scats
Well-Known Member
Our monthly energy bill came in at £800… needless to say we’ve had to really cut back on heating the house!
More price rises!
- Thread starter holeymoley
- Start date
Sossigpoker
Well-Known Member
When you're being expected to pay £180 per week for part livery, saving on feed and shoes is inconsequential.
SO1
Well-Known Member
That is the going rate in the SE now a lot of PT livery is over 1k. Increase in minimum wage in 2023 will push up prices.
dogatemysalad
Well-Known Member
I remember reading an article that said a country's economy could be linked to the number of people for whom horse riding was a popular leisure hobby. South Korea experienced rapid economic growth and had surpassed the level needed for that, but cultural behaviours hadn't changed at the same pace, so the government began a programme to fund opportunities for people to learn to ride.
I think we're going backwards here. Horse ownership is still seen as elitist and I doubt our society would care about its demise. However, I suspect that many sports are facing the same issues. With the need to economise, sport, leisure activities and also pet ownership are becoming a luxury.
I think we're going backwards here. Horse ownership is still seen as elitist and I doubt our society would care about its demise. However, I suspect that many sports are facing the same issues. With the need to economise, sport, leisure activities and also pet ownership are becoming a luxury.
Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
My horses live out now .
They only get access to forage around three hours a day when they come inside to eat and be worked .
When they where stabled at night with turnout part of the day I used three small bales of haylege a day now a bale lasts two a bit days .
We are using a third to a quarter of the bedding we used to .
I hope we will manage the whole of the winter with them out I have plenty of acreage per horse ( between four and five ) but I still have to manage the clay.
Of course if they tell me they have had enough I will stable them at night one thing it’s brought home to me is the impossible task that is expecting healthy good doers to maintain a healthy weight on add Lib forage even if in the field even when they are working .
Two of my horses are hunting on this regime they get no hard food but a balancer and some chop we added a mug of grass cubes when it was frozen because I was guarding against impaction .
I will move fields sometime in February and then they will need no haylege unless it snows I hope they lose weight through January the field they are in is grazed out .
I am spending so much less than when they where in .
There are hidden costs the outside rugs take more of a battering so theres a hidden few hundred on extra rugging .
They only get access to forage around three hours a day when they come inside to eat and be worked .
When they where stabled at night with turnout part of the day I used three small bales of haylege a day now a bale lasts two a bit days .
We are using a third to a quarter of the bedding we used to .
I hope we will manage the whole of the winter with them out I have plenty of acreage per horse ( between four and five ) but I still have to manage the clay.
Of course if they tell me they have had enough I will stable them at night one thing it’s brought home to me is the impossible task that is expecting healthy good doers to maintain a healthy weight on add Lib forage even if in the field even when they are working .
Two of my horses are hunting on this regime they get no hard food but a balancer and some chop we added a mug of grass cubes when it was frozen because I was guarding against impaction .
I will move fields sometime in February and then they will need no haylege unless it snows I hope they lose weight through January the field they are in is grazed out .
I am spending so much less than when they where in .
There are hidden costs the outside rugs take more of a battering so theres a hidden few hundred on extra rugging .
Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
I agree horses in particular are heading back to being an activity only for the very wealthy .
meleeka
Well-Known Member
It seems a bit of a two tier system where I am. There’s the owners that are seen as “rich” and then the bin end ones that fly graze/breed anything with a pulse and will no doubt continue to collect horses because they don’t actually cost them anything to keep.
Ali27
Well-Known Member
I’m just so glad that we bought a 5 acre field in September 2021 (bought it using cash) so no livery charges otherwise I would be paying around £360/400 for DIY for my 3. Mine are still out 24/7 and only just started feeding hay which I paid £3.50 per bale in July. I’ve still got 35 bales of shavings left from last Winter. I might bring mine in at night later in January if it gets too wet but currently have another 1 1/2 acre paddock that they can munch next month. Super grateful for having my own land and being able to manage it how I want, what suits the ponies and also saving cash/ time by not having them stabled most of the year?
Landcruiser
Well-Known Member
This winter is costing me a fortune even with having them at home. Youngster is confined to a small pen rehabbing injury, and the other two are confined to yard/turnout area to keep her company - so they are essentially "in" and only have the forage I provide them available. 2 of them stabled overnight too. Normally they'd be out all winter with a bit of hay in the field. I am SO DONE with buying bedding, hay and haylage..(don't even mention the vet bills...)
millitiger
Well-Known Member
Mine are at home which is great BUT my mortgage will be going up by around £700/ month when my current deal ends in April... gulp!
Shoes have been off for winter, going back on in Feb for stud holes and no horsebox outings for 8 weeks which has helped.
