Those of you on grass livery/renting fields please read

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FaldingwoodLivery

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Currently have around 9 acres of land which I use for hay production, however by the time I've paid the local farmer to fertilise and pot ash it once a year and then paid him to cut and bale it I feel it's not really working out any cheaper than buying hay direct from the farmer himself, so have therefore been toying the idea of starting to do grass livery.

I know the demand for such facilities are in the area as I am constantly inudated with calls asking for grass livery (we only do full) however it's not something I've really had much experience of so want some views/ideas.

I already have a yard so please song come up with the usual planning permission/insurance/business rates etc etc as it's all already in place but I'd like to know the following

How much do you pay
How much land do you have to use
Do you share with others
Is hay/water/electric supplied
Are any services supplied (feeding, poo picking etc)
Is a field shelter supplied
Do you have access to a stable yard/school etc if required

Can't decide if the best thing to do would be to divide the field up into individual Paddocks and rent out separately or just rent the whole field out as one, or divide into a couple of larger areas so people can keep two/three horses together?

Any views/ideas welcome
 
There is a huge difference between renting a field off the local farmer (in which u'd expext nothing) and being at a livery yard and paying for grass livery.

I can rent a field for 4 horses for 20 quid a week, but it's just that!
DIY grass livery at my yard is 23 per week (so a lot more), but this includes use of your field that has an auto water filler in it. Use of tie up areas inside a barn to see to your horse, tack and storage area, barn has electric, use of a flood lit school, and hay within reason in the winter (pony can munch on a net whilst getting groomed etc.)
Basically everything you'd exect at livery bar the stable and associated bedding\turnout. It's 47 a week for stabled to compare.
I'm in Scotland so it's going to vary wildly and will depend on whether you're closer to the farmers field set up or a fully functioning livery yard.

I'd way up your pro"s and cons and opt to maximise income with as little hassle as possible :)
 
thanks, i think as the field is quite a bit further down the lane from the yard it would literally be a case of supplying a field, with shelter and water and thats it, so very basic, then maybe offering the use of the yard for vet/dentist/farrier visits etc. it's only a rough idea at the moment, just wanting everyones personal experiences etc to through some ideas into the mix :D
 
Really depends where you are as in near central cambridge for 7 acres you easily part with 2500 a year with basic water and train shed shelter
 
I run a livery yard (full and part liveries only). If I had a field such as yours going spare I would not do grass livery for the same reason I do not do DIY. You cannot be sure that owners will take care of their horses to the standard you would like. For example, they may not feed hay when the grass goes off. They may not come and check on their horses often enough, or break the ice on the troughs. You would then be left worrying if anyone had been to do these things. It would drive me insane! Bad enough if the horses are in sight of the house, but as they are not, then even more of a hassle for you to check on these things once you become worried. As a yard owner, I think you would have some responsibility for the welfare of the horses and with it would come all the hassle and the worry. Not worth it for the small amount of extra income it would generate.
 
im in kent - diy grass livery. pay £50 pw for 2 (includes 1 stable, lovely yard with school. the YO rotates me round different fields)
 
I should think people would bite your arm off for grass livery...I would!!

I've had just grass livery before, the most important things I needed, in no particular order...

Secure fencing.
Water supply.
Field shelter.
Storage for feed, hay and rugs (everything else I took home or it lived in my truck).
Hard standing.
Easily accessed gateway for vehicle.


I didn't expect a power supply, I set up lighting off of a car battery in the winter. I had about 8 acres and 3 horses so it was easy to rotate the grazing winter and summer, but with your 9 acres I imagine it would be easy to split it into 2 and have 2 seperate renters? I would have LOVED access to a school! Hope this helps...

Edited to add, I paid £10 per week per horse.
 
Grass livery here is quite hard to get- most people that want it, me included would be after herd turnout (at least 4), with shelter (artifical or natural), water. Either hay provided in winter, or available to buy/store.

