Which is better, livery or your own field?

[Natalieshort]

im desperately looking to find a field to rent for my horse and possibly afew others, but im just wondering, i know having your own field/land would be more peaceful but which ones more expensive? the field or the livery? which one is better? opinions please! im stuck in the middle of what to do!

 

[Potato!]

I rent a 3 acre field at £110 per month with a field shelter which I use as a stable and a tack/feed shed. It’s lovely though I don’t have a school to ride in I regularly hack down to my friends livery yard a couple of miles down the road and use her school. I couldn’t be dealing with the yard politics anymore. DIY livery at her place is £130 including haylege per month so my field is cheaper and I don’t have to keep my horse in strips he has the run of the whole of the field or however much I decide to give him it’s up to me

 

[debsg]

I had always been on big yards. Three years ago, 4 friends and I got together and rented a yard with grazing. Best thing we ever did! We are our own bosses and can do whatever we like. Plus - NO BITCHING!! It's fab

 

[Natalieshort]

god i really need my own my last bill at my livery was £211 and i have one horse! i need to find my own piece of land!

 

[Natalieshort]

so is it not more expensive than being at a livery? i know you would have to buy your own straw and haylage but is there anything else?

 

[Ce'Nedra]

Where are you looking to rent? My mum has a field that is suitable for horses. It's about 5 acres in total with running water to two sections of the filed so that it can be sectioned. There is also a post and rail sectinoed off area of about 35 by 20 metres. Not a full school but does have a woodchip perimter track. There are also stables available if needed. Rent could be negotiated. What she really wants is someone who will take on the full responsibilty of looking after a lead rein pony that the grandchildren can ride and therfore is open to negotiaton on the letting of the field with this proviso. She would fund the pony, feed, shoes, vet etc, but can't take on day to day care and unfortunatly I am too far away - not my children anyway. She is based in Hertfordshire - let me know if it sounds of interest.

 

[Wagtail]

So long as your horse has company, then probably renting a field is cheaper. But you have to organise storage for hay etc. If your horse would not have company, then I would not consider it. I hate driving past all the poor lonely horses stood on their own in fields. What an awful existance. Much kinder to keep them at livery where they would have company.

 

[Natalieshort]

urgh what a shame! im in the lancaster and morecambe area

 

[Natalieshort]

yeah i have one at the moment but would definately get another to keep her company, i hate seeing lonely horses on their own too!

 

[Potato!]

My horse is happier on his own. He gets stressy in company and relaxes completly when on his own. The horses in the field next door are leaving in a week and then i will get him some sheep as companions as he doesnt feel threatened by them.

 

[Wagtail]

If your horse has others in the next field, then he is not on his own. I have one here that has to be kept alone due to the fact that he runs down and kicks other horses. But he has them on all sides of him and is able to socialise/groom with them over the fence. He would not be happy totally alone with no other horses in sight.

 

[AmyMay]

A livery yard offers you support when you're away. And I have to be honest this would be my preference. Renting a field is no always cheaper as you may be required to maintain the land and fencing - which will cost you potentially a lot of money.

 

[staceyn]

only problem with been on your own land or something is that if you go on holiday or ill or anything there is noone there to help and you have to make 2 trips a day which is fine ! but if you stop driving and your mister has to take you twice a day before and after work people start to hate u hahaha!!!!

 

[Sophstar]

My friend and I are desperately seeking our own field. Our ponies live out 24/7 and in our area this is an impossibility except for the DIY yard we are at which we desperately want to leave. I would happily pay a little extra for my own grazing/yard because I spend far too much of my time, fixing fences, rescuing escaped ponies, moving mouldy hay the farmer has given them and dealing with general bitchiness. I want to enjoy my ponies, know they are safe and happy and a little extra money to ensure this is fine.

some1 find me a yard/field!

