Q for those who own their own land/facilities

DreamingIsBelieving

DreamingIsBelieving

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I have a question for those who are lucky enough to have their own land and facilities.

If someone approached you asking if they could keep their horse on your land with your horses and have use of your facilities, would you agree? They would be willing to pay a good sum of money (the same amount you'd expect to pay for DIY livery). All they'd ask for in addition to land is use of the school when you're not wanting to use it and a small storage area for tack and feed. In winter, when the horses would need hay in the field, the fee paid would increase to compensate for the extra hay needed. This person would also top up the hay in the field while they were there (so no extra visits for you). If they were up at the yard, and you texted them asking if they could take a rug off, bring in your horse etc. they would happily do it for you. They would never expect you to return the favour.
Let's say this person has their own insurance and owns a well-behaved cob gelding, up to date with vacs etc. with all appropriate insurance.

Here's the catch, this person is only 15 years old, but extremely mature and trustworthy and is in no way a reflection of some of the other horsey girls you see of that age who are irresponsible, bitchy and disrespectful. You would hopefully be able to see this clearly upon meeting with them.

They'd be happy to have signed any legal documents for the agreement put in place.

Would it be way too much of a hassle? Is there a hint of attraction in the offer?

I'm asking because my parents have just bought a house and the only suitable nearby places to keep a horse are all privately owned (and there's only 3 of them...). I don't currently own a horse and whether I will or not mostly lies in whether I could find a suitable place to keep it within walking distance from the house (I'm too young to drive and my parents don't fancy driving me around every day!). So this is my only hope! I just want to know if it's even reasonable to believe that someone would agree to that sort of arrangement or if I'm just being a dreamer:(?

Well done if you got this far!:)
 
I wouldn't because I bought my own land and facilities to have my own horses at home and not anyone elses. Our neighbours sold up recently and they had someone interested that wanted to know if I would take a livery. It was a flat out no for me. I love the freedom I have with my lot and find it intrusive enough to have a girl come and ride one of our ponies. I wouldn't want someone else coming and going on my property. That might sound horrible, but it's my home, not a business.
 
I rent my land and stables but don't use all of the land. Recently someone asked me if they could use it and lovely though they were I declined

It just complicates things I'm afraid

In your case regardless of your age you may find it tricky, there could be complications with insurance

Many people would have worked hard to get their own place and so enjoy what they have and their privacy
Sorry it's not what you want to hear but it won't be your age that will be the stumbling block
 
Nope. I have my own place to so my own thing with no worries for anyone else. It wouldn't be your age, it would be another person at the yard, a different routine etc etc
 
The age would make no difference to me, the answer is still no for the reasons outlined above.
 
I wouldn't rent to anyone - sorry, I've done it before renting to a 'friend' and it was a disaster.

BUT - I did exactly the same as you when I was 14, it was a big farm used as a small stud, initially they said they really didn't want liveries but I offered to help out with their horses as part of the deal and eventually convinced them. After many years, I ended up helping them break horses, looking after the whole thing when they went away and made good friends for life. I learned so much it was a fantastic experience for me.

You can but ask and see if you can address their concerns.
 
nikicb said:
I wouldn't because I bought my own land and facilities to have my own horses at home and not anyone elses. Our neighbours sold up recently and they had someone interested that wanted to know if I would take a livery. It was a flat out no for me. I love the freedom I have with my lot and find it intrusive enough to have a girl come and ride one of our ponies. I wouldn't want someone else coming and going on my property. That might sound horrible, but it's my home, not a business.
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I agree with this, I have been asked in the past and I have always said no. I like my own space and wouldn't want to end up in a situation whereby I would feel the need to ask them to leave.
 
You can but ask the land owner & you have nothing to lose by asking, but be prepared for a re-buff.

I wouldn't - have got my yard to myself once again:)
Having had 1 livery for 15 months (1st in over 12 years), who took 2 months to go only 3 weeks ago, I'm revelling in things right now.
She was fine - her horse was one from hell on a bad day :rolleyes:

Its not just the extra car or person when I'm there - sometimes bringing family or friends etc when all I want to do is potter about, things not put back the same, horse trashing field, horse trashing stable, jobs not done despite promises to do them. Storage area left in a mess, borrowing of hay etc as 'forgot'.... sorry, could go on & on..... :o

One thing I say to people is 'would you enjoy sharing your house, kitchen & bathroom?' Some do & some dont :o :)
 
Have you not got a bicycle? At your age (and younger) I used to bicycle up to 7 miles each way to do my pony. No commercial yards in that distance?