Grass liveries will still have storage needs (for rugs/equipment/tack etc) and somewhere with hardstanding for farrier/vet. Access to a school would be a huge bonus and would put price up.

Price here is about £10-£15pw for basic DIY grass livery excl hay or school. Up to £35pw for access to all the usual things on a yard inc use of a floodlit school and winter hay.
Normally I'd expect to pay more for poo picking or do it myself.

I'd actually pay £50pw week for good facilities and grass livery - but sadly the 2 things seem to be mutually exclusive :(
 
Wagtail said:
I run a livery yard (full and part liveries only). If I had a field such as yours going spare I would not do grass livery for the same reason I do not do DIY. You cannot be sure that owners will take care of their horses to the standard you would like. For example, they may not feed hay when the grass goes off. They may not come and check on their horses often enough, or break the ice on the troughs. You would then be left worrying if anyone had been to do these things. It would drive me insane! Bad enough if the horses are in sight of the house, but as they are not, then even more of a hassle for you to check on these things once you become worried. As a yard owner, I think you would have some responsibility for the welfare of the horses and with it would come all the hassle and the worry. Not worth it for the small amount of extra income it would generate.
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good thinking wagtail, that is precisely why i dont do DIY and completely agree that if horses are on my land then I am responsible for making sure they are properly looked after, however i just hate seeing a field go to waste when its perfectly good grazing land ......... and i'm perhaps a little greedy :o lol. I suppose a properly drawn out livery agreement with a zero tolerance policy to rule breaking will minimise the risk of this happening, i do drive past the field at least 6 times a day going to and coming back from the school run so popping my head over the gate is not a major inconvenience, it's the same as any liverys, if you get a good bunch work is enjoyable, a bad bunch make your life hell!! but like you said is it really worth it??
 
I am full grass livery atm. All the liveries have individual fields anyway so I have about 1.5-2 acres to myself, electric fenced with posts, automatic water trough, use of a floodlit all weather school, place to tie up, secure alarmed tack room and the yard check them twice a day/rug accordingly and make sure there is a round bale of hay in the field (hay not included in price).

I pay £30 per week per horse in Surrey
 
Our yard is mainly DIY which includes daily turnout in small herds, automatic water, post and mains electric fencing, the use of secure tack room, kitchen area, storage and flood lit school all for £100 a month.
The cost for grass livery (ponies only) is the same as you have a stable for use in emergencies and the same use of the other facilities but you can leave out all year in a seperate area to the main paddocks - this only works if all ponies live out and you don't have a one coming in at the same time each day causing chaos in the gateway. For a second or more ponies the price is £75 a month with the use of everything as above but no extra stable.

I prefer knowing that my ponies are out and not fixed to a set routine and it also helps me out if I am unable to get down to the yard until later in the day, very lucky to have the option and happy to pay for it as I can still school in the dark evenings!
 
I think you would be better renting it as a whole, Liscense to graze but put clause in the contract about water and feed, field mangagement. Take a decent damage deposit and tell them if its left in a state you keep the deposit.
I am going to be in the same situation as you and have decided to take less money or even have sheep than have the hassle and insurace costs of livery.
I rent two small paddocks and do everything myself, if theres a problem we fix it. I do not pay much rent but then a wouldn't dream of bothering the owners.
 
The biggest issue is the field being destroyed. i.e poos not being picked up and field becoming sour and overtaken by worms and weeds.
 
I rent a 3 acre Feild to myself on a livery yard, I provide my own shelters, hay etc. Poo pick, ragwort etc. I can only have 3 ponies in the Feild and pay £36 a week. I can use school etc for extra cost but the hacking is great. My 3 love it and I love the fact I don't have to share.
 
