Own land v livery yard - pros and cons

Sooty

Sooty

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Currently we keep our horses at home, but are considering downsizing and buying a house which has no land, but which is about 400 yards from a livery yard. I would welcome any advice, as I have never kept a horse at livery. Another option would be to rent some land and do DIY. All opinions appreciated!
 
I love the idea of having the horses at home, but I have to say that having mine at livery works really well for me. There is always company, but more importantly I know I have back up and support when I need it. I can also go away and not stress about who is going to look after the horse. He goes on full livery and is beautifully looked after.

You hear some horror stories about LY's. But generally, if the YO is good, sane and organised the yard is too. You can make some great friends, learn to ignore (or just be polite) to those you don't get on with and always have someone there for a good old natter.

I am very happy where I am.
 
I've always been on DIY livery....but I am moving to my own rented yard 1/10th of a mile from my house at the weekend.

I liked the yard, YO was great but TBH there were issues with rugs being damaged, crappy fencing in areas and the fact that I always seemed to be filling up the water troughs and putting out hay for everyone elses horses.

I'm nervous about going it alone- don't know whey really, because I've always looked after them totally DIY and the times I was at the yard I was usually alone apart form one of two others.

As OH says - pro's and cons to both- but you never know until you've tried it.

Sorry- that was no use at all really was it?
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I always kept my horses at home (parents) and knew nothing else, I had no facilities such as a school and was expected to help with the maintenance of fencing etc.

I got a bit of a shock moving to livery where I had to share storage areas etc but soon got used to it.

I keep thinking I would like to purchase some land to have my own yard again but I have a non-horsey OH who hates DIY so would not want to be involved in maintenance, poo picking etc, muck disposal etc etc. Having had to do it before I am aware of the hard work involved keeping a yard in good repair and managing the grass.

The up sides of livery for me are the use of facilities without the bother of maintenance etc. Also should I wish to go away or am ill there are staff who will do my horses. I am fortunate that I rent a small block of stables away from the main yard on an equestrian centre but have full use of the facilities. It is like having my own yard without any hassle which for me works perfectly.

I guess you have to do the maths as well, is it better to remain where you are with the land and not have a livery bill etc etc.
 
I love having the horses at home despite the usual drawbacks, e.g. having to do them each day even if I am sick, maintenance, etc. I find that I have the freedom to control things as I want them, e.g. turn out, so there are fewer accidents and less stress.

If you move to the new house keep in mind the livery yard close by might not work out and you may end up somewhere further away - would you have the time for a longer commute?
 
Best thing i did was get my own land. I have 3 so company is not a problem. My parents look after them if i have to go away for work etc. I can do what i want when i want. Use what ever field etc. I'm not fussed about riding with others, never have been as i see it as 'my time'. I work FT with other people, when it comes to the horses i want to spend my time with them on my own, my escape from the world. Dont have to deal with the bitchyness that crops up on 95% of yards. I've only ever been on one yard that i really liked and got on with all the people. There were 4 of us (6 horses in total) and we all had the same idea for our horses, which was no matter what to do the best by them. Every where else, people have always moaned about what you do with your horse, how you ride, what tack/food/rugs you use. Always given an opinion whether it was asked for or not. If i can help it i shant go back on livery. Enjoy my freedom too much!
 
I had always been on livery yards until I bought my own 3 yrs ago. Best thing I ever did. You and your horses are not at the mercy of anyone else and you can do exactly as you please. As for company you can invite the people you want around to either visit or share.

There are some fantastic livery yards around but most of the well run ones have some restrictions ie when your horse can be turned out and for how long etc and there is nothing more disheartening seeing your horse stuck inside on a beautiful day.
 
<font class="small">Code:</font><hr /><pre>but most of the well run ones have some restrictions ie when your horse can be turned out and for how long etc and there is nothing more disheartening seeing your horse stuck inside on a beautiful day. </pre><hr />

That is not my experience - horses go out regardless of the weather (if the owner so wishes).

We can turn out as early as we like (realistically this is from around 6.30am onwards) - and have all year turnout. In the winter the only restriction is that horses should be in by 5.30pm (but there is assistance on sight if you are unable to be there at that time). And we have 24/7 turnout in the summer - from around May, until the clocks change.
 
