Price of livery - Opinions wanted please!

jadelovescassie

jadelovescassie

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I won't say how much I am paying as I want to see what others are paying for similar/what you would be willing to pay. I keep my horse at a friends house, we have only been there a couple of months.

What I receive for what I pay is:
- A field which she shares with a couple of other horses, which is behind their house.
- Great hacking
- There are 2 stables, but 5 horses, so I don't have my own stable though could probably use one if I needed to at the moment. However this may be an issue come winter because I am pretty sure 4 horses will need stabling and my mare definitely needs to be in at night. I was told 3 more stables would be built but have not heard anything more on this happening and winter will soon be approaching.
- Keep my tack in their garage
- Obviously as she is kept where they live they will keep an eye on my mare and look after her if I go away (not very often) - She is very easy and not high maintenance at all especially during the summer months where she lives out 24/7.
- There is not a school but there is a school within 15 min hacking distance down the road that we can pay to hire out.

Just wondered what other people would expect to pay per month for this? As I am not sure if I am being overcharged.

Thanks :)
 
It doesn't really matter what you pay. If you are beginning to question whether it's worth it then you'd be better off finding somewhere else. Especially as you have written that you suspect you are being overcharged and are presumably fairly identifiable given all the information about you available on here.
 
I do understand what you are saying of course :) I may not be being overcharged. Just wanted to see what others are paying for similar so I have something to compare to really.
 
It is basically grass livery with the owner on site to keep an eye on the horses, there are no facilities included so the rate should be based on how much this would be in your area, I charge £25 per week for summer grass livery but they do have access to a stable of their own if required, I have enough for every horse in case of emergency, plus use of an arena with jumps and jumps in a field during the summer.
 
sounds similar to where I used to be but we had 2 field shelters, only small though! hacking was amazing and they were friends of the family, I started off paying £25 a week for 2 horses then ended up paying £60 a month a horse! but other liveries where paid £80
 
be positive said:
It is basically grass livery with the owner on site to keep an eye on the horses, there are no facilities included so the rate should be based on how much this would be in your area, I charge £25 per week for summer grass livery but they do have access to a stable of their own if required, I have enough for every horse in case of emergency, plus use of an arena with jumps and jumps in a field during the summer.
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I am paying more than that without school and jumps so maybe yes I am being charged too much.
 
kerrieberry2 said:
sounds similar to where I used to be but we had 2 field shelters, only small though! hacking was amazing and they were friends of the family, I started off paying £25 a week for 2 horses then ended up paying £60 a month a horse! but other liveries where paid £80
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Oh really! Where were you based?! As the 'stables' were field shelters. In fact I think only one actually has a stable front that was put on DIY and the other is open as a shelter would be!
 
that was in Winchester! we have 2 stables but there weren't great, so we used them for storing rugs etc! and the 2 field shelters were small, one was big enough for 1 horse but 2 often squeezed in and the other was big enough for 2 horses but was inside the hay barn so could have been extended to fit more horses but the farmer wouldn't do anything, and the fencing was pretty rubbish!
 
Basically you are paying for a field shared with 4 other horses with the security of owner on site. No more than £20 a week absolute tops unless you are in Central London!
 
I'd guess at £25/30 a week. Best way to check is to go around and have a look at alternatives (you might need to do his anyway if you must have a stable and there aren't any) Once you know what third party yards would charge you can decdide what to do.
 
Does sound very similar to us but we are not in Winchester! The shelter is pretty big, could probably squeeze 3 horses in each side...I think it was used as a small barn before.
 
Well from the current feedback I'd definitely say I'm overpaying for what I'm getting. Really don't want to move mare again for her sake :( but may be the best option. I only really moved over with them as my mare settles their very mare-ish mare.
 
My neighbour rented out her two acre field with large field shelter (which could be divided in two stables) and small shed for storage with no other facilities like running water or electricity for £200 per month.
 
Jnhuk said:
My neighbour rented out her two acre field with large field shelter (which could be divided in two stables) and small shed for storage with no other facilities like running water or electricity for £200 per month.
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that's crazy money, I can't believe someone paid that!

I currently pay £200 a month for 3 horses, well 2 a mini! I have 3 acres, with a massive barn, a block of 4 stables, a lockable tackroom, which was 2 stables converted and there are 4 other stables in there if I need them, for emergencies but they are smaller than my big concrete stables!!! they cut hay and straw and store it on the farm, so I have it on tap! its crazy the prices people pay!
 
Basic grass livery round here is about £80 a months but with use of arena and tack room etc.
For diy its £120.