Wagtail said:
I run a livery yard (full and part liveries only). If I had a field such as yours going spare I would not do grass livery for the same reason I do not do DIY. You cannot be sure that owners will take care of their horses to the standard you would like. For example, they may not feed hay when the grass goes off. They may not come and check on their horses often enough, or break the ice on the troughs. You would then be left worrying if anyone had been to do these things. It would drive me insane! Bad enough if the horses are in sight of the house, but as they are not, then even more of a hassle for you to check on these things once you become worried. As a yard owner, I think you would have some responsibility for the welfare of the horses and with it would come all the hassle and the worry. Not worth it for the small amount of extra income it would generate.
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I agree with the above. Also if the horses are to be out 24/7 in the winter you cant stock more than 1 horse to 2 and half acres. I have a field that is 5 and half acres divided into 2 paddocks. my own two live out 24/7 most of the year. They come in for a few hours most day for hay and handling. and were in at night in Dec and early January when the weather turned wintery but are out again now at night. If you dont want a mud bath and trashed fields you just cannot stock more than 2 to 5 acres. Is it economic to do DIY grass livery bearing in mind the damage done over the winter months?
 
I am in the expensive part of the SE and I think my present set up is really good value. I have approx 3 acres for 2 horses split into 2 areas - one for winter and one for summer. Both well drained. Both post and rail fencing with natural shelter on 2 or 3 sides. I was allowed to put a field shelter in the winter area.
I have really good maintainance which I am billed for if "my fields" are sprayed or topped, it is not much - £20 last autumn. There is help if needed at £4 or £5 a day depending on time of year. People also help each other free of charge.

I have storage in a large safe barn, security on site, electricity and water included. A large 40 x 60 school to use once or twice a week. More than that and I pay £5 a session. Hacking on the doorstep and no roadwork needed. There is water supplied directly to the fields. Horses are in pairs or single turnout. My 2 are together. The muckheap is taken away at intervals and we all pay towards this. Again it is a few pounds each.

All this for £100 per month per horse. It is well run, quiet, not overgrazed and in a really nice bit of the Surrey countryside with excellent hacking out the back gate.
 
Reading above about people leaving their horses at grass - I think you need to vet people very very carefully, have a contract about poo picking and water topping up etc, deposit for damage to fencing etc. and make it clear that you expect people to visit a minimum of once a day (or more if you prefer). Get references from previous yards as well. We do ours twice a day every day 365 days per year - just because they live out doesn't mean we don't care for them.
If we go away we pay someone to do them for us so we know that it is all covered properly.

I think if you offer a really good grass livery option and don't have big herds and overgrazed land then you will get the "right" kind of livery.
 
Have you considered offering a holiday grazing service for wintering competition horses / summering hunters? Or young thoroughbreds before they go into training? That way, you are not letting your fields to someone who may not look after their horses properly, but will retain responsibility for the occupants in the same way you do the stabled horses on your yard.
 
Hello there,

I live in South Yorkshire just moved to grass livery and i love it.
There is a seven acre field split into 3 for 5 horses. Farmer can supply hay at extra cost and comes and collects muck heaps regularly.

I keep my field well, the field is like a palace (husbands pet hate is a field un poo picked) there is a water supply accross a side road - i supplied my wn hosepipe. Baths for water were supplied, fields secured with post and rail and electric tape and solid metal gates.

I wasnt asked for a reference or a deposit but i think if it was my field i think i would ask for references and deposit.

hope that helps and good luck x
 
Hi

My Mum runs a yard in South Yorkshire, they do offer both DIY and grass livery. There isn't much in difference between the prices Grass livery is £12 per horse and DIY being £15 (the £3 reserves you a stable should you wish to use one). There is no water main to the main grazing field and Water bowsers are supplied and an area designated to fill them on the main yard. (they are the towable ones).

The fields were split into mares and geldings and then a paddock that was being rested. It has since moved on to individual paddocks with a number spare to rest and rotate (field has to be clear before a new one is started) due to the number of people complaining about rug tears and people not pulling their weight with respect to poo picking and ragwort.

It can work out reasonably well and would probably give you a significant sum towards your hay bill.

It is a little less hassle than full livery (you still have to deal with people) but the finacial return is significantly lower!

