Why people put their horses on full livery...

[shadowboy]

A lady at work asked me this today- why do you put your horse on full livery? isnt it pointless? you may as well just have a couple of riding lessons a week, are you running away from the mucking out? she said. I didnt know what to say back to her (her horse is on DIY at a nearby yard) Well i now feel i have to justify why... I bought my horse 3 1/2 years ago and kept him on DIY for 2 years this crept up to Part livery as uni got busy and now that i have started a job i am on Full livery I love my horse as much as when he was on DIY but i am too busy to have him if i have to muck out etc but i dont feel i should sell him as i still ride every day bar sunday (his day off). As yet we have still got a close bond. Do i feel like im missing out- no because i can muck him out when i want and it has given me the opportunity to buy a second horse. So all you guys out here on the forum why do you put your horse on full livery?

 

[Rambo]

Coz I don't have time to do DIY or any other form of livery. I spend 13 hours a day at work or travelling to / from work.

 

[flyingfeet]

Quick retort:

"You know I've never noticed horses bonding with the sh*t shovellers! "

I am going to pay for mine to be mucked out because time is precious and I'd rather spend it riding and training than making their beds.

 

[Loupride]

Beacuse i dont have enough time for D.I.Y.

If I had my horse on D.I.Y. I probably wouldn't have half as much time to ride him???

 

[kildalton]

Because DIY on our yard is precisely that. They won't do any services at all. We stay there because the facilities are so good.
BTW, we went there as DIY, but the yard has changed hands since then.

 

[Alibear]

because I can't guarantee I can get there twice a day every day with working and being a mum. So this way I know he's always well cared for and when I do get time to see him we can do what we want

Far better than not having a horse which is the only alternative. Riding lessons nah generally you don't get the same quality of horse to ride (genralisation I know) and you don't build the bond you do with your own horse. My YO might be the one who feeds him everyday but I'm the one who takes him out to parties

 

[air78]

My horse i on full livery because i'm self employed and don't always have a regular work routine. This way i know his every need is taken care of, rugs, feed, feet picked -out the lot! I don't feel guilty about him being stood by a gate in the cold, waiting to be fed, if i finish work an hour later than i thought i would.
I go and see him everyday to groom him and check him over and give him a cuddle

and i ride 5 or 6 days week.
I'm not running away from the mucking out- that comment sounds like jealousy (sp?) to me....... maybe she really wishes her horse was on full livery!!!!

 

[Tierra]

A few reasons..

My horse came from my trainer and I wanted both him (and me!) to stay with her. She only offers full livery so that was that.

There are other reasons though. Firstly, I dont ever ever want my horse's routine to suffer because traffic is bad and im late getting to him, or i overlay, or whatever. No matter whats going on in my life, his routine is consistent and i like that.

Secondly, Ive had my time on DIY - i did it for years and years. Im now fortunate to be in a position that we can afford full livery so its something I enjoy - I never found mucking out to be a particularly bonding experience... when I spend time at the stables now, its just with him.

For me it all comes down to peace of mind. I know my horse is well looked after by people who live on site. If any of the horses are ill, they are checked on hourly throughout the night by one of the staff. Ive even known the YO's mum wake up the entire house at 3am because a snow storm had moved in and she decided the horses needed thicker rugs. I just dont think I could offer him that kind of care any other way.

It costs us a fortune but its 100% worth it in my eyes!

 

[Tufty]

Because of the time aspect and also if you work it out its not that much cheaper on diy especially in the winter if you take all the petrol money into consideration, you can concerntrate on your riding more than shuffling ....... and you have more time for grooming etc

 

[Petrie]

Someone said that to me once, when I had a horse on full livery. I think it's a bit of a jealousy thing.

I can understand why she might ask if you had it on proper full livery, with someone else riding it all the time, but if you're riding it every day, then really you don't have to justify it to anyone.

Tell her it's because you have SO much money you don't know what to do with it!

Rise above it, you're OK!

