Those on full livery...

D

Dolly_Mixture

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 March 2011
Messages
58
Location
Ushaw Moor
Visit site
What are your reasons for being on full livery?
Do you feel you are 'missing out' by not doing your horse all the time or that you don't have as strong a bond as if you were to be on DIY?

I'm just after people's views / experiences really as financially I would comfortably be able to keep a horse, but I wouldn't have the time to keep one on DIY due to my work. I can't see this changing anytime soon, but the thought of not having my own horse for the forseeable future is not a good one.

(just to add, I do currently loan 2 days a week - I'm just thinking of what my options would be once this agreement comes to an end)

Thanks!
 
I am on 7 day full livery. I do miss doing things for him myself but at least the time I spend with him is used well. I work shifts, sometimes starting at 2am and I cannot feed him and turn him out at this time. Also it means the days I can't ride him, he is kept fit and busy. I don't feel our bond has suffered as on my days off I spend all day with him.
 
My boy is on full livery because the yard is 22miles away (one way!) I go up to ride/spend time with him 3-4 days a week but the extra help is very much appreciated! I don't feel that it's affected my bond with him, he knows who his mum is and I'm the only one who spends the quality time with him. I do miss seeing him everyday but I would rather him be happy at a yard he loves and me sacrificing seeing him a few days a week then see him every day and him not get the 24/7 turnout that he needs and end up stressed.
 
My horse is on full livery. I have to because i work wierd shifts and i would never be able to feed, turnout etc myself. The only thing is my time is my own so to speak, so lots of time for riding/ grooming. I make sure i spend plenty of time grooming my boy to spend time with him.
 
Hello

My horse is on full livery and exercised 5 days a week. I work away from home (with overnight stays) 3-4 days a week so I wouldn't be able to have him if I could only do DIY. I wish I could do him myself and think we would bond better if I was with him 7 days a week ... but for me full livery is a good option.

The positive aspect is that I keep him on a fab yard and the YO and riders are miles better than I can ever hope to be ... so he is wonderfully schooled on the flat (I've really noticed the difference). And I spend 'my' 2-3 days doing what I prefer (jumping and 4 hour hacks ...).

I think the most important thing is to find something that suits you and your horse and to enjoy the time that you have together ... :D
 
So pleased about this thread as I was going to start a similar one!!

My two are currently kept at home, so I do everything myself. We rent the house, land, stables, manège etc as a whole. We've decided to buy somewhere in a new area (closer to family etc) but for what we want (equestrian wise) is slightly out of reach financially!! I'v made the decision to put the horses on full livery for the time being at a fab yard. They call it full livery, but I suppose its part as they do everything but exercise them.

I'm very nervous about it as I suppose I'm a bit of a control freak with them, having always had them either on DIY livery or here at home but I'll have to learn to let go!! I wouldn't be able to have them on DIY or assisted as one of my boys is a routine freak (exracer) and would struggle to get to yard early enough to get him out etc. Also have a 16 month old daughter so would be hard and hoping to go back to work. The thing is by the time iv done all the daily tasks I don't get much time to ride/groom them unless it's late at night. So at least if someone else is doing these jobs I can go up daily and exercise them and give them the tlc!! Kind of feel guilty and hope they'll still know I care!!

Think it would be nice for them to have other company of horses too, lovely and quiet here but they need that mental stimulation of a yard. Plus they're turned out together here and have a love hate relationship! If separated, injure themselves getting all stressed and trashing fencing to get back to each other, but when together, rip rugs and literally draw blood when play fiighting!!

Financially we'll be better off too!
 
Full livery is fab, there is no way I would have time for a horse with work otherwise. I keep him at the closest stables which is 25 mins away so it would be ridiculous to drive out in the morning and after work. My working schedule can be varied and I often have to travel so this is really the only solution.

I don't feel I miss mucking out and there is no difference in our bond from when he was on diy when I had my last job. Sure it costs a massive chunk of my salary but it's nice to know that everything is included so never have any nasty surprise bills coming in. Thank god for lovely easy full livery!
 
Mine is on full livery because a. I can afford it and b. because it gives me more time with my horse.

I think the rubbish that people trot out about having a bond with their horse is ridiculous.

