by Lucy Collins

Created on: July 07, 2011

Choosing a livery stable, isn’t as simple as just picking the nearest one. There are many other factors to consider. Horse owners have different requirements for their horses, so whether there are options for daily turnout, exercise, full livery or just DIY livery is important. Some owners are happy hackers, others who compete require schooling and jumping facilities. The size of the livery yard, the amount of grazing, the location with regards to the riding opportunities are all conducive to the horse, and the owner being happy and settled.

Location - The location of the livery stables is probably the first thing to look at with regards to choosing a livery yard. First of all, the distance from where the owner resides is important, especially if the owner requires DIY livery. If visiting a horse twice a day then it needs to be within fairly close proximity to enable this to be possible. The distance from home is not quite so important if the horse is going to be on full livery.

The other thing regarding the location, is the riding country. Some livery yards have excellent riding in close vicinity. Some even have great riding on their own land. This can be crucial for the horse and rider to be happy. A livery stables that is on a main road, will not be much good for a horse that is traffic shy. Even if there is fantastic riding off the main road, if it needs to be negotiated every time, it should not really be a possibility. An owner may select a livery stable based on the type of available riding. They may even choose one that is central to where competitions are held.

Type of livery offered - Whilst many people opt for DIY livery, or do it yourself, many owners, especially those who work full time, are unable to commit to this. Some DIY livery yards offer daily turnout at cost, so this could be utilised if required. They may even offer a mucking out service. Some yards offer full livery and do not have any DIY clients. This may not suit a lot of owners but would be perfect for some. It may include exercising and use of horse walker.

Grazing - Some livery stables have limited grazing. In winter, some yards do not offer any turnout at all. Or turnout may be every other day. For the ones that offer daily turnout in winter, the grazing varies considerably. Whilst some still have a reasonable amount of grass in winter, others will be poached and full of mud. Some have so few grass that horses still need hay when turned out. For those with poor grazing,

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