yard, maybe you can invest in a better surface in the future? But most of all, I think the peace you get from being able to manage horses your own way is worth all the extra effort.

Oh, if I had the space to keep mine at home, they would be in the lorry right now!
 
If you already live on site, the land/fencing etc will still have to be maintained, (although perhaps not so frequently as when horses are on it), so really that isn't a consideration imo.
 
Unfortunately we don't live on site, land is 4 miles away (10 mins), so petrol/time is still being used. Unfortunately surface is highly unlikely to get replaced for anything between 5-10 years, as soon as I'm working FT (at uni) ill be saving up for other things first unfortunately!

But as I say, the hacking is irreplaceable, amazing hacking so I'm honestly reluctant to move from there, it would be perfect though if we didn't have so many jobs up there to do.
 
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