Is my yard owner being stingy or is this normal?

M

My Boys M&D

Active Member
Joined
31 March 2017
Messages
48
Visit site
Does anyone else have a yard owner who is stingy with hay portions?

I am on full livery on quite a big yard and overall am very happy with the routine/ care given. However, the amount of hay fed is insufficient IMO, and I have had to agree to pay extra if I want to feed my horse ad-lib hay (he is a poor doer and a bit of a stress head so I worry about leaving him for any period of time without something to nibble on...).

Other horses have often finished their hay by 6/7pm and then have nothing until 8am next morning :S

I appreciate costs are rising for everyone and yard owners need to watch the purse strings but I would have thought that ad-lib hay would be a basic element of a full livery package. What's the general consensus on this? Is it the norm to pay extra for ad-lib?

Maybe I have I just been spoilt at previous yards?! :)
 
I feed my liveries ad lib, unless there is a reason not to, I will only give a very basic feed twice a day which keeps costs down, if a livery wants to feed a special feed, a balancer or supplements then they provide it themselves, to my mind it is far better to have horses eating plenty of forage than have a big bucket feed and I find it works out better in the long run as I don't have horses dropping weight and needing loads of feed to get it back on.

Many poor doers are that way because of poor management, letting them drop weight by restricting forage rather than trying to maintain them at a level weight, the few I have had here soon relaxed, gained weight and several went more the other way after a year or two having a sensible regime, even the ex racehorse looked like a show horse on adlib haylage and two fairly small feeds a day, as for what you pay I think you may need to pay a premium but it will be worth it if your horse looks well and you don't end up with a vet bill for ulcers.
 
I think it depends on how much you're paying in the first place, if it's bargain basement prices then I'd expect to pay extra for my horse to have extra. I've been on yards with both scenarios, a cheap yard that restricted hay and an expensive yard that didn't. I believe strongly in ad-lib hay, not just for weight management but also for ulcers as well as general temperament.
 
I give ad lib hay on my yard, in stables or in the field. As above I see no reason not to: better for the horses and I calculate it into my costs so it's not like the liveries aren't paying for it.
 
there is no way I would accept that. I never ever leave my boy without hay. they are designed to constantly pick at food. I even tie him up with a net and water to pick at. I would rather pay more or buy my own and ensure that he has what he wants. I don't care if I waste some. I would rather that than him stand without.
 
I agree this is not acceptable.

This would totally put me off a yard.
The management allowing horses to go that long without forage is wrong.

It should be calculated in to the standard rate of livery.

If you are paying a lower livery amount then pay extra to have adlib but as I said this would totally put me off a yard.

If this simple basic need is not being met, what other corners are they cutting in the care of the horses.
 
Thank you all for your replies :)

I'm paying £130 a week for full livery (in the Northamptonshire area) and feed wise this gets me 2 hard feeds per day of Hi-Fi chop and conditioning nuts (I buy my own balancer and oil) all day turnout and 1 small pile of hay with afternoon feed. Ad-lib is an 'extra' at £5 per week. Beautiful yard and facilities are fab and as I said I'm very happy with the care given.

I know what my horse needs and will always make sure he gets it I was just interested to hear if this sounded standard- I wouldn't have thought ad-lib hay was in the 'extras' category! I've been on this yard for a few months and was at my previous yard for 10 years though so I am quite sheltered from the current livery market!
 
I find it bizarre that they are so stingy yet only charge an extra £5 per week to give adlib, make sure it really is ad lib, if it costs them so little why not round up every livery to £135 per week and give them all a decent amount as standard, they could then reduce the hard feed for most of the horses and be better off at the end of the week, people are odd.
 
When you say full livery I am presuming you mean what I would call part (so no exercise & tack cleaning)?
If so £130 a week is a reasonable price and what I have paid on a couple of decent PL yards, both of which were true ad lib hay.

That said, I'd just pay the extra £5 a week for the adlib hay as it sounds like otherwise it is a good yard
 
I agree if you are paying that much and are happy with everything else pay the extra and see how it goes. good luck
 
How big are the haynets? If they are the huge ones then no one net would suffice, we are restricted to two nets, one put in when they come in, the other given before the yard is locked up for night..some people double net to make the hay last longer..I personally don’t believe in ad lib hay, feeding all night..poor doers can be fed more hay but equally can be fed a better hard feed to help..grass is the best for putting on weight so if the fields aren’t managed correctly, there won’t be good quality or enough grass to feed the herd...if you’re not happy, either pay extra or move..
 
How very odd, surely other liveries would prefer ab lib as well in which case why doesnt the YO just add the extra £5 on a week and be done with it. Pretty mean for only some to have ab lib, I just imagine all the horses standing there starving overnight watching the one in the corner pigging out on theirs coz their owner was nice enough to pay an extra fiver! Thats a very long time to go without any food, IMO any time without access to forage is unacceptable.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top