Part livery question.......

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I've only ever had my horses on DIY livery. In May I bought a new horse after being horseless for a year or so, and put him at a lovely quiet small local yard which unfortunately doesn't have a school. Now winter is approaching I am realising how impractical that is (I work full time so can only ride before/after work) so I am currently trying to find a DIY yard locally with a floodlit school and it is proving impossible - I'm too close to Hartpury College unfortunately so all the yards are full of students! My best alternative seems to be a local yard that only offers part livery.

Cost is a major factor to consider obviously (OMG HOW much compared to DIY :D ) but actually I am sad and I really enjoy the 'maintenance' side of looking after my horse, mucking out, poo picking etc! I also like things done my way (yep, I am OCD) and I do struggle with the idea of leaving my horses care to someone else, however professional they are.

Yep, I know that is stupid, you don't need to point that out - but how do you/have you found it having a horse on part livery? What were the pros and cons for you?
 
I tok would be the same.
I like thins fine just so and would struggle with someone else doing if.

But for people that are short on time I can see the pros.
As long as you find a good yard with an understamfing manager you will be ok!
You will have more time to ride and be with your horse. Especially when time is precious you will be grateful of not having to muck out and poo pick!
 
smellsofhorse said:
I tok would be the same.
I like thins fine just so and would struggle with someone else doing if.

But for people that are short on time I can see the pros.
As long as you find a good yard with an understamfing manager you will be ok!
You will have more time to ride and be with your horse. Especially when time is precious you will be grateful of not having to muck out and poo pick!
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I've lived in Bristol, Oxford, various parts of Surrey. I've yet to find a part livery yard that got the basics right.

e.g.
- picking feet out daily,
- changing rugs with some level of common sense,
- feeding a decent amount of decent hay (so still some left 9pm at night),
- decent enough beds (so some cushioning, and not wet and soggy and causing thrush),
-decent level of all day turnout in all weathers, turning out by 9am, and bringing in at a sensible time (not 2pm!)
- spotting big issues (big cuts / swelling / lameness) etc when bringing in

Most can get most right, but all of the above seems virtually impossible (despite most yards looking perfect on viewings and walk arounds)
 
I've done both and like you hated the fact someone was looking after my horse. However it did give me the time to be able to ride. If you're lucky you'll find a YO who is really flexible and will treat your horse as you would.
 
I've oscillated between part-livery and DIY a fair few times depending on work priorities, finances and availability of the right yard. Each time I've gone from DIY to part it's been really hard to let go and actually I've felt stupidly upset. Each time I've gone from part back to DIY it's felt scary to have all that commitment again. Part livery service has been variable in its quality but if you are there almost daily to ride you can keep an eye on things and plug any gaps and it does relieve you of the daily worry about getting to the yard on time to bring in etc. I have best of both worlds now on DIY and pay friend Mon-Fri for daily care but have complete control over feed, bedding and care.
 
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Thanks for the replies everyone - and it is a relief to know I'm not the only one who feels like that about the 'control' element :) :)

Sussexbythesea you have made some really good points, I know I would want to be there 7 days a week even if it was just to say hi and have a cuddle :D
 
I moved yards from DIY grass livery to stabled over night part livery about a year ago and quite a few of my friends from the old DIY yard also moved to part livery yards as well.

I think a lot will depend on the standard of the part livery yard you move to. They will tend to have set routines as the staff need to plan their day to ensure all the jobs get done. It is likely that the horses will come in earlier than perhaps they would on DIY as the yard staff may finish work at 5pm and need enough time to catch in, pick out feet and do rugs changes and check and feed the horses before they go.

On the part livery yard I am on they normally go out about 7.30-8am and then come in at around 2.30 during the week and we have all year daily turnout. On weekends if you catch in yourself they can stay out till 5pm which gives more flexibility for example if people want to go to a competition in the morning and then turn their horse out for a few hours if they come back.

A good part livery should mean your have the security of knowing your horse is being cared for whilst you are at work or if you are delayed or sick, and will probably mean you are less tired and will have more time to ride and groom or just hang out with your horse. I am actually riding more now than I was when I was on DIY and the time I spend with my pony is more intensive as he is already in when I get there after work so I have more time to spend grooming him or just hanging out with him watching him munch on hay!

If I am on the yard at catch in or feed time then I go catch in my pony, do rugs, feed him and pick out his feet and if I am up in the evening after work I will skip him out too. I expect most part livery yards won't mind if you want to do some jobs for your horse as long as it fits in with their routine.

