Moving from DIY to full livery

I was on assisted DIY and moved to part livery, so not as much of a dramatic change but he’s on full livery mon-fri and it just feels like less of a chore after work. You’re able to enjoy the fun parts of your horse a bit more, IMO
 
Less money...……..

Actually, I'm doing this shortly. The reason being its to a yard with a school, with much better hacking but a bit further away from me. If I had a choice I would opt for part livery but she only does full. So I'll see how I get on.
I think I might struggle with lack of control but its a very small yard so hopefully we can be on the same wavelength. I am however looking forward to not having to drive a fair distance twice a day.
 
Part livery in my case (everything done except riding) my horse was injured, they didn't tell me then tried to discourage me from calling the vet, never told me how she got hurt and so I moved back to DIY.

Having trust in the yard owner/manager/staff is essential for it to work.
 
I moved from DIY to full livery (7 day) as horse was rehabbing and I needed a decent school to start canter work and it was the only place in the area. we lasted less than 3 months there. Aside from some of the poor management (horse was on box rest and left all day several times without hay, YO changed his feed (he was on a handful of happy hoof, she put him in alpha a), and some other issues) I really struggled with him being on full livery.

I didn't really enjoy going up to the yard, maybe because it was 20 mins away from home but also I didn't feel like I could just hang around with my horse, and pamper him etc. I also enjoy having the control over things, and as much as you can trust a yard, sometimes that control is taken away (not all the time but places I have been to).

If it makes your life easier then I don't think its a bad thing, but it has to be the right yard.
 
Depending on my circumstances I’ve moved back and forth a few times. Mainly due to travelling for work. Each home I’ve fretted about either losing control going on part-livery or not coping on DIY and being exhausted. Being on P/L it’s nice not to have to get up every morning and only go once a day and it’s great if you want a spontaneous weekend away or the odd day. I always felt though that I had to keep a close eye to ensure he was cared for properly. When I went away for more than a couple of days I had friends checking too. As above sometimes injuries were missed and one YO didn’t recognise the signs of colic. Been on DIY for 10 nearly years now and much prefer it overall although it helps that the yard I’m on is well set up.
 
Was luxury! I do miss being on full, was great for my mental health. Only reason he’s not on full now is because I can’t afford it anymore x
 
I went from assisted DIY to full at the start of the lockdown as I shielded for a few weeks. I'm afraid I've got to like it and as the yard is a fair way from home if I don't go 2 days a week for some reason the saving in diesel covers the difference in cost. I only meant it to be temporary but I think I'll stay with it.
 
Went from DIY to full grass livery, so slightly different but still involved trusting someone with full day to day care as I was only able to go at weekends due to working hours. I should probably preface this with admitting that I am an utter, utter control freak and I am completely paranoid about my two ponies, retired and crocked though they might be. It was actually a really good experience for me as my YO is super and really reliable. I still keep them with the same lady but atm she does am and I do pm every day, which I prefer as I like seeing them. I don't worry when I can't go down though, and feel happy going abroad for 1 - 2 months with her looking after the ponies.
 
Prefer DIY. It actually costs me more in winter with services but I like looking after my own horse (s). I would go part if I really really had to with work (and have been in the past).
 
I've been on half part half full and hated it, didn't like my horses management totally out of my hands, not knowing if my horse was in or out and things not being done to my standards. I'm back on DIY now with two absolutely shattered but happier for it. I understand why people need to do it and sure it's great with the right yard but it wasn't for me.
 
I've always been on full livery, due to limited time and health issues. (Full in the modern definition of, staff do the chores but don't ride.)

You have to accept that you're giving up some control. Your beds may not be as perfect and thick and fluffy as you like. Alternatively, they may be more perfect and thick and fluffy and cost you more in bedding. The staff may rug differently to how you would, or have a different definition of a full haynet.

You have to communicate with the staff. They won't know that you'd rather under-rug than over-rug unless you tell them. They won't know that your idea of a full haynet is, "Barely able to close it."

You have to trust the staff. This is the biggest one. I know that my yard's staff will spot if there's something off with Blue, and let me know. I know that they'll do what I ask them to, whether that's carefully measuring out 87 supplements for her feed, or soaking her hay for 24 hours. With previous share horses, I've been on yards where the staff would do the bare minimum, so I'd spend weekends mucking out all the wet that had been left in the horse's bed and measuring out feeds so they just needed to be tipped into the bucket and wetted down.

If you can't trust the staff, being on full livery is exhausting. If you can, it's delightful. When I go to the yard, I get to spend time with my horse, rather than with my horse's s**t.
 
awelshandawarmblood said:
I've been on half part half full and hated it, didn't like my horses management totally out of my hands, not knowing if my horse was in or out and things not being done to my standards. I'm back on DIY now with two absolutely shattered but happier for it. I understand why people need to do it and sure it's great with the right yard but it wasn't for me.
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Same. And I'm on a fantastic yard where they couldn't be looked after better, run by a very good friend, but I still want to be on DIY and it's not for cost benefits!
 
