If you’re comparing yards, you’ll hear the same words over and over: DIY, part livery, full livery, maybe grass livery too. The tricky bit is that yards don’t always use these labels in exactly the same way.

So here’s the simple rule that makes everything easier:

Livery types are really about one question: how much of the daily care do you want to do yourself?

Once you know that, the rest becomes a practical match between your time, budget, and riding goals.

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Types of livery in the UK (quick definitions)

Use this as your “translation guide” when you’re browsing listings or speaking to yards:

DIY livery: The yard provides the space and facilities. You do the daily care (feeding, mucking out, turnout, checks).
Grass livery: Your horse lives out. Care depends on the agreement, but it’s often closer to DIY unless stated otherwise.
Part livery: A shared setup. The yard does some daily tasks, and you do the rest. What’s included varies, so you’ll want the task list.
Full livery: The yard handles most day-to-day care. Some services may still be extras (like exercise, clipping, or rehab support).
Assisted DIY: DIY livery plus agreed help with specific tasks (for example, turnout on weekdays).
Working livery: Reduced cost in exchange for the horse being used for agreed work (only consider with clear written terms).

One important note: always ask what the yard means by the type, because “part livery” at one place can look like “full livery” at another.

A useful question that keeps things simple:

“Can you list the exact tasks included in this package, and what’s charged as an extra?”

DIY livery

DIY livery is the most hands-on option, and it’s also one of the most common starting points in the UK.

The simplest way to understand it is this: you’re paying for the place and the facilities, but you’re responsible for the day-to-day care.

What DIY livery usually includes

Most DIY arrangements give you:

A stable and/or grazing
Use of the yard facilities (where available, for example an arena, wash bay, tack room, storage)
Basic yard management (rules, routines, opening times, safety expectations)

What livery usually includes

At a minimum, livery usually includes:

1. A place for your horse to live (stable and/or grazing)
2. Access to the yard’s facilities (varies by yard)
3. Basic yard organisation (rules, routines, and how things operate)

What do you usually do on DIY

On DIY, the daily jobs generally sit with you. That often includes:

feeding (and organising your horse’s feed)
mucking out and bedding
turnout and bringing in
filling water and doing basic checks
rug changes
arranging farrier/vet visits (and often being there)

Some yards offer “help” on certain tasks, but unless it’s written into your package, DIY usually means you’re the main carer.

Who DIY livery suits

DIY tends to suit owners who:

can visit the yard consistently (often once or twice a day depending on routine)
enjoy being hands-on with care
want to keep costs lower and pay only for the services they actually need
have the confidence to manage day-to-day routines safely

It also suits people who want more control over feed, routine, and how things are done.

A quick “DIY reality check”

If you’re considering DIY, ask yourself this honestly:

Can you still manage the routine during busy weeks?
Who covers care if you’re ill, travelling, or stuck at work?
Are you comfortable paying for ad-hoc help when needed?

DIY is a great option when it fits your life. It becomes stressful when it relies on a version of you who never has a late day.

The UK-specific things to clarify (this is where DIY can trip people up)

Before you commit, it’s worth getting clarity on a few points that matter a lot in UK yards:

Turnout routines and winter changes. Ask what turnout looks like in winter and what happens when fields are waterlogged. Some yards restrict turnout or change routines seasonally.
What counts as “included” vs “extra”O n DIY, things like holding for the farrier, bringing in/out, or even using certain facilities can be additional charges depending on the yard.
Access and opening times. DIY only works if you can actually do the care when needed. Confirm morning/evening access, and whether there are any restrictions.
Where are your supplies kept? Find out how hay, bedding, feed, and storage work. Practical details here affect your day-to-day experience more than people expect.

Grass livery

Grass livery is often the simplest setup on paper: your horse lives out in a field rather than being stabled full-time. In the UK, it’s a popular option for horses that thrive living out and for owners who want a more natural routine.

But “grass livery” can mean different things depending on the yard, so the most helpful way to approach it is:

Grass livery describes where the horse lives. It doesn’t automatically tell you who does the daily care.

What grass livery usually includes

Most grass livery arrangements include:

Grazing (your horse kept out in a field)
Access to basic yard facilities (varies, some include limited storage or a school, others don’t)
Yard rules and management around fencing, gates, turnout groups, and field rotation (where used)

Some yards also include:

Daily checks (someone “puts eyes on” the horse each day)
Rug changes or basic care tasksBut this is not universal, so it needs confirming.

What you need to clarify upfront (especially in the UK)

Because UK conditions change a lot with the seasons, these questions matter more than people expect:

Winter management: What happens when the ground turns wet, muddy, or frozen? Do horses stay out, come in occasionally, or is there a winter routine shift?
Supplementary forage: When grass quality drops, is hay/haylage provided? Is it included or extra? How is it managed in groups?
Shelter and safety: Is there a natural shelter or field shelter? What’s the fencing like? How often is it checked?
Daily checks: Who checks the horse each day? What does “checked” actually mean? And what happens if something is noticed?
Handling and catching: If your horse is hard to catch, what’s the plan? Is there a charge for catching or bringing in?

