Am i right or have i just made a boo-boo?

W

welsh_mare

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 January 2009
Messages
509
Location
Second star to the right and straight on till morn
Visit site
I have just spoken to my yard owner, who is also a good friend about the fact i am trying to get things sorted ready for winter!!.

I wanted to know did i need to get my own haylage in to support my 3 in the field once grass has gone over winter or would they?, and if i bought in to feed haylage in the field would they reduce livery as i was not getting grazing?.

On my other yards, YO placed haylage out for us, was i right to ask?, as i am now feeling really bad that i have asked for something i shouldn't of, and don't want to upset a good friend :(

Thanks in advance for any replies, feeling quite bad now
 
Reduced livery because there is no grazing.....in our dreams....I think you are onto a lost cause there!!

As long as you have asked nicely I cant see any reason why you need to be worried....you are preparing in advance....admirable in my book!
 
Nothing like a misunderstanding to really get the apple cart tipped over. Personally I think you were right to ask the question. Far better for you both to know what you are doing than to fudge your way along not really knowing who is doing what.
 
I've always had to pay extra for haylage...as all I was paying for in the livery bill was the facilities/stable/field. Straw was included but hay and haylage were extra mostly.

At first yard payed £20 a week for field and stable, with £12.50 on top each week for ad-lib hay.

Second yard,was £40 a week for everything including hay and bedding,however, even when we had no turnout for 8months, the price never changed.

If that helps.
 
I pay £45 a week part livery.
That includes ad lib hay and bedding.
But that price is the same all yr around, even if in summer we use no hay and bedding.....but also stays the same in winter when we use as uch hay and straw as we like but turnout is restricted. So its kinda swings and roundabouts.

Although i think i have got a pretty good deal really!
 
agree it was best to ask and know where you stand, and anyway if you dont ask you dont get!!
Our YO buys haylage in big bales and we all pay a set amount each week to have ad lib haylage for our stabled horses and as long as we are not taking the mick and not wasting it by using in bedding etc then this works well,

They also buy big bales to put out in the field he ones that live out, for which we have to pay for on top of the grazing at a set amount every week (even though there isnt any) and there is always plenty there for them all it is such good quality they just need a handfull of feed and a vitamin supplement as a top up.
 
I wouldn't feel bad for asking. If you don't ask you don't get :D She/he can always say no. Not sure about the reduced livery though, but nice try ;):D
 
Depends what your livery agreement is.

As a yard owner, I charge for grass livery and my liveries pay their hay on top. It is your responsibility to feed your horse, not theirs, and if they need extra hay you should pay for it unless previously agreed.

Perhaps you shoud suggest a hay rota for your fellow field mates? At my yard the liveries pay for 1/2 a bale of haylage a month, horses get hayed twice a day and have ample, and it costs them £4 a week.
 
I would never ask for reduced livery unless my horse (through fault of the landowner) was prevented from using the field / stable / school included in the price of my livery. Lack of grass IMO isn't a reason for reduced livery and it is up to you as an owner to supplement forrage accordingly unless otherwise stated in your livery contract.

Asking about the provision of forrage is a perfectly reasonable one but you should expect to pay for it in addition to the cost of your livery.
 
poppymoo said:
No turnout for 8 months!! How come? :eek:
Click to expand...

Turnout was appalling over winter. Stabling for approx 60 horses with about 10 acres of grazing, so even in the spring/summer was rotational grazing about 3 x's a week.
I moved there start of October and had limited grazing then for about 2 weeks, then turnout was stopped all together until end of April approx, to which we again had 3x's a week for half a day turnout swapping with other horses and V.large 'herds'.
I had this for another two weeks and then left anyway so not sure how the turnout ended up there over the summer.

Luckily my little mare was happy either way in or out, so was quite happy in with ad lib haylage. Made full use of the walker twice a day, turning out in the olympic indoor and lots of in-hand walking round the xc course to have some munchies on the grass there! And rode her twice a day doing various things.

I also used to hack round the back cattle fields and would sneakily let her loose on them for an hour or two each time we went out...she learnt to like them hacks very much!
 
Thanks for all your answers, just wanted to check, will go and see friend now and sort it all out, the last couple of yards i was at they would put haylage out if the grazing went, but i also had a contract at both those yards so knew where i stood, but don't have a contract where i am now!.

Can't share bales with friends as my 3 are in field just on their own, will just have to buy in lots of haylage then as not much grass there now!, i feel it may be a long winter (but fingers crossed it won't start for a few months :) )
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top