Good part livery yards will work with you in terms of feed and hay quantities for your horse and bedding and manager should be approachable so you can talk to them about any concerns or changes you would like made. I have a fat native and the yard I am on does soaked hay, has the diet feeds and will put on grazing muzzles as well for those that are good doers. They also do a late night check at around 10pm so can top up hay or give extra feeds if necessary. They also arrange farrier as well, which has saved me 6 days holiday a year as when I was on DIY I used to have to take a half day off for the farrier. The horses get weighed on weight bridge and the fields are poo picked.

The downside is cost if you want a good service don't expect it to be cheap, and to start off with the carers won't know your horse as well as you do, so might be a settling in time whilst your horse gets used to being handled by others and they get used to knowing how much hay they need and what rugs are best for your horse and what is normal behaviour for your horse. You also may not have so much flexibility in terms of turnout time, feed and bedding choices.

Part livery suits me and my pony well as I work in London and tube can be a bit unreliable so no need to worry if delayed due to public transport or need to work late. Also means if I need to travel or socialise in the evening for work I don't need to worry about who will look after pony. Pony likes routine and it easier to manage his weight as I have more time to ride or lunge. I think my health is also better too as I am less tired.

If you are very particular then you need to make sure that the yard and you can cope with doing things your way otherwise it won't work out.

Common misconception about part livery is that your horse won't love you as much or have such a good bond as you are not feeding or catching them in. My pony still wickers when he see me and we still spend lots of time together, he has plenty of love to give so can love more than one person!
 
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A huge thank you SO1 that is very very helpful :) Some really good points, I really appreciate your reply, fingers crossed the yard is OK when I go and see it now :D
 
I've always had my horses on DIY. Now, because of my working hours I have to put my boy on 5 day part livery over the winter but go back to DIY for the summer. I'm another who actually likes doing my own horse. I'd much rather be on DIY all year round but due to my working hours and the fact that where I work now compared to where I used to work is much further away I'd never get to ride during the week in the winter on DIY. Also, the cost of paying to have Samuel turned out and brought in each day wouldn't be that much less than the cost of 5 day DIY and if the weather gets horrendous over the winter and I get delayed means I won't have to worry that he's not getting done.

The girls at the yard I'm at are great, I trust them implicitly with the care of my boy but I still give my stable a hearty skip out (I'm totally OCD about my horse's bed) and finish him off for the evening. I love the weekends when I get to do everything myself and I long for April when I can go back on to total DIY.
 
A good post SO1. Some of your points are bang on the money as to why part livery didn't work for my mare. For example she never adjusted to having several people handling her.
 
Absolutely hated part livery and so did my horses. It wasn't even a matter of cost; I paid anything from £100 to £120 a week for 5 day part livery and none of them worked. It was about the same as I would expect to pay on DIY + £8-£10 a day for the "care side" which if you work it out is about 45 mins per day spent on your horse. It takes me far longer than 45 mins a day to do my horse if I don't want it standing in the same rugs day in and out, muddy feet and a dirty bed. Which is often how I found my horse.
 
I have just put my horse on part livery 7 days a week. I would prefer to have him on DIY but I work full time and swing between regular 8-5 to shift work and so DIY is not practical.

The yard he is at is very good and the manager has listened to my requests regarding feeding and rigging etc and doesn't force a blanket one size fits all on everyone.

I do worry that he will replace me with the people that feed him but I've actually spent more time with him than when he was on DIY as I don't have all the extra chores to worry about.

For us it was the right decision but I do feel a bit surplus to requirements and like he doesn't need me but I have a sense of security for the days that work keeps me away or I have to work the weekends etc
 
Abi90 said:
I have just put my horse on part livery 7 days a week. I would prefer to have him on DIY but I work full time and swing between regular 8-5 to shift work and so DIY is not practical.

The yard he is at is very good and the manager has listened to my requests regarding feeding and rigging etc and doesn't force a blanket one size fits all on everyone.

I do worry that he will replace me with the people that feed him but I've actually spent more time with him than when he was on DIY as I don't have all the extra chores to worry about.

For us it was the right decision but I do feel a bit surplus to requirements and like he doesn't need me but I have a sense of security for the days that work keeps me away or I have to work the weekends etc
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You should not worry about him replacing you as you are no longer feeding him, I have several liveries and treat them as my own, they all know me, know the routine and are easy to deal with but they all know their owners as well, they react to them arriving and appreciate the extra quality time they get from an owner who has time to spend and interact with them rather than the rushing about frantically trying to fit too much into a day that can happen with being on DIY, you are not surplus to requirements and you may well find he enjoys the time you spend with him now more than you expect.
 
