DIY, assisted, part, full… if you’re looking for a yard, or you’re new to horses, it can quickly start to feel like you need a translator. In our guide to different types of livery yards we’ve broken down the main types to make it simple.

The good news is that there isn’t a “right” type of livery. It’s simply about finding the level of support that works for your horse, your routine and your budget.

And one important thing before we start: livery terms aren’t completely standardised. Two yards offering “part livery” can include very different things, so always ask exactly what’s included.

DIY Livery

DIY is the most hands-on option. You’ll usually be responsible for your horse’s everyday care, including mucking out, feeding, turnout, bringing in and preparing hay or feeds.

It can be a great fit if you enjoy doing the day-to-day jobs, want control over your horse’s routine and have the time to get to the yard consistently.

Don’t just think about your ideal week, though. Think about winter, work running late, holidays and the occasional morning when everything goes wrong.

Worth asking: Is help available when you need it, and what does it cost?

Assisted DIY Livery

Assisted DIY gives you the independence of DIY with a bit more flexibility.

You might do most of the care yourself but pay the yard to handle certain jobs, such as morning turnout, bringing in or mucking out.

For many owners, it’s a useful middle ground if you want to stay hands-on without needing to be at the yard twice a day, every day.

Worth asking: Which services can you add, how much notice is needed and is help available at weekends?

Part Livery

With part livery, the yard takes responsibility for more of your horse’s daily care.

Depending on the yard, this might include feeding, turnout, bringing in, mucking out, forage and bedding, leaving you to ride and handle other parts of your horse’s routine.

This can work well if you’re juggling horse ownership with work, family or other commitments.

Worth asking: What exactly does “part livery” include here? Never assume based on the name alone.

Full Livery

Full livery generally means most of your horse’s everyday care is taken care of by the yard.

That can make horse ownership much more manageable if you have a busy or unpredictable schedule, or simply want to spend more of your yard time actually enjoying your horse.

Exactly what’s included still varies. Exercise, grooming, holding for the vet or farrier and other services may cost extra.

Worth asking: What would I still be responsible for on a normal week?

Grass Livery

Grass livery generally means your horse lives out rather than having a permanent stable.

For horses that thrive living outside, it can be a brilliant option. But it’s worth looking beyond the lovely summer field and asking how the setup works throughout the year.

Think about winter grazing, forage, shelter, herd management, daily checks and what happens if your horse needs to come in.

Worth asking: What does grass livery look like here in January, not just July?

Specialist Livery

Sometimes you need something more specific than everyday livery.

You may come across:

• Retirement livery – care for horses retired from ridden work
• Training livery – professional care alongside regular training
• Competition livery – care and training geared towards competing
• Rehabilitation livery – structured care during recovery or rehabilitation
• Sales livery – preparation and management of selling your horse
• Breaking / schooling livery – professional training for a set period
• Working livery – often reduced livery in return for your horse being used by a riding establishment
• Short-term livery – temporary care when you only need somewhere for a limited period

With specialist livery, ask exactly what the service includes, who will be caring for or working with your horse and how you’ll be kept updated.

So, which type of livery is right for you?

Start with your real life, not what you think horse ownership is supposed to look like.

Ask yourself:

• How often can I realistically get to the yard?
• How much of the daily care do I want to do myself?
• How much flexibility do I need?
• What does my horse need?
• What can I comfortably afford each month?

There’s no prize for doing everything yourself, and choosing more support doesn’t make you any less involved in your horse’s life.

Equally, if mucking out at 7am is genuinely your happy place, you might not want to pay somebody else to do it.

The most important thing to remember

The name isn’t the package.

Before comparing yards, find out exactly what’s included, what’s extra and what happens when you need additional help.

The right livery is the one where your horse gets the care they need and you get to enjoy owning them.