HOW TO HIRE · PETS · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a livery yard in the UK
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
Livery is unlicensed; hiring horses out is licensed in England. Here is what to check.
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THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a livery yard in five steps
- Choose the livery typeGrass, DIY, part or full.
- Visit the yardStables, turnout, water, security.
- Get the agreement in writingServices, price, notice, vet and farrier access.
- Ask about insuranceThe yard's cover and yours.
- Agree who decides in an emergencyVet calls when you cannot be reached.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
No law licenses livery — keeping other people's horses — in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. The protection is the written livery agreement and the yard's insurance.
Get the livery agreement in writing before you move in. legislation.gov.uk →
Animal activity licence for hiring out horses
In England, hiring out horses for riding or riding lessons as a business is licensed by the council under the 2018 Regulations. A yard that also runs a riding school or hacking hire needs that licence.
If the yard hires out horses, ask to see the licence. legislation.gov.uk →
Animal welfare law
While your horse is in their care, the livery yard is legally responsible for it: the Animal Welfare Act 2006 counts a temporary carer as responsible (section 3) and makes it an offence not to meet an animal's needs (section 9) in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have matching duties in their own Acts.
Ask what they do if your horse stops eating or seems unwell. legislation.gov.uk →
Insurance
No law requires insurance for a livery yard. The usual cover is public liability plus care, custody and control of the animals; ask whether vet bills for your horse are covered while it is with them.
Ask for the insurer's name and the policy dates.
VAT
Livery services from a yard are standard-rated: 20% VAT applies to the care of the horse, forage and bedding supplied with it. Once taxable turnover is above £90,000 a year, registration is compulsory, and the VAT must then appear as its own line on the bill.
Ask the yard for its VAT number, and see the weekly livery and the 20% VAT shown apart on the bill. gov.uk →
A good answer: Exactly which jobs the yard does.
A good answer: Daily turnout by season.
A good answer: Listed or priced.
A good answer: A clear plan.
A good answer: In writing.
A good answer: Yes, with public liability.
A good answer: If yes, its English council licence.
Getting the quote right
- Who actually attends the horses each day — the yard owner or grooms, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- Livery type and weekly price
- Forage and bedding
- Extra services priced
- Notice period and deposit
- The VAT number, with VAT on the weekly livery as a separate line
Walk away if
- No written livery agreement
- Poor fencing or water
- No emergency plan
- Riding lessons with no licence in England
What a livery yard costs: £20–£300 per week
Livery is priced per week, by type — grass, DIY, part or full — with forage, bedding and extra services listed. Horse Care & Livery price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Livery yards near you, with the badges that matter shown
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Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- VisitYard and facilities seen.
- AgreementServices and price signed.
- Move inHorse settled; records handed over.
- Daily careAs the livery type sets out.
- ReviewRegular check-ins with the yard.
- Grass livery
- Your horse lives out; you do the care.
- DIY livery
- A stable and grazing; you do the work.
- Part livery
- The yard does some daily jobs.
- Full livery
- The yard does all daily care.
- Turnout
- Time in the field.
- Forage
- Hay or haylage.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a livery yard: questions people ask
No licence applies to livery in any UK nation. In England, hiring horses out for riding or lessons needs a council licence.
Services, price, notice, emergency vet arrangements and who insures what.
When the yard is in charge of its care, welfare law requires the horse's needs to be met.
Typically £80: the range is £20–£300 per week. The horse care & livery price guide breaks it down; put in your postcode above to compare livery yards near you.
It depends on your time; full livery costs most.
Tell the yard in writing; the Consumer Rights Act 2015 requires reasonable care and skill.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in pets
Livery yards near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, schedule 1
- Animal Welfare Act 2006, section 9 — duty to ensure welfare
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 49 — reasonable care and skill
- gov.uk — make a court claim for money: court fees
- mygov.scot — make a court claim for money
- nidirect — small claims process
- VAT rates — VAT rates for goods and services: standard rate 20% on most goods and services
- GOV.UK — Register for VAT: when to register