All the horses on my yard are part livery. They still know who their owners are so don't worry. Ours go out everyday for nearly all the year unless the weather is horrific then the owners ask for them to stay in.
I charge 90 per week and for that they get (five day)
Rugs changed
Turned out
Mucked out. Beds up and floor swept daily
Hay nets filled ( inc weekend)
Feeds made ( Inc weekend)
Bought in
Feet and legs washed
Feet picked
Rug changed as needed
Field poo picked daily
Bed down
Fresh straw daily
Ad lib hay. Night net and day net when bought in
Pm skip out, water checked, fed and night hay in
All sweeping up done

I check all the horses legs daily for lumps and bumps

Facilities Inc the best off road hacking ( miles of it!)
20x 60 all weather arena with lights and Mirrors. It never floods or freezes
Tack room
Feed room
Microwave
Fridge
Hot water
Washing machine

Only 12 boxes so nice and small!
 
be positive said:
You should not worry about him replacing you as you are no longer feeding him, I have several liveries and treat them as my own, they all know me, know the routine and are easy to deal with but they all know their owners as well, they react to them arriving and appreciate the extra quality time they get from an owner who has time to spend and interact with them rather than the rushing about frantically trying to fit too much into a day that can happen with being on DIY, you are not surplus to requirements and you may well find he enjoys the time you spend with him now more than you expect.
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Thank you. That's very reassuring!
 
I have done both and would say part livery can work well if you're happy with the basics of the yard routine and rules, and that's something you can ask lots of questions about beforehand so you don't get surprises.

I am currently on part livery, which where I am is 7 days muck out am, skip out pm, 2 bales of shavings a week, ad lib hay or haylage, feed, water, change rugs, and turn out/catch in or walker 6 days. Can turn out the other day but you have to do it yourself.

I have to accept that at times their standard of mucking out isn't the same as mine. Our current staff are brilliant, but there have been times when I really haven't been happy with the standard of my horse's bed, so I have very politely complained, and kept complaining until it got sorted. And very occasionally I have done a full muck out myself when I get there in the evening. It's never been so bad as to be a welfare issue, just not up to standard, you know, bad enough that I would have been embarrassed if a horsey friend had seen it. I also skip out myself in the evening, and if I am there at the relevant time will turn out or catch in. The staff don't mind at all, saves them a job!

I also do my own feeds (yard gives them at feed times) because I want him on a particular diet that the yard doesn't keep in the feed room. My bill is slightly less as a result. I love making feeds and being in control of that, so this actually suits me really well. You might find the yard you're looking at would do something similar if that might appeal.

Also worth asking if 'ad lib hay' means you can help yourself to extra of an evening if you want more after the staff have left.

Grooming isn't part of the service I pay for, so while I trust the yard would spot and deal sensibly with/contact me about any injury that needed it, I do still feel the need to check him over myself daily for minor bumps and cuts etc. But there are times when, for example, your horse will lose a shoe in the field, they won't tell you so you spot it yourself in the evening, and then you're a day behind where you would have been with the farrier if you'd caught in yourself and spotted it.

I am a bit of a control freak, but am able to cope because I see my horse daily so keep a close eye, but if there's the odd night I get stuck at work or - which does very occasionally happen - go out with some humans, i know the basics have been taken care of. And if I am in a tearing hurry, I can just ride and go.

It's also handy to be able to upgrade to full livery if you are away, and want your horse groomed and exercised in your absence, or to be able to pay extra for it to be lunged a couple of times if you know you have a hellish week at work coming up.
 
I've been on various part/full livery over the years as well as DIY. currently I have 5 day livery and it really suits me, but not every yard has been as good as my current one! Just as others have described, the main issue is usually feet, bed and hay. For me, adlib forage is essential and only my current yard really measures up in that respect. I prefer a smaller yard rather than a large place.

I couldn't go back to DIY now, unless I worked part time (I wish!) as I really enjoy spending quality time with my horse. It does take some getting used to, I think you have to try to train yourself to accept that someone else might do something a bit differently to you but your horse is still fine.

Good luck!
 
SO1 said:
I moved yards from DIY grass livery to stabled over night part livery about a year ago and quite a few of my friends from the old DIY yard also moved to part livery yards as well.