I'd say yours is grass livery as not your own stable
Plus no area so less than the £80.

I think you need a serious chat to decide what's happening in the winter.
They may let you have your own stable and theirs live out ir they may get the stables build very soon.

Either way I'd like to know now and be prepared.
 
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Well we are based in Wiltshire. Obviously other areas such as London you would expect to be paying quite a bit more than in the countryside! I am worried about challenging the owner about this to be honest, I can see it getting a bit heated and not really sure if it's worth it.
 
Jnhuk said:
My neighbour rented out her two acre field with large field shelter (which could be divided in two stables) and small shed for storage with no other facilities like running water or electricity for £200 per month.
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I also agree with Kerrie I cannot believe anyone would pay that!!! Then again I suppose it does depend on area.
 
jadelovescassie said:
Well we are based in Wiltshire. Obviously other areas such as London you would expect to be paying quite a bit more than in the countryside! I am worried about challenging the owner about this to be honest, I can see it getting a bit heated and not really sure if it's worth it.
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If someone's already pointed her at this thread I suspect the discussion will come to you rather than you needing to take it to her.

It might be worth your researching suitable local places and costs before having the discussion. Then you have a good idea of what would be reasonable for where you are - although it doesn't sound as though the facilities you need are available.
 
jadelovescassie said:
Well we are based in Wiltshire. Obviously other areas such as London you would expect to be paying quite a bit more than in the countryside! I am worried about challenging the owner about this to be honest, I can see it getting a bit heated and not really sure if it's worth it.
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its difficult when you're with a friend, If I were you, I would find an alternative yard, see how much that would be with a stable then speak to your friend and say that you're worried about the winter, as there is no stable for your mare, you have no alternative but to move her! let your friend know that this isn't what you want to do but you can't let her live out!

if it helps me had 4 big and 2/3 mini's living out for the winter, we had 4 field and they all got trashed, about 7-8 acres, so shuld be enough! they were left out in ankle deep mud, my friends mare was out in knee deep mud as she was a trasher! I left that yard in May, and already she has no grass and hasn't for about 5 weeks! and now she only has 2 mares and 2 shetties there! so you might need to consider how well the lane will cope and what you will have left for next year
 
jemima*askin said:
If someone's already pointed her at this thread I suspect the discussion will come to you rather than you needing to take it to her.
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Well I had to ask for advice somewhere and figured this was the best place to. I'd like to think people knew I was just ASKING what others were paying so I could compare. At the end of the day if I'm paying too much I would rather know. I do hope you're not suggesting you know owner has seen the thread, I was only looking for opinions.
 
kerrieberry2 said:
its difficult when you're with a friend, If I were you, I would find an alternative yard, see how much that would be with a stable then speak to your friend and say that you're worried about the winter, as there is no stable for your mare, you have no alternative but to move her! let your friend know that this isn't what you want to do but you can't let her live out!

if it helps me had 4 big and 2/3 mini's living out for the winter, we had 4 field and they all got trashed, about 7-8 acres, so shuld be enough! they were left out in ankle deep mud, my friends mare was out in knee deep mud as she was a trasher! I left that yard in May, and already she has no grass and hasn't for about 5 weeks! and now she only has 2 mares and 2 shetties there! so you might need to consider how well the lane will cope and what you will have left for next year
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It is difficult because I don't want to be on bad terms with them obviously but I must be honest I suppose if I feel I am paying too much. When I moved I think I thought it would be great but now reflecting on it where I don't have a stable of my own, any hay/straw included as you often would with livery and it is a little further out for me to drive too, all costs add up. Part of it is my own fault for not really weighing up the pros and cons before moving to them. Think it was one of those done on a whim decisions, which is why I want to be so careful about the decision I make here as don't want to regret it! Thanks for your advice :)
 
We keep 2 horses at a friend's house - they each have a stable and we have use of a 20x40 sand and rubber arena. We pay £20 per week per horse when they're living out 24/7 and £25 when they're in at night as she turns out in the mornings for us.

My other horse is kept at a livery yard and I pay £30 per week for him (massive outdoor school, small indoor and lunge pen) - can't believe people have suggested £25-30 sounds reasonable for what is basically grass livery! Obviously some parts of the country are more expensive than where we are, couldn't afford to keep them all in some areas!
 
Grass livery is generally £30 round here and often only available in the summer months.

DIY near £50 and Full £80-95 per week to some will all the facilities nearly £450 per month for full livery.

Suddenly the £200 per month isn't so bad especially when you have two horses to upkeep
 
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