Winter/ Xmas

[SantaVera]

Now then, I appreciate that we all like to save money,but why oh why do people not realise that keeping horses in winter is often more expensive than in summer? Bedding hay rugs all sorts of expenses and that s without hunt subs or competition entries. Over the years I've had several liveries skimping on bedding and food and not paying around December because of Xmas expenses. Xmas is on Dec 25 th every year so shouldn't take anyone by suprise. I've always managed to get rid of those types come spring. Not paying livery fees and not feeding your horse and giving it a clean decent bed is unforgivable.horses cost money and so does bedding and yes,they pee on it. End of mini rant.

 

[maisie06]

Agreed - I stopped celebrating christmas years ago as I don't like what it has done to society, I can't imagine skimping on feed and bedding for a living animal that relies on you and wasting cash on one rubbish commercialised over hyped day.

 

[tristars]

Yes, I am sick of the expectations, the sheer effort of it

 

[JFTDWS]

I can understand a new owner being caught out by the less predictable side of winter expenses - more bedding / hay than expected, or ripped rugs needing replaced - but if you’ve owned horses for years, how do you not realise winter will be costly?!

Not paying your bills in December because of Christmas is a wild pisstake.

Just reminded me I need to replace some rugs that got destroyed at the end of last winter anyway…

 

[MuddyMonster]

I've geniunely never known anyone that doesn't pay their livery in December because of Christmas but there are obviously some that don't.

Winter is actually cheaper horse-wise for me than summer, so it has that going for it (to be fair, I like Christmas and New Year).

 

[3OldPonies]

Now then, I appreciate that we all like to save money,but why oh why do people not realise that keeping horses in winter is often more expensive than in summer? Bedding hay rugs all sorts of expenses and that s without hunt subs or competition entries. Over the years I've had several liveries skimping on bedding and food and not paying around December because of Xmas expenses. Xmas is on Dec 25 th every year so shouldn't take anyone by suprise. I've always managed to get rid of those types come spring. Not paying livery fees and not feeding your horse and giving it a clean decent bed is unforgivable.horses cost money and so does bedding and yes,they pee on it. End of mini rant.

Sorry, I think you're being a bit hypercritical here, especially as prices are going through the roof for everything and have been ever since lockdown. Christmas/winter for many can often mean they are reaching breaking point financially and emotionally. Lots will be trying to save where they can, not just on their horse costs, but on food for themselves and their families; not to mention heating and housing. Sure lots of horse people have sh*tloads of money, equally many don't. It's all too easy to say they shouldn't have horses in that case, but what if the horse is the only good thing in their life and possibly their escape from other crap going on in their lives and the only reason they get up in the morning? A recent poll by Redwings shows that 2/3rds of horse owners are worried about affording what they know their horse routinely needs - that's pretty shocking and just goes to prove how difficult things are right now. Hunt subs and competition entries are a distant long forgotten bit of icing on the cake for a lot of people!

There always will be some that take the p155 out of a situation, and I do understand you're running a business but a bit of compassion for people genuinely having problems wouldn't go amiss.

I didn't mean to have a rant and sorry if that's how this has come across. I'm off now before I go off on one again.

 

[HopOnTrot]

There are always people that can’t/wont budget. There are people who can afford unexpected costs and people who can’t. There are people who struggle to make ends meet and people who don’t. That’s life.

 

[3OldPonies]

There are always people that can’t/wont budget. There are people who can afford unexpected costs and people who can’t. There are people who struggle to make ends meet and people who don’t. That’s life.

 

[3OldPonies]

HoponTrot, that is true of course. But at the present time even some people who were managing fine aren't any more, and often its through no fault of their own. Suddenly not having a job or getting a bill way beyond expectations isn't always plannable for.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I skimp on nothing.. id eat beans for life for my horses for sure
Nice big comfy bed, best of feeding.

 

[SEL]

Sorry, I think you're being a bit hypercritical here, especially as prices are going through the roof for everything and have been ever since lockdown. Christmas/winter for many can often mean they are reaching breaking point financially and emotionally. Lots will be trying to save where they can, not just on their horse costs, but on food for themselves and their families; not to mention heating and housing. Sure lots of horse people have sh*tloads of money, equally many don't. It's all too easy to say they shouldn't have horses in that case, but what if the horse is the only good thing in their life and possibly their escape from other crap going on in their lives and the only reason they get up in the morning? A recent poll by Redwings shows that 2/3rds of horse owners are worried about affording what they know their horse routinely needs - that's pretty shocking and just goes to prove how difficult things are right now. Hunt subs and competition entries are a distant long forgotten bit of icing on the cake for a lot of people!