Goodluck with whatever you choose to do?
 
I'm on grass livery and have paid between £80 - £100 p/c/m.

The reasons I left other grass liveries included - bad drainage in field - so got boggy - not allowed to lunge in field - dogs running free - no other horses for my horse to 'talk to' over the fence

What my current yard has (£100 p/c/m) - grazing, of about min 1 sq acre, water supply direct into field with a trough, horses for her to talk to, stable with mains elecrtic, well drained, tack/feed room with mains electric of my own, outdoor school, floodlite, good hacking, but most important, good people and the owners will fix anything when you tell them its broken! A 'fair deal' with 'fair people'

It doesnt include any hay/straw but this is available on site for an extra charge.
 
I am on grass livery on a yard which is mainly full livery and pay £110 PCM for a 36 acre field, use of indoor and outdoor school, tack/rug storage and a shed for tie up, extra for a round bale of hay in the field as needed. Field is visible from the yard and they are checked regularly and any rugs sorted as needed.

There is one other horse out with mine on grass and then in summer more of the full liveries go out in the field for the summer turnout.

Not sure if this is something to bear in mind but the biggest problem I have is that the other horse in the field freaks when she is left on her own meaning that I am having to bring her in in the evenings as well as mine when I go up as the other owner only goes up at the weekend. Therefore it might be something to think about if you end up with 2 horses with different owners in a field, I know that not really "your problem" to sort it out but if you end up with some poor mug who has to bring in someone else's horse just so they can do theirs you might end up losing clients.
 
fornema said:
Really depends where you are as in near central cambridge for 7 acres you easily part with 2500 a year with basic water and train shed shelter
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Wow, I rent 6 acres from a farmer, just field and water and I pay £650 a year :D
OP if you want to make money I would think grass livery rather than just renting the whole field would be your best bet.
 
Ours is £150/month (assisted grass livery) which includes 2 checks a day plus giving feeds, all hay (within reasonable limits), automatic water, fencing maintenance, harrowing, metal feed bin at field for feed storage. I provide the feed and a field shelter, and buy extra hay to top-up if I feel they need it. Roughly 1 acre per horse, in ones and twos depending on owners preference. No stables included but can tie up in American barn (4-5 mins walk)to tack up etc, and have limited storage for tack & grooming stuff (not feed).

Extras are use of school £25/month, walker £?, bringing in for farrier/vet £10 etc. Off road hacking round the farm, use of grass SJ paddock with BSJA jumps included (summer only).

It's a good arrangement, the YO has control of how the fields are maintained and hay/checks on horses are included so any welfare issues can be dealt with very quickly. The only downside is that they could do with more land really, but 2.5 acres for two horses is OK as long as they get plenty of hay. I like it because I have the flexibility to be away for a couple of days and know that they are being checked and fed.

Very popular here (Oxon) and always a waiting list! Hope that helps.
 
In kent I paid
£35/month/acre I had 2 horses on 3.5acres which I managed my self with electric fencing etc.

I was in charge of all maintenence. I had a trough in the field and the farmer would help with handy jobs (fencing, troughs etc) but it was down to me to ask etc.

Bought hay from him in rounds so that wsnt a problem

I was offered grass livery herd (diy) with access to a yard area, some storage, school, walk pen, instructor on site for £20/ week. In west Sussex shame it was 10miles away though :(
 
We rent about 10 acres and pay £160 per month. The field owners have put up a shelter, and they do the fences around the field and we divide it up as we choose with electric fencing. We have no water or electric which is a pain. we use hay from a local farm and the nice man next door fills up the water for us. We rent on our own as we really hate livery yards, we were on one and neither the owner of the yard or most of the other liveries would leave our horses alone! We would leave them in one field with a big bale of haylege, come next day they would be in a different one with nothing to eat and no water. one of them was then 25 and he lost lots of weight there, we had to move them or he wouldnt have made it through the next winter. He is now 28 and very happy.
 
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