 

[Littlelegs]

With renting a field you also have to factor in time & cost of stuff like maintenance, deliveries of hay/straw, repairs, muck heap removal etc. So if you are ok at diy & don't mind all the extra time, & factor in the hidden costs then it can be cheaper.
Other thing to consider is how much experience you have, eg if you end up needing a vet out for very minor things a yard manager could deal with, or whether you can manage without anyone to ask if you need a bit of advice.
CeNedra, can't believe that's not been snatched up, wish I lived closer.

 

[seoirse]

For 11 years I rented a small yard with 3 stables and 2 acres of grazing for my 2 horses, however when one of them was pts and I got a youngster I decided to move to a local livery yard so I had a school. 12 years later I'm still at the same yard and I would only go back to having my own place now if there was a school and enough space for me to have a couple of liveries in myself so a) I had someone to hack with (nasty accident a while back means I don't hack alone anymore and b) I could go on hols and have someone that already knows the ropes do my horses rather than have to get someone 'in' who doesn't really know them. Having my own place was lovely and tranquil but I've adapted to yard life and I really appreciate the support network that goes with it, particularly at times of crisis when horses injure themselves or as happened earlier this year I was taken very ill and everyone at the yard rallied around to make sure my horse was seen to. Plus last year when I was completely snowed in and couldn't get to the yard I knew my horse was looked after!
Price wise, I think it works out about the same tbh. I used to have to pay someone to come and top my fields and harrow and take away the muck heap etc etc and at the livery yard thats all done for us. Plus hay/straw/haylage is cheaper as I can benefit from bulk buying or in some cases it's made on site anyway.
Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[Potato!]

If your horse has others in the next field, then he is not on his own. I have one here that has to be kept alone due to the fact that he runs down and kicks other horses. But he has them on all sides of him and is able to socialise/groom with them over the fence. He would not be happy totally alone with no other horses in sight.

He is alone for 6 months of the year when the lady next door takes her two away. No other horses nearby at all

 

[zaminda]

I moved mine to a field 4 years ago, and would avoid livery yards like the plague, although when I left my partner, my horses briefly moved in with me, on what could be seen as a livery yard. For me own space every time, but then I like my own space. Worked out much cheaper, but then we did have 6/7

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Having your own/rented field, budgeted costs are needed for:
Water bill (possibly electric if on, also rates if applicable for bigger concerns)
Maintenance and repair of fencing & buildings
Maintenance of field - harrowing, weed control etc
Removal of muckheap unless you are bagging & selling directly.
Cost of fodder: bedding,hay/haylage, feed etc (and making sure enough is in at anytime if you need to stable/box rest one!)
Insurance of land/buildings for damage
Non-shared vets, chiro, dentist, farrier etc visit
You need to make sure you have back-up for getting to field (useful to have companion owner with you too)
A hardstanding for farrier/your car is usually something needed at the top of a list.


On a livery yard, you will usually pay 1 figure for your DIY, often getting in your own feed, bedding etc so you already know those costings.
What you will also benefit from is sharing of call-outs for routine work & as mentioned above - usually someone with knowledge about dealing with minor ailments etc.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do

 

[abercrombie&titch]

Not sure if this helps but I used to keep mine at livery yards which was fine (usual problems of bitchiness/things going missing) but nothing major. Moved house to one with land, so ponies now at home, so no real idea of cost comparison, but I definately overall prefer being my own boss so to speak - I can turn out/worm/ride to suit myself, and I have made friends with some people on a local livery yard so can hack out in company if I want. I have a friendly farmer who I rent a muck trailer off (he empties it once a month for me), and he rolls/harrows/makes hay for me too. My main problem is storage (hay/bedding), as we don't have a barn (hoping to get one tho!), but its nothing that pallets and a big tarpaulin doesn't fix!! Electric and mains water are essential though I think....

