Do you think this is a fair Livery Yard rule?

No, that is not fair, surely a yard owner cannot stipulate how you spend your own money!- the thing is rug washing companies do seem to vary in cost and also quality, so you should be able to shop around as you wish. Failing that why not see if your Y.O will install his own rug wash machines as he's missing out there!!.
 
3BayGeldings said:
Yes, it seems that he is getting some sort of kick back.

The liveries already have to buy all the hay, straw, feed and supplements from him which he buys in bulk at a cheaper price and sells on at normal RRP.
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Isn't this how all business trades ???

Buy in cheaper sell out dearer. I for one would guess Marks and Spencers don't buy in clothes at the same price they sell them to us at.



Amazes me how people on livery yards don't expect a YO to make money. The income on a livery is next to nothing anyway so I can fully understand that he has to make his money where he can.

The costs are huge in keeping these yards open and it always amazes me how people expect the facilities and services but not to pay for them.

Yes it is a silly rule but I for one wouldn't be bothered to take dirty rugs home for the sake of a couple of quid.
 
Goldenstar said:
I agree its mad but he has the right the liverys should move if they don't like it.
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Agreed, he sounds like a money grabbing git, tell him nowt, and look for a nice yard, also if its a BHS yard, see how they view his demands, he must think all his liveries are idiots.
Its rugs and feeding now, what'll it be next ?
My horse, my choice, id be voting with my feet.
 
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BBH said:
Isn't this how all business trades ???

Buy in cheaper sell out dearer. I for one would guess Marks and Spencers don't buy in clothes at the same price they sell them to us at.



Amazes me how people on livery yards don't expect a YO to make money. The income on a livery is next to nothing anyway so I can fully understand that he has to make his money where he can.

The costs are huge in keeping these yards open and it always amazes me how people expect the facilities and services but not to pay for them.

Yes it is a silly rule but I for one wouldn't be bothered to take dirty rugs home for the sake of a couple of quid.
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Its removing the choice from customers, i wouldnt stay on a yard where some yo dictated what id feed and where id buy it, or where id do my business with regards to farrier,vet, and in this ridiculous case rug wash at exorbitant prices.
Yards like this churn as people vote with their feet, a churning yard ist a settled yard and benefits nobody. His customers are paying for livery services in the agreed amount they pay each month
IMO this yard owner sounds like a money grapping git at the expence of his main customers.
 
I just wonder do you have a contract with this guy and if so does it stipulate that you must buy feed etc from him and that you must use who he says for farrier, vets, rug cleaning or whatever if it is not in a signed contract then you have no obligation to use them. Does he know how much rug cleaning is? and that the more money you spend on that with a more expensive company will reduce the amount you spend with him and may lead to looing for somewhere cheaper just so you can keep your horse a bit far fetched but he might think twice if he's going to loose out on money. I would never force my liveries to use anyone if they have there own thats fine but if asked I would recommend the one I use.
 
Is this not against a consumer law in the UK?

In Aus, there is a law against exclusive dealing and line forcing, which is restricting someones choice with whom to trade, so this would be totally illegal.
 
I don't think it is unreasonable to stipulate that all fodder and bedding must be purchased from the YO as all sorts of weeds and rubbish can be brought onto a farm in this way.

The rug cleaning is less easy to explain away and a mass protest sounds the best way to deal with it -- but be aware that the YO may just take up the offer and decide to get rid of the lot of you!

What profit a yard makes will surely depend on supply and demand. I spoke to two owners only yesterday. One is paying £7 per week for one pony, the other, fifteen miles in the other direction, pays £18 per week each for three. That's a difference 250% (I think!).

Edited to say that I did look up "unfair contract terms" but I don't think it applies here, but I could be wrong!
 
Enfys said:
:eek::mad: Ludicrous. :rolleyes: I hope the facilities are worth it.


Out of curiosity, do you have to use YO approved Instructors, Farriers, Vets etc as well? :)

I am a YO, I recommend my own Vet and Farrier because I think that they happen to be very good at what they do, but I don't have a problem with owners employing whomever they like to deal with their own horses.
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No.... not yet anyway :rolleyes:

I am glad I now have my horses on a private yard :o
 
Izzwizz said:
H sounds like a complete control freak! Wouldnt like to be married to him. Can imagine he holds the purse strings, probably has all the tinned food in the kitchen facing the right way, towels perfectly in line. Reminds me of that film with Julia Roberts and the controlling husband!