I am pretty sure I have a better bond with my horse now I spend all of my time riding and grooming it than when I was furiously mucking out while they were stood at the gate waiting to come in!

How on earth does mucking out, making up feeds and doing haynets give you a better bond with your horse???

I have had mine at home, on DIY and on part livery before and can say I probably have a BETTER relationship with my horses now than I have before as I have more time to spend with them.
 
I have mine on part livery (everything bar exercise). Was a bit unsure at first but H was adamant that if I had a horse I was not to put myself under more pressure with having to do the horse twice a day (have 4 young sons). It has/is working out very well. Horse and I have built up a good relationship over the last 10 months - she actually cantered over to me from the far side of the field for the first time a couple of weeks ago.

And it has been well worth it when one of the kids is ill or I am ill knowing that I do not have to worry about who is going to do the horse. We can also go away at the drop of a hat too without worry. I still try and go up every day even if I am not riding and I will muck out if I have the time because nobody does it quite the way you do it yourself ;)
 
millitiger said:
Mine is on full livery because a. I can afford it and b. because it gives me more time with my horse.

I think the rubbish that people trot out about having a bond with their horse is ridiculous.

I am pretty sure I have a better bond with my horse now I spend all of my time riding and grooming it than when I was furiously mucking out while they were stood at the gate waiting to come in!

How on earth does mucking out, making up feeds and doing haynets give you a better bond with your horse???

I have had mine at home, on DIY and on part livery before and can say I probably have a BETTER relationship with my horses now than I have before as I have more time to spend with them.
Click to expand...

I'm on DIY but agree that shovelling a horses's **** doesn't give you a better bond, like millitiger has said most 'bonding' takes place when riding/grooming.
 
millitiger said:
Mine is on full livery because a. I can afford it and b. because it gives me more time with my horse.

I think the rubbish that people trot out about having a bond with their horse is ridiculous.

I am pretty sure I have a better bond with my horse now I spend all of my time riding and grooming it than when I was furiously mucking out while they were stood at the gate waiting to come in!

How on earth does mucking out, making up feeds and doing haynets give you a better bond with your horse???

I have had mine at home, on DIY and on part livery before and can say I probably have a BETTER relationship with my horses now than I have before as I have more time to spend with them.
Click to expand...

Mine are on part livery, as my mum is able to exercise them, but I do agree I spend my time with my horses, however, I do like to go and muck out on the weekends (don't have to) as I like to know what their stables look like as sometimes you can pick up issues (sloppy poo etc) from doing it. It is also very useful to be go away etc and know its ok.

My YO is great and will feed mine alfa a and spedibeet too rather than her feeds. If you want to do it and buy a horse, go for it!
 
I have my horse on full livery for any number of perfectly sensible reasons.One being that the yard is about 25 minutes away.There are nearer yards but they don't have the all important (to me) all year round turnout.Doesn't affect my relationship with my horse at all and I can always muck out if I want to.
 
For six months we had Kal on full livery, with schooling 3x/week. He was very happy and chilled but I found that I felt rather like a spare part when up at the yard . . . aside from riding him and cleaning his tack (they cleaned it as part of my livery but I'm rather picky about my tack) there was nothing for me to do! Yes, it's hard work being on DIY (particularly when all it's minus 11!), but I can honestly say that I prefer having him on DIY.

When he was full livery I wasn't making any decisions about his care and well being . . . he was turned out/brought in, rugged, fed, groomed, etc., by the yard staff . . . I had no input. I didn't feel like I was caring for him - if that makes any sense at all.

I will also say that I have a much better relationship with him now (I've had him back on DIY for a month) . . . he has ONE handler (me) and that seems to suit him. He is more affectionate now and less grumpy.

P

P.S. I had had him on DIY/assisted livery before he went on full . . . which may have made a difference to how I felt about full . . .
 
I am on full livery because the DIY place I was on was a nightmare, the nearest place to move to only does full livery, I didn't really want full livery, but it's fine and worked out great, plus it means I can work late without worrying, or if your ill etc, as far as the bond with your horse goes, not sure about someone having one on full livery from new, I did mine part diy for about 18 months then total diy for about 4 years before, so our bond was already made and he knows I am dad :) regardless of who deals with him, I like full livery, give's you more time and energy to ride after work, particularly if you got to a show etc, load up and go, no mucking out water tubs etc etc to deal with, I wouldn't let others comments put you off, as long as it's a decent yard with a good YO/YM I can't see a problem.
 