Grass livery can be brilliant, but it only feels “easy” when the yard has a clear system for these basics.

Who grass livery suits

Grass livery tends to suit owners who:

have a horse that does well living out
prefer a simpler routine and don’t need a daily stable time
are comfortable managing care themselves (or have support in place)
want a cost-effective option, depending on what’s included

It can also suit owners who want to reduce stable-related management, but it still requires structure and clear expectations.

Common misunderstandings to avoid

A few things people assume (and then regret):

“Grass livery means the yard does the care.”
Not always. Some grass livery is essentially DIY in a field.

“It’s cheaper in every case.”
Sometimes it is, but winter hay, rug changes, and checks can add up if they’re extras.

“Living out is automatically low-maintenance.”
In UK winters, it can be the opposite unless the yard manages ground conditions well.

A simple question that clears everything up

When you enquire about grass livery, ask:

“Does grass livery here include daily checks and basic care, or is it owner-managed?”

That one line tells you what you’re actually signing up for.

Part livery

Part livery is the “middle ground” that many UK owners choose when they want to stay involved, but don’t want the stress of managing every single daily job.

The simplest way to think about it is:

The yard covers some agreed tasks, and you do the rest.

Because “part livery” can look different from yard to yard, this section is less about memorising a definition and more about learning what to check so you can compare packages properly.

What part livery usually includes

Part livery often covers a mix of the core daily tasks, such as:

turnout and bring-in (sometimes weekdays only)
feeding (morning and/or evening)
mucking out (daily or on certain days)
water and basic checks
rug changes (depending on the yard)

Some yards include bedding and forage. Others don’t. Some include full care during the week and DIY at weekends. Part livery is flexible by nature.

Where part livery varies most (the part that matters)

If you take only one thing from this page, let it be this:

Part livery is defined by the task list, not the label.

When you’re comparing two yards, clarify:

Which tasks are included? (and which aren’t)
Which days are included? (weekdays only vs every day)
What counts as an extra charge? (holding, late bring-in, extra bedding, etc.)
What happens if the routine changes? (weather, turnout limits, staffing)

A package can sound affordable until you realise half the tasks you assumed were included are “extras”.

Who part livery suits

Part livery usually suits owners who:

Work full-time or have an unpredictable schedule
Want support with daily essentials, but still want hands-on involvement
Want consistency for the horse without moving to full livery
Need a plan that works during winter and busy weeks

It’s also popular with owners who like to do their own care on certain days and use the yard’s help as a safety net on others.

The two questions that make part livery easy to understand

When you enquire, ask these two things, and you’ll instantly know what you’re dealing with:

“Can you list the exact tasks included in the part livery fee?”
“Which of those tasks are included every day, and which are weekdays only?”

If the yard can answer clearly, great. If it’s vague, that’s a sign you’ll end up with confusion later.

A quick note on “part livery” and cost

Part livery fees can vary widely because they’re tied to:

the number of tasks included
whether services are daily or limited to certain days
facilities on offer (arena access, storage, etc.)
regional differences and staffing levels

So rather than comparing prices alone, compare value and clarity: what you get, how reliably it’s delivered, and how extras are handled.

Full livery

Full livery is designed for owners who want most of the daily care handled for them. In the UK, it’s often the most “hands-off” option, but it’s still worth checking exactly what the yard includes, because “full” can mean slightly different things depending on the setup.

The simplest way to think about it:

the yard runs your horse’s day-to-day routine, and you focus on riding and enjoyment.

What full livery usually includes

Most full livery packages commonly cover:

feeding (often morning and evening)
mucking out and bedding management
turnout and bring-in
water and basic daily checks
rug changes (in many yards, but still worth confirming)

Some yards also include things like stable rest management or basic monitoring, especially if they have experienced staff and structured routines.

What is often not included (common add-ons)

This is where full livery can surprise people. Even on full livery, many yards treat the following as add-ons or separate services:

exercise/schooling rides
clipping, trimming, mane/tail care
holding for vet/farrier outside agreed times
specialist care (rehab routines, medication administration, intensive monitoring)
extra bedding/forage above an included amount
competition support (prep, transport coordination, extra services)

None of this is “wrong” by itself. It just means full livery is still best understood by asking:

“What exactly is included day-to-day, and what counts as an extra charge?”

Who full livery suits

Full livery tends to suit owners who:

have demanding work schedules or travel regularly
want consistent daily routines without worrying about being on-site twice a day
are returning to riding and want support while they rebuild confidence
have horses that benefit from consistent management (fitness, routine, rehab support)

It’s also a good fit for owners who live further from the yard and want their horse’s care to be stable even if they can’t visit daily.

