Own land v going back to livery

cblover

cblover

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I know this has been spoke about quite a bit on here but I’m just going to tell you about my situation and see what you all think, thanks.

From owning my first horse at 19 years old and up to my 40th birthday I’ve always had a horse in a diy livery as near as possible to where I’ve lived. Then 11 years ago we managed to buy 3 acres of land and build stables and a small barn on it. This land is exactly 2 miles away from where I live. So the horses have been there ever since. I’ve got my clydesdale and a cob for company.

I love owning my own place and god we’ve worked so hard to get it how we want it. Hubby’s plan, as he’s not horsey, is that this land is our little pension pot when I no longer have horses. And that as long as I have a horses, it’s just sense that I’d be using my own place and not paying for livery. I get the same response from him....bless him! He’s a good egg really. :)

I’ve thought over the last year or so about going back to livery as I’m feeling isolated and lack motivation, plus I’d be able to go down to one horse and just focus on my clydesdale. I’m now 51 and feeling much less physically able than I did 10 years ago. I’ve thought about renting our place out and use part of the money for livery. Believe it or not....it’s only £90 a month for livery in my town.

Ideally I’d like a livery with me...but I’ve tried that and it wasn’t too successful. But more people and less horses does sound good. The right people of course. ;)

But I can’t quite get to grips with someone else on my special place.

The other alternative is paying for an instructor to come from next spring as my Clyde is 5 next year. Anyone been in this position and how did you deal with it?
 
I moved from my "own" rented 3.5 acres back to livery as was bored stiff by myself. Could only ride weekends in winter as had no facilities. Had 2, dropped down to 1 before the move. Back up to 2 as got bored just riding one!! So costing me a small fortune but well worth it to me for the facilties and the lovely company.
 
I had horses at home, had the facilities I wanted and loved the freedom to do things as I pleased. I did really miss company, and working with green horses was difficult unless I paid a freelance to come and help.
Due to a relationship breakdown that all fell apart and I went back to livery. It was nice to have company again but getting used to rubbing along with other people can be a challenge. Am down in the dumps today thanks to one inconsiderate livery and wishing I was 10 years along in life (hoping to have them at home again by then!!)

Personally I prefer to have 2 horses if it's DIY livery because then you aren't at the mercy of what other people are doing re turnout times, but if you're saving money by moving back to livery then you could have services or part livery to get around that.
 
cblover said:
I know this has been spoke about quite a bit on here but I’m just going to tell you about my situation and see what you all think, thanks.

From owning my first horse at 19 years old and up to my 40th birthday I’ve always had a horse in a diy livery as near as possible to where I’ve lived. Then 11 years ago we managed to buy 3 acres of land and build stables and a small barn on it. This land is exactly 2 miles away from where I live. So the horses have been there ever since. I’ve got my clydesdale and a cob for company.

I love owning my own place and god we’ve worked so hard to get it how we want it. Hubby’s plan, as he’s not horsey, is that this land is our little pension pot when I no longer have horses. And that as long as I have a horses, it’s just sense that I’d be using my own place and not paying for livery. I get the same response from him....bless him! He’s a good egg really. :)

I’ve thought over the last year or so about going back to livery as I’m feeling isolated and lack motivation, plus I’d be able to go down to one horse and just focus on my clydesdale. I’m now 51 and feeling much less physically able than I did 10 years ago. I’ve thought about renting our place out and use part of the money for livery. Believe it or not....it’s only £90 a month for livery in my town.

Ideally I’d like a livery with me...but I’ve tried that and it wasn’t too successful. But more people and less horses does sound good. The right people of course. ;)

But I can’t quite get to grips with someone else on my special place.

The other alternative is paying for an instructor to come from next spring as my Clyde is 5 next year. Anyone been in this position and how did you deal with it?
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Thats a shame because i bet there are lots of people like me out there would love to share with just one other
 
I once considered giving up horses and put my elderly mare on livery while also keeping the field I rented so I would have somewhere to go back to if we didn't like it. Oh my goodnes, did we not like it! She hated the comings And goings of other horses which we had no control over, I hated the fact that I wasn't allowed to clean her water trough (horses apparently prefer green water), no shade (horses don't need shade and there were apparently no flies in livery yard fields). I mistakenly took someone else's feed bucket (same size and colour) and received 10 texts about it! We came back after 6 weeks and were very happy to be home! Never again. Book instructor, go to clinics if you are lucky enough to have transport, find someone to ride with but definitely doing your own tging is way better than livery, IMHO.
 
