DIY Livery vs Full Livery

What Livery option's best for
you? Photo: (c) DS Pugh

Like many decisions to be made by Horse owners these days, the choice of Livery option can be a little confusing! But trust us, it's really not that hard to find a suitable option for you and your horse! 

We've compiled some information on the different types of Livery Options available for you and your horse to help you make an informed choice

DIY Stabled Livery

This type of livery provides the horse owner with a stable in which to keep their horse and a field or paddock in which to turn their horse out during the day. The horse owner is responsible for all care including mucking out, turning the horse out to the field and bringing the horse in from the field and feeding of the horse on a daily basis. Bedding and hay are often not included and the horse owner must purchase these separately, although some livery yards may offer DIY stabled livery at a higher price with bedding and hay included. This type of livery requires the horse owner to attend to the horse in the morning and evening of every day.


Grass Livery

This type of livery provides the horse owner with a field in which to keep their horse. The horse owner is responsible for all care and feeding of the horse on a daily basis. This type of livery requires the horse owner to attend to the horse every day even if no feeding is necessary, in order to ascertain that the horse has suffered no injury or illness each day.

Part Livery

This type of livery is similar to DIY Stabled livery but the day to day care of the horse is shared by the owner and livery yard staff and the care routine will vary from yard to yard. Some livery yards may offer staff care during the week, with the horse owner responsible for the care of the horse at weekends, other livery yards may offer staff care in the mornings with the horse owner responsible for care of the horse in the evenings. Some livery yards may include some exercising of the horse within their part livery service. This type of livery is ideal for those horse owners whose work schedule makes it difficult for them to attend to their horse twice a day, 7 days a week.

Full Livery

In addition to providing the horse owner with a stable in which to keep their horse and a field in which to turn their horse out during the day, full livery usually also includes bedding, hay and feed. Livery yard staff are responsible for all care including mucking out, turning out the horse to the field and bringing the horse in from the field and feeding of the horse on a daily basis. Some livery yards may include exercising of the horse within their full livery service. This type of livery is ideal for the horse owner whose busy schedule does not give them the time to care for their horse on a daily basis.

Working Livery

Livery yards that also operate as a riding school sometimes offer a Working Livery. The horse is kept at livery (grass, DIY stabled, part or full livery) but a reduced rate is charged in exchange for the horse owner allowing the livery yard to use their horse in riding lessons.