However I'm still planning a busy 2023 as there is no point having the horses, and spending money all year round, if we don't get to have fun in summer!
Shoes have been off for winter, going back on in Feb for stud holes and no horsebox outings for 8 weeks which has helped.
However I'm still planning a busy 2023 as there is no point having the horses, and spending money all year round, if we don't get to have fun in summer!
Miss_Millie
Well-Known Member
It is a real struggle. Livery has increased massively, I'd happily have my mare on grass livery out 24/7 with no facilities, but there is nothing like that in our area. I have been saving every penny for my own land and hope I can make that happen next year. Seriously considering moving to a different part of the country to save money, I wouldn't mind living in the tiniest house possible if it meant cutting back on bills.
tallyho!
Following a strict mediterranean diet...
It is mentioned here and there that livery also needs to change if they themselves want to survive… the expectation that riders will just suck up the increasing costs. An abundance of research is making its way through on nutrition of the athlete horses, as well as the less athletic, land management research from sustainable agriculture research is also bubbling up to the surface now which can all be taken advantage of and reduce costs. For me, I see a joint responsibility to help each other out, but, what I see online is that the owners are the ones making changes and this is not quite balancing out with what yards are willing to compromise with. On that, I also think councils need to consider planning laws so that yards can make necessary changes e.g. all weather tracks so horses are not stabled 24/7 (tracks require planning); all weather shelter (more planning); irrigation (you got it); etc
Something HAS to give… it IS possible if the will of everyone is the same. Reading this thread, though, makes me wonder if we are still yet 10 years behind a paradigm shift the horse world needs right now.
paddy555
Well-Known Member
against that owners are demanding more and more. They require an indoor with lights so they can ride in the evening, they require an outdoor, jumps, solarium, hot water showers that need electricity as do the lights.They need a parking area for their horse box/trailer, post and rail fencing, single turnout paddocks. All these things cost money, not only the capital costs but the maintenance as well which is continually increasing as material costs and labour costs increase. .
There is what the horse requires to live ie preferably turnout, feed and hay and then what the owner requires ie facilities. At the end of this the owner still needs to make a profit otherwise it would be pointless running their business and if that is their means of living then they need to make more to cope with their own increasing COL.
Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
Livery is in most cases not a cost effective way of using the land nearest to urban areas which of course is where there’s most demand . Even in rural areas like this livery is much more restricted and small pieces of land where horses used to kept are now built over .
We will see more and more squeeze on livery yards and it will become harder and harder to find a good place unless you can afford to pay a fair amount for it .
Who else sucks up the increased costs except the customers, it’s not as if the average livery owner is making a huge profit .
Spotherisk
Well-Known Member
I’ve been surprised to see livery in Devon today, DIY, one at £27.50 and one at £31 per week. That’s what I was paying 20years ago!
Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
I did the same when we got this place we hunted in the winter did shoes off and out when weather let up from the end of hunting to mid June and saved up for next winter then had fun from mid June or so .
What often what gets forgotten when people look at people who have managed to buy their own place to keep their horses is that pesky mortgage .
It hides the true cost of keeping your horses in that mortgage which you think of as the cost of your house .
Then you spend all the time on maintenance sometimes in big lumps but often in little bits all the time replacing fences mending rails here and then a new electric fence unit replacing worn electric rope or tape ,water pipes troughs ,grass management, managing your muck it costs all the time it’s not just the feed and the bedding and and the vet .
Thats what a good livery owner faces and they also need to cover the cost of their borrowing or the value of what the capital held in the land could get up to doing other things to really be running a business .
I did not really understand when I bought here how much it all cost, the cost of managing grass well was a real wake up call for me .
sakura
Well-Known Member
I’m very thankful that, so far, my livery hasn’t gone up. I buy absolutely everything that I can second hand (thank you, Vinted!). My 17yro horse is barefoot, mostly retired and costs me a fortune in vet bills but that’s about it. I won’t be getting another though.
Bobthecob15
Well-Known Member
That yard sounds like heaven can I move there please?! ?
Dexter
Well-Known Member
That doesn't reflect the posts you see on here when owners are looking for livery. Its turnout and hacking that people want.
AmyMay
Situation normal
I got out of horses about 10 years ago. There’s absolutely no way I could afford to keep one now.
maisie06
Well-Known Member
I am so glad i gave up when i did a few years back
we have cut back on everything, food, heating going out, but i have booked my holiday as otherwise i feel im working for nothing. the dogs still have good food as don't want to compromise that yet ...but may look to a cheaper brand.
excuse the typos my keyboard on this laptop is knackered and i can't afford to replace it!
we have cut back on everything, food, heating going out, but i have booked my holiday as otherwise i feel im working for nothing. the dogs still have good food as don't want to compromise that yet ...but may look to a cheaper brand.
excuse the typos my keyboard on this laptop is knackered and i can't afford to replace it!
marmalade76
Well-Known Member
I think the price of horses will come right down, it's early days yet and people are still chancing their arms. Before long the market will be flooded with horses that people can no longer afford to keep, they'll end up virtually giving them away just to save themselves the livery bills.