In saying that, half the liveries at my yard just dont ride much. Our tack room is like aisle 11 in tesco full of sweets, biscuits , chocolate, coffee, juice! It really bugs me as if horse feeds isn’t attractive enough for the rats lol they turn up bring their horses in and drink coffee ☕️
 
Marigold4 said:
I once considered giving up horses and put my elderly mare on livery while also keeping the field I rented so I would have somewhere to go back to if we didn't like it. Oh my goodnes, did we not like it! She hated the comings And goings of other horses which we had no control over, I hated the fact that I wasn't allowed to clean her water trough (horses apparently prefer green water), no shade (horses don't need shade and there were apparently no flies in livery yard fields). I mistakenly took someone else's feed bucket (same size and colour) and received 10 texts about it! We came back after 6 weeks and were very happy to be home! Never again. Book instructor, go to clinics if you are lucky enough to have transport, find someone to ride with but definitely renting is way better than livery, IMHO.
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My boy hates passing another horse going in the other direction its a nightmare he takes a hissy fit! Plus theres a driving cart too that sends him daft! Ideally id love a field of my own and two horses in it lol
 
It might be worth putting it out there again to see if there is another likeminded person out there. I suppose I’m quite fussy and think differently than old fashioned horsemanship ways.
 
It is tricky. I feel so blessed to have my horse at home - but do miss the company. It’s tricky getting motivated sometimes and don’t have anyone around who wants to talk horses for hours. I can understand wanting to go back on livery. For me being able to pop over to see them and the time saving of having them right here makes it worth it. Currently contemplating transport so we can do more and maybe joining a riding club for company.
Hope you work out what’s best for you. If it’s livery perhaps try it with both - then if you don’t like it you can go back to your field.
 
OP, it would be cheaper for me to rent my yard out and put mine on part or even full livery.
However, my little yard 3.5 miles away from home - of 4.5 acres and assorted half dozen stables, barn and shelters - has been my oasis. I'm able to do what I like when I like.
I'm happy with my own company tho.
I've a few friends over to hack out on occasions, made new ones from here too and box up to visit others. I'm also quite active at local RC clinics etc and have made some good friends there too.
I gave up having liveries tho, but occasionally take in a short term one in the summer for a few weeks at most.
The day I cannot manage my yard to a reasonable standard (either by me doing stuff or paying someone to do it) is the day I knock horse owning on its head, I'm a few more years older than you tho.
 
I was on a livery yard then moved when my mare was in foal to rent privately. After they were weaned I moved back but pretty quickly discovered I couldn't cope with having company again!
I did think about moving again after I lost my youngster but my sister was looking for somewhere for hers. It's not easy sharing with her some days! We've added another to our herd as both are older. I would probably ride more if I was on a yard but I love having it to myself, and doing what I want there.
 
One horse on DIY livery is a complete worry-fest. I'm there at the moment and just... Ugh. No. 2 horses on DIY is better. If I was staying a single horse owner on livery I would find a good part livery or full livery to keep the horse at. But my current view is that your own space is way better!! When I was on a well run part livery it was probably 60-40 in favour of own space.... currently it's 100-0. Hahaha! Working on it.
 
I've been on a DIY yard, kept a horse (or 4 😅) at my previous workplace and rented my own tiny yard.

I didn't have very good experiences with livery honestly. I've always blamed the incompetence of the yard owner as there was always so much drama, things always needed fixing and nothing ever got sorted. To the point of health hazards and outright fights on the yard.
All of the places with better facilities were no nonsense and had lovely liveries, but were all either part or full. Rarely (if ever) DIY.

Having my own place was lovely, but I shared it with my Mum so I had someone to ride with. Would've been perfect had it not been for the owners micro managing everything we did.
It wasn't advertised as livery, it was advertised as a whole yard to let. So we only stayed for a month due to wanting more than 2 horses on a 4 box yard!

Best place for me was keeping them at work, which was akin to keeping them at a decent livery yard. Lots of nice people and just generally good company.
If I were you (I feel your pain of not wanting someone sharing your space but), I would rent it out as a whole plot for someone who does want to be alone and then go to a nice DIY yard 😊
 
Thank you all, much appreciated. I do feel incredibly lucky to have my own place and I don’t take it for granted but it is isolating.