 

[kayleigh_and_rocky]

I had him on full livery through my GCSE's and A levels because it was important i had the time to study and pass my exams and not have to worry about how im going to muck out before my a level exam. I also went on full livery when i got ill, i got ME and i just coudlnt physically get up every morning to do the horses, hes on part livery now so i still have the flexibility as im still v ill and my health is unpredictable but now i get up there every day and have 2 DIY days so am alot more involved.

 

[JoBo]

WORK!

Why people don't have full livery.........MONEY!

Said she who went from Full to DIY and wouldn't go back, but I totally understand why people do have full livery!!!

 

[Quarrybank]

I echo the thoughts above. I did my years on DIY, plus 3 years where i kept them at home. Now I'm on full livery because I work in london. Start work at 7.15am & don't leave until at least 5.30pm. I also have to stay late some evening due to meetings/ take clients out or stay unexpectedly because the markets have got busy. I don't feel guilty because when I do get home I spend quality time with them. I ride one of them 5 days a week and the 4 yo 3 times a week (someone hacks him 2 days for me as well)
Don't let anyone make you feel guilty as everyones life is different. As it is, I get up at 5.30am, don't get home from the yard til 8pm & I'm in bed by 10pm. Sad I know but I wouldn't have it any other way.
Unless I won the lottery & didn't have to work at all!!!

 

[JACQSZOO]

At times I'd love to have my horse on full livery. I have been DIY for years until this year when I have assisted DIY (he is turned out/bought in for me as required). I did this for several reasons, I can afford it now I only have one to do and my new yard is much further from home. Its very liberating only have to go up once a day!!
At my yard there is one woman who has her horse on full livery, that frankly I just cannot understand. She lives on site pratically (the YO sold his house to her to convert a barn) she works from home yet she only comes over to ride occassionaly. Each to their own I guess - but I would give my eye teeth to live that close to the yard!

 

[katelarge]

While my horse is officially on part livery, in effect he is on full livery without being ridden for me, and I do worry that he must love the grooms more than me! It was very hard coming to that from DIY at his previous yard, and I do sometimes feel bad about it. But the benefits are so good - a great yard where he is settled and better behaved, gets more turnout, has nicer staff working with him, and good facilities.

I think people like to knock full livery because unless you sweat blood over you horse you don't "earn" the good things. While I can appreciate this way of thinking, where do you draw the line? Milling your own oats? Cutting your own hay and straw? Shoeing yourself? There are lots of horsey specialists we all rely on, some of us to a greater extent than others, and I don't think it's fair to extrapolate that to mean that some people care lesss about their horses.

BTW if certain other forums (you know you they are) were to see this thread they would have a ball with it - the all-consuming fulfilment of DIY livery is exactly the kind of sentimental, well-meaning, wooly-headed thinking they thrive on!

 

[katelarge]

BTW JoElla, someone on full livery who lives that close is a bit of a conundrum! Like you say, HOW cool would it be to live right by your yard??!!!

 

[xEMPx]

So the Whitakers/Skelton/all professional riders are obviously not bonding/ dont want their horses if their grooms s**t shovel .....??

DIY + FULL TIME JOB = NO SOCIAL LIFE/LIFE!!!!

i used to be DIY , and it knackered me and i only had one!!
When i get my next horse im definately going to get part/full!! xx

 

[KatB]

Charming!! I'm on DIY because I cant afford full livery with my job. I still manage to have a life, just requires organisation!

Have no problem with people keeping their horse on full livery if can though.

 

[xEMPx]

No offence!!
Just going up the yard at the crack of dawn, working all day then up riding and finishing off till 7.30/8ish i was so tired i found myself getting stuck in a rut of doing nothing else.

Fair Play if you can do it all.....Must have more energy!! x

 

[Agent XXX999]

Because, after commuting and spending the day at work, I want to see my horses and not a weelbarrow, and I want them done properly, not rushed, because it gives me time in the week, because I cant get there every day, because I know that he will be sorted if he needs the vet/farrier/dentist, because I know that him and the rest of the yard get wormed/vacs etc when they need it, because I know that he is going to have bed/feed/water/hay all day every day.

Saying that I do muck out at the weekends because I enjoy it and my YO does 12 horses on her own so it does her a favour. If I didnt do it though, she wouldnt care. xxx

Dont feel bad feel great!

