What do people think of full livery?

M

mudmonkey17

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 September 2005
Messages
1,390
Visit site
Hi due to massive raise in price of part livery at my yard and a drop in services I am looking at other yards. Found a lovely yard up the road that only does full livery.
This will work out same price as the part livery I am on now so price is ok. Will fit in great with my job as I work 12-13 hour shifts 3 times a week so on them days struggle
to get to yard.
My only worry is would it be like I am giving up and taking easy option puttin him on full? Would he still feel like my horse?
Anybody who is or has been on full livery your thoughts please will be very much appreciated x
 
Yes! You get to do all the fun stuff! I have had a horse on full livery before: all the mucking-out done, nets done, water done....you get to turn up and groom/ride/play with your horse :-D
 
Mines on full livery but i still do what i can such as rug up/turn out/feed/groom.

Why do you feel like it's giving up? You're making sure he's cared for and he keeps his routine even when you have work obligations.

I work varying shifts and full livery means that he has a set routine. he gets upset if its altered and i'd rather not have to worry about rushing to the yard at 10pm because he hasn't been fed.
 
Id love to have mine on full livery, Id actually have time to do stuff with him and give him a fuss rather than spending all my time doing the donkey work and then being exhausted!
 
Err, what's wrong with full livery - what you will find is that you will have time for all the work that you want to do - ride, groom, groundwork etc without the stress of dashing about doing chores after a very long day at work.
Different things suit us at different times of our life - does horsey care who mucks out his stable as long as it gets done? - no; does horsey like a bit of bonding without their human dashing about sweeping up the yard? - almost certainly yes. If it reduces stress on you then can only be good for the horse.

PS I did have a horse at full livery for a time - he was very happy - and still very much 'my horse'.
 
I love full livery. I am often stuck for time or working weird hours, so i like the fact he has a strict routine in the yard and isn't depending on me if im late for feeding etc. My horse doesn't seem to have particularly bonded with my yo the way he does with me, which is good. he knows im the one who does the nice grooms and fun stuff.

The main thing is to get a yard where you trust your yo 100% to do the best for your horse. I am in a fab yard with a yo who really treats my horse well. she'l often text me pics of him if he is doing something and rings me as well if she has any queries. I know she treats him 100% well, i was on other livery yards years ago with my last horse, that didn't have that level of care, and i would have prefered to be diy on those as i didn't trust them. i love full livery tho, and even if i had the time i would still keep him full livery as its so stress free!
 
I had my sausage on part livery for about 2 years, then total DIY for nearly 4 years, so I went to him twice a day 7 days a week, did everything, then in desperation to get away from ar*****s, I moved and went on full livery as thats all they do, I was worried beforehand, but it's not been a problem, he settled straight away, people are really good, it took me about 2 whole days to get used to it :D, I still go to see him every day even if I don't ride, I do muck him out at weekends even though I don't have to, I get more time to ride now as he is groomed for me and tack cleaned, he still knows I am his dad and nothing seems to have changed, I still groom him if I want, I have peace of mind as someone is there pretty much 24/7 and grazing land is private, hay feed and bedding is all sorted to a high standard, I don't have to be there for dentist, farrier, jabs, so less time off work, it's not affected our relationship at all, even though I am a control freak it's not been a problem, but as I said, the people are really good.
 
I'm on DIY now but years ago, when I worked full time I was on full livery. To be honest, there were times when I didn't feel like the horse was mine! I rarely fed him or turned him out, didn't muck him out etc. I was at the yard every day but I almost felt an outsider and resented the fact that other people saw my horse more than me.
I couldn't afford to do full livery now and I sometimes think it would be a fabulous luxury, but I'm pleased I'm the one responsible for him and have the time to look after him.

You seem to work very hard, and if it's the same price for full as DIY, it's an attractive proposition. It may well be worth it, and save you a lot of time on the days you work long shifts. It won't be like 'giving up', it may be a practical solution for you and give you more time to ride when you aren't working.

These are just my views and I can see positives in doing both.
 
Thanks for all your replies has made me
feel much better about changing. Going to go and have a chat with them this week so hopefully will have a lovely new yard for my boy soon :)
 
Wish I could recommend it. On most of them I have been on.... Exercise? Rarely in actual fact!! Tack cleaning? Occasionally - even then quick wipe!! And even worse - on two yards found he was living out 24/7 when supposed to be in at night on full livery!! Grooming? Quick brush over.

There are good ones though.

Grrr.........!!!
 
Last edited:
I would have no qualms about full livery if I had to work those shifts! You have a horse to enjoy the hobby, so if you like the yard, go for it!! Let someone else do the boring bits and you can do the fun stuff! I would never think less of someone who has full livery - in fact I'm quite envious!
 
I wuld ove to have mine on full livery if only for a day, if you trust the yo and the yard is a good standard then go for it, you will get to spend more time doing the things you enjoy, rather than all chores and sometimes too tired to do the fun stuff
 
I work a lot in my current job, so I changed from part to full livery and have never looked back! I can actually enjoy spending time with the horse. Also, even if I can't make it up to the yard for a day or whatever I know he is fed, watered and has been on the walker in the morning :D
 
2ladies said:
Wish I could recommend it. On most of them I have been on.... Exercise? Rarely in actual fact!! Tack cleaning? Occasionally - even then quick wipe!! And even worse - on two yards found he was living out 24/7 when supposed to be in at night on full livery!! Grooming? Quick brush over.

There are good ones though.

Grrr.........!!!
Click to expand...

I didn;t realise that tack cleaning and grooming were included in f/l? I always do it myself! My horse doesn't get exercised unless I ask for it, as per my agreement with the yo. It suits me, I prefer to ride myself and he gets turned out for a while in the afternoon on his days off.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top