I think a lot will depend on the standard of the part livery yard you move to. They will tend to have set routines as the staff need to plan their day to ensure all the jobs get done. It is likely that the horses will come in earlier than perhaps they would on DIY as the yard staff may finish work at 5pm and need enough time to catch in, pick out feet and do rugs changes and check and feed the horses before they go.

On the part livery yard I am on they normally go out about 7.30-8am and then come in at around 2.30 during the week and we have all year daily turnout. On weekends if you catch in yourself they can stay out till 5pm which gives more flexibility for example if people want to go to a competition in the morning and then turn their horse out for a few hours if they come back.

A good part livery should mean your have the security of knowing your horse is being cared for whilst you are at work or if you are delayed or sick, and will probably mean you are less tired and will have more time to ride and groom or just hang out with your horse. I am actually riding more now than I was when I was on DIY and the time I spend with my pony is more intensive as he is already in when I get there after work so I have more time to spend grooming him or just hanging out with him watching him munch on hay!

If I am on the yard at catch in or feed time then I go catch in my pony, do rugs, feed him and pick out his feet and if I am up in the evening after work I will skip him out too. I expect most part livery yards won't mind if you want to do some jobs for your horse as long as it fits in with their routine.

Good part livery yards will work with you in terms of feed and hay quantities for your horse and bedding and manager should be approachable so you can talk to them about any concerns or changes you would like made. I have a fat native and the yard I am on does soaked hay, has the diet feeds and will put on grazing muzzles as well for those that are good doers. They also do a late night check at around 10pm so can top up hay or give extra feeds if necessary. They also arrange farrier as well, which has saved me 6 days holiday a year as when I was on DIY I used to have to take a half day off for the farrier. The horses get weighed on weight bridge and the fields are poo picked.

The downside is cost if you want a good service don't expect it to be cheap, and to start off with the carers won't know your horse as well as you do, so might be a settling in time whilst your horse gets used to being handled by others and they get used to knowing how much hay they need and what rugs are best for your horse and what is normal behaviour for your horse. You also may not have so much flexibility in terms of turnout time, feed and bedding choices.

Part livery suits me and my pony well as I work in London and tube can be a bit unreliable so no need to worry if delayed due to public transport or need to work late. Also means if I need to travel or socialise in the evening for work I don't need to worry about who will look after pony. Pony likes routine and it easier to manage his weight as I have more time to ride or lunge. I think my health is also better too as I am less tired.

If you are very particular then you need to make sure that the yard and you can cope with doing things your way otherwise it won't work out.

Common misconception about part livery is that your horse won't love you as much or have such a good bond as you are not feeding or catching them in. My pony still wickers when he see me and we still spend lots of time together, he has plenty of love to give so can love more than one person!
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Great advise!!!!!!!
 
Lévrier;13052093 said:
I've only ever had my horses on DIY livery. In May I bought a new horse after being horseless for a year or so, and put him at a lovely quiet small local yard which unfortunately doesn't have a school. Now winter is approaching I am realising how impractical that is (I work full time so can only ride before/after work) so I am currently trying to find a DIY yard locally with a floodlit school and it is proving impossible - I'm too close to Hartpury College unfortunately so all the yards are full of students! My best alternative seems to be a local yard that only offers part livery.

Cost is a major factor to consider obviously (OMG HOW much compared to DIY :D ) but actually I am sad and I really enjoy the 'maintenance' side of looking after my horse, mucking out, poo picking etc! I also like things done my way (yep, I am OCD) and I do struggle with the idea of leaving my horses care to someone else, however professional they are.

Yep, I know that is stupid, you don't need to point that out - but how do you/have you found it having a horse on part livery? What were the pros and cons for you?
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I know how you feel - we get it from many part livery owner here.


Firstly when you add up the cost of you driving twice a day - feeding buying feed hay etc mucking out etc there is very little difference ( we sat down worked it out as i used to be DIY before we brought this yard.)


Could you find a 5 day part livery or, ask the yard if you can muck out ever so often to keep your hands in??? it is what some of mine do.

