would you move off livery to a field ?

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thinlizzy

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something you might/not think about renting a field with/out shelter possibly putting your own in so you can keep your neddies the way you want ,have you done this or vice versa ?Or do you do this then go on a livery yard for a few months of the year ? Just wondering different scenarios thanks and options
 
Not quite the same, but we moved my horses from a livery yard to home when my dad bought a farm outside Jo'burg.

Pro's: having them around 24/7 and being able to go and see them any time of the day or night, and seeing their gorgeous little faces first thing in the morning

Con's: facilities - there was a riding school down the road (20 minutes hack) but security fears meant I couldn't ride alone there, and also sometimes it was belting down with rain; not having people to ride with and motivate you; I had to get really confident and proficient with veterinary procedures as the farm was MILES away from the vet - including wound dressing, giving injections etc; it was sometimes very lonely

On the whole I loved having them at home, but the benefits of the well-run livery yard I'm on now in the UK just far outweighs it
 
It has great rewards having a field to yourself, but it can also be daunting and hard work.
You are responsible for the fencing, harrowing, rolling, re-seeding, fertilizing etc etc. And then there is the equipment to do all these things! On the other hand there is no-one to tell you what to do or question your ability, no-one to bitch at you (or about you!). As you can guess I had my fill of livery yards and find it difficult coping with various personalities whilst trying to enjoy my hard-earnt horse. I have rented 6 acres and a barn (with 4 stables in) for the past seven years and it is my bit of heaven, it isn't always peaceful as there are still neighbours with noisy dogs but you can't have everything - unless you win the lottery! The price of this would be the same as having one horse in full livery. I have had five horses but am happily down to three now. Two keep each other company if I ride one or other out.
Luckily the landowner knows the right people to come and do reseeding, harrowing etc. Although I have got my own roller (which can be towed by our Land Rover). I also have a small trailer which is brilliant for carting water about (as one main trough is not enough), and also throwing hay into. I have also collected an assortment of wheelbarrows (as one is not enough!!). One in the barn for mucking out, two in the field, one for poo-picking and one for carting hay from the barn to the field (its clean).
All I need now is a field shelter (or two - as one is not enough!!). Good luck. ;)
 
Yes, and we did - 12 years ago - and have never looked back. We began by moving from part livery (full livery apart from weekends) to the field which was, at the time rented of the local farmer. We have since purchaced the land. All we have is a 6acre field, and then a 1 acre field (which we use as a schooling paddock) seperate. We put up a field shelter, and it really was the best decision we ever made. We would never get planning permission for stables, but I wouldnt want them. We have competition horses (primarily eventers) up to Intermediate / * and we run them from said field. They never come in at night even in the snow (shocking I know... horses out in a field. Scandal!!!!) and I think that that makes them more relaxed and hapier. I guess the only 'facility' is my godmother's menage, but I have to pop them on the box for 10 mins to get there, but the advantages are that it is free!!

Any questions about field living, feel free to pick my brains!!
 
We moved from a livery yard to a field with stables two years ago. Best thing we ever did. Would be nice to have a school but we manage without and it's bliss to be able to manage the grazing just as we need to for our horses. They've never been more settled or in better condition.
 
I moved from DIY livery to a field just along from my house....I have stables, secure fencing but no leccy or water.

I love it...I would have to be forced back to a livery yard. The horses are more settled, look better and have had no injuries since living together.

It is harder work in some ways, but having them just down the road and organising stuff to suit me and the horses is fab.
 
We did it, and if it's in my power, I would never go back.

It is hard work, and obviously you can't just grab a favour from your stable neighbour if getting to the yard is a problem, but you just find a way!

Love it, love it, love it!!!!!! And the best thing I ever did. Can you tell???? :D :D :D
 
We took on an old cow field, all it had to it's advantage at the time, was water....which is THE most important 'service' to have about of course! The fencing was non-exsistant, took us a month to make it 'horse-proof' on the perimeter of the field....

Almost 4 years later, we have lots of paddocks, a stable, field-shelter, a feed-shed, a small schooling area and the joy that we are alone.....! This winter will see a nice shed go up as a 'tea-room' for those cold winter days!

The shelter, stable and shed are not 'permanent'....the land is protected and the council was quite happy that these things were 'not attached' to the floor....! We got round flooring very easily...

It's fab, we love it, and although again tonight will be spent clearing weeds and stuff...I wouldn't change it for the world....!

:D
 
I have never been on a yard, as we are farmers, so whereverr we rent for the sheep, we work the horses in too. I work on a full livery yard, and have been offered DIY there for one of my 2, but to be honest I would find it too restrictive and I dont think my big girl would settle.
Just out of interest DragonSlayer, how did you get round not putting a floor down for your stables etc? Is your land very well drained? Im weighing up the options of either putting 2 boxes outside or having internal partitions put in the barn, so any advice is appreciated!! x
 
What we did, is put down loads and loads of shavings on top of the grass, then a load of hemp-type stuff....and bashed it all down! Just keep topping it up now and again. It's not used super-regularly, but does the job for us! The trick is....is have guttering and the water going well away from the stable....it stayed wonderfully dry in there all winter. We channel the water from the guttering into one of those large containers in a cage-type-things, does for water for any horse in the stable, and also water for the chickens! :D

We DO have good soil though, a mixture of sand and clay, I'd be doubtful that clay land alone would be good at draining away excess water...

If that doesn't work, lay down a thick layer of sand, and slab it, those good thick slabs.....it's not a permanent floor then! :D
 
Me too. Last time I was at a livery yard was about 6 years ago now. Don't plan on ever doing livery again unless I have absolutely no choice.

I love having my own (rented) land. Most of the plus points have already been covered in the posts above, but I could still go on and on about how much I love it (but I'm not going to bore you). Even though I don't have many of the facilities offered by livery yards such as a menage, moving my gang to my "own" place was still the best decision I have ever made. I'm much happier, and as far as I can tell, my horses are much happier too!
 
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