There always will be some that take the p155 out of a situation, and I do understand you're running a business but a bit of compassion for people genuinely having problems wouldn't go amiss.

I didn't mean to have a rant and sorry if that's how this has come across. I'm off now before I go off on one again.

I think we can all tell when its a crisis situation versus those people who just haven't planned for the additional feed / bedding etc costs over winter.

Why should the OP struggle financially because people aren't paying their livery? It is our choice to have horses in our lives and I'm not the only one here who had periods without when affordability was an issue.

 

[Keith_Beef]

I think we can all tell when its a crisis situation versus those people who just haven't planned for the additional feed / bedding etc costs over winter.

Why should the OP struggle financially because people aren't paying their livery? It is our choice to have horses in our lives and I'm not the only one here who had periods without when affordability was an issue.

The solution is to take the annual cost, divide it by 11 and bill people that amount from January to November and let those that have been there for more than six months have December for free.

Simples, eek!

 

[Barton Bounty]

I think its very unfair if people are not paying their livery! I find that absolutely shocking.

You would not go into the petrol station, fill up and then walk away or ask if you can delay payment.
You wouldn’t drive your car without insurance either.

Sorry @Sanversera if people do that to you. Its absolutely not fair

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I think its very unfair if people are not paying their livery! I find that absolutely shocking.

You would not go into the petrol station, fill up and then walk away or ask if you can delay payment.
You wouldn’t drive your car without insurance either.

Sorry @Sanversera if people do that to you. Its absolutely not fair

I agree why should you have to not be paid.

I know what it's like running a yard I've done it and the antics and stunts people pull is shocking.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I agree why should you have to not be paid.

I know what it's like running a yard I've done it and the antics and stunts people pull is shocking.

I just couldn’t do that. It is someones livelihood

 

[SEL]

The solution is to take the annual cost, divide it by 11 and bill people that amount from January to November and let those that have been there for more than six months have December for free.

Simples, eek!

I think you'd hear all kind of moans if they were effectively asked to pay livery upfront!!

I've tended to find though that its the extra, non-livery costs that people scrimp on. So their horses are on a miserly amount of bedding or they haven't budgeted for additional feed or they try to go too long on their shoeing cycle etc etc.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I think you'd hear all kind of moans if they were effectively asked to pay livery upfront!!

I've tended to find though that its the extra, non-livery costs that people scrimp on. So their horses are on a miserly amount of bedding or they haven't budgeted for additional feed or they try to go too long on their shoeing cycle etc etc.

I pay mine a month in advance!! I though everyone did

 

[Tiddlypom]

It’s getting ever more expensive to be able to keep a horse properly.

There will be people struggling. I, for one, am financially relieved that I am now down from three horses to two, although being s0ds law it was the youngest who had to be PTS .

I won’t be getting another riding horse, any replacements will be companions only.

Kept at home, so no livery to pay.

 

[Alibear]

Whilst I like Kieth's idea, you'll get people saying but what if I move before December.
That said I do like that my yard charges a flat fee year round despite the routine being different over winter which must be more expensive for the yard owner.
I also appreciate yards that if they need to increase the price, do so in the spring rather than winter.

 

[3OldPonies]

I think we can all tell when its a crisis situation versus those people who just haven't planned for the additional feed / bedding etc costs over winter.

Why should the OP struggle financially because people aren't paying their livery? It is our choice to have horses in our lives and I'm not the only one here who had periods without when affordability was an issue.

It's not ok for the op to put up with people not paying livery she/he said in the post that they get chucked out come spring. All I was trying to do was point out that not paying on time in December or scrimping here and there might not actually be what they want either.

As to being able to tell if someone is genuinely struggling, I'd hope that would be the case, sadly though it isn't always as simple as it seems. With the best will in the world if you have limited funds even if you have planned ahead the slightest thing can trip you up at any time, now more so than ever. It can also be very hard to admit that you're struggling especially if you're on the kind of yard that tends to be one of those where 'judgemental perfection' is the order of the day.

I just hope very much that none of you willing to say people will try anything find yourselves in a position where you're at your wits end because I can tell you it's really not a nice place to be.

 

[Surbie]

Bit of an odd post for September...But maybe I'm fortunate, I've not seen any of that on the yards I've been on - bar one person with the minimal bedding thing for their horses, but they did that all year round till they were told to give a proper bed or leave. They left.

 

[Bellaboo18]

I thought it was just me thinking what a random/odd post. Where has this come from OP? Winter isn't here so who annoyed you last year?

 

[stangs]

I thought it was just me thinking what a random/odd post. Where has this come from OP? Winter isn't here so who annoyed you last year?

Particularly as OP has previously posted that they stopped doing livery years ago.