Back to the question, crazy mad rule! Would vote with my feet and leave!
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Never married of course. no woman that stupid!
 
topclass said:
I just wonder do you have a contract with this guy and if so does it stipulate that you must buy feed etc from him and that you must use who he says for farrier, vets, rug cleaning or whatever if it is not in a signed contract then you have no obligation to use them. Does he know how much rug cleaning is? and that the more money you spend on that with a more expensive company will reduce the amount you spend with him and may lead to looing for somewhere cheaper just so you can keep your horse a bit far fetched but he might think twice if he's going to loose out on money. I would never force my liveries to use anyone if they have there own thats fine but if asked I would recommend the one I use.
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The contract stitulates you have to buy feed, forage and bedding off him but doesn't mention rugs.
 
marydoll said:
Its removing the choice from customers, i wouldnt stay on a yard where some yo dictated what id feed and where id buy it, or where id do my business with regards to farrier,vet, and in this ridiculous case rug wash at exorbitant prices.
Yards like this churn as people vote with their feet, a churning yard ist a settled yard and benefits nobody. His customers are paying for livery services in the agreed amount they pay each month
IMO this yard owner sounds like a money grapping git at the expence of his main customers.
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Totally agree.

If people don't like what he does then they can leave and find somewhere that suits them.
 
It's difficult for my friend who I mention in the OP. She is a single Mother who doesn't drive. This is the only yard within walking distance. Plus she loves it there, her friends are all there and she spends a great deal of time running shows and fun days for the liveries. It's not always as simple as just 'move' for everyone, unfortunately.
 
I provide all feed and forage for my liveries,purely because I do not want(nor have the space for) several individual,different storage areas for large, bulky items such as those and didn't want any 'I had 24 bales of hay yesterday and now I've only got 23,someone's used one of mine/my conditioning cubes bin was 3/4 full last week and now it's only 1/2 full,someone's been using it' kind of scenarios. Part of the livery price covers hard feed and forage and I feed pretty much whatever they want. If someone wants something hideously expensive,I buy it in& they pay an extra amount per mth,which is however much over their feed 'allowance' their particular product is.
 
OP, You say that you are not on the yard in question any more.
Were you actually present when your friend was told of this new ruling ?

Perhaps something has been lost in translation.
 
cptrayes said:
Yes he does, it's his yard. If the area has no other yards with as good facilities, and people don't want to move, then they have to pay it to stay on the yard. It's the joy of capitalism, supply and demand :D
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But surely he's changing the terms of the contract he has with his liveries? Verbal or written. He can't suddenly decide to charge people £2pw for not using his laundry company. Not unless it's written into the contract everyone's signed, somewhere in the small print. Does he employ a BHS qualified YM? If he doesn't, just wondered how a non-horsey farmer can run a BHS approved facility without the prior knowledge he'd need to run one properly? But that's beside the point, I'd not be happy paying an extra £2 per week for not being dictated to, but I guess, ultimately, it depends on whether the liveries want to stay on that yard or are able to find another local yard with spaces they'd be happy moving to. Personally, I'd let Mr Farmer know I was not happy, pay the £2 out of principle and then put myself on the waiting list to move to another yard ASAP!
 
3BayGeldings said:
It's difficult for my friend who I mention in the OP. She is a single Mother who doesn't drive. This is the only yard within walking distance. Plus she loves it there, her friends are all there and she spends a great deal of time running shows and fun days for the liveries. It's not always as simple as just 'move' for everyone, unfortunately.
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In that case your friend has only one choice! She needs to work out which is cheaper - getting her rugs cleaned via the 'yard's' rug cleaning service OR getting her rugs cleaned by some other method and paying the extra £2.00 per week. Whether it's fair or not seems a pointless question since she cannot relocate nor change the miserable old gits mind I expect. Either way, she's going to feel miffed at being given such an ultimatum.
 
Has anyone thought of reporting the 'BHS approved yard' to the BHS as taking their name in unscrupulous terms in order to charge livieries for services not used?
 
BBH said:
Isn't this how all business trades ???

Buy in cheaper sell out dearer. I for one would guess Marks and Spencers don't buy in clothes at the same price they sell them to us at.



Amazes me how people on livery yards don't expect a YO to make money. The income on a livery is next to nothing anyway so I can fully understand that he has to make his money where he can.

The costs are huge in keeping these yards open and it always amazes me how people expect the facilities and services but not to pay for them.

