diy livery - what could we charge?

M

margaretb

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 October 2009
Messages
291
Visit site
We have been approached by someone moving into the village wanting grazing for two horses. My OH, a farmer, initially said no, but I said hang on a minute...

We have stables that are usually used for livestock, but can be steam cleaned and are sound and dry, each box has water bowls. We could provide hay and straw. We have cattle and sheep, although the cattle are in during the winter so it would be "mixed" grazing. Access is good.

Could I ask what could we charge for DIY livery?
 
I pay about £18 per week per horse, which doesn't include hay or straw. Think a lot of it depends on where you are in the country and facilities. We have a small school, not really big enough and some very old stables. Hope that helps. Meant to say, I am in West Yorkshire.
 
I pay 25.00 per week and then hay and straw ontop - but I do have access to an outdoor school - if you will let people ride on your land too, then that would be about the same, good luck.
 
No, No school, it would be "accomodation" only, so to speak. Sorry, stupid question and not wanting to sound greedy, would that be £25 per week per horse?
 
[ QUOTE ]
No, No school, it would be "accomodation" only, so to speak. Sorry, stupid question and not wanting to sound greedy, would that be £25 per week per horse?

[/ QUOTE ]

yes 25.00 per week, per horse..
 
Depends where you are, but I am kent/surrey border which I think is probably an expensive area, and the most I payed for a stable and grazing (hay and straw extra) was £22 a week per horse, and that was on a yard that had a couple of school's (indoor and outdoor floodlit).

I would say £15 - £20 is a reasonable amount to ask per horse per week, I would never pay £25 a week for just a stable and grazing but then I guess it all depends on what the other options in the area are etc. Where are you located out of interest?
 
I used to charge £12.50 a week + hay and shavings when we only had 2horses now we have four there's no room for any liveries but if I was to do it again I would prob charge about £20 x
 
Like SharonH77 I'm in Cheshire too but a tad nearer Manchester maybe. We pay £20 for stable and grazing on a farm, no facilities (although you can ride on a field if it isn't ploughed or seeded), hay etc and straw extra. Actually, I think that is a bit expensive!
 
I would say £60 a month per horse.... Well that's what I would happily pay with hay and straw as an extra charge
grin.gif
 
I agree with other memers, £15-£20 per week sounds about right if you have no school. £25 sounds a bit too steep. I am in Hampshire and DIY with a school is £85 pcm. Add on top hay and straw. We pay £1.80 for straw and £3.50 for hay per small bale.
 
I think you should charge £15 per week, per horse at the very least, £25 if including hay and straw, and if you don't include hay and straw, it is a good idea to stipulate that they buy it from you, not from so and so down the raod.

I have always kept my horses on farms, they can offer a lot that livery yards can't. IME, livery yards have too many horses on too little ground and this leads to turn out being limited during wet weather and more risk of parasites, even if poo picked.

With the farms I have been on, there is always unlimited, good quality turn out (min 3 acres per horse) which is well maintained (regular harrowing/rolling/topping), no poo picking, cross grazing with cattle and sheep which helps keep parasites under control, loads of storage and plenty of room to park lorry/trailer at no extra cost (if really lucky, you my even be able to park it in a barn!) In addition to this, no bitching! A school I can live without.

My worst nightmare would be for my horse to be in a post and rail paddock with no natural shelter or shade, with lots of other horses.
 
If you have storage they can use for tack/tack cleaning/getting out of the cold then that would be worth a little more so two stables and a third for storage/tack room/haystore would rent for more than just two stables

Electric and water availibility would have an effect on the price too

If you make your own hay and straw you could offer that as an addition and make a bit of money on that or offer it included and raise the price accordingly

Clarify with them regarding insurance, they may expect you to have liability insurance etc... you wouldnt want the agreement to turn nasty because your cows are used to barbed wire and their horses arent!

If you expect the horses to share with the cows in the winter that could affect the price, otherwise could you fence a bit off just for them to use? offering exclusive use of two paddocks and stables as a 'self contained' unit would be worth more I believe as its their area then to use for schooling/building jumps if they wish. Also you dont need to worry about their horses when bringing in your cows and they might not appreciate the cow pats from forty cows when catching their horses!

Never under estimate the importance of convenience when setting your price, as someone else has said look at what other options they have in the area and price to suit - I rent land and stables behind my house for more than I would pay in a neighbouring village but there are only two such premises in my own village so I pay more for teh priviledge of wandering just 100 metres or so to my stables
 
We used to pay £25 per week, which included hay. No manage.

Now we pay £25 per week plus hay, but we have a lovely manage (with lights).

Turnout is important
smile.gif
We stayed at the last place for so long because of the 24/7 turnout.
 
for just stables and grazing with hay and straw i would say around £20 a week- depending how much hay and straw you are giving.
would cost more if you had a school to ride in.
what is the hackign like?
 
I pay £25 a week but that includes all year turnout/walker/3 schools/gallops etc.

When I was at another yard I paid £15 for stable and turnout only
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top