The “full livery mindset” (helps you choose properly)

Full livery isn’t just a convenience upgrade. It’s a trade-off:

You gain time and consistency
You give up some direct control over daily details

That’s why the best full livery choice is one where you trust the yard’s routine and communication.

When you view a yard, notice how they answer questions like:

What’s the daily routine (feed, turnout, checks)?
How do they handle changes (weather, injuries, special requests)?
How do they communicate updates?
How are extras approved and billed?

The clearer and calmer the answers, the smoother your experience usually is.

Assisted DIY and flexible packages

A lot of UK yards quietly offer what many owners actually need: DIY livery, with help for specific tasks.

You might hear it described as “assisted DIY”, “DIY plus services”, or it might not be labelled at all. The idea is simple:

You stay in control of your horse’s care, but the yard takes care of certain jobs you can’t reliably do every day.

This can be one of the best-value setups, as long as the agreement is clear.

What assisted DIY typically looks like

Assisted DIY is usually DIY livery plus one or more of these services:

turnout and/or bring-in (often weekdays)
mucking out (daily or selected days)
feeding (morning/evening)
rug changes
holding for farrier/vet (on agreed days)
basic checks (sometimes included, sometimes extra)

It’s especially common when owners work long hours, commute, or want weekday support but prefer to do care themselves on weekends.

Who assisted DIY suits best

Assisted DIY tends to suit owners who:

want to be hands-on but need support with the “non-negotiables.”
have an unpredictable schedule (late work days, travel, family commitments)
want to manage costs by paying for only the help they actually need
want flexibility without moving to part or full livery

It also works well for people who are confident with care but just need a consistent safety net.

The one thing that matters: getting it in writing

Because assisted DIY is flexible, it’s also where misunderstandings can happen. The fix is simple: make the task list specific.

Ask the yard to confirm:

Which tasks are included
Which days are included
What time windows are tasks done in (especially turnout/bring-in)
What is charged as an extra
how changes are requested (and when a change becomes chargeable)

A simple line you can use:

“Can we write down the exact tasks included, which days they happen, and what the extras cost?”

This keeps everything smooth and avoids “I thought that was included” moments.

A quick note on flexibility and cost

Assisted DIY can feel cost-effective because you’re not paying for full support every day. But the overall cost depends on:

How many tasks do you add
Whether services are daily or occasional
Whether extras are priced per task or bundled

So it’s worth asking for a clear breakdown, especially if you’re comparing it to part livery.

Working livery (and what to agree in writing)

Working livery usually means your livery cost is reduced in exchange for the horse being used for agreed work. In many cases, that work might be lessons, hacking, schooling rides, or some form of riding programme.

It can be a practical option in the right situation, but it needs more clarity than any other livery type because it involves three things at once:

your horse’s workload, your horse’s welfare, and your expectations as the owner.

What working livery can include

Every yard does this differently, but working livery often involves:

The yard uses the horse for a set number of sessions per week
The owner has riding time outside those sessions
Reduced monthly costs or included care tasks in return

Some setups are very structured and fair. Others are vague. Your goal is to avoid “vague”.

Who is working livery might suit

Working livery can suit owners who:

want to reduce costs
have a horse that is suitable for the type of work involved
are comfortable sharing use of their horse within agreed limits
want the horse to stay in regular work (with appropriate management)

It’s not usually ideal if you want full control over your horse’s schedule, training, or workload.

What to agree in writing (non-negotiables)

If working livery is being offered, it’s sensible to agree the key points in writing. You’re not being difficult, you’re being responsible.

At minimum, clarify:

Type of work: lessons, hacking, schooling, children/adults, experience level of riders
Frequency: how many sessions per week, and maximum duration
Who rides: staff only, approved riders only, instructors only
Limits and restrictions: jumping height limits, schooling intensity, surface use, competition rules
Owner riding time: which days/times you can ride, and how bookings work
Tack and equipment: whose tack is used and responsibility for wear and tear
Health and welfare: rest days, vet decisions, what happens if horse is sore or injured
Insurance: what the yard covers, what the owner should cover, and how claims would work
Notice periods: how either party ends the arrangement

A simple phrase that keeps it professional:

“Can we put the workload, who can ride, and the insurance responsibilities in writing so it’s clear for everyone?”

A quick “suitability check.”

Before agreeing, it’s worth asking yourself:

Is the horse genuinely suitable for the job being described?
Do the proposed riders match the horse’s temperament and training level?
Will the horse still get appropriate rest and consistency?
Are you happy with the level of control you’ll have?

Working livery can be a fair exchange, but only when the terms are clear, and the horse’s welfare is central.

Types of Livery in the UK: DIY vs Part vs Full (Plus Grass and Assisted DIY)