quick question for those on full livery...

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MissCandy

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Does the price go down in the summer as hay, bedding, feed etc won't be used?

Appreciate it may differ from yard to yard but I've never been on full livery so no idea!

Thanks
 
Full livery seems to mean slightly different things at different yards actually. But all the ones I've been at (in the SE) have had the same charge all year round, which is interesting though as they are on longer turnout and nowhere near as much work to be done de-mudding them etc. But maybe that slight break over the summer makes up for all the hard work done over the winter!
 
Not in my experience, no. Its priced at a yearly all round rate which takes into account the fact that in winter the outgoings are massively increased but in summer they are reduced, the price is consistent no matter if there are hay shortages in winter, or drought in the summer.
 
At our yard it stays the same all year round, even if the horses are on full turnout. I think this is because they employ permanent staff who are kept on all year round.

I have been on another yard when prices were lower over summer but they had seasonal workers and also stopped supplying straw and haylage as part of your livery...assuming that horses would be kept out. Most people put a shavings bed down and paid per net for if their horses came in.
 
Same charge all year round.

But I don't think feed/bedding costs go down much in the summer as the horses are in during the day and out at night so still need beds down and feed.

Also hard feed can increase during summer as the horses are working hard.

Another thing, ours were all hayed in the field last summer, at night, as well as hay during the day when they were in, due to the drought and lack of grass.
 
Our allow you to switch to DIY over summer if you wish, last year mine went out 24/7 so I did that. I bought my own feed and just paid per net for any hay.

Most proper full livery yards have a year round charge though and the summer evens up the winter a bit.
 
Kat said:
Our allow you to switch to DIY over summer if you wish, last year mine went out 24/7 so I did that. I bought my own feed and just paid per net for any hay.

Most proper full livery yards have a year round charge though and the summer evens up the winter a bit.
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One im going to allows you to go from full livery to grass in the summer, despite having a stable too!
 
bumblelion said:
One im going to allows you to go from full livery to grass in the summer, despite having a stable too!
Click to expand...

We still have to pay for the stable, even though it is unoccupied, they don't do grass livery. You just pay the DIY rate and then add any extra services you want. Some people stay on normal part livery all year round and their horses come in during the day instead of overnight but they still have bedding, feed, hay, and get the services they do in winter, others turn out 24/7 and pay DIY rates. But our livery is all done based upon individual needs, so you can have a 5 day package or have your horse done mornings only or have services but supply your own feed etc etc etc.
 
Bernster said:
Full livery seems to mean slightly different things at different yards actually. But all the ones I've been at (in the SE) have had the same charge all year round, which is interesting though as they are on longer turnout and nowhere near as much work to be done de-mudding them etc. But maybe that slight break over the summer makes up for all the hard work done over the winter!
Click to expand...

Ours stays the same all year round. The price is set as we are saving the money all year to cover wintering costs!
One of our friends changes his to less over summer, but if we did this, we would have to hike it up a fair amount over winter. I think that one steadier price is easier for people to get the money together and know where they stand and I'd hate to suddenly pay more every winter.

People who come later in the year have to pay a higher rate for the first year to cover wintering costs so it is fair to all and stops people wintering their horse at a cheap rate and then moving on.

Pan
 
Kat said:
We still have to pay for the stable, even though it is unoccupied, they don't do grass livery. You just pay the DIY rate and then add any extra services you want. Some people stay on normal part livery all year round and their horses come in during the day instead of overnight but they still have bedding, feed, hay, and get the services they do in winter, others turn out 24/7 and pay DIY rates. But our livery is all done based upon individual needs, so you can have a 5 day package or have your horse done mornings only or have services but supply your own feed etc etc etc.
Click to expand...

Yeah sounds a bit like the one I'm going to, they do livery based upon individual needs. However, the DIY go onto grass livery, if horse is out 24/7, so pay less and still can use stable! I had to ask a few times when had a look around as it didn't sink in as it's not usual practice at most yards! iv always paid for DIY year around whether they're out all summer or not! The full livery price is £85 a week inclusive of everything, except riding, so it's not like they over charge the winter months to allow for the cheaper summer!
 
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Currently I pay £150-£170 per month for DIY, this includes hay, straw and feed.

In the summer I will pay £80 per month. I will probably pay for one months worth of hay and straw to use for the whole summer.

Full livery in my area is approx £100 per week so quite a big increase.

However, I need help with chores in the winter - but will not need any assistance in the summer and I want te facilities a more 'professional' yard will offer when it comes to breaking in my boy.

Its whether I can bring myself to pay it!
 
My full liveries pay less in summer depending on how the horse is being managed, so if they are out, then its just checking in the field which is far easier that mucking out, doing all the nets etc hence is charged less.
 
im on full livery and every summer my boy lives out 24 hours for about 2/3 months even though i pay the same as winter and have a stable. I dont mind because my yard owner takes this into account and charges relatively little for full so as to average out year round costs (guess its the same as saying why is there no rise in costs in winter when they have huge fluffy beds, mountains of hay and 3 feeds a day) think it works out well and less faff too x
 
Fixed price all year round. Yes feed might be reduced slightly but I think it all balances out in the end. Swings both ways....my very nice YO and staff spent nearly 3 weeks this winter coping with the snow....which included them walking all liveries horses out, by hand every day even for us part liveries... No extra charge..
 
my full liveries can go on diy rates thru the summer months if they want , i do check them a minimum of twice a day at no charge as 5 of the horses are mine and i'm out in the field :) . if they go on holiday the horse goes back on full for that time . any hay straw etc they use is charged for , generally thru this time they buy their own feed ,
 
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