Who else is rationed their hay by YO?

B

bumblelion

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 March 2008
Messages
1,962
Visit site
Just wondering if any other yards do this? We're allowed 2 medium sized nets a day per horse, charged at £12 per week. From a large round bale. Before being on this yard I always bought my own hay/haylage in and adlibed. My tb has began to drop weight so I'm changing him onto haylage this weekend which he's normally on during winter months anyway. The hays pretty poor quality but what annoyed me was being told horses are coming in early (DIY but yo still decides) but no increase in haynets per day. So horses in for lunch time and then they don't get turned out until 9-9.30am next day with just 2 nets! When I challenged yo I got laughed at and told they won't starve will they!
Pretty annoyed to say the least! Seriously thinking about getting my own hay in for other boy (good doer but don't like starving him) despite it being tricky as not much hay in area so will have to collect few bales weekly.
 
No, I wouldn't be happy with this. Is no one else questioning the YO's restrictions ?
I'd see it as a welfare issue and either buy in extra hay or take the horses away.
Leaving horses stables for up to 21 hours a day with only enough forage for a small part of that time isn't something I'd put my horses through.
 
So horses in for lunch time and then they don't get turned out until 9-9.30am next day with just 2 nets! When I challenged yo I got laughed at and told they won't starve will they!
Click to expand...

No, I wouldn't like that because it's not enough hay for that length of time, plus her response to your concerns was quite rude.
 
I used to be at a yard owner that did this. I have always fed ad lib hay/lage and so when this rule came in we ended up with a disagreement. We had already paid an increase in livery charges of £4 per week and then they objected to my large haynet and said my level of livery only allowed a medium sized net.
I had been at the yard almost six years and never missed a payment and kept my area clean and tidy.
I refused to feed less or pay any more than the increase, so the yard staff was instructed to put in a smaller net. I handed my notice in at that point and left asap!
 
Lets just say the yo is very rude and obnoxious! Thinks we should be grateful for being allowed to keep our horses there! And obviously we enjoy paying through the roof for the privilege!
Most people don't say much, as they know they'll prob get kicked out and there's not much else in the area! Whereas I do challenge, but still have to be a bit careful as finding livery for 2 at the drop of a hat isn't easy! Looking to move, just nowhere at the moment!
Thanks for your replies. You know when you start doubting yourself even though you know you're right?! Iv always ensured plenty of fibre through forage and this situation really frustrates me, especially now as their turnout times are being decreased! I will begin to buy in my own hay after Xmas. It's hit and miss if my good doer eats it anyway, it's that poor!
 
What does a medium net weight?

It could be a medium bet but stuffed to the brim, or not be packed in the net so not a lot in it. If the horses are in for 20+ hours a day, I'd say at least three well packed nets would be needed at a minimum. More if the hay is poor.
 
Tbh, iv never weighed the nets whilst iv been there. I pack them as much as I can but quite difficult as coming off a large bale loose. They're the small holed haylage nets.
 
It depends, I've been on diy where 2 small bales per week over winter was included, & you then paid extra for any more. Done more so that those who needed less hay didn't pay for hay they didn't use. I can fit 1/3 of a small bale in a medium net, so that would mean you are getting 2/3 bale per day. So the price per week isn't bad. And if before you moved on yo said turnout was restricted in bad weather, then its not fair yo then has to pay the extra costs of horses staying in more. However if a horse does need more hay, yo should allow you to pay to use more or buy in more yourself.
 
I'd be annoyed my lad would eat that in a few hours no way I'd have him stood hungry risking ulcers, boredom behavioural problems. I'd be buying my own and allowing him as much as he could eat.
 
I (YO) have borne all costs of extra forage over the last 3 winters(heavy snow 3winters ago,-16C frozen ground 2winters ago and sodden fields this winter) whether they've had extra put out in the fields or because they've stayed in longer.
 
I have no problem paying for more hay at all. I just like to know they're not being starved because the yo is being greedy!! I would say per net I'm getting less than 3 slices (small bale) due to the fact it's off a round bale and its so poor it's mainly weeds, thistles.
 
Another reason I would find a livery yard difficult to deal with. I think you should just not pay the 12 pounds a week and sort out your own hay, but then of course you will need somewhere to put it... Or could you just offer to pay a little bit more, it is a pain but like you say moving yards is a pain!

Is there space for you to have your own bale separate that you could buy from their stock?
 