I'm actually in the process of putting mine on full livery- it actually works out almost the same as DIY when I factor in petrol and time. (around 16 miles one way from my yard aswell)

I'm lookIng forward to having the time to groom rather than muck out!
 
Full to me means everything is done. Part is when ou groom, tack clean and work your own horses. I have done DIY and its mega hard if you have a demanding full time job to stick to the routines your horse needs. Of course you can always manage it but it suited me so much better to have my horses on livery. The money side is awful! But I weighed everything up. In terms of feed, rugs etc of course I have input which is my choice. In terms of changing relationship .. Well I get to spend time with my horses doing the hands on stuff. Whe I was mucking out, filling hay, off buying feed and worrying about hay...can't say my horses ever seemed to appreciate that!
 
I have mine on what I would say is Part Livery. The yard staff do everything bar riding, grooming and tack cleaning.

I have to say that it makes no difference to the relationship I have with her. I had her on DIY for a while and I can honestly say that mucking out, filling water buckets, and filling haynets makes no difference to our relationship.

I can spend all of my "horse time" doing things that my horse and I enjoy and get something out of, riding and grooming. No time wasted. I'd struggle to DIY around my job and commute without letting it affect my ability to ride.

I wouldn't be so keen on proper full livery with riding and grooming etc but if distance or work meant I couldn't keep her as fit as I wanted I would try it. At the moment I manage to ride enough most weeks to keep mine exercised to the level I need.

I can have as much input into her care as I want, I just need to let the yard know if I want to change something and within reason (as at any yard) they will follow my instructions/requests.
 
millitiger said:
Mine is on full livery because a. I can afford it and b. because it gives me more time with my horse.

I think the rubbish that people trot out about having a bond with their horse is ridiculous.

I am pretty sure I have a better bond with my horse now I spend all of my time riding and grooming it than when I was furiously mucking out while they were stood at the gate waiting to come in!

How on earth does mucking out, making up feeds and doing haynets give you a better bond with your horse???

I have had mine at home, on DIY and on part livery before and can say I probably have a BETTER relationship with my horses now than I have before as I have more time to spend with them.
Click to expand...

100% agree
 
I'm currently DIY but have been full, I missed DIY and like mucking out etc. I was full as it was a full only yard and I worked in London so was handy, much prefer DIY.
 
mines on full because of work.
my shifts vary every week and starts range from 0630 to 2300 so I wouldn't be able to keep a routine up.

am I missing out?
no.. my horse still gets exercised 5 days a week and we bond doing ground work.
if I have time then I'll do his haynets and feed etc but, personally, I don't think he really cares who feeds him as long as he gets fed ;)
 
Ditto they don't give a holy where the food comes from!I kind of wish they did, but would make going abroad for four months q bit more difficult!
 
I have worked on various livery yards and have to say that 9 times out of 10 the horse bonds with the staff more than the owner.
I know I am going to get shot down for this, and I'm sorry this is not what people want to hear.
I have found that staff feed, turnout, change rugs, bring in, feed again and flick/full groom they are also doing most/all of the other horses on the yard. Horses tend to bond and expect to be looked after by the yard staff. It's nice that owners come down and groom and ride but I don't think(unless you are doing the mundane day to day stuff) that the horse will bond by just being groomed ridden and petted tbh.
I have seen horses winny when staff arrive on yard but not owners. I have seen staff catch a horse no probs but an owner can't. I have seen horses react better to yard staff than an owner as they know ultimately the staff feed and turn out/in.
 
goldenmint said:
I have worked on various livery yards and have to say that 9 times out of 10 the horse bonds with the staff more than the owner.
I know I am going to get shot down for this, and I'm sorry this is not what people want to hear.
I have found that staff feed, turnout, change rugs, bring in, feed again and flick/full groom they are also doing most/all of the other horses on the yard. Horses tend to bond and expect to be looked after by the yard staff. It's nice that owners come down and groom and ride but I don't think(unless you are doing the mundane day to day stuff) that the horse will bond by just being groomed ridden and petted tbh.
I have seen horses winny when staff arrive on yard but not owners. I have seen staff catch a horse no probs but an owner can't. I have seen horses react better to yard staff than an owner as they know ultimately the staff feed and turn out/in.
Click to expand...

