Thoughts on starting a livery yard

[MissBay]

Parents own a converted farm house where I keep my 3 horses there is 20 acres an outdoor arena and great hacking parents have said to me if I want to run a livery yard from there just full/schooling livery I don't have a mortgage on my own house so don't have a lot of outgoings ... Just want to know people's thoughts as I know there's not a lot of money to be made on horses thanks

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

My advice?
You are spot on in that its a way of life, not a job that pays (unfortunately)
If planning on taking in say 4 to 6 horses as liveries, then instead of actually taking the horses, just sweep out the empty stables once a week & also set fire to at least a tenner per box every week - then you will be about spot on for what you will get out of it
Sorry am not being of much help

Best thing is to check up on local prices, also for insurance - building, liablities etc etc - but its worth doing as long as you have your eyes open in all respects.

Good luck

 

[Abacus]

Where in the country are you? If you don't have to pay rent (for the yard) or a mortgage you might be able to make some money, if not a huge amount. Are you competent on the schooling side? And how many boxes do you have there?

This is my guess:
If you have enough stables you could probably manage a maximum of 10 extra horses on the land; this is also a maximum number for one person to look after (thinking about getting everything done on the worst of days - snow, etc). Unless you plan on getting some extra help (do you ever want to take a holiday or a day off?).

I would expect to pay around £100/week for part livery which includes all daily care but not riding or grooming. So on this, with from 5 to 10 liveries, you might make between £500 and £1000 per week before costs and tax.

Also consider that you will have to pay for liability insurance and possibly insurance for yourself to cover illness/injury. And that depending on the neighbour situation you might need permission to run a business there.

 

[MissBay]

Thanks Abacus I'm west scotland 30mins from two main equestrian centres ... I was thinking 6 horses plus I still have my 3 to do at about £90 per week full livery including hay/bedding and basic feeding stables all have rubber matting .. Exercise etc at additional cost pretty competent at schooling side as I've schooled plenty of horses including my own .. My dad would be dealing with the business/money side of it as I am hopeless at that kind of thing I would just do all the hard work ... If I wanted to go on holiday my mum would fill in for me

 

[Wagtail]

I run a livery yard and work around 45 hours a week spread over seven days with no time off. I have two horses of my own and five liveries. Averaged out per year, I probably make £800 a month. This gives me an hourly rate of around £4, so less than the minimum wage.

But I look upon it this way, it pays for my horses, I keep in good shape (no need to fork out on the gym), and it therefore keeps me healthy. Down side is that I work 365 days a year and never, ever have a lie in. If I'm ill, it's tough. I remember one year trying to smash the ice on the water troughs with a mallet. I had pneumonia and pleurisy, and a temperature of 105! I collapsed in the field and it was over an hour before I finally managed to get to my feet and stagger to the house. I have never felt so much pain in my lungs. No one was around (kids at school, husband at work, and liveries staying away because of the weather). Not good!