Moving from Assisted DIY to full livery?

Mince Pie

Mince Pie

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As in everything except riding, tack cleaning and grooming. Have only every been on Ass. DIY before but I've got an operation coming up (back injury) and tbh I'm struggling to do yard chores as well as ride. I was hoping to move before my op so I can see how it all goes before I am laid up. Also my yard does not offer 24/7 t/o in summer and has restricted t/o in winter, my lad has COPD so am struggling with him being in so much :(

Can anyone offer advice as to what to ask for/expect? Has anyone found the transition really hard to make?
 
Not sure but I'm going to find out soon. I'm at Farleigh Court which is just round the corner from you isn't it?
Yard is changing management and going to full & part only, no DIY. I've had my girl for nearly 20yrs and she's only been on livery for about 2 of those.
I'm looking forward to it as I'll have time to groom & ride & all the nice bits but I think I'll miss having complete control. Like changing rugs at the last minute cos its a bit chilly or making sure fly spray goes on the right bits etc
 
Yes it is - I probably hack past your place if it's where I think it is (on the common near holt wood?).
This yard is slightly away from the area but seems reasonable I think. I'm just a bit apprehensive about actually doing it!
 
alexedwards said:
Not sure but I'm going to find out soon. I'm at Farleigh Court which is just round the corner from you isn't it?
Yard is changing management and going to full & part only, no DIY. I've had my girl for nearly 20yrs and she's only been on livery for about 2 of those.
I'm looking forward to it as I'll have time to groom & ride & all the nice bits but I think I'll miss having complete control. Like changing rugs at the last minute cos its a bit chilly or making sure fly spray goes on the right bits etc
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Surely you can still change your horses rug and apply fly spray:confused:Yes fully livery means they do everything for you but its still your horse
 
Full Livery should mean FULL - everything done for you

All mucking out, feeding, grooming, exercise, tack cleaning, turning out, bringing in, rug changing and should include tacking up ready for you when you want to ride.

That's what the livery yard I worked on did for full liveries.
 
Tnavas, yes I appreciate that :) I have potentially found a yard and realise that what I would be getting there is essentially part, however my yard is offering 5/2 part (I do the horse 2 days a week) for more than I could have a 7 day part at the new yard, and there's more grazing! However I'm worried about handing over his day to day care as I've always done him myself :)
 
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Broke_But_Happy said:
Tnavas, yes I appreciate that :) I have potentially found a yard and realise that what I would be getting there is essentially part, however my yard is offering 5/2 part (I do the horse 2 days a week) for more than I could have a 7 day part at the new yard, and there's more grazing! However I'm worried about handing over his day to day care as I've always done him myself :)
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It is really hard and they will rarely ever do anything as thorough as you but I know from the experience of working in a yard and having my own horse eventually on full livery for a while, is that one of the workers will love your horse as much as you do - then your horse will get the best of care.
 
Just picking the right yard is key. We moved from having out own yard to going onto full (well 5 day livery)

I chose a yard where we provide the hay and feed so I can control what they eat and how much.

I actually love being in livery now. When I get there in the evening I can spend all my time grooming or riding which is fab. I used to spend all my time mucking out then had 10 mins free to stick them in and change rugs etc. yesterday I spent 40 mins grooming one of my horses and then 30 mins just pampering the other. It's so much better.

I wouldn't want to be on livery where I couldn't control what they are fed and how much.
 
I thought it would be hard but have found a great yard which I think is paramount ( I researched it too) I hated anyone doing my horse as things had to be done my way but my mare is looking so happy relaxed and content I'm really happy with how she's being treated she's getting great care.
Think I'd always look into either part or full from now on unless I had a yard two mins from home where I could go back to going in am (was assisted DIY) but wasn't getting the service so faith wasn't there.
full livery you know how much it's costing each month n hidden extras or worrying bout running out if feed etc and you get more time to be with your horse
 
I moved to a 'full' livery yard 3 weeks ago, and so far, the hardest thing has been still waking up at the old getting up time. :D. Star is healthier, being looked after exceptionally well, things are done how I want them doing and we couldn't be happier with her care.
 
platypus said:
Surely you can still change your horses rug and apply fly spray:confused:Yes fully livery means they do everything for you but its still your horse
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Of course, what I mean is if I'm paying for part liv I won't be going up both ends of the day as I do at the moment. So therefore at some point either morn or eve I'll be leaving them with the rug choice etc.