Maybe on your yard, but certainly on mine the horses know who their "mum" is. They know that the staff feed them, but they don't have the same relationship they do with their owner. I'm not saying that because it is what I want to hear, I can see it in the other horses. In fact one of the staff said the other day that they can tell how often the owners are getting up by the way some of the horses behave......
 
Shot me down on this but my horse knows me as the one with extra treats etc - the grooms don't give her treats like carrots and spend the bare minimum of time with her as they have another 10+ horses to deal with. I have a good bond with my horse as I have spent time doing ground work with her, grooming her etc.

I was worried initially when I got her that we wouldn't develop a strong bond as she was going straight onto full livery but it has worked out well.
 
Your yard sounds lively kat, It sounds like you have a good balance so the horses know what's what. I can only say what I have seen and I 100% agree that it is only the yards I have been on that I can comment on. It may also be the horses I have worked with are just greedy and led by their bellies :-)
I think it's a difficult one as most horses don't really understand the concept of who is mum etc they just know that that person feeds me/brings me into bed/ turns me out into field so they feel safe knowing that person is going to look after them and deal with their basic needs. Most grooms will also build a bond with said horse, we don't tend to just chuck horse in do basic and leave we do talk and pet them while changing rugs,feeding etc.
But like I said it might just be the yards I have seen.
I have had people ask me the same question op asked on yard before and if course I would say the horse behaves so much better for owner and knows owner is mum etc as it would be nasty and hurtful to tell owner the truth especially if owner has to be on part/full for some reason.
 
I used to be on DIY and loved it, but it got to a point where i didnt enjoy him anymore as i was running around doing jobs and never having time to ride,

So i moved him to another livery yard who are fab and really look after him, I choose to muck him out on a weekend (because i miss the stable management side) but its nice to know i can just enjoy him nowadays.
 
I have George on part livery (everything bar grooming and exercise), I work funny shifts in London and have to commute over an hour by train each way. I really couldn't manage DIY and it means I don't panic if I have to work late, or there are terrible delays on the trains. I go up to him 6 days a week and it means I have plenty of time to make a fuss of him, ride and enjoy him - he knows i'm his 'mum' and usually seems pleased to see me :)

My family aren't horsey, so it means I can give George a day off and spend time with them without me feeling guilty. It works for me, and I feel I have a really good bond with him :) Also as a first time owner, it is great to have a knowlegable YM on hand if I need help etc.

I always skip out his stable when I'm there and sort his hay out in the evening as I like to feel I'm still involved with the stable management side of things.
 
Goldenmint - you make it sound like part/full livery is a crime - lying to owners etc.

Having been on all types of livery over the last 25 years, I can honestly say it makes absolutely no difference to the horse. Either you will, or will not bond with your horse. Scooping his s-hit out of the stable isn't going to make a horse like you!
Personally, I love being on full livery. The 20 mins I would spend mucking out can now be spent grooming/riding/titivating.
 
I have mine in full livery (full livery up here doesn't involve excercising, so it's probably "part livery") and it's great! I chose to keep mine in livery rather than keeping her at home (lonely, no facillities, pair bonding with companion..... Used to keep her at a DIY yard about 2 miles away as it had an outdoor school but after 6 weeks no riding due to snow I moved to a great yard with 2 indoor schools (and my instructor is based there too which is fab). Chose full livery as yard is a bit further away and I love it. I know my horse is well cared for and I just go up to groom, ride and pamper. I don't feel my "bond" has lessened any since moving and I think it's better for her to be handled daily by other people than me. She used to be quite clingy with me and nervous with strangers but she's getting much better. It's a personal choice but I dont think my horse could care less whether I am mucking her out or not - she's in the field! In fact I now spend MORE quality time with her as I'm not doing the chores which don't involve her!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top