cost of retaining a stable when on part livery when turned away

charlie76

charlie76

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Can anyone help me with the above. I run a livery yard which at the moment has six on a waiting list for full and part livery. I currently have a pony on part livery who belongs to a family who also has a horse on livery with me. Pony has been injured for about four months now and has been on box rest. I have had the pony on full livery in this period and charged them just 15 a week extra to cover two lots of mucking out a day, and lib hay and dealing with the injury. They are lovely people so was happy to do it for this price.
However, pony now might have to be turned away for over six months so what do I do about charging them for the empty stable? How much would be fair?
Thanks
 
If we go grass in the summer we either pay grass livery, have no right to the box and hope to god its still free come winter or pay the full cost of part livery and do what we want ie in or out.

Our yard like yours has a waiting list so the box could be earning part with someone else in it, therefore as liveries we either pay part or lose the box.
 
Two schools of thought on this one - a) charge them the full price less hard feed, bedding and hay - b) charge them the full price less all services, and all feed.

Most yards by me would just continue to charge the full price full stop.
 
I pay £130 a month for DIY. I pay another livery £10/week to feed and turn mine out weekday mornings. I used to pay her £5/day if I was away, but the YO told her to put it up to £8 (it's just pocket money for her). So if I'm away all week, I actually pay £86/week.

I also paid to keep the stable empty whilst I was looking. I paid the basic £130 a month to do so. I would have tried to ask for less, but I don't think I would have had any luck!
 
It would really be full cost minus your out of pocket expenses.
So deduct the cost of hay/feed/bedding and charge the balance
 
If it were me I would be charging the full amount as after all you could have another client in there paying full price. The last thing you need when you are running a livery yard (which I do) is to be losing money, it's tough enough already to make this business pay as you will know. I understand you want to try and help them out as they have another horse with you, but tbh my attitude has to be business is business and I think you have already been fair only charging an extra £15 pw for extra work, hay etc., have you asked them what they think should happen? Maybe they will be looking at it from your perspective knowing you have a waiting list? Good luck with whatever you decide to do, it's tricky!��
 
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