As for me, I've been keeping mine cheaply for years, have never used proper livery yards, husband makes hay, have stuck to ponies/pony types, our mortgage has finished, we've always been a bit tight anyway. But sadly I think a lot of folks are going to end up in the brown & sticky
maya2008
Well-Known Member
The prices of GOOD horses always stays strong - but the lower end of the market and youngsters tends to bottom out in recessions.
throwawayaccount
Well-Known Member
I cut back on a lot to afford my two, pretty much everything, but they don’t go without. If there’s an unexpected expense, that they need, they get it.
But, that’s going to get more difficult with the constant price rises. I work two jobs and work my backside off to live the lifestyle I have, which in all truth still is never enough and I miss out on things like lessons, clinics and shows- but hey ho..at least the horses are happy and comfortable enough
But, that’s going to get more difficult with the constant price rises. I work two jobs and work my backside off to live the lifestyle I have, which in all truth still is never enough and I miss out on things like lessons, clinics and shows- but hey ho..at least the horses are happy and comfortable enough
Sossigpoker
Well-Known Member
Going rate around here is about £100-120.
splashgirl45
Lurcher lover
If I still had a horse I would be really struggling and would still have huge credit card debts. My first holiday in over 25 years was in 2021 and was a week self catering in Norfolk, and I could only do that as I was horseless. I am on a fixed pension so can’t splash out and also still have a mortgage but after my serious accident I am now living for each day and if I feel cold I put the heating on and worry about the cost afterwards , I think as horse people many of us only have one luxury (horse) so we are used to not having new cars and all the latest designer gear so it must come as a shock to people who feel they need those things in their lives
Last edited:
TreeDog
Well-Known Member
Never mind horses, I don't know how people afford children. I have a horse and pony, fortunately I am lucky enough keep them at cheap diy grass livery, but their entire costs (including insurance, feed, vet, tack etc etc) is less than half my nephew's nursery fees. And then add the cost for feeding, clothing, and housing a child on top of that.
I guess their childcare costs will go down once he's at school, but articles from earlier this year say raising a child to age 18 costs in the region of £150-200k, or £8-11k a year. Much more than my 2 equines. And no doubt that's gone up since then! Many (most?) parents continue to fund their kids beyond age 18 too.
I could afford a child if I gave up horses and both me and OH gave up having holidays. We're both degree educated and work full time in good jobs, earning above average for our age.
So from another perspective, perhaps many people are more likely to spend significant sums of money on pets rather than having children, as in most cases this is less expensive than a child? I have a number of friends/family who 'traditionally' would have had at least one kid by now but have dogs instead.
I guess their childcare costs will go down once he's at school, but articles from earlier this year say raising a child to age 18 costs in the region of £150-200k, or £8-11k a year. Much more than my 2 equines. And no doubt that's gone up since then! Many (most?) parents continue to fund their kids beyond age 18 too.
I could afford a child if I gave up horses and both me and OH gave up having holidays. We're both degree educated and work full time in good jobs, earning above average for our age.
So from another perspective, perhaps many people are more likely to spend significant sums of money on pets rather than having children, as in most cases this is less expensive than a child? I have a number of friends/family who 'traditionally' would have had at least one kid by now but have dogs instead.
meleeka
Well-Known Member
Nursery fees are optional. You get funding from 2 years old now for a certain number of hours. It must be soul destroying to pay over half your income for childcare and I think that’s one of the reasons a lot of people don’t have children. I couldn’t do it, anymore than I would pay £1k livery a month.
TreeDog
Well-Known Member
Nephew is under 2. It's not really optional unless one of the parents wants to quit work, and even once he's two the free nursery hours only cover enough hours to work part time. So you have to consider the impact this will have on your career development and future earnings.
The Xmas Furry
🦄 🦄
There is an issue now in 'my patch'. A v decent livery yard has given all 30 liveries notice to go as they are closing. Its actually one that I've recommended to others, 3miles from my yard by road.
Had 2 callers at my yard yesterday, goodness knows how many others driving around too.
The yard has only had 3 owners since the early 70s. Current ones have been there for 20 years.
I really feel for the liveries trying to find new digs at this time of the year.
Had 2 callers at my yard yesterday, goodness knows how many others driving around too.
The yard has only had 3 owners since the early 70s. Current ones have been there for 20 years.
I really feel for the liveries trying to find new digs at this time of the year.