Horse scales

[claireandnadia]

Having starting up a horse box self drive hire company, obviously lots of people are concerned about payloads and weights of their horses so wondered if people would be interested in a service whereby I would come to your yard and with horse scales and weigh and what sort of price would people expect to pay for such a service.

It wouldn't be just for horse boxes of course, knowing your horses actual weight is beneficial for lots of reasons.

 

[ihatework]

I wouldn't pay because can get that service for free from feed reps!

 

[FfionWinnie]

Yes I'm afraid I'm going to a free weigh clinic next weekend with Topspec and getting two weighed.

 

[Lintel]

Ditto the two other posts!

 

[Goldenstar]

I Just take them to the vets .

 

[Dry Rot]

Take empty trailer to local public weigh bridge. Record weight. Load horse into trailer, take to weigh bridge and weigh loaded trailer. Deduct first weight from second. Job done.

 

[Ladyinred]

Take empty trailer to local public weigh bridge. Record weight. Load horse into trailer, take to weigh bridge and weigh loaded trailer. Deduct first weight from second. Job done.

Totally correct. BUT, might be exceeding the payload on the way to the weighbridge! And what to do if you get there and know for certain you are overloaded? Take the risk and drive back? Call out another transporter? Leave a horse at the weighbridge? Pedantic, yes, but I imagine the penalty for knowingly exceeding a load is quite heavy.

 

[claireandnadia]

Ok so fair enough so far, you've all got solutions BUT I've not always had transport so couldn't always take my horse to a weigh bridge, also when I've enquired before with th feed reps, they've wanted 10 horses before they'll come out and to be honest, not that I've ever been able to get 10 horses together, Im not sure is want the hassle of a rep trying to sell me something all the time.
But thanks everyone, keep them coming, this is what market research is all about

 

[xxcharlottexx]

I've had feed reps come to just a few, just had to wait until she was already in the area at another yard.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Local weighbridge is £8 for 1 x weigh & £12 for 2 on same day.
I've weighed the box but not put fuzzies in it, as both have been on scales at vets or a clinic in the past year.

Good idea Claire but I think possibly limited clientele for it?

 

[Gloi]

Our vet will fetch a scale out and weigh when they are visiting the yard.

 

[claireandnadia]

I must admit, I am quite surprised as I've had a high number of people just give me the heights of their horses and say, will that be within the payload and they don't know the weights of their horses.
Well, was just an idea

 

[FfionWinnie]

They will want you to tell them for free that's the problem. If you needed it anyway and the income from it was secondary I would do it but if you must pay for it with customers being charged to use it, I would be wary. There will be ongoing costs with it too, especially I would think if it's being shifted about.

 

[minimex2]

id pay.
problem at our yard is our feed is part of package so YO decides what we have, so would end up causing probs if we got a feed specialist out.
also our vets arent to keen on bring scales out and tbh cant be assed going to weight bridge.

im a bit anal about weights and lorries so much so i was borderline on my 3.5t so had it upgraded to a 3.9 giving me and extra .4t payload. not loads but covers me for any extra crap i want to take out with me.

 

[ebonyallen]

Sorry again along with the others, we have just had a feed company out to our yard and done all the horses for free.