I keep my horses at home, the best thing we ever did was buy a smallholding. If you are ill or tired, you can do the horses in your pjs and then go back into the house/bed. Being able to see them whenever i look out the window is amazing too!
 
Have never had a horse on livery as have been fortunate that we bought our own land 20 odd years ago and then started 'collecting' horses.

I like being able to do what i want with my horses and don't thik I could cope with bitchiness on yards to be honest. I kept my pony at livery at college for a month - it was a small yard away from the main yard but still part of college. There were only abouy 5 of us on it but jesus that was bad enough - the others were soooo bitchy and OTT when it came to their horses!!!!

The downside of our own land is not having our own school so exercising the horses i the winter can prove hard but then we've always managed and the horses have never been worse off for it. Plus, at some point we may manage to chaneg this and get a school put in,. I think it waould be beneficial as I am looking at buying a youngster at some point and think having a school would be handy. Plus, also for potential renting of said field/yard in the future maybe.
 
Yes I do accept everywhere is different but ime every yard I have been on ( always on a full livery basis ) has had restrictions. Whether its cos they want to preserve the ' look' of the land who knows or maybe they just didn't have enough to cater for year round turnout.

Also I remember paying £1400/ £1500 a month for my two and still had to buy extra hay for them and that grates.


I think IME the livery yards I was at offered fantastic facilities but at the end of the day its the horses that have to live there and with my own place they can be out as long as they like and that suits us both. I'd never go back to livery I have too much freedom now.
 
I have always kept my horses at either DIY or Part Livery Yards.

Pros:
- A lot of yards have better facilities than you would be able to have at home, such as an Indoor or Outdoor school, a wash box, horse walker etc.
- You can get hep with your horse easier if you have any problems
- It is more sociabl and you will make new friends and have people to ride with
- Some yards run clinics and clubs which you can become part of
- If you are busy, you can rest assured that someone is keeping an eye on your horse (and looking after it if you are on full or part livery)

Cons:
- Sometimes things go missing because other liveries have 'borrowed' them
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- You might not get on with everyone and some people can be quite nasty if they are jealous of your or your horse
- You have to share the facilities with the other liveries/clients
- Sometimes things which you have asked to be done don't get done
- If you are used to looking after your horse yourself, you might not like the way other people do things

Hopefully, we will be moving to a house later on this year with land so we can move the horses to home which I am looking forward to... but for now I am keeping them on livery and I enjoy it!
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Hope this helps!
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I suppose it has to depend on the yard. Only been on 2 but the first was a bit of a nightmare. The current yard is wonderful. Do anything you wish as long as you fix the damage later
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has a school and good company. Even in this yard I hit the very jealous nasty livery and she was "encouraged" to leave.

I'd still kill for my own place though. We have 2 horses and a couple of very good friends (knew them before we all went horsey) would be joining us but I do have the advantage of being an ex aircraft engineer and love "DIY". Roll on the smallholding - repairs, builds, land management etc etc... can't wait.
 
I have always kept my horses at home, and I love it, so I am biased. My step daughter keeps hers on a DIY yard but like others say, the advatnage of that is that they will 'do' the horse if she is ill (or whatever). But i have a husband who will 'do' mine if I am away. If we go on holiday, my horse goes to my friend's field / stable (home based).
It really is an individual preference thing. There are many pro's and con's to each system. I would say, if you have support at home to help on days if you are unable to 'do' the horses yourself and if you can hire out a school (if you want to school that is) then the benefits of keeping at home are really to do with freedom and being in charge...I have found field maintanence very good for body and soul, it's like a gym replacement!
I hope you find what you're looking for, sorry for my biased thoughts, but i know nothing else really. Reading things on this forum has shed a rather dodgy light on some yards, which sound a nightmare (and it's usually the people, not the horses, from what posts say...), but like others posters say, if you find a good one, i am sure it would be fab for you and the equines.
 
Wooo this has gone all wide!
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Thank you so much everyone for taking the time to reply. I do think having the horses at home is lovely, but selling up would allow us a lot more flexibility in other areas. If we could find a small house on a large plot that would be ideal, but sadly land is at a premium in this part of the world and we would be back to square one. I was expecting some horror stories about livery yards, but the only things mentioned are things I expected anyway. I know the yard owner in question, although I have no idea if she has any space! Just testing the water at the moment, no decisions have been reached. Thank you again!
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