Second New Forest Livery Info needed

[Beachbabe]

For some reason I can't find my first post which lots of you kindly submitted lots of info on, but I have a slightly different dilemma.
The yards seem to fall into three categories.
Horrendously expensive
Really odd given that the average wage is lower in the area than in West Sussex where I am atm.
Grazing Only
Not sure how our pony will cope after being in every winter for donkey's years.
Very few with individual turnout
I'm reluctant to do herd as mine is a complete wimp and I won't be able to get him out of the field.

I'm on the waiting list for a couple that are just within budget, given that I'll have to take a slight salary drop.
I'm going to see two different set ups next weekend, but I'm a bit concerned as the time is ticking on. Is there any reason why they feel they can charge £250 per month for full grazing livery, with a stable available, one between the two of them.
I'm baffled tbh.

 

[mavandkaz]

I'm a bit further north, but £250 a month for full grass livery is about right for Hampshire, maybe at the slightly higher end but still within the normal figures, depending on care and facilities.

I've been desperately looking for grass livery with herd turnout and all I can find is stuff down towards the new forest, which is too far for me. All I can find around me is standard livery, usually individual turn out, and only day time turnout in winter. Sounds like we need to swap!

I wonder if you are finding prices high because you will be living and working in the area. I would imagine a fair chunk of people living in the area work more towards London, or just own second homes there. (I have handful of Freund's that live there and they either work in London or are contractor types that 'live' in the new forest but actually spend alot of time elsewhere working)

 

[Beachbabe]

I’m actually charging slightly less than others and substantially less than many of the cleaners on here, as I found out recently only one of my clients works up town normally, but he’s obviously a WFH chap atm. The rest are local earners or retired. There’s no way on earth I can afford another £200 pm, together with the drop in salary. Even a yard in Dorking is a decent and affordable rate, despite the crazy house prices ??‍ This is going to be a deal breaker if I can’t find somewhere. ?

 

[FlyingCircus]

I'm in the new forest and I think 250 a month is standard. I pay that for individual turnout on crap grass (so I need to hay year round) with access to a stable.

Unfortunately everywhere else is much the same...I've been keeping an eye around these parts for years!

Part of the problem I think is that there are so many riders around here and not so many commercial livery yards, so the demand is greater than the supply.

 

[Montmorency]

When you say full grazing livery, does that mean they do all the checks?As in they will look after the horse if you can’t get up for any reason?
If so then £250 a month works out at less than £10/day which doesn’t sound alot for even just 2 checks a day if you’re talking about potentially rugging in winter, feeding, fly spray/rugs in summer. That’s before you factor in general upkeep of grass/fencing etc.
I’m always amazed how cheap livery is. I’m lucky enough to keep my horses at home but if I factored in what it actually costs to run my yard (and it’s tatty as I can never afford to keep it smart!) then it would be shocking, and that’s before you include charging for the time spent doing horses.
I don’t know how anyone makes a profit from livery if you do the horses properly and keep the yard safe, as people don’t want to pay what it actually costs!

 

[sunnyone]

I've lived both sides of the forest i.e. in Hythe and then Poole. Part of the problem is that there is a real shortage of land available for commercial equine use. In order for the forest to keep its National Park status very little development such as stable building is allowed therefore demand outstrips supply.

This is not a new problem when in Poole 30 years ago I had to wait a very long time to get a space in a field in Corfe Mullen, about 5 miles away form home; In the interim I was out at West Moors, some 20 miles away;.

 

[planete]

I am paying £200 a month for a one acre field with direct Forest access I have to maintain myself and hay and feed storage space plus use of a school but no stable. Very glad to have found it too. Land is at a premium and horrendously expensive here I am afraid but the riding is amazing.

Your pony should be able to cope with living out if he is well rugged and fed. I have been at grass livery with all sorts, from thoroughbreds and pure bred Arabs to retired horses. Ad lib hay or haylage is key plus access to some dry standing.

 

[Arzada]

Which area of the New Forest are you looking for?

 

[Snow Falcon]

If I remember rightly OP is Lymington way but was looking at a yard in Fordingbridge too.