Cost of livery?

For a feature I am writing I have just had to look up the total cost of owning a horse per annum.

I was shocked to read that the going rate for Do It Yourself (DIY) livery is between £30 and £40 at most places a week. This includes nothing apart from a stable, use of the arena and a field ONLY during dry periods.

Full livery can cost in the region of £150 a week and this includes most requirements apart from farrier, vets and any other care such as emergencies.

It shocks me that people pay such a huge amount a year to own a horse and often you will find people not just one, but maybe two or three equines. I am guilty of this and between us my dad and I own six at the moment. Albeit, a couple are school ponies that we have in our riding school.

I am interested to know what you pay for you livery and in return what you expect.

At my yard we charge £22.50 a week and without a doubt offer the best facilities in our area for that price. However it doesn't stop the complaints and I don't think livery yards can ever keep every individual happy - there are so many needs one requires that to tick everyones requirements off you would need a small fortune of money.

In return for £22.50 a week, which is the cost of DIY Livery we offer the following:
- Outdoor olympic sized, all weather flood lit arena
- Canteen with tea/coffee making facilities
- 2 viewing boxes that overlook the menage
- Viewing veranda overlooking the menage
- Cabin that has heating in for the cold weather
- Course of show jumps, fillers and some cross-country fences
- All weather turnout. Admittedly this all weather turnout is on a rota now in bad weather BUT it means we will have good grass when spring comes.
- Individual turnout
- Off road hacking through our own private woodland. This leads to our very own large haulage field which you can ride around at your leisure
- All stables are in a barn which has CCTV and 365 day a year security.
- Tack rooms are all very secure with padlocks and CCTV operating throughout
- On site riding instructor which is available as and when you need her
- Owners lorry to use. Yes, at a small extra cost but this only covers its MOT, tax and insurance.
- Cheaper clinics with riders like Joe Whitaker, Lionel Dunning and Penny Hollings
- Post and rail fencing - some electric in places but all paddocks are sturdy and with post fencing
- Cross-country course is currently being built
- Individual lockers to store tack in etc
- Shared feed-rooms between 3/4 of you
- Hay/Straw/Feed/Shavings sold on site
- Tack shop for liveries
- Help and assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year.
+ MORE!

For £22.50 a week, this barely covers the cost of lighting, broken fencing and all other areas that need regular repair work and attention.

In this snowy weather we have ensured all liveries have had water available at all times for their horses. Only two taps are not frozen on the yard and the yard manager has filled up all buckets so even DIY liveries do not have to fetch it themselves.

I am interested to know what you pay and in return what facilities you receive. Also, roughly, how much per annum do you spend on your horse. If you are a competition rider I am sure this is a much higher amount than what happy hackers pay?

Tweet me @FurryMane or comment below so I can expand on this further.

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Labels: cost of owning a horse , equestrian journalism , equine , horses , Joe Whitaker , lionel dunning , Owning a horse , penny hollings