Last of the hay and straw .....

[PinkvSantaboots]

I know somewhere that uses the metal containers for hay storage it works ok as long as you line them with something.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

It does seem to be storage is the issue - I wonder about people looking at renting large storage areas separately to livery. If you can buy hay off the field at £2-3 a bale then moving it twice doesn't seem so bad an idea if the risk is it's £6-7 a bale in winter. It would save money and also the stress of worrying about it.

I am a control freak so I have all my winder hay and bedding in the barn by the end of August - some winters that costs me money as there's tonnes of cheap hay, other years its good for me. I just look for security rather than cost saving

I don’t think you’ve any idea about the average horse owner. Paying to rent storage would outweigh buying in. Personally I have just me and no transport or trailer capable of carrying more than about 4 bales at a time so I’d have to hire something on top of rental on storage. Many yards I’ve been on you literally have one pallet to store all your hay on.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

It does seem to be storage is the issue - I wonder about people looking at renting large storage areas separately to livery. If you can buy hay off the field at £2-3 a bale then moving it twice doesn't seem so bad an idea if the risk is it's £6-7 a bale in winter. It would save money and also the stress of worrying about it.

I am a control freak so I have all my winder hay and bedding in the barn by the end of August - some winters that costs me money as there's tonnes of cheap hay, other years its good for me. I just look for security rather than cost saving

Sorry Polos Mum I completely misread your post and on re-reading my original reply is not appropriate.

 

[Polos Mum]

Sorry Polos Mum I completely misread your post and on re-reading my original reply is not appropriate.

No worries - its easy done.

I was trying to do some maths, if an average horse uses say 250 small bales a year. At £6 a bale that's £1.5k - off the field at £2.5 a bale you'd spend £625 and have £800 ish to pay rent on a lock up / hire shipping container and sort delivery. It might not save loads of cash, but if it was close then the piece of might be worth it.
Storage seems to be the issue for many people on yards.