Just had another thought and it's not a good one, sorry. You don't mention having any experience so anyone who might be prepared to let you on is going to have to keep a weather eye out for what happens with your pony because you just won't have met the situations that can occur before, no matter how much knowledge you have. The experience just isn't there.
 
Another vote for no..It would have nothing to do with your age or experience as i'm sure you would be a fab livery it is just it has taken me years to save up and get away from the 'livery' scene to my own little piece of sanity...But saying that there is no harm in asking as many people are not a grumpy as me..
 
I don't have liveries at home. The business rates make it unviable plus the yard is right by my house.

However when I was a kid I knocked on the door of every house with fields in the roads near where I lived and one of them was happy for me o kep my pony with them free of charge as I could help with their daughter's ponies when she was away at school.

If you don't ak you'll never know. The worst is that they coluld say no.
 
what a sad thread, I was about to do cards and post them around the place we might be moving to. I actually have a bit more to offer than OP but I really feel for you OP. I hope you do find someone but if you dont despair. Owning a pony is hard work and expensive. Get riding in other ways.

My daughter started by helping a small scale dealer, got experience - riding her horses helped her learn a lot. No pay, lots of feeding, poo picking, brining in, moving elecetric fences, lugging water etc but also the riding.
 
Look, it wouldn't hurt to ask BUT I'd suggest becoming a bit friendly with the people in the other houses first, not just diving straight in there. If they already know you and see that you are a mature and responsible 15yo who's a pleasure to have about they might be more inclined - you might even pick up some rides or time with the horses whilst you are looking for your own:)
 
Absolutely not.
My facilities are at my home and you give up your privacy and the ability to do anything you want when and how you want.
Agree and first they would come , then bring a friend then their dog and your home is no longer your own and you are having to check gates have been shut and things have been put away and locked .
Someone actually knocked our door and begged me to take a livery offered good money but at the end of the day the answer is always going to be no .
We bought our place with all its facilities so we didn't have to be on a livery yard so why create a livery on at your own home.
If I need help I pay for a groom and when I go away we have a live in sitter.
 
If you were willing to work for the keep of your horse, I would most probably have said yes. but several years ago I let a young girl keep her horse with me as she'd been asked to leave the other stables and I was interim until her dad built her a stable on land they rented, she rarely turned up to feed(her mum did that) or muck out, but I lost it on Xmas Day as none of them turned up to either feed the mare, muck out or turn out, if I hadn't had fed her gave her water she'd have gone 24 hours with nothing. So can understand the other replies.
 
I own my own land, stables, shelters etc and do love my privacy and own space but... there are great advantages, if you have enough extra space, to having someone who is there and is competent and is ready to keep the yard and fields as you ask or require, and sometimes an extra horse can provide companionship for a single horse; and on those days when you are late home, or want a weekend away, you have someone to call on! It does work with the right person and it can work both ways without extra payment. Your age wouldn't bother me - I've had disaster liveries from so called friends, and adults can be unhelpful, mean, and untidy too! I would suggest you post your cards and follow up with a personal visit. If you don't have a horse yet why not ask if you could spend an hour at the weekend helping so that you can prove yourself, and also get a look at whether or not you like the people and place? Best of luck!
 
No, I wouldn't take a livery for the following reasons: 1) insurance issues if anyone injured on land 2) mortgage issues, would be an issue for residential only mortgage rather than commercial 3) stress and hassle if not the right fit as it is my home, not just a yard.
 
A friend asked to keep her horse with mine about a year ago, it wasn't possible due to us not having enough grazing or a stable for an extra horse. However she then approached another neighbour who did have space and said yes, the situation suits them both very well.
 
I went knocking on doors when I was younger(not as young as you OP!)
I got a YES. Field to be used in summer only,stable flooded in winter,but it was all free in return for looking after their cat when they were away. I sometimes felt as if I was intruding,so rarely took family and friends to see my loan horse. Struggled when I was ill because I couldn't ask anyone else to go and do my horse.
It was my 1st horse ownership and I was lucky enough to have a NH jockey as neighbor and friend so if I was worried about things I could pop into her yard to ask advice(I also went there for farrier and vet to save further intrusion on my kind hosts.)
So it can be done.I know several people who are still 'borrowing' land/facilities.
I now have my own land(rented with the house) It is fab.........if there was room for another and if my tenancy agreement did not stipulate to the contrary,I would let the right person enjoy it alongside me.
Good luck.
 
