services offered over xmas - DIY livery yards

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debbielinder

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I work in a fairly large DIY livery yard (40+ horse) and riding school. As a rule over the xmas period, ie 1 week before, 1 week after we do not offer liveries any additional services apart from feeding first thing in the morning which we do at no extra cost. Usually we offer mucking out bedding down night feeds etc for an additional charge. This year the yard managers have approached me and a friend and asked us if any one asks for these services would we be willing to do them. But as we've never done this before we are unsure of what to charge.

We would split it between us, as i am hoping to be at the yard for 6 xmas morning i will muck out fill nets water buckets and prepare evening feeds. My friend is then hoping to be at the yard between 2 + 4 to finish off. The other days i am at the yard before 7 so will work it the same i will muck out he will finish off later that day

We had thought £15 a day per horse, xmas eve, xmas day, boxing day, new years day and £10 per horse every other day. Do you think this is a fair price? Or if any 1 could tell me what their yards are charging for similar services over the xmas period we would be very greatfull.
 
Well on a usual day its £5 to have ur horse on full service for the day so were not likely to do it for free over xmas though im sure all the liveries would sign up for that
 
It does seem a little unfair that the yard does not offer its usual services for 2 weeks, I can see why over the main days but not many owners will have a 2 week holiday to enable them to do their own horse.

I would think that £15 or even £20 for xmas day and boxing day but feel it should be the usual rates for the rest of the time.
 
To be fair once the schools break up a lot of the kids share doin each others horses and the majority of our liveries dont work or are self employed so are down during the day as a rule. Each xmas the same 4 or 5 liveries ask to have their horses done xmas day and have been told we dont do services at xmas apart from morning feeds, baring in mind it is DIY yard and 3 years ago before these managers took over there were no services offered ever.
 
What do you normally charge to do this? Then add a bit on. I know my yard charges £12 a day to do that normally so would expect to pay at least £15 at christmas but I do live in Surrey!
 
Its £5 a day to have your horse mucked out bedded down fed watered. To be honest theirs only a handfull of liveries that take full use of these services as it is DIY but at christmas especially the ones with children find it difficult to get down so we thought as we are down doing our own horses and the yard managers have asked us would we like to do it, it could prove very helpfull for liveries and also as the riding school is closed over xmas gives us a chance to make up for the pay we will loose
 
If its normally £5 and your splitting it between 3 of you I would ask £15 for the main days as you mention and then return to normal cost for the rest of the two weeks.

After being stucking in a house with children for 2 days is more than enough to get mother back out to the yard asap !!

You might find if you up the other days people might say forget it and club together(if they are allowed) and you would then miss out on the money. Depends if you want the money or to be at home ??
 
Ive always been DIY when on livery,i wouldnt expect anyone to give up there time at the festive period ( your 2 weeks )unless it was their choice.
And if theyre willing to do it on christmas eve through boxing day, youre very lucky, it is DIY and most people are off work anyway.
Id say usual rates until christmas eve, if youre happy to do so, from CE until BD i dont think its unreasonable to ask fifteen the days before and after the main dates and twenty quid per horse on christmas day and new years day. im pretty sure you will be as busy as everyone else is in their own personal lives at this time so why shouldnt you reap the rewards for doing the extras to help everyone else out.
 
Our yard is £10 / day for a full morning muck out, turn out, bring in, hay, water, feed, bed down, or between £3 - £5 for a combination of any of the above.
However, on Christmas Day, only the part liveries are done by the yard staff (they need their Christmas Day too) and DIY's are told very clearly that if they can't get up to their horse on Christmas Day, they need to make arrangements with a friend / fellow DIY livery because the staff won't do it ('emergency' hay / water excepted).
 
I would say charge the normal price for the 'normal' days and charge extra for the bank holidays, £15 a day seems on OK price to me :D I would be willing to pay that if I couldn't get down on Christmas Day.
 
I would be looking at £15 for Christmas eve, Boxing day, bank holiday Tuesday, and New years eve. Then £20 for Christmas day and New years day.
Around those days I would think that mst people will finish work early on Friday 23rd so I would class that as a normal day, few people will work Wednesday 28th to Friday 30th so perhaps charge those at £7.50, and a lot will start back at work on Wednesday 4th because of the way the days fall so that would be at normal rates.
If you and your friends are prepared to work the main days then I think you should be paid accordingly (and that goes for anyone else who's job means they are working those days as well)
 
Id charge £20 for xmas day, boxing day plus the extra bank holiday. Same in the new year. However, it depends on whether you are personally pocketing the money for doing the work or whether it goes into the business.

We share chores over the holidays, ive got xmas morning and new yesr night but if the weather permits that will be everyone out 24/7 with hay, a quick check that everyone still has 4 legs and back home.
 
I run an assisted diy yard and charge double for services on Christmas eve/christmas day/boxing day/new years eve/new years day/easter sunday/mon. Other BH's are at normal price.

All my clients are happy with this and are made aware of these charges when signing the livery contract. Most do their own, but for those that can't, makes it more worthwhile for me (also gives me an excuse to avoid mother-in-law!)

Hope that helps!
 
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