All in all think of the lie ins you will get and easy when you go away as your horse will be cared for regardless :)
 
wingedhorse said:
I've lived in Bristol, Oxford, various parts of Surrey. I've yet to find a part livery yard that got the basics right.

e.g.
- picking feet out daily,
- changing rugs with some level of common sense,
- feeding a decent amount of decent hay (so still some left 9pm at night),
- decent enough beds (so some cushioning, and not wet and soggy and causing thrush),
-decent level of all day turnout in all weathers, turning out by 9am, and bringing in at a sensible time (not 2pm!)
- spotting big issues (big cuts / swelling / lameness) etc when bringing in

Most can get most right, but all of the above seems virtually impossible (despite most yards looking perfect on viewings and walk arounds)
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you should try Bucks

we pick out
the owners leave all different weight rugs in the stable so i put on which ever is need for that day
ours is not ad lib but most leave hay out till they ridden and then put hay in so does last .... if hay when they come in then yes they will gorge it but they have been eating all day in field then dinner so they can wait 2 hours for owner to ride and then put hay in ( owners can buy extra hay from us)
beds here are bespoke and how the owners want them albeit thick or thin - half bed or full
ours go out 7 am in at 3pm-4pm depending on light
we brush off and check over when they come in

Scenario move to Bucks hehehe
 
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I have always liked the thought of part livery, but I am SO OCD about my stable, his water and his feeds I would be worried sick at home in the morning thinking about which rug they'd put on him, how much hay he had etc! I think the only way I could do it if I knew the person doing him! Why don't you put him on a DIY and get a helper and pay them?? :)
 
HGA-12 said:
you should try Bucks

we pick out
the owners leave all different weight rugs in the stable so i put on which ever is need for that day
ours is not ad lib but most leave hay out till they ridden and then put hay in so does last .... if hay when they come in then yes they will gorge it but they have been eating all day in field then dinner so they can wait 2 hours for owner to ride and then put hay in ( owners can buy extra hay from us)
beds here are bespoke and how the owners want them albeit thick or thin - half bed or full
ours go out 7 am in at 3pm-4pm depending on light
we brush off and check over when they come in

Scenario move to Bucks hehehe
Click to expand...

I am definitely moving to Bucks now :)
 
This is going to be of no help to you as I'm in France lol, but, I'm on livery (we don't do DIY, part/full, it's just livery). Standard is straw bedding and hay givenby the YO morning and evening. Because I'm a bit "odd" i.e. English, and have my own preferences of how things are done (hehe!) I choose to have shavings bedding, and netted hay. I am at the yard every day after work. Generally the YO will skip out on a morning after t/o, then I will do a proper muck out on an evening (I don't get a reduction for having different bedding, nor for doing my own boxes).

It's not ideal, but my job won't allow me to go to the stable at both ends of the day, so it is a compromise. Occasionally I have to grit my teeth (like for the past couple of weeks the people doing the mucking out has changed, and my beds are a disaster, but I know it will get better again), but in general it works out really well. I have to say, that apart from having netted hay, mine don't have any specific feed. They get a cup of balancer when everything else is fed and that's it.
 
DIY - Pros: you have the 1:1 relationship with your horse, set your own routine and do things the way you want them done.
Cons: it is very tying, having to be at the yard twice a day, every day. I found that, with work and my lifestyle, it was extremely difficult and exhausting. The only thing that kept me doing it was the fabulous personality and easy nature of my beloved horse. My heart surged with joy every time I saw his beautiful head looking out of his door. Literally, every time.

Sadly I lost him a few years ago, and I now have a loan horse on Part Livery.
Part Livery Pros: our yard has a competent and dedicated team, who are sensible and know the needs of each horse inside out. If I can't make it to the yard for any reason, I know he is in very good hands. The horses are all in a routine, which them sensible too. Also, I can just turn up and ride - no stables or hay nets to worry about.
Cons: sometimes I feel my horse has a better relationship with the staff than with me lol - after all, they feed him! He is a loan horse, so while I adore him, I don't necessarily have that very strong bond I had with my last horse, so that's not so much of an issue for me at the moment. I might feel differently if I buy another horse though.
 
Flicker said:
The only thing that kept me doing it was the fabulous personality and easy nature of my beloved horse. My heart surged with joy every time I saw his beautiful head looking out of his door. Literally, every time.
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Flicker you have absolutely and totally said the way I feel..... you have a wonderful way with words :) :)

Thank you everyone for your comments, they are very much appreciated
 
When I had part liveries, they were looked after just as my own personal horses - adlib hay, straw or shavings -all rugged/turned out, brought in for farrier, vet etc etc - the only thing we didn't do was ride or clean tack.

Year round turnout, floodlit school, good hacking - and for the owners, peace of mind that their horses were ready and clean to ride whenever they liked.

All for £65/week ..... :-)
 
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