Paying for haylage all year round?

[dancingkris]

I am just in the process of moving yards and have a query which I hope you people might be able to answer!

At my present yard I buy in my own hay so only pay the yard owner for stables. I have 2 good doers which only need hay in winter, so I am able to save some money through summer. Most of the other liveries are the same.

The new yard charges £12 per week for haylage all year round. My boys will be out between for the next few months on lovely pasture so don't need anything additional - I don't mind paying for it (although obviously would prefer not to if theyre not eating it!) but just wondered if this is the 'normal' thing for yards to charge for this all year??

 

[ihatework]

It's not unheard of, either as a monthly charge or wrapped up into an inclusive cost.

Some people win , some people loose on those kind of deals, but it does make it easier for the YO to manage with regards to billing etc.

With the price of hay/haylage at the minute I know mine would eat more than £12 a week worth through the winter so it would probably even out through the year anyway

 

[BBH]

It's certainly not uncommon, mum feeds all year round because she likes to control what her ponies eat and most horses on livery will eat something overnight or when they come in. If your boys are good do'ers I agree it's a shame to pay for something you don't need though.

 

[dancingkris]

I don't mind if its the norm but I'll be shortly taking maternity leave and therefore money is tight - having to justify to the non horsey husband why the monthly cost has shot up whilst they're out is the tricky part!

 

[soulfull]

On some yards including mine it is normal
Mine is just part of the bill tho
You could gently query it asking if you still need to pay this even if they never have any at all. Bearing in mind this would mean you couldn't even give them any as a one off while waiting for farrier or vet

 

[LovesCobs]

All yards I've been on do this, it evens out the price so the money banked in summer pays for the extra used in winter, however they were all yards that the horses came in at night during summer and so had 1 net a day, then in winter it went up to 3 nets a day. I did get a bit miffed that I paid the same for my daughters 12.2hh pony as others did for 16.2 and 17hh TB's who needed lots!

 

[dancingkris]

I had a word today - no problem to buy my own in and just pay for storage. So I can buy some in for emergencies and then look at buying more in time for winter. The people running the new yard are lovely so I'm happy - and so is my husband!!