I've just done it within the last few weeks..

I really enjoyed looking after my horse myself, but found it was increasingly difficult to juggle not just work-life-horse balance but his management needs. He's laminitic but struggles when stabled for long periods of time, so have just moved to a full livery.

My horse, most importantly, is very happy - he's out 24/7 on a track system with access to free range shelter with a happy herd with ad-lib forage. I'm getting regular picture and video updates and although he is sensitive, he has settled right in and I trust the YO.

It helps the set up came highly recommended by a few professionals I already use and I knew the YO and their team share similiar horse management ideas.

I think I'm finding it harder to adjust than my horse :D I'm still feeling slightly out of my routine. Years of DIY livery mean I'm still waking up at silly o'clock so using the time to either ride in the morning before work and having a free evening or going for a walk or doing a home work out in the morning - it's helping the intended Lockdown weight loss!

I do miss seeing his face and having cuddles twice a day I still see him daily so still feel 'hands on', but it's now quality time together and I can do those 'nice' things I didn't always have time for on DIY.
 
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It depends sometimes, if your feed is included or not.... Some full livery yards can annoy you with the portions they give and make you use haynets when you would rather feed off the floor.
 
Absolutely echo Flicker. I’ve had a nightmare full livery:- mouldy straw and hay and owner from hell but with AMAZING facilities, followed by a yard sale urn moderate facilities but manager from heaven- couldn’t do enough for me and horses.
I have just left the latter for 2 reasons...

1. Control and access. in lockdown we could not visit. Government guidelines aid no visitors because we are already paying someone to care for horses

2. Cost. I have 2 each clocking £115 per week plus farrier, shows, sundries etc aka over £1000 per month. I moved to a diy working farm 5 mins walk from home with no facilities but only £20 each per week (plus feeds Etc).

I can now afford a trainer, lessons, shows AND after a 12 hour day in NHS COVID battle I get a horsey hug.

the rain, mud and early mornings are worth it plus I am fitter and leaner ?
 
Boredom! I moved a horse to full when my mare died as I keep them at home and I wouldn't keep one on their own. I felt like a spare wheel as used to doing everything myself. It was nice to turn up just to ride especially after work but for me since having the horses at home I am used to doing everything (yes I'm a control freak!)
 
I moved to full livery after years of DIY with ad hoc services, to be honest I found full livery more tying than DIY in winter. But that was mostly the turnout situation of every other day so I had to schedule my riding days with that, rather than schedule my riding round my life! Also things like turnout was mornings only for a bit and at the weekend I prefer to ride in the mornings. Whereas on DIY if it was half days you can choose your half. Also the full livery yard was further away, so I was spending time driving I would have been doing my jobs, I'd rather do jobs and be moving around! The care was good and I trusted the yard to look after my horse, but its never the same as doing them yourself. On balance I much prefer DIY, the cost is a big factor too. I pay under 300 a month now for all feed, hay, shavings and DIY livery. It was over 500 on full, I'm spending the extra on a loan for a lorry which I love!
 
I have had horses for 20 plus years, always on DIY until February this year when I moved my mare to my trainers yard on full livery. There were a few reasons for this, mainly support, better turnout and more time to spend with my immediate family.

The yard is a 40 minute drive away and with home commitments I go 4x a week, that was hard at first as I would have seen my horse 2-3 times a day, every day.

i also thought I would struggle giving up control, which initially I did as I was constantly micro managing my horse but felt I kept making the wrong decisions which was affecting my mental health and enjoyment of her so that in the end it’s actually nice that sometimes someone else takes over.

I do however, trust my trainer very much.
 
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Pippity said:
(Full in the modern definition of, staff do the chores but don't ride.).
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LOL. :D I promise I'm not 500 years old. :)

I think it's a regional difference whether that type of livery is called part or full. Where I used to live there were a lot of yards (still are now) that offered riding including hacking and schooling (flat and over fences) which kept horses tuned up and fit for owners who really only came at the weekend due to commuting into London for work during the week. So because that was called 'full' the next step down with no riding was 'part'.
 
Meowy Catkin said:
LOL. :D I promise I'm not 500 years old. :)

I think it's a regional difference whether that type of livery is called part or full. Where I used to live there were a lot of yards (still are now) that offered riding including hacking and schooling (flat and over fences) which kept horses tuned up and fit for owners who really only came at the weekend due to commuting into London for work during the week. So because that was called 'full' the next step down with no riding was 'part'.
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That wasn't a dig at you, I swear! I think it may be a budget definition, too - I used to share a horse on an extremely expensive yard (various politicians and celebs kept their horses there) where full did include the staff keeping your horse fit and schooled. Although, come to think of it, that was near Oxford so definitely commuting distance to London.
 