As a livery,I wouldn't be happy with that situation either.:( I have a small yard and am a serial topper-upper of ad lib haylage...however,we never make a profit-I guess that's probably one of the reasons why.;) Hope you manage to sort some extra for your horses. :)
 
This rule applies for all horses/ponies there. So you see tiny little ponies eating the same amount as my 16.2 and 17hh boys! My 17hh is 760kgs draught so obviously even on a diet isn't getting his 1.5% body weight rations! He has a handful of chaff to mix in supps but they have no grass at all and haven't had all summer really so they've both lost lots of weight.
 
I don't think OP is complaining necessarily about having to pay more - only about the forage being restricted - it's cruel to feed any animal less than it requires unless it has to be on a diet to lose weight. I would imagine most people will be prepared to buy there own hay in to supplement your rations, if that is permitted.
 
When we did DIY that included hay, we had different prices for different sizes of horses (under 13.2, 13.2-15.1, and 15.2 and over), as obviously its not fair to charge the same for big and small horses..

However when I buy in hay for my two ISH, £12 wouldn't even cover three days for one horse..., so I can understand why the YO wants to have a limit. There shouldn't be a problem if you just buy a couple of bales yourself a week to top up should there, although keep it where it won't be "borrowed" by other liveries!
 
Pale Rider-it's one of life's lovely sounds...all quiet except for contented haylage munching. :) I don't like to see any without forage to go at (unless they're on a diet,in which case I give them a stroke,apologise profusely and try to hide the topping-up going on to the others (or do it as surreptitiously as possible:D))
 
The last yard I was at, hay and straw were included in the price, having horses as opposed to ponies I was quite happy to forgo the multiple horse discount as mine did eat the most, problem was, most times it was very poor quality and little or no grass in the field and no overnight TO, the YO was seen removing hay from my stables because there was too much being used.
I would fully fill two large haynets and hang them at opposite sides of the stable, by no means excessive for a 17hh TB and a 15 2 Xtrotter.
Now at home they have unlimited TO and a haynet to entice them in off the mud, both are on diets and hay is still included in our rent
 
12 per horse to me is not cheap for poor quality hay. A round bale of good hay is 25 here. My four ponies (Shetland upto 14.1hh) have it adlib and there is no grass and no sup feeding. They eat less than a bale a fortnight. That's fed in a ring feeder so more waste than in small holed nets too.
 
When I first moved to the yard I am on straw and haylage could be bought from the yard owners. We helped our selves to haynets of haylage from a opened bale in the barn and straw was small bales in the big barn, but they found there were to many light fingers and not being able to prove who it was taking more than they said they had the trust was broken. Now we all get our own and store in tack room or on palettes. I have large bale of haylage a week and one large straw Heston which lasts about 3 weeks. Kept on pallets outside my boxes covered in a tarp.
 
When I used to teach one of my clients had a native who was a poor doer. The yard she was on was bought out and that rule came into force. She had a feeding plan with ad lib hay and it kept her horse in really good condition. But with the new rule her horse started dropping weight, she asked if she could pay extra for an extra net or two when there was noTO. She basically got the same response that, he was a native and in no uncertain terms was she having any more hay. When she questioned it the new owner stated that all natives are good doers and he would end up huge :eek:
She had this horse for 3 years and everyone including vet said how nice it was to see a native in nice condition and not the big overweight show ring natives you normally see.
She moved shortly afterwards as not just the fact they are telling you how to manage your own horse but just the attidude.
 
Our yard it states in contract that its not ad lib hay. They start the winter with 1 section hay and before you shoot me down many livery horses do not even touch this as our grazing is so good then move up to 12lbs/14lbs of hay ( 2 sections) going into (3) 16lbs overnight.

And to add the hay brought in from an amazing hay guy is 1st class hay everyone around here uses him

The parts buy extra from feed merchants for special reasons(box rest , haynets for shows, extra at night).

Summer months they are out over night so can have lunch section if they wish.

We have limited storage for the years hay and with the livery working out at £ 12 per day inclusive of rent on box 2 feeds muckout turn out facilities common room jumps labour + . Its not financially realistic to give liveries more food and labour and facilities than what they pay for


The parts and 1 diy horses are out at 7 am ( part from two diy) and start coming in at 3pm or before . They go out daily regardless of the weather. We do not make them stay in except for xmas day and new years day in the year
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top