Types of livery explained: DIY, part, full and the rest

What DIY, assisted DIY, part, full, grass, retirement and schooling livery each mean, who does what, and who each one suits.

"Livery" just means keeping your horse at someone else's yard for a fee. The type of livery says how much of the daily work the yard does and how much you do. Names aren't standardised, so two yards' "part livery" can mean quite different things: always ask for the list of what's included.

DIY livery

You rent a stable and a share of the grazing, and do everything yourself: mucking out, feeding, haying, turning out, bringing in, rugging, poo-picking, and arranging the farrier and vet. That means being at the yard at least twice a day, every day, or swapping duties with other liveries. It's the cheapest stabled option. Hay, bedding and feed are usually your own cost. Compare DIY prices.

Assisted DIY

DIY with help bought in. Typically the yard turns out in the morning or brings in at night, sometimes feeds, and charges per job or a weekly add-on. It suits people who work office hours and can do one visit a day but not two.

Part livery

The yard does the daily care on some days (often weekdays): feeding, mucking out, turning out and bringing in. You do the rest, usually weekends, and you ride. Part livery varies more than any other type: some include hay and bedding, some don't; some include exercise, most don't. Compare part livery prices.

Full livery

The yard does everything except ride: feeding, mucking out, turnout, rugs, grooming, and holding the horse for the farrier and vet. Feed, hay and bedding are usually included. Exercise (hacking, lunging, schooling) is usually extra. Compare full livery prices.

Grass livery

A field, water and a fence, with no stable. Cheapest of all, and suits hardy horses and native ponies that live out. Check what happens in winter: some yards include hay when the grass runs out, many don't, and you'll want a field shelter or good natural shelter.

Retirement livery

Long-term care for older or retired horses, usually living out in a settled group with daily checks, extra feed for the old ones, and the yard arranging routine care.

Schooling, competition and working livery

Schooling livery is full livery with the horse ridden several times a week by the yard's rider. Competition livery adds fitness work and often travel to shows. Working livery is a discount in return for the yard using your horse in its riding school for a few hours a week: ask exactly how many hours, who rides, and what happens if the horse goes lame.

Which one suits you?

Count honestly how many visits a day you can make, every day, in January. If it's two, DIY works. If it's one, you need assisted DIY or part. If it's a few a week, full livery. Then find yards near you and compare what each one's price includes.