The pros were I could move jobs to a better paid & nicer job as I didn't have to structure my day around horse care. I could have a social life. I could easily go on holiday, rest at home if sick or deal with domestic emergency. My mental health improved as I could trust the yard to look after my horse. YO & another staff member live on site so do late night checks. I got access during the lockdown. It is very quiet & peaceful for both me & pony as liveries not there all at the same time. School is not busy. I often get it to myself.

Downside is definitely the cost. Horse care is top notch medium sized yard they take the time to get to know each livery horse but this comes at a cost. Hacking is not amazing & not many liveries enjoy hacking so don't have company for hacking. Distance from home. Quite a lot of grass so pony has to wear muzzle for part of the year.
 
SO1 said:
The pros were I could move jobs to a better paid & nicer job as I didn't have to structure my day around horse care. I could have a social life. I could easily go on holiday, rest at home if sick or deal with domestic emergency. My mental health improved as I could trust the yard to look after my horse. YO & another staff member live on site so do late night checks. I got access during the lockdown. It is very quiet & peaceful for both me & pony as liveries not there all at the same time. School is not busy. I often get it to myself.

Downside is definitely the cost. Horse care is top notch medium sized yard they take the time to get to know each livery horse but this comes at a cost. Hacking is not amazing & not many liveries enjoy hacking so don't have company for hacking. Distance from home. Quite a lot of grass so pony has to wear muzzle for part of the year.
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Similar to this, I have done DIY, DIY grass, assisted DIY and variations of part.

My horse is currently at a good yard, with good care, adlib hay, good attention to detail, small group turnout, well draining ground, great hacking, indoor and outdoor school, good facilities.
It is full care (bar exercise and tack cleaning, and full grooming) seven days a week. It is 25 minutes from home, ten minutes from work. I have more time as not ordering feed / hay /bedding / doing chores. Means I can spend more time riding / boxing out / doing groundwork / massage / hoof care / grooming etc. I still pretty much go every day and sometimes all day. I still have control over bed / hay / feed / care etc.

There isn't a yard with same hacking / turnout / drainage / schooling facilities closer to home. And this is too far to sensibly do DIY with the hours I work. Now I only have one horse, cost is affordable, and my one horse isn't happy not in a group routine, so unlikely to settle on a DIY yard. Was fine when I had a pair of horses.

IME good full / part livery is fab, not so good full / part is WORSE and MORE STRESS than DIY.
 
I used to work on a full livery yard Mon to Fri so did my own then but on weekends she was done by the weekend staff, but because I am so obsessed with having a pure white immaculate shavings bed I used to get there early in the morning to do it myself most weekends to do it myself! So it was totally pointless really I was very popular with the weekend staff though and I am sure they fought over who got my horse as they knew they would have one less to muck out lol.

I absolutely loathed going away through fear of coming back to a not so perfect bed, hence to say when I go away now my horses live out.
 
I went from keeping my horses at home to part and full livery. I struggled with lack of control, especially over feeding, and also the lack of flexibility to change a horse's routine, eg to turn it out for a month's summer holiday. Either you couldn't do that at all as it didn't fit with the yard's routine, or you could but you didn't get the benefit of the reduced labour and feed costs and had to pay full wack anyway. My compromise was a DIY yard and get my own freelance assistance as necessary - I had three in work at the time so effectively I employed two part time grooms. That was the perfect compromise and providing work to two people consistently was a good buffer against one of them being ill/on holiday or (although it never happened) going awol. It came out marginally cheaper than full livery costwise but was much better from a control perspective.
 
I have always been on DIY until last year when my health (knackered back) dictated I needed an op and I couldn’t have full on yard I was on.
I moved to full livery (5 days) and I do the weekends. I still wanted to DIY a bit just to see how my body would cope and if I ever need to move back to DIY. I’m doing ok but I do notice my back can be sore so I remain on full for now...plus I have kind of got used to the luxury! I ride after work so see him 6 out of 7 days on average and work him for 5 of those. I did worry about if I just went up to ride he wouldn’t really feel like ‘mine’ but he still knows who I am and I actually feel I spend much more quality time with him rather than rushing round with jobs.

The compromise is the travel too - it’s 8 miles from home and DIY was much closer and cheaper. Whilst we can afford it, he will remain there. I can do DIY but the cost would be breaking even if I included travel twice/services one end of the day. If I had to go down to DIY I’d move him closer to home and I quite honestly would miss the indoor, the people etc.
 
Done both... hated full with a passion. Yard I went to was made me feel isolated mostly because you become another livery. Moved onto DIY eventually and I love it. Full makes me feel constantly insecure about your horse (“who’s handling my precious pony?” “What if he colics and no one realises?” “What if the grooms are rough?”) but that’s just me. I’m happier with full control, but full is great when you need an extra set of hands.
 
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