Should I advertise for a livery?

cblover

cblover

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Hi oh wise ones!
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So, here's the thing! Hubby keeps saying we should advertise for a livery to join us at our new place. Some of you will know we have now moved into our new fields (approx 3.5 acres) after spending all year building new stables and fencing the fields off to make paddocks. Well, we've been there about 5 weeks now and I'm wondering if we should advertise now or wait till the spring.

We have four grazing areas, but really only want to use two for winter. Kinz and Luna are in one and daughter's loan pony comes on Wednesday morning. I have her paddock all ready and I suppose a livery horse could share with her.

Would 4 be too much for the first winter do you think? I'd hate to ruin the place with too many horses but equally it would be good to get someone to ride with (for me in the daytime if possible) and the extra cash would be welcomed too. Can't quite decide what to do for the best.

I'm maybe just having a bad day (in fact I know I am!) but the transition from yard to own place is feeling odd today!
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Any ideas/opinions/views would be much appreciated!
 
Personally, no I wouldn't. 4 acres isn't a lot for 4 horses/ponies, particually over winter. Also, by the time you have paid for the insurance you would need to have a livery in, that livery won't actually be giving you any profit.
 
Depends on the kind of grazing you have, the type of soil and how long you want to turn them out for but I would say that 3.5 acres is not enough for 4 and you would risk poaching the ground for your own horses. You may also find that one DIY livery is not worth the money it will bring in, given the amount of hassle you might end up with.
 
Thanks, I was thinking the same myself. I'd love the company but can't quite decide to take the plunge to get the right person. It could be a load of hassle and not worth it.
 
I am sure there are many lovely DIY liveries out there, but for every nice person there are ten who are likely to want to turn up at all hours of the day and night, followed by not turning up at all for days, who will not pick up after themselves, whose horses will trash your fending/stables...not worth it!
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Don't do it!
There are always others to ride with - I'm sure you won't get lonely! Your land is just big enough for the horses you already have and if you have a bit you can rest, then that is a bonus too. Day after day there is a post on this forum of people complaining about their livery yards!
On my last yard all the liveries were nice but the owner a bit of a miserable, **tch!
I now rent a lovely 2 acre field with a field shelter. My friends are just down the road if I want to ride with someone and I just love it! This is probably the nearest I will ever get to owning my own land and if I were in your position I think I would feel truly blessed! (Or I would be if I could actually find another horse to put in it!!!!)
Enjoy your land and don't risk spoiling it and possibly your own fun!
 
IMO i wouldnt on 3.5 acres, it would be too much hassle and you would probably end up with no grass left after winter. Also as Booboos says for every good livery there is at least 10 bad ones and out of the 5 people that have shared still share only two inc the one with me now that have been good. The other 3 were nothing but a nightmare, not turing up, checking from the yard to the back field that the horse is still standind then leaving without actually going up to it. Not doing their share of the yard duties properly or not bothering at all and were more than happy in the bad weather to leave their horse turned out knee deep in mud trashing my fields (when i had stated when they first came on if the weather turned they had to bring in of a night as my fields turn into lakes) simply becuase they couldnt be bothered to muck out or they wouldnt come out in the rain!!! wtf!!!
 
I do feel blessed CeeBee!
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I still can't believe its mine and we've owned both fields for over a year now.

I'd never do anything to spoil my place! It was just a thought and I appreciate your views. I'm thinking the same really!

I came from a really lovely livery yard with some great friends but they didn't come with me when I moved for various reasons. I've taken Kinzzy up there for a hack out once since we moved, I'll just have do that more!
 
And bear in mind you should be paying business rates even if only getting livery from 1 person - a friend got reported to local council and they backdated the business rates cost to the day she had moved in and refused her application - not worth it for 1 livery IMO
 
I personally would see how your ground copes this winter and next summer - do a full year, so you can see how it recovers each season and then make a decision next Autumn...

Sometimes ground looks overgrazed in the winter but come the spring it greens up beautifully and is more than enough for it's occupants... (alot depends on the type of occupant too!) If you have good doers, overgrazing during the winter to a certain extent may be beneficial to you as you won't have to watch their weight too much during the spring and summer... If you have one that needs a little extra you can always supplement with a bit of hay...

You may also find that grazing all the horses together and then rotating the fields every few weeks / months might be a good way of ensuring a constant supply of not too rich grass
 
It can only end in tears eventually!
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I had a livery for 5 years and all was well(ish) for most of the time. Owner was nice, but like sharing a house with someone, things do start to get on your nerves for after a while.

The horse was an-ill manered thug, although an intelligent one! He broke my gate within a week (jumping it). Ploughed up my fields with his enormous feet & bullied my horses. I could go on.

There were advantages though, such as help when we holidayed & we used to share turning out & bringing in. The money was very helpful too, but I'm really loving having the place to myself again.
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commercial rates and liability insurance would absorb all of the benefits of one livery!! and yes as the land owner you are liable! you have 3 on 3.5 acrs approx so would think thats plenty. if grass gets away from you next year you could always make some hay? Be happy and enjoy whats yours in your own way
 
Thank you all so much for making my see sense! Today it seems like a bad idea! I must of been having a moment! LOL

You're a great bunch!
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