How much for livery?

G

gracemoran

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 October 2009
Messages
156
Visit site
I left home a few years ago and my stables and 3 acre field at my mum and dads has sat empty since (grazed by sheep!) Mum and dad have now been approached asking if they would do DIY livery. Facilitites are a stable, running water, feed room, large barn and unlimited off road hacking. As we have never done livery ever we have no idea how much to charge. Please can you let me know how much this type of livery would cost? Mum and dad will not be doing any work for this other than emptying the muck cart!. We are based north of Aberdeen!

Thanks in advance
 
£15 pounds if its really basic diy with stable
£20 if its some kind of bonus like the store rooms
£25 for what your decribed i would think. thats the prices going around here anyway
 
down here in somerset i rented a 4 acre field, big barn opening into the field, 4 internal stables, a tack room and storage for my hay and bedding all for £40 pw and i was able to keep 3 horses there for that.

the hacking wasn't too good but it was just down the road from my house.
 
I'm way, way, south of the border here in (sunny???!!!) Devon. I've got 3 acres plus loosebox; mains water/electric, own tackroom, own storage area. No sandschool or off-road riding; hacking OK'ish, could be better/could be worse. This is for strictly DIY. I currently charge £60 for one horse (dunno what I'd charge for two though as situation hasn't arisen).

IF you're gonna do any sort of livery, especially DIY, then have a look at the BHS website coz they've got a livery contract which you can download, which you can tailor to your individiual requirements.

I've always had nice liveries here (do DIY only) but have just had my fingers burnt with a bad lot so I'd say always, always, get them to sign a contract and have it witnessed by an independent third party.

Also, if doing DIY make sure you cover things like worming/vaccination; how many times a day the owner comes to see to their horse; deposit for damage etc; plus if you give them any keys ask for a deposit, refundable on return; also stipulate what time horses must be turned out in the morning (if in at night) - or you could get horses left to their own devices with no food/water till 3pm before anyone came to see to them (this happened in my yard).

Also you need to have in writing period of notice; who exactly will see to the horse (not a "friend of a friend" who never bothers, and/or a stranger in your yard who you don't know who the heck they are!); the other thing is that the horse must be insured to at least third party level; plus something in the event of emergency to the effect that if an accident occurs the YO & vet will have to make the decision to euthanise the animal. You hope it won't happen, but it just might so you need to have this in writing. If you PM me, I had to sign something like this when mine was at working livery last year, and will dig out the exact wording if you need it.

If they won't sign an agreement - tell them to go up the road. I used to be a "nice" YO and never asked people to sign anything, now unfortunately I feel myself turning into a real old dragon having had a bad lot just swan off the yard without saying she was going, and I was worried about her pony up in a snowstorm, only to find out after it had got dark and I was frantic, that she'd moved it coz my yard was "too far" for her to come.
 
Be aware you will need insurance. As you would be taking money you will probably require business insurance which may be quite pricey. Add onto that the Tax man may class your land as a business meaning you have to pay business rates. Also you may have to get planning permission for business use. Unfortunatly it isn't as easy as you may think to rent out a stable.................................

I'm sure more people will know more about this than me, but it is something you will have to take into account before even contemplating how much to charge.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top