 

[3BayGeldings]

I have decided that it is definitely having your own place. I don't think I could cope with just a field - I like my set up at the moment which is fields, stables and a school but with only me and my horses and in a beautiful little village. I have moved one of my horses to a livery yard, thinking I'd enjoy being back with people and with more facilities, but now I can't wait to move him back. I like doing my own thing and not feeling anyone is judging me x

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I wouldn't want to leave my horses in a field where no-one was keeping an eye on them, except for 2 visits per day.
Having said that, I wouldn't go back to a livery yard under any circumstances. Ours are at home and we have neighbours who have horses so there is usually someone to ride with.

 

[kerrieberry2]

having a private place is soooo much better! take it on yourself and have liveries if you need help to pay for it but at least then, you're the boss and if they are a nightmare you can get rid of them!

i will never go back to a yard, far too much drama and bitchiness!

 

[Merlin11]

I think there are pluses and minuses to both. At a yard you get company and a lot done for you and can take holidays. I have mine at home which I love but the costs are higher than you think - fencing, getting hay etc delivered and it is probably more time consuming. But you can turn your horses out, feed etc when you like. After 5 years at home I would find it hard to adjust to livery again and having to follow rules. It also depends on how much support you have - ideally if there are 2 people then illness etc can be covered. A handy OH is also useful for fencing, moving hat etc.

 

[sugarpuff]

I prefer livery. My mum xnd dad have a bit of land but the cost of doing fencing/ new stable/ extra travel distance/ paying for holiday cover/ hiring arena/ buying jumps/ putting in water etc etc soon makes my livery bill sound ok!! Plus the extra time doing all the maintenance jobs. I can't always guarantee when I'm up at the yard due to kids and hubby is self employed so for me it's livery all the way!

 

[JFTDWS]

I love having my own fields. Not having a school is a complete pig in this weather though.

For me, it's massively cheaper than having them on livery, but that's because there are 3 of them - if I had one I'd be much better off on livery. It's more time consuming in terms of fixing fencing, picking up haylage and straw etc, but more flexible as I can normally do stuff as and when it's convenient rather than livery where they tend to lay down rules about x must be done daily etc.

 

[Toffee44]

For 9years I had my own field shelter setup but plenty of people to ride with with my best friend int he field next door. But moved to sussex, I miss this place so much even if it looked untidy with everyones homemade shelters etc.


Now on livery with on but no one hacks out other than a saturday and horses have to be in at night and get comments re adult on pony, and that fat pony isnt rugged in the weather we have had recently....shes a fat welsh cob! ! ! !


Now just found grazing on a farm in the next village with super SUPER super hacking, for same price for three ponies than one on livery. Its very DIY was shown a field with sheep in it, told fence what you want £10 a week lol gonna get building a shelter end of summer if we stay. Have still got the field behind my house for toffee but no good hacking and next to busy road and the grass isnt great so will be swapping between fields.

 

[Parker79]

I have done both - there are major pros & cons to both.

Renting your own field can be cheaper...but it depends how much maintenance you need to do...fertilising field, harrowing, reseeding. Electric tape, posts etc....believe me the list goes on! Then you need to consider 2 trips per day in petrol and time, holiday cover and just the occasional day off!
I panicked about security too.

I know I make it sound negative...it can be amazing but go into it with your eyes wide open and set up a monthly fund to cover the big bills.

I am back to 2 horses and so I often think about going back to renting a field...but I just do not have the time at the moment to do all of the above and still have time to enjoy the horses! I never seemed to have time to ride!

 

[Parker79]

DIY Livery yards can be scary...but there are some nice ones about!

 

[CathySirett]

its s tough question and I have found each optin to be ideal for when I have been in different places in my life

when I was working full time, then livery was GREAT -- someone was always there to take care of my horses if I was working or busy -- and they had facilities so I could drop in, ride and head off again

when I had more time I found the limits of being around other people and so on a bit frustrating and now I have my own field that I lease

it works out cheaper but takes a LOT more time -- really if I costed out the time at my pay rate it probably works out about the same!

so -- if you are rich in money and poor in time -- livery
if you are rich in time and poor in money -- then your own field works best!!

Cathy