Yes it is a silly rule but I for one wouldn't be bothered to take dirty rugs home for the sake of a couple of quid.
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I don't think it's a problem for him to make a profit (buy cheaper and sell at RRP). I do think it's completely off that he thinks that he can dictate who you can buy it from though...

I'm a dog groomer that sells grooming supplies. I buy the cheaper cheaper than I sell it - hence profit. I would be quickly left with no customers if I started telling my grooming clients they had to buy brushes from me, even though Pets at Home up the road sells the same for cheaper - and if they didn't buy them from me I would start charging them more for their grooming ?! I do charge more if they use NO brushes and the dogs come in a mess - so as far as I'm concerned, I would rather they buy the correct brush from anyone rather than go without!

I'm sorry, while I have no issue with the yard owner making a profit, it still has to be my choice at the end of the day. Even at a slightly HIGHER cost than the local feed merchant I would possibly use the YO's supply simply because it's a convenience and I'm saving on my petrol to have to go and get it etc. But if the quality isn't what I want, or they don't have a brand I want, I'll be d@mned if I'm going to be dictated to where I can buy it!
 
I have a slightly quirky lateral way of looking at things.

If the Yard Owner increased his prices and then a month later offered a £2 per week discount to anyone using this rug cleaner would you all be quite so against it ? Same result but this way round you feel as though you are getting a bargain.

We don't know whether this yard costs more or less than other yards but with 50+ liveries its obviously popular.

If your friend doesn't like the rule then she needs to decide how badly she doesn't like it. It sounds as though the best thing is to get a couple of rugs cleaned with the new company and do any others at home / from home. Costs her an extra tenner but keeps the YO sweet !
 
Spudlet said:
The BHS approves rug cleaning companies?:confused: Really?:confused:

A nasty, cynical person would suspect the company belongs to the YOs mate, but obviously I am far too lovely and non-cynical to ever have such a scandalous thought;)
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Agree with this!! Sorry YO is talking out of his bottom ....
 
haven't had chance to read through an apologise if this has been said but perhaps he means for companies that come on to the yard to collect the rugs so he knows that they are reputable and not likely to case the joint so to speak?
 
3BayGeldings said:
It's difficult for my friend who I mention in the OP. She is a single Mother who doesn't drive. This is the only yard within walking distance. Plus she loves it there, her friends are all there and she spends a great deal of time running shows and fun days for the liveries. It's not always as simple as just 'move' for everyone, unfortunately.
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Well she's no choice then, whether she likes it or not she'll need to put up with it. IME though, yards that become dictatorial to that extent, never stop at 1 or 2 things they become very controlling, i know of one who at one point told people to use the same water to soak hay every day for a week as his water bill was so high ! An absolute a**e who didnt know one end of a horse from the other.
The usual, yes " look at the grass they can be out all the time all year if you want" to theyre not getting out today its raining.
You get what you settle for, its up to her if she settles, but id be looking for somewhere else, even if its just a field nearby
 
cullord said:
But surely he's changing the terms of the contract he has with his liveries? Verbal or written. He can't suddenly decide to charge people £2pw for not using his laundry company.
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Yes he's changing the contract terms. He is entitled to change the contract terms, it's HIS business. He can give the whole lot of his liveries notice to leave unless they accept his terms, he owns the place.

People seem to be forgetting that almost ALL livery yards exist only to make a profit for the owner.

Pay up or leave, that's the choice.
 
3BayGeldings said:
the rug company is "BHS approved" which fits in with his "BHS approved" livery yard
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WTF??? (scratching head); let me say that I'm a YO and wouldn't dream of telling anyone where they should get their rugs cleaned!! Absolutely ridiculous.

I've also been a punter, i.e. kept my boy at livery - and this is a new one on me!!

And as for being "BHS approved" - wotta loada tosh!

And if the yard is BHS approved, then it should have been inspected to that effect and the relevant BHS sign erected!!!???

In any event, IF liveries are restricted to having the YO's choice of rug-cleaner, then that should be plainly stated in your contracts......... (er, PURLEEES don't tell me that you don't have any contracts in place???).
 
maisie06 said:
Ridiculous - I would be looking for another yard before any more silly rules were enforced.
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Would you?

What if this yard is the only one in the whole area that has an indoor arena to use in winter? Or the only one with 24/7 turnout? Or the only one with no barbed wire fences?

There is obviously something good about this yard or 50 people would not stable there.

Still waiting for the OP to tell me if there is a waiting list for the yard. I suspect there might be if he feels able to increase the fees in this way.
 
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