What would you value this package as?

[LadyGascoyne]

Stable
Space in tack room
Grazing (option to be out 24/7 unless weather is very bad)

No facilities but able to ride in field / hack out from yard.

Mon-Fri you are expected to turn out/ bring in and feed yourself.

Saturday and Sunday, turnout / bring in / feed is taken care of but you’re welcome to be there or do things differently if you’d like.

Farrier/ trimmer organized but you pay separately.

And then, what would you say the value difference is if the difference if hay / bedding / basic feed is included?

 

[Barton Bounty]

Sounds like a good deal…

£35 per week up here for that.

bedding.. £8 per week extra?

no feeding as every horse is different and some like mine have allergies.

 

[Jango]

Completely depends where you are in the country and also depends on the hacking. Assumes alright hacking, Near me, I would say around the £110 mark. Most people would probably want the services during the week, then do their own thing at the weekends. As riding is limited to daytime in winter and no arena, I reckon you will likely attract mostly youngsters/retired horses. Also a lot of people want to use their own farrier, would you let them or do they all have to use yours on your schedule?

 

[Abacus]

Down here (south central) I’d say £30 pw for the basic livery as there isn’t a school, plus £5 per day at weekends for the turn out and bring in. Feed and bedding harder to work out depending on what you use.

 

[Abacus]

Ps - just occurred to me, has been ages since I had a livery so prices might have gone up. So my reply might be outdated.

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

A few years ago I was paying £20 a week for DIY livery, no school but 24/7 turn out in summer and daily in winter. Think I paid £1 a time for turn out (I was there to bring in, and my horse went out with the others so wasn't a big task for the yard owner. Is there the option for services during the week?

On liverys I've usually paid about £10/15 per week for hay and bought my own bedding either sorted it myself of sometimes the yard owner would buy a pallet and then buy it off them, feed wise I've always bought my own.

 

[little_critter]

Another who thinks there’s no point including feed. So few people feed ‘basic feed’ now that they are likely to end up buying their own anyway.
Not sure about price.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

We are in Oxfordshire, about 14 miles north of Oxford.

Hacking is ok, not great. If you box locally there are some beautiful places but straight from the farm is very pretty but lots of gates on the bridleways.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

How does this sound:

Grazing - £150pm

Grazing + use of stable, space in tack room and tea/ coffee and changing and loo facilities, space for lorry/ trailer - £200pm

Grazing + stable + Hay /Bedding / Chaff - £275pm

Grazing + stable + bedding/ hay + bring in at night and turnout / bring in on weekends - £320pm

 

[COldNag]

Not far from you I was paying £170 a month DIY, grazing and stable, tack room etc, big outdoor arena.
£2 per turnout or bring in, £3 if rug change too.

 

[Jango]

For Cheshire you wouldn't get takers at that price! My basic DIY livery is £126 and we have good hacking, 24/7 turnout in summer/daytime in winter, 3 arenas, dressage/showing on site and a small farm ride. £50 a week for DIY with no facilities is a lot! But I know prices are different down south!

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Not far from you I was paying £170 a month DIY, grazing and stable, tack room etc, big outdoor arena.
£2 per turnout or bring in, £3 if rug change too.

Gosh, that’s a great price. That is £270 next door.

Eta, no stable just grass at £270.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

So then how would this look:

Grazing + use of stable, space in tack room and tea/ coffee and changing and loo facilities, space for lorry/ trailer - £150pm

Grazing + stable + Hay /Bedding / Chaff - £225pm

Grazing + stable + bedding/ hay + bring in at night and turnout / bring in on weekends - £275pm

Taking into consideration the lack of facilities.

 

[COldNag]

I think that sounds great!

Wowzers at £270 grazing only- I am looking at retirement livery with full care - 2 x daily checks, rugs etc, barn in winter - all in at £295 a month.

 

[mariew]

You could always try and see whether you get any interest? The only thing I will say on allowing hay/bedding to be included is that it will be seen as unlimited so unless you put restrictions on amounts allowed and monitor this, it may get expensive? Especially if it is someone who leaves in one side of the day all year round rather than go 24/7 turnout?

Also specify what is included so people don't come in requesting types of bedding etc. I would like the last option but no school is a no go for me.

You need to work out what price point is worth it considering extra wear and tear etc

 

[ycbm]

Honestly LG, when I had the option to do this no amount of money would have made it worthwhile to have someone with an entitlement to be in my space whenever they wanted.
.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

You could always try and see whether The only thing I will say on allowing hay/bedding to be included is that it will be seen as unlimited so unless you put restrictions on amounts allowed and monitor this, it may get expensive? Especially if it is someone who leaves in one side of the day all year round rather than go 24/7 turnout?

Also specify what is included so people don't come in requesting types of bedding etc. I would like the last option but no school is a no go for me.

It’s for someone I know who has asked to come here, and we will be discounting for helping with ours so it’s more of a value question so I can see what I need to pay her on top of this to do my horses too.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Honestly LG, when I had the option to do this no amount of money would have made it worthwhile to have someone with an entitlement to be in my space whenever they wanted.
.

I do know the feeling! But it’s for our groom, and I’ll be paying her to do mine regardless so I’m just working out what I am offering in 100% discounted livery versus what I still need to pay her.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would be inclined to just charge for the basic livery then they pay for the bedding and hay separately or you might find your out of pocket.

My livery pays £20 week for a stable and he goes out with my 2, I do most of the turnout and in as I bring them all in together I don't charge any extra for this.

