Livery yard v renting a field

[slipperandpjsmum]

Which do you prefer and why?

It depends what you want to do with your horse really (am assuming you mean DIY livery). At the moment I'm 'visiting' a livery yard for schooling purposes and enjoying it very much. The facilities are great, it's nice not having to cart tack to and fro and having people to hack out with. Dhorse is loving it too, watching all the goings on. Part of me is tempted to stay and if I wanted to go back to stabling in winter and clipping out and going to shows etc then I probably would.
However, I would miss the freedom of having our own field, being able to strip-graze as we want, knowing it is poo-picked every day and not having to follow someone elses's worming programme. Not having to negotiate a muddy gateway with 20 other horses all desperate to come in for their dinners. Being able to buy in our own hay and bedding so we know it is good quality (some livery yards only let you buy from them so you are stuck with what they supply), not having to hunt round for my barrow and fork that someone has 'borrowed' and not put back, all that petty stuff that can eventually drive you mad!
Of course I'm also biased in favour of the field by the fact of having a disabled child as I can drive the car right in and keep an eye on him if I have to take him with me, and I know our horses are used to him if he does wander about a bit. I haven't been able to take him to the livery yard as the car park is out of sight (also too hot to leave in car atm of course)and the place is just too busy to be safe for him. I imagine I would feel the same if I had a lively toddler that I sometimes had to take to the yard with me so personal circumstances do affect the choices.

Just to add that I'm lucky I work from home so I can go to the field in daylight hours and don't notice the lack of electricity. No doubt I would soon be scuttling to a yard if I could only get there in the evenings.