Livery bill - to pay or not to pay?

JoJo_

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My gelding has spent his first month at a yard where the manager rents stables from the owner. The manager has not yet got a contract sorted out but said its £240 a month DIY which includes haylage, turnout, bring in. Now when she talked about the bringing in she said in the winter she would bring in about 3-4pm and in the summer they could stay out till 8 if I wanted.

I've been jobless so i've been getting to the yard between 4-6pm and the majority of the time my gelding hasnt been brought in. In fact on many occasions I either bring him in and the YMs two boys as they are all in the same field or if she is there we both go and bring the 3 of them in together.

I really dont mind doing that as being out of work i'd rather have the bring in part not included in the bill.

I would dispute the cost of the livery but the YM has quit doing the livery due to problems between her and the YO. I was the only livery as the business had just started really. So together we found a new yard to go to and the YM is going to get a fulltime office job instead.

We get on well and hack out together etc. I know she is struggling for money but so am I. She is transporting my boy to the new yard in her trailer and helping take some of my kit like rubber matting etc.

So I really dont know whether to argue the amount or just pay it and forget about it as next month i'll be paying someone else for livery? I dont want to cause an atmosphere between us as our new stables are a block of 3 which will be for my boy and her two so it would be horrible if it caused a problem!

Sorry if this is an essay :(
 
I'm not really sure which bit you wouldn't pay tbh.....

My mare was on part livery for a while, but if she wasnt mucked out when I was around, I would do it.....I wouldnt have thought to knock some off my bill.....
 
I would just pay it, especially as shes helping you move your horse and things like your rubber mat. If it was an ongoing thing then discuss the matter, but as it sounds like its a one off, pay it and forget about it. No point spoiling your friendship.
 
Think i would pay,as it was your choice to go and get him in,and if she is helping you move and your stuff
Keep it clean as you would not be knocking much off. You never know you may want to go back some day. Dont burn your bridges for a few quid.
Good luck with job hunting and your new yard.
 
If it was me and I could find the money, I would pay as I wouldn't want an atmosphere at the new yard. Is she charging you for transporting your horse to the new yard?
 
Pay it-you have no case whatsoever to not pay !

There was only about 3 days in the month where she brought him in. I've on many occasions brought them all in even as a favour as she was going to be late.

I forgot to add there was a few days where she didnt go to the yard at all as she had twisted her ankle. She paid someone to go over and turnout for a couple of the mornings and muck out hers. I brought in in the evening and fed them all and the first day I mucked out for her and turned out too. I guess i'm just a little annoyed that she didnt take this into account when I asked her much she wanted for this month. The only amount she knocked off was £15 for a secondhand rug I let her have.

But i'll just pay it so not to cause an atmosphere. At least the new yard is only £150 a month to include the same services.
 
pay it.
No point starting at new yard with just the 2 of you with what could be a underlying issue.
Start afresh an enjoy and remember she is helping you move, and that does not just include her driving sure she will be helping you load and unload your stuff
 
This is summer and your turning up at 3-4 and she doesn't bring in til 8 so its not as if she isn't keeping to her side of the agreement.......

Sorry I think I didnt word it right. She said they could stay out till 8 but she got hers in by 5 and wouldnt leave my boy out on his own so when I got there I would walk mine and one of hers in together as they walk nicely and she would take her other.

I just feel like its a bit much wanting the full amount especially when i've helped her out a lot.
 
When we are all at the yard, we all help the groom because honestly, we can't watch her trek across the field five times when we could do it in one go. We did the conveyor belt of hosing, unrug, put on stable rugs, feet, put away in the winter cos we like the groom and hey, they're our horses.

Given she's taking you to the new yard and to hire a box is at least £90 a day round my way, I'd shut up and pay, frankly.

Not being nasty, but being jobless, why would you pay a groom to do your horse when you could save money by doing it yourself?
 
Not being nasty, but being jobless, why would you pay a groom to do your horse when you could save money by doing it yourself?

Its the only option they had. If she would do DIY with no services I would have done that but she only did DIY + haylage, turnout and bring in for £240 p/m. Facilities included massive indoor school and fab hacking which is why I went there but I was considering moving anyway as I didnt think i'd be out of work still.

At least its only a month. The new yard is far more reasonably priced. Tbh its a big reason why I was the only livery. I few people left cuz it was too expensive. Although YM thinks its because the YO has a bad name in the area :\ I wouldnt get involved with all that though.
 
I think in the winter if haylage was unlimited, then it's worth it. In summer, if horses are out, then it's not such good value. Mine's £110 with an indoor school but we pay straw/hay/lage on top.
 
I think in the winter if haylage was unlimited, then it's worth it. In summer, if horses are out, then it's not such good value. Mine's £110 with an indoor school but we pay straw/hay/lage on top.

I chose to stable my new boy at night up here instead of put him on grass livery as its colder than down south so he does get unlimited haylage at the mo. Down south I was paying £150 a month for DIY then hay/shavings/turnout/bring in on top but in summer my mare lived out. I worked out that paying £240 a month all year is more though so was thinking about moving. New place may even include shavings in the £150 a month - no indoor but a big outdoor and 2miles hack to a big yard where we can hire the indoor!
 
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