Livery fees sudden increase

[Oldernewbie]

Hi all

I have been informed with just a few days notice that my livery bill is going up by around 25%. Its equivalent to a few hundred pounds extra a month so we are not talking about a few £. The fees already increased earlier this year and unfortunately my pay rise this year is just £50 a month.
I understand that costs to run the business have increased and hay in particular is a lot more, but its such a large jump I am really going to struggle.
I think I will have to look at cheaper options, so sad as Dear horse us so happy where she is!!
Anyone else facing similar?

 

[AdorableAlice]

Sadly this situation is going to be very very common. Increase in NI and employer costs, hike in insurance premiums, a desperately difficult grazing season in many parts of the UK together with vastly reduced crop levels. It is a perfect storm, horse feed is crop and will increase in cost, hay if it can even be sourced, is expensive, straw likewise. All our groceries, if crop based will also rocket.

Yards that do deals that include hay must be beyond stressed and worried about sourcing enough hay. One of the biggest suppliers of hay is importing from Europe.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I'm a YO and it isn't just fodder that's going up; every darned thing is more expensive now. For example field maintenance & fencing has never been cheap, but costs of labour particularly have rocketed, and then there's insurance - which we all need in order to be able to function.

Feeling sorry for the OP, but sadly this is the way things are gonna be.

 

[Sanversera]

Big increase but I expect it's going to happen in more places. Livery yard owners taking a look at their costs and seeing they are loosing money need to put up the price.

 

[SEL]

I'm not surprised sadly - winter grazing just hasn't grown back and hay bills will be astronomical this year.

Very tough when it means you are going to have to move yards but double check you aren't going to move only to find an increase in fees shortly after

 

[Dino7]

As SEL says I would stay put for the time being if you can just to see what other yards do as you may move to find they then also put their prices up. A good yard that you're happy at is worth it's weight in gold! Sign of the times unfortunately as many yards don't even break even as it is sadly.

 

[Birker2020]

Our yard is in the process of being smartened up and I expect there will be a slight increase in the New Year.

Most of us are on assisted DIY so buy in our own bedding/hay.

I am not going to move as this is my 'home'. After two decades I can't face the upheaval.

 

[Abacus]

I don't know anywhere that won't at least pass on increased hay and bedding prices so I expect it'll be the same everywhere - worth doing your sums to compare with the 25% overall increase where you are now.

 

[St Nicnaclaus]

I would question why they have increased twice this year. How much was previous increase?

25% sounds right but not if the earlier increase was significant. Can you go to 5 day full and DIY at weekends there?

Costs have skyrocketed and I've got mine at home. They're out 24/7 over the summer but have had to supplement with haylage and use winter fields which are usually rested for 6 months. Water bills have also increased a lot.

 

[ihatework]

Quite frankly I’m gobsmacked the 1 horse I currently have on livery hasn’t had an increase. It’s got to happen soon.

I have 2 of a friends horses on full Youngstock livery, and am pleased that my pricing excluded hay. It’s the one thing that has the potential to fluctuate quite significantly.