Guide
What's included in livery? The checklist to take on every yard visit
Updated
Two yards quoting £120 a week can be offering completely different things. The weekly price only means something next to the list of what it covers, so here is the list.
Usually included vs usually extra
| Item | Grass / DIY | Part | Full |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grazing, water, fencing | Included | Included | Included |
| Stable | DIY yes, grass no | Included | Included |
| Hay / haylage | Usually extra | Often included, check quantity | Usually included |
| Bedding | Usually extra | Varies widely | Usually included |
| Daily turnout / bring in | You | Shared, on agreed days | Yard |
| Mucking out | You | Shared | Yard |
| Exercise / schooling | You | You, or paid extra | Sometimes included, often extra |
| Holding for farrier / vet | You, or paid extra | Often included | Included |
| Holiday cover | Paid extra | Often included | Included |
This is the typical 2026 pattern across UK yards, not a rulebook; every yard draws these lines differently, which is exactly why the checklist matters. A "cheap" DIY price plus bought-in hay, bedding and daily turnout can genuinely overtake a part livery price that includes all three.
Questions to ask before you say yes
- Exactly which services are in the weekly price, in writing, and what each extra costs?
- How much turnout, on what ground, in winter? "Turnout available" and "daily winter turnout" are different promises.
- What are the school rules: booking, lessons by outside instructors, floodlight hours?
- What do you feed and bed on, and can I supply my own?
- What's the worming and vaccination policy? A yard that checks everyone's is protecting your horse too.
- Who is on site overnight, and what happens in an emergency if I can't be reached?
Reading a yard when you visit
- Look at the horses, not the tack room: weight, feet, rugs right for the weather tell you how the yard actually runs.
- Visit at a busy time. How the yard feels at 5pm on a weekday is the truth of it.
- Talk to a current livery client out of earshot of the owner; one honest sentence beats any brochure. Then compare a few yards before deciding.