 

[KatB]

Can understand where you are coming from, but after working with horses, it doesnt seem much of a chore just spending a couple of hours with him a day!

Depends what you're used to though I suppose!!

 

[shadowboy]

Yeah i did wonder whether thats why she started this conversation... but i used to be on DIY so im no snob.. i just had to make the change or loose the horse. I felt like i had to defend myself to her which i think was harsh, but it got me thinking why we all put them on Full, was it for the same reasons?

 

[xEMPx]

Oh i used to work on a Yard- doing my BHS exams, also now work in Recruitment - dont get me wrong horses arent a chore at all - but i would just prefer to go up and ride/groom/fuss instead of mucking out and missing that bonding bit of plodding out for a hack or schooling....x

 

[TGM]

I have my horses at home now and do them myself which I love. But when I was working up in London there wasn't time for me to do my horse properly myself, so I put her on full livery - ie they turned out, fed, brought in, mucked out etc. I did the riding, grooming, tack cleaning etc. I usually rode 5 days a week at that time - so going to a riding school 5 days a week would cost an awful lot of money, plus you don't have the bond with the same horse, and also the opportunity to compete etc.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Stuff that woman...what is it to her anyway....everyone looks after their horse differently. I'm on DIY because I want to be & also it suits my lifestyle. I retired well early a few years ago & I now only do a part time job of 16 hours a week around lunchtime each day. This leaves me loads of time morning evening & weekends to do what I want. What I want to do is spend time at the stables & I do.

If you work odd hours or are never sure of your finish time etc it is far better to be on a full livery so that your horse is well looked after & in a steady routine.

She may have stuck her nose in through jealousy, nosiness or just gave her unwanted opinion. Take no notice of her!

 

[4whitesocks]

Cos at the moment if I didn't have him on full livery I couldn't have him at all....I also work & travel for 13 hours a day there's no way I could DIY...there simply aren't enough hours in the day...mind you he's coming home next summer to live in the paddock we have bought behind our house (as soon as I get the money together for stables which is hard when you are also paying full livery...bit of a viscious circle really) but it's easier when you can go out and turnout in your PJ's and wellies!

And yes I am on proper full schooling livery...which means that yes someone else rides him - I only get to ride maybe three times a week....but at the moment we both need the help (green horse green rider) and when he comes home that's it I'm on my own so I'm all for getting all teh help we can get!

 

[Theresa_F]

I work in london often long hours, but love to do my horses - can be exhausting.

My compromise is to have them feed and seen to in the mornings and in winter bought in and fed, and Wednesdays and Fridays they are on full livery.

This allows me one day to have a social life, and one day to work really late.

I do often not get home from the stables until 11 pm, but do find mucking out etc relaxing (I am strange). I only tend to exercise for 30 mins and do more at weekends.

I have had full livery, but missed looking after them.

As long as the horse is well cared for, it does not matter who does it.

 

[katiejaye]

I am on part livery because I work full time in London and live 45mins from Louis and my hubby would divorce me if I spent any more time with Louis than I currently do! I am up most nights after work (except the one night a friend rides Louis) and I am up most hours of the weekend! I would love to do more but I quite simply don't have enough hours in my day!

 

[truffles]

I have my horse on full livery during the week, and DIY on the weekend. I do wish it was DIY the whole time but the yard is an hour away from me, and I've just started my GCSE course, so it really isn't possible. I just thought it might be a good idea to jump in now, otherwise it really won't happen. I'm so lucky to be at a yard where they are so helpful etc..and if you can't get up there from some reason on the weekend they will do it and everything.

 

[LauraBR]

[ QUOTE ]
As long as the horse is well cared for, it does not matter who does it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sums it up for me.

My horse is on DIY and even my hubbie agrees that I'm a much nicer person if I have had my horsey de-stress time after work

That said, I do have to work away quite a lot and arrange full livery then, so really it is a mixture. So long as Sam is happy I'm happy. If I got a job that meant it was a choice between full livery and no horse I'd go for full livery... almosty had to make that choice recently.