If it where me personally i would say yes if i had more room, its fine in the summer but no good in the winter.

saying that i did have 2 ponies staying last summer and have had another lady with a shetland and a friend who kept her 2 sheep on the field and a lady with small ponies before and its always worked out okay :)
 
Sorry no, we had a friend keep a pony here for a year and definitely wouldn't do it again - and would never have considered having someone we don't know on the premises (the horses are at home). But just to give you a bit of hope, one of the neighbours has a couple of ponies which belong to someone else on their land (no horses of their own) and a different neighbour used to rent her land to a horseowner. Another neighbour also has DIY livery on his farm and there are other livery yards within a cycle ride/walking distance, so it's not hopeless in this area.
 
Surprsied at all the no answers!
I would say yes but id probably get a waiver drawn up so not responsible for any injuries that happen on the land, people are so quick to sue these days.

Some people in your area OP might only have 1 horse and might be even grateful of the company, you never know until you ask!
 
If I was on my own and needing a companion yes, if you are responsible etc why not. Your age would not put me off but I have 5 of my own so it would be a no. However for someone you might be a blessing especially if they went on holiday and you could house sit or let dogs out.
 
How sad are many of these replies. I am lucky enough to have a small farm for our horses and I have, over the years, had two friends keep their horses with me both of them for periods in excess of 20 years. It worked well - if I was away at shows they were in and out at random times to keep an eye on mine (and let dogs out sometimes) and to confuse the local n' ere do wells as to what time there were any coming and goings. More lately my neighbours two children have kept their ponies and horses here - their parents are non horsey so I was able to give them more help and keep a better eye on them - the return was free grooms for shows for a number of years!

The girls have now gone out of horses but do from time to time call in and take something out to exercise it (usually when it is a nice sunny day!!) I love to see them and catch up with their lives.

I guess it depends on personalities and setting a few ground rules but I would say the positives far outweigh the negatives.

I would strongly suggest that you have nothing to lose by asking but be prepared to fit in with their routine with your horse, do not expect the owners to change the routine of their horses for you. Good luck.
 
Definite no. Its my home and I don't want other people there. We would fall out over something like field rotation or poo-picking. Last but not least, I would breach the planning consent on my stables and school (which states nobody who is not a member of my immediate family may use).
 
snooples said:
Surprsied at all the no answers!
I would say yes but id probably get a waiver drawn up so not responsible for any injuries that happen on the land, people are so quick to sue these days.

Some people in your area OP might only have 1 horse and might be even grateful of the company, you never know until you ask!
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Waivers may not be worth much, especially in respect of someone who is still a minor, they can't sign away any legal rights and if they had an accident that 'going by the H&S book' was avoidable then the no win no fee lawyers will undoubtedly talk them into suing.
 
No I wouldnt take a livery. I have my own place to enjoy with my family.
When we lived on a farm I did take in liveries and made some very good friends, but my own place with a few acres and myhome is my own spot, its home, not a business.
 
sport horse said:
How sad are many of these replies. I am lucky enough to have a small farm for our horses and I have, over the years, had two friends keep their horses with me both of them for periods in excess of 20 years. It worked well - if I was away at shows they were in and out at random times to keep an eye on mine (and let dogs out sometimes) and to confuse the local n' ere do wells as to what time there were any coming and goings. More lately my neighbours two children have kept their ponies and horses here - their parents are non horsey so I was able to give them more help and keep a better eye on them - the return was free grooms for shows for a number of years!

The girls have now gone out of horses but do from time to time call in and take something out to exercise it (usually when it is a nice sunny day!!) I love to see them and catch up with their lives.

I guess it depends on personalities and setting a few ground rules but I would say the positives far outweigh the negatives.

I would strongly suggest that you have nothing to lose by asking but be prepared to fit in with their routine with your horse, do not expect the owners to change the routine of their horses for you. Good luck.
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Why sad? I agree that the OP may find someone who wants a livery, but for me I have 3 acres, and my own horses and I don't want someone else there. If I need help I have a couple of house sitters/grooms I call on, otherwise I do it myself. Oh and by the way, I'm quite a friendly person, I just don't want other people encroaching on my personal space.
 
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