Lynne T
Full liv is as Tnavas says
Part liv is all except riding, grooming, exercise usually. Can be 5 day or 7 day
Assisted liv is DIY when you pay for extras like turn outs or muck outs
And DIY only is just that
Usually anyway, yards can vary.
 
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At my old yard where i was a full livery we all wrote down in a file in plastic wallets all the things your horse needs so rugs for certain weather put down weight colour and condition you want it used in. say what to be used in winter and summer your feeds and your bed. so how many banks you like no banks three banks two. how many bales you want on a week. after about a month the staff are able to remember what you want.

I find thats the easiest way
 
Both my horses are on full livery. IMO the most important thing is having approachable staff you can trust, rely on and get along with. Takes a weight off your mind when you know good people are taking care of your horse.
 
*sprinkles* said:
Both my horses are on full livery. IMO the most important thing is having approachable staff you can trust, rely on and get along with. Takes a weight off your mind when you know good people are taking care of your horse.
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I agree with this. The people who will be looking after your horse are (or at least should be!) professionals who you are paying to have the best interests of your horse at heart. I moved to full livery a few years ago due to work commitments and I admit it was a huge leap of faith, but I've never looked back. My horse is happy and well cared for by people I trust and who do a great job. If I have any special requests like fly spray, for example, I both tell the YM and write it on my horse's own little notice board outside his stable. Rugs, feeds etc just happen, and we are both happy as a result.

And best of all, I spend my precious "horse" time actually riding and enjoying my horse instead of doing chores. OK, it's a bit more expensive, but I think it's value for money.

Good luck.
 
Do you find there are any extras? I don't want to get there and then find any extras which mean I can't afford them! He does get 2 supps which aren't too expensive but I am not so well off that I can just fork out without thinking :o
I will speak to the yard tomorrow, I've already had someone tell me that it's a good, reputable yard which is a big help - last time I had anyone else look after mine was when I was off with my injury and I was badly let down.
 
I moved my boy last week to a new small competition yard of only 9 horses all on full livery. We were on part livery however most of time I was up I was bringing him in, skipping out and doing a lot of what should have been included so more or less like being on assisted DIY.
I was worried how he would settle but it has been a godsend for both of us. He is so chilled now, they all have their quiet time each day after lunch to nap. He finally has a routine which really agrees with him and all I need to do is to send them a text to tell them when I'll be at the yard and they have him bought in from the field, groomed and all my tack sparkly clean and ready to go. Plus they co-ordinate with the other liveries hacking out so we never have to ride out alone. He is handled each day and seems to really enjoy the extra attention, plus he gets four very decent sized feeds a day rather than two very small ones that the previous yard offered. His coat is gleaming and his whole attitude is much better.
The extra money it costs is certainly worth it plus I now have a wealth of information and help at hand from some very experienced people. I feel much happier and much less anxious knowing he is being treated like a king now and being looked after by people who geniunely care for his wellbeing rather than simply being a meal ticket for the YO.
Just wish I had moved him sooner.
 
I was in a similar position a couple of months ago - I had surgery and could do very little as on crutches with a not very good 'good' leg. I am a bit of a control freak and am very ocd about my girls bed. I found talking to yo helped. I also found not looking at her bed etc helped as then I couldn't stress about a few bits of poop that might have been missed (easy to ocd when you only have 1 to muck out :rolleyes:)

I visited as regularly as I could and if you're concerned just ask the yo, they won't mind as they will understand you are concerned. I found that I was more relaxed about it than I expected and I think thats because I knew that she was being taken care of even if slightly differently from how I do it. I didn't have to worry about not managing etc.

Good luck with your surgery
 
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