Offering yougstock grazing

[Horseysheepy]

My partner has suggested we could offer a large field with access to barn, in the summer months only, to some youngsters. Adlib seeds hay if necessary is provided plus twice daily checks.
Not sure what to charge?

 

[Dexter]

If its only for the summer it will have limited appeal. People tend to want either winter or all year. A full livery yard near me did it once when we had crazy grass growth. They struggled to find anyone and were charging £15 a week.

 

[Horseysheepy]

Thank you, it could possibly be all year.

I was thinking £10 per week per horse, as they would be doing me a favour as I could run them with my youngsters.

 

[ihatework]

Thank you, it could possibly be all year.

I was thinking £10 per week per horse, as they would be doing me a favour as I could run them with my youngsters.

someone will snap your hand off for that!!!

 

[BBP]

Thank you, it could possibly be all year.

I was thinking £10 per week per horse, as they would be doing me a favour as I could run them with my youngsters.

If you were close and it was through the winter then I would probably snap your hand off for that.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Personally I do not think you should undercharge. Frankly £10 per horse per week is giving it away.

At the end of the day you are providing a service and are essentially taking responsibility for someone else's horses, and you will need to cover things like insurance, pasture management & fencing maintenance, plus you will need to cater for any running repairs and emergencies which with youngsters may well work out more pricey than older more sedate horses TBH; also bear in mind that youngsters are likely to hoon around more and cut up your lovely green neat pasture! (Not that older horses don't - a livery's 25yo often imagines he's just lining up for the afternoon's racing at Cheltenham!).

I charge £100 pcm for field grazing with all-year turnout. 4 acres & mains water. This is East Devon. Current livery has her two on it. Both older horses not youngsters.

 

[Horseysheepy]

someone will snap your hand off for that!!!

Yes it sounds like they would!

 

[Horseysheepy]

Personally I do not think you should undercharge. Frankly £10 per horse per week is giving it away.

At the end of the day you are providing a service and are essentially taking responsibility for someone else's horses, and you will need to cover things like insurance, pasture management & fencing maintenance, plus you will need to cater for any running repairs and emergencies which with youngsters may well work out more pricey than older more sedate horses TBH; also bear in mind that youngsters are likely to hoon around more and cut up your lovely green neat pasture! (Not that older horses don't - a livery's 25yo often imagines he's just lining up for the afternoon's racing at Cheltenham!).

I charge £100 pcm for field grazing with all-year turnout. 4 acres & mains water. This is East Devon. Current livery has her two on it. Both older horses not youngsters.

Thank you, you definitely sound like you speak from experience!.

Lots to think about, but it's a possibility for the future.

 

[sassandbells]

I’m currently paying £20 a week for a DIY grass livery in the south, so I think at £10 a week you’d definitely be under charging.

Consider how many youngsters you’d have, and how much you’d anticipate spending for hay, then add in the cost of your time etc. Bales that cost me £30 last year are £37 this year! You’d also need to factor in insurance and maintenance.

I also think you’d get more interest if it’s all year round rather than just summer months.

When I was looking for my youngster it ranged from 150pcm to 300pcm for similar to what you’re planning to offer!

 

[ihatework]

Where abouts are you?

 

[HashRouge]

If you offer it all year round, definitely charge more than £10 a week!

 

[daydreamer]

Where I am has recently gone up to £210 a month. That is for 24/7 turn out in 2's or 3's, no field shelters , ad lib hay in winter, poo picking done by tractor, checks twice a day (fairly minimal, pm especially is just an eyes on thing), rug changes if needed, give feed if needed. Fencing is very good but fields are mainly flat and a bit more manicured than I would like. Most of the horses are retirees but I have had my youngster there since he was 6 months old (now 4 1/2) since there is hardly any 24/7 turn out near here nevermind youngstock livery.

 

[Vodkagirly]

I reckon £10 a week barely covers maintenance let alone your time doing checks.
Then hay can add up quickly, plus time/kit putting it out. Don't sell yourself short.

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

I'm just about to send one of mine for full grass livery for the winter including daily checks at a well established livery yard for £30 so I'd say you would be massively undercharging at £10

 

[Gloi]

Local stud I considered using for young stock livery. £30/week summer £55/week winter.

 

[Horseysheepy]

Local stud I considered using for young stock livery. £30/week summer £55/week winter.

Did that include adlib hay over the winter months?

 

[Gloi]

Did that include adlib hay over the winter months?

Yes.

 

[Ahrena]

Someone recently wanted to charge me £450 a month for youngstock livery (grass with field shelter) including checks and hay.
I was so desperate I almost took it as it’s so limited. Definitely do not charge £10 a week!!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I paid £18 a week for grass livery about 7 years ago hay was extra and you had to go up everyday, £10 is way too cheap I would also not include hay charge a grass livery rate and then split the hay you use between each livery.

 

[Horseysheepy]

Thank you.

There is a lot of difference in what people charge as it depends what they offer.
And where I am, alot of farmland is dissolving through houses being built upon so grazing is not so easy to come by.

I see on horse Facebook groups youngstock and/or retirement livery being charged at a good price per week to include hay, feet picking, fly spray application, meds given, rugs on/off and twice day checks.

Then our local farmer charging a few pounds a week plus hay split between how ever many horses and charged accordingly, to run in with his daughter's youngsters, daily checks and no extras.

Say I had two youngsters, they run with my two youngsters, 12 acres access to a barn. Quality homegrown hay offered over winter. Twice daily checks.

We have our own facilities to mend fencing and manage the land and fully appreciate the damage that can be done by a herd of horses and horses must have appropriate insurances.

They will be doing me a favour as when any of my horses go off for a few weeks at a time for training, they will never be alone.

I'm thinking that Gloi's price suggestion stated earlier, is fair and reasonable for what I will be offering.

 

[tda]

Yes where are you, I have two 6m old Colts to start you off ?