I think on balance I’m better staying where I am but I’ll have to try to either get a livery on my place or buy myself some motivation. Lol ;)
 
OP, just to chuck another idea at you.... friend purchased yet another one, a steady hacker and then advertised for sharers.
This meant she kept control on a daily basis, she was able to choose sharers (she ended up with 2 lovely ladies who came on weekdays when children in school). Between them they covered the shoeing of this 3rd one and did poo picking too on a day each. Worked well for her but not for you if you are not in a position to keep a 3rd Fuzzy.
Good luck in whatever you decide x
 
I am in the middle on this one - I have facilities at home - good ones (ménage, cross country fences, show jumps off road hacking down a very very quiet country road straight on to bridle ways) but currently I have one horse at livery - with older experienced horses I like them at home (having younger children it’s easier to get to ride regularly) but I’ve really struggled at home with youngsters because I have no one to hack out with. It was easier and cheaper to put him on livery than hire a freelance to go out for a hack every day with... I’ve tried getting a livery to fill this bill #disasterous.... so I guess it depends on your personal situation... having said that I can’t wait til baby is well enough and experienced enough to come home x
 
I have horses at home, I don’t miss company but I do have a friend nearby who I can ride with. I think having transport and being able to go to RC and lessons or meeting someone to go hacking makes a big difference. I’m so used to doing things my own way i’d struggle to go back to livery.
ETA I like TFF’s idea!
 
I'm a bit of a control freak (well, in my defence I do have two horses who have special needs!) so livery would be my idea of hell, especially with the number of "local experts" there are around. I do understand the lack of company and on your own even riding can seem like a chore. Could you get a sharer?
(Whoops TFF beat me to it!)
 
I also have horse at home and feel like you, a bit isolated, despite having 2 horsey friends around to hack out with, there is nowhere to school or have good canter/gallop, plus my 22yr old lad doesn’t appreciate the hills we have moved to (very steep) with his cushings and suspected hock arthritis. I do miss the banter of the old yard, and the school, but do love doing my own thing without the rules and regs of a yard! I’ve been lacking in motivation too, as I do enjoy schooling and it kept his donkeyship muscled up, now though with unhappy horse not wanting to do the hills and the thought of searching for a new horse after 12 years is frankly depressing! Could you ask your instructor if she knows of a good person who would want livery at yours?
 
OP, it sounds as if you need to work on the isolation, rather than going back to livery. Is there a local RC, or even a RDA group where you could get to know other horsey people, who could ride out with you. I like the idea of having someone to share either a 3rd horse, or your cob, which would give you somoen to ride out with and talk to to.
 
There is a huge DIY yard in my village which I looked at but decided against and instead opted for a private farm 4 miles away which has fantastic facilities. There are so few of us that I can pick and chose when to go down and miss people if I don't want company. It makes absolutely no difference to my two what goes on around them as they have each other so the best of both worlds really. I certainly wouldn't leave it for my own place.
 
I'd pick very carefully then move her back to livery for a year. Its too hard starting young horses and working them consistently with no facilities. Once shes more established you can bring her back home if that's what you want. I've tried to do it twice now and given in both times. If livery is cheap you could still keep your place and leave it empty, then you can bring her back at any time if its an issue.
 
I seem to be going against the grain here, but i love being on DIY livery. The facilities aren't fantastic and the grazing is OK but the people are just brilliant. We help each other out and are so independent.
 
Personally, after renting a private yard where I'm just left to it, you'd have to drag me kicking and screaming back to the rules and regiments of a livery yard. I don't think I could ever go back to a livery yard where I have little to no say in things like grazing, turnout, company etc.
I do share the yard with a friend, but we don't run into each other every day as I'm often up later, but when we do it's nice to have a natter, and it's nice to have someone able to check ponies and helped each other out if needed. But I'm very much one to enjoy my alone time and I usually hack alone.

I'd be one to try and get a livery in, or a sharer for the companion cob, if it's ride-able? I just couldn't see myself giving up the freedom you currently have :)
 
I have my horses at home but I have three friends who also keep their horses here so we help each other out. Having previously been on my own I fully understand where you are coming from and would be very tempted to move back to livery particularly with a big young horse to bring on.
 
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