/steep/ share price increase - what to do?

T

Tickles

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 April 2009
Messages
3,021
Visit site
I currently share a horse I like a lot. He isn't perfect and certainly isn't easy but we generally get on OK.
Problem: I pay 20GBP/week plus half of (front) shoes which works out at around 1150GBP/year.

His owner wants to increase that to 1980GBP/year as she isn't riding as much and has moved him to a more expensive yard (well, it is cheaper in winter but more in summer than the last one.) He now has another sharer for the days I don't do who pays the higher amount.

I'm not sure what to say. It is a really big increase and whilst I /could/ afford it I'm trying to save for a flat so it isn't like I wouldn't notice.

There is a similar (age/breed/ability) horse advertised for share at a closer (and slightly posher with more facilities) yard. That one is 1200GBP/year.

I'm tempted to find out about the cheaper shares but don't really want to loose a lovely animal with a nice flexible share arrangement because of awkwardness over money.

Any suggestions?
 
I must admit i would be looking at the other horse that is a rather large increase. You never know the other horse my be even better suited.
i must admit i did think of looking for a sharer for my section D but mainly to show him i have the box, i have the horse but no money left at the end of the month to compete him.

Good luck with whatever you decide.
Teresa
 
Thanks teresagarsden. I'm glad I'm not being totally unreasonable/cold hearted. I do expect to be helping an owner out money and time-wise but I didn't expect such a big increase!
 
That doesnt sound fair to me at all. If I was sharing a horse and it had another sharer I would not be paying any more then £20 a week. Any more than that is wrong IMHO. £30-£40 is acceptable if you are the only sharer but when there are 3 of you doing one horse...it seems a bit money grabbing to me.

I would def be going to look at the other horse
 
Perhaps go and see the other horse see what you think of him/her, but don't tell the other owner, and if you prefer the horse you go and try with the facilities go for that horse, as what your paying at the moment seems very unfair.
Hope that helps
 
I think that is a really big increase and although the owners costs have changed you are no getting anything more for the increase.

I would tell the owner that you wouldn’t be able to pay the extra but that you love the horse to bits and would love to carry on the share.

I have 2 sharers for my mare as i don’t ride her at all and to me it is more important to have a good reliable sharer that has bonded with the horse an cares for her than the extra cash. I agree that you should pay towards the costs of the horse but the horse is her horse and she should cover any extra expenses that are incurred IMO.

Hope you get things worked out. If not look at the other horse, you are paying about the right amount for the share so don’t feel bad.
 
the new price works out about 38 pounds a week. i dont think that is unreasonable. you would pay nearly that for one escorted ride at a riding school. if you ride him 2 to 3 times a week it doesnt seem that expensive. how much is his livery? and do you have to pay a contribution towards worming, teeth, back, insurance etc? unfortunately horses are expensive to keep, and have other expenses bar just the livery, yes i agree its a bit of a sudden jump in price but is probably more realistic now! and as the owner isnt doing much with him (her choice i know!) doesnt mean she has to subsidise your hobby
 
My reply is going to be slightly different.

For 20pw you cannot even get an hours riding lesson once a week, let alone have sole use and charge of a horse. The owner still has to insure the horse, pay vets fees, jabs, worming and any incidentals that arise on top of their weekly livery charge. If the owner is not riding then they are keeping the horse for the sharers, then costs should be split equally and there are a lot of hidden costs with horses, the other problem is if the horse goes lame, it is suprising how quick sharers disappear so all these things have to be taken into account when letting someone share your horse with you.

You have the luxury of calling a horse your own and the use to do as you wish to a large degree, however the agreement and monies have to work for both parties so if you cannot afford it, then go and look at the other horse. I dont think the owner is money grabbing, it is a big increase but I feel everyone is going to see a big increase this winter in terms of the cost of keeping their horse.
 
I would say to the owner that you love her horse to bits but you simply cannot afford to pay any more money for the share. If she values your contribution (financially or otherwise) she may well accept that and keep you on. I was lucky enough when I found myself in a similar situation (I paid for two days but actually did 3) but I also stuck around when the horse was lame for months and helped with poultices etc etc. So... if you don't ask, you don't get.

but it could be worth you looking around too... you may get more for your money.
 
To those that say it sounds reasonable it doesnt - a share should not purley be about money and someone else paying the owners livery fee. sharing should be about both parties getting the most out of the horse and making sure its kept fit and happy

If the owner cant afford the livery fee in the first place then perhaps she needs to question owning a horse anyway
 
TBH I think that you have a good deal, even at the higher price, especially if you have a flexible arrangement that really suits you and you like the pony a lot. However there's no harm in looking at the other pony. That one might be even better suited.

I know it must seem a big increase, but his owner is likely to be seeing even bigger & sharper cost increases than you are even aware of;

Hay prices have more than doubled for us this year due to the national hay shortage. Last year and previously, we were paying £3 per bale of good quality seed hay. We are now being charged £4.50 for a small bale of old, awful quality meadow hay, which I wont feed my TB, so the only choice I have is to give him £7.20 per bale horse hage!

The cost of shavings has increased this year (although we don't use shavings now because of this). The price of muck heap removal has gone up.

The cost of feed has increased. Dodson and Horrell brands are all £1 more per bag than they were just over a year ago from our supplier.

I have seen nearly all services increase this year. My horses Dentist check was £5 more this year, compared to last for example. Vets have definately hiked their prices up a lot over the last 2 years. My farrier hasn't increased his charges yet, but I have an incling that he is going to in January :(
Then there are all the consumable things which are really expensive, like fly sprays, lotions & potions, supplements, etc. Insurance isn't cheap either, but it's expensive and essential.

All in all, if I add everything up that I have spent in the last 12 months it is really scary.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top