FROM GRASS TO FULL AND BEYOND
Unfortunately, it's difficult to list individual yards here although you will find a couple of recommendations on my yards page here. This is mainly because yards change management like the weather and they are usually full if they are good. Instead, I'd like to give you a bit of a run-down on what to expect wherever you may go. These three points are my top three for any yard:
1) People: The first thing I would say is make sure you like the people, the people are definitely the most important part here. A) They will be looking after your horse(s) and B) This is your sanctuary where you will spend a heap of your time, you will need people that you do like being around - think hacking buddies, schooling partners and holiday cover.
2) Cost: well at the end of the day this depends on you and your budget and time. From my experience, I have found that grass livery in Surrey can range from £80 per month to £120 depending on the place, you can add on to this for any extras you may need help with. Full livery where everything including exercise and tack cleaning is carried out for you, I have seen go up to £1000 per month with a £750 average I would say. Part livery can be about £550 ish and includes your mucking out etc but generally no riding or tack cleaning, this does however vary. If you are looking to have your training included on Competition Livery, look at about £900 per month and up.
3) Location: Given how much our insanity pushes us to hang out with our fury friends, you know you will be there most days. This means your yard needs to be relatively close by and the hacking needs to be damn good. For those of you guys who love schooling, even you will understand the need for a good hack. My personal experience tells me that the Epsom Downs & Headley areas as well as North Dorking around Ranmore are probably the best hacking places, you can go for miles. I would add to this Frensham, sandy tracks and miles of hacking.
1) People: The first thing I would say is make sure you like the people, the people are definitely the most important part here. A) They will be looking after your horse(s) and B) This is your sanctuary where you will spend a heap of your time, you will need people that you do like being around - think hacking buddies, schooling partners and holiday cover.
2) Cost: well at the end of the day this depends on you and your budget and time. From my experience, I have found that grass livery in Surrey can range from £80 per month to £120 depending on the place, you can add on to this for any extras you may need help with. Full livery where everything including exercise and tack cleaning is carried out for you, I have seen go up to £1000 per month with a £750 average I would say. Part livery can be about £550 ish and includes your mucking out etc but generally no riding or tack cleaning, this does however vary. If you are looking to have your training included on Competition Livery, look at about £900 per month and up.
3) Location: Given how much our insanity pushes us to hang out with our fury friends, you know you will be there most days. This means your yard needs to be relatively close by and the hacking needs to be damn good. For those of you guys who love schooling, even you will understand the need for a good hack. My personal experience tells me that the Epsom Downs & Headley areas as well as North Dorking around Ranmore are probably the best hacking places, you can go for miles. I would add to this Frensham, sandy tracks and miles of hacking.
So, what does it all mean?
There are many different types of livery and what you go for will depend on the time you have available, your budget and the type of horse you have. Here is a brief run through of each type of livery:
Grass Livery - This is where you are basically on your own. You do everything yourself from pooh picking, to haying, to feeding and riding. You also buy everything yourself including hay, feed, worming, vet and farrier. Some yards will offer help on an additional cost basis but this type of livery is only really for those who know exactly what they are doing with their horse. Surrey Cost est. £100 per month.
DIY Livery - This is basically the same as grass livery but you have a stable also. You must provide your own hay, feed and bedding as well as doing everything yourself. You muck out every day and turnout, bring in, ride, tack clean, brush and feed all on your own. Again, this is really for those of us who know what we are doing. You may get lucky and be surrounded by helpful souls who will chip in, but you will need to do your homework on the yard to make sure you can get some help. Assisted DIY is a variation of this where they may feed and hay as well as bring in and turnout your horse, expect additional cost for this. Basic DIY in Surrey is approx. £200 per month. Assisted DIY (i.e. you get some help) is also normal, again expect additional cost.
Part Livery - This usually includes most daily duties such as haying, feeding, turnout, bring in, rug changes and daily mucking out. Some yards will include grooming with this, some do not. Some include tack cleaning, some do not. Feed and hay is included, farrier and worming is not. Cost estimate for Surrey £550 per month.
Full Livery - This should include everything for Part Livery with the addition of tack cleaning, grooming and exercising your horse 3x times per week. Trimming your horse may or may not be included. Clipping is usually an additional cost. Worming may well be included. Cost estimate for Surrey is about £750 per month.
Competition Livery - as with Full Livery but add on 3x lessons per week, trimming and show preparation. Show preparation does vary though and some yards will not do this. The cost of your lessons however is included. The cost can be upwards of £900 per month in the Surrey areas. Your horse should be fit and trained and exceptionally well cared for.
Hunter Livery - This is the ultimate livery for any hunting lover. Every single possible aspect of your horse is covered - this is to the point that you will give the yard the date you want to go hunting and the time of the meet and your horse will be handed to you ready to go. It should be 100% fit, clipped and plaited and turned out immaculately. When you finish your days hunting, you hand your horse back to your groom. The cost here can be exponential, consider £1000 per month to be cheap. On the upside, if you have no time, live in Central London and love a days hunting, what more could you want. The alternative here is of course a hunter hireling.........
Grass Livery - This is where you are basically on your own. You do everything yourself from pooh picking, to haying, to feeding and riding. You also buy everything yourself including hay, feed, worming, vet and farrier. Some yards will offer help on an additional cost basis but this type of livery is only really for those who know exactly what they are doing with their horse. Surrey Cost est. £100 per month.
DIY Livery - This is basically the same as grass livery but you have a stable also. You must provide your own hay, feed and bedding as well as doing everything yourself. You muck out every day and turnout, bring in, ride, tack clean, brush and feed all on your own. Again, this is really for those of us who know what we are doing. You may get lucky and be surrounded by helpful souls who will chip in, but you will need to do your homework on the yard to make sure you can get some help. Assisted DIY is a variation of this where they may feed and hay as well as bring in and turnout your horse, expect additional cost for this. Basic DIY in Surrey is approx. £200 per month. Assisted DIY (i.e. you get some help) is also normal, again expect additional cost.
Part Livery - This usually includes most daily duties such as haying, feeding, turnout, bring in, rug changes and daily mucking out. Some yards will include grooming with this, some do not. Some include tack cleaning, some do not. Feed and hay is included, farrier and worming is not. Cost estimate for Surrey £550 per month.
Full Livery - This should include everything for Part Livery with the addition of tack cleaning, grooming and exercising your horse 3x times per week. Trimming your horse may or may not be included. Clipping is usually an additional cost. Worming may well be included. Cost estimate for Surrey is about £750 per month.
Competition Livery - as with Full Livery but add on 3x lessons per week, trimming and show preparation. Show preparation does vary though and some yards will not do this. The cost of your lessons however is included. The cost can be upwards of £900 per month in the Surrey areas. Your horse should be fit and trained and exceptionally well cared for.
Hunter Livery - This is the ultimate livery for any hunting lover. Every single possible aspect of your horse is covered - this is to the point that you will give the yard the date you want to go hunting and the time of the meet and your horse will be handed to you ready to go. It should be 100% fit, clipped and plaited and turned out immaculately. When you finish your days hunting, you hand your horse back to your groom. The cost here can be exponential, consider £1000 per month to be cheap. On the upside, if you have no time, live in Central London and love a days hunting, what more could you want. The alternative here is of course a hunter hireling.........