We then go 3 ways on large rounds of hay and she buys her own bedding and feed.

She only has to come down once a day which also suits me.

 

[AmyMay]

I would be inclined to just charge for the basic livery then they pay for the bedding and hay separately or you might find your out of pocket.

My livery pays £20 week for a stable and he goes out with my 2, I do most of the turnout and in as I bring them all in together I don't charge any extra for this.

We then go 3 ways on large rounds of hay and she buys her own bedding and feed.

She only has to come down once a day which also suits me.

This. Takes the complication out of everything.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Honestly LG, when I had the option to do this no amount of money would have made it worthwhile to have someone with an entitlement to be in my space whenever they wanted.
.

Ahh but we arent all the same lol.. i know its about space etc but I am a great livery, its her home and I am very respectful of that and always leave it clean and tidy the way I would want my place to be, my hubby is also dead handy so hes been rehanging gates and playing with his chainsaw! Not a euphemism ???

 

[maya2008]

Friend of mine pays £100 per month grass livery with access to a stable, grass school. High value housing area in Bucks. No services.

On her yard they also do retirement livery and that’s £300 a month including hay, feed, farrier, twice daily checks (incl giving feed and putting out hay) and holding for vet/dentist.

There’s a place on the border of Oxon/Bucks that still charges £10 a week for grass livery (no stables, no help, no school). It’s £15 a week for similar near where I am now, although they do provide field shelters.

I have seen £160 a month DIY advertised regularly, with school.

Basically, it’s a minefield! Advertise for what you think it’s worth, and if no takers, drop the price?

 

[meleeka]

A friend pays £100pm for a small stable and small field and that’s fairly cheap. I agree with this, there are so many variables with prices round here.

Friend of mine pays £100 per month grass livery with access to a stable, grass school. High value housing area in Bucks. No services.

On her yard they also do retirement livery and that’s £300 a month including hay, feed, farrier, twice daily checks (incl giving feed and putting out hay) and holding for vet/dentist.

There’s a place on the border of Oxon/Bucks that still charges £10 a week for grass livery (no stables, no help, no school). It’s £15 a week for similar near where I am now, although they do provide field shelters.

I have seen £160 a month DIY advertised regularly, with school.

Basically, it’s a minefield! Advertise for what you think it’s worth, and if no takers, drop the price?

 

[Wishfilly]

I do know the feeling! But it’s for our groom, and I’ll be paying her to do mine regardless so I’m just working out what I am offering in 100% discounted livery versus what I still need to pay her.

Just fyi, you can't drop her wages to the point it takes her under minimum wage. I'm sure you know that but a lot of people forget this when offering benefits in kind.

Down here (far SW) I'd say:

£80-100 per month for the facilities (as no school, maybe a little more if the hacking is excellent).
£35 for adlib hay
Cost of bedding passed on to owner + about £1 per small bale/bag
£8-10 per day you do the horse.

But we're a lot cheaper than a lot of parts of the country for livery.

 

[Abacus]

Just fyi, you can't drop her wages to the point it takes her under minimum wage. I'm sure you know that but a lot of people forget this when offering benefits in kind.

Down here (far SW) I'd say:

£80-100 per month for the facilities (as no school, maybe a little more if the hacking is excellent).
£35 for adlib hay
Cost of bedding passed on to owner + about £1 per small bale/bag
£8-10 per day you do the horse.

But we're a lot cheaper than a lot of parts of the country for livery.

I'm not sure this counts as 'benefits in kind' as she is actually receiving a service that isn't part of her wage package and other benefits. If it's a problem you could exchange money each way to keep it clear that she is being paid X for what she works, and Y for what she receives.

 

[Wishfilly]

I'm not sure this counts as 'benefits in kind' as she is actually receiving a service that isn't part of her wage package and other benefits. If it's a problem you could exchange money each way to keep it clear that she is being paid X for what she works, and Y for what she receives.

Doesn't really matter what it counts as, legally you can't reduce someone's wage below minimum wage. Agreed that she could be "paid" and then pay the money straight back, but if it just becomes a straight deduction from her wage, then it would technically be illegal.

 

[meleeka]

Doesn't really matter what it counts as, legally you can't reduce someone's wage below minimum wage. Agreed that she could be "paid" and then pay the money straight back, but if it just becomes a straight deduction from her wage, then it would technically be illegal.

I would assume she’s freelance/self employed, in which chase there’s no benefit in kind.

 

[Sealine]

I'm in Herts and pay £25pw stable and grazing DIY livery. 24 hour grazing is only available in the summer. Spring and autumn night OR day and winter day only. We have good turnout in groups and good hacking and a 20x40 floodlit school with a terrible surface. Hay and straw available at additional cost. £12 a day for turn out/bring in/muck out/feed if I'm away. I'm aware this is cheap for the area.

 

[Wishfilly]

I would assume she’s freelance/self employed, in which chase there’s no benefit in kind.

If she's doing 5 days a week work at the same place with set hours, and particularly if this is her only client, then she may not be.

BTW, the reason for these rules around not paying people less than minimum wage etc, isn't just to protect the employee, it's also about potentially avoiding tax or claiming benefits (because your take home wage looks a lot less than it is in reality). So all parties do need to be careful.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would just keep her wages the same and have the livery charge as a separate arrangement.

When I worked on a full livery yard where I kept my horse I paid the same as everyone else but I did my own horse along with all the other liveries on the days I worked, so her bed turnout feeds and hays where all done on my work hours any riding was done in my own time.

At weekends when I was off she was done by the weekend staff.