Woes of grass livery

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Becca2403

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I have my horse at grass livery, She is out in a large herd of around 25 horses and ponies, mixed gender. Through the winter the're is little to no grass on the fields, resulting in deep mud and my horse losing weight rapidly even when bought in and fed. I cannot afford to have a stable for her at this livery yard, but this has Only been an issue since coming to this yard. She has lived out her entire life with no problems. (She's a cob)
My main issue is that I am paying for GRASS livery, and there is no grass, most of the other horses in the herd are owned by YO. YO will put a couple of large bales of haylage into the field as and when she can be bothered, but still insists on charging an extra amount weekly for the 'additional feeding'. I'm pretty sure if there is no grass in the field then the haylage should be provided free of charge?! Or am I mistaken? Especially when the charge for haylage is more than the charge of livery each week!!! During winter I pay more for my horse to be chased away from the bales by a herd of hungry horses than it would cost to have her in stable. I'm struggling with the additional cost as I've always had my horses at home before and never had to pay for fields/excess haylage/bags and bags of feed every month.
 
I think you need to consider moving your mare. I have the opposite problem with my turned away horse as he has rather a lot of grass, but he's coping ok as it is good old pasture rather than short rich grass. Where are you based? Perhaps someone local to you can recommend an alternative.
 
Unfortunately, that is the service and conditions they are offering. If haylage wasn't offered in the original deal then there is no obligation to provide it. If it doesn't suit you or your horse then it's your option to move.
 
Move?!
When mine are on grass livery it's on excellent grass and the farmer proveds haylage FOC when it runs out (usually not until the end of the winter as fields are sensibly stocked and well maintained) I would be happy to pay for the haylage in my situation tbh.
 
I would completely expect to pay for supplementary hay/haylage through winter unless I was paying a high grass livery rate year round, in which case I would expect winter forage to be factored in.

As with most things in life, I suppose it depends on what you are paying as to whether your expectations are reasonable.

You can always move!
 
Generally speaking, grass livery gets you the right to a space in the field - it's no guarantee of grass, and certainly not a guarantee of sufficient grass to feed a horse all winter. You'll need to pay for additional haylage, but at least paying for it should mean you can demand it's provided, and at enough stations that they can all eat without bullying. It wouldn't be at all unusual for the weekly cost of forage in winter to be greater than the basic livery price.

However, we're not even into October yet - if the fields are out of grass already, I'd be looking to move asap. Depending on where you are you probably need to be budgeting between £30-£50 per week for grass livery and forage during the winter.
 
Theocat said:
Generally speaking, grass livery gets you the right to a space in the field - it's no guarantee of grass, and certainly not a guarantee of sufficient grass to feed a horse all winter. You'll need to pay for additional haylage, but at least paying for it should mean you can demand it's provided, and at enough stations that they can all eat without bullying. It wouldn't be at all unusual for the weekly cost of forage in winter to be greater than the basic livery price.

However, we're not even into October yet - if the fields are out of grass already, I'd be looking to move asap. Depending on where you are you probably need to be budgeting between £30-£50 per week for grass livery and forage during the winter.
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I agree. almost all places don't have grass all year around, even mine at home on 9 acres between the 4 of them, get hay for part of the winter.
 
amandaco2 said:
I agree. almost all places don't have grass all year around, even mine at home on 9 acres between the 4 of them, get hay for part of the winter.
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Which just makes me feel how lucky I am to have found somewhere to turn Cam away. 15 acres of old pasture which is well fenced and tucked away, herd varies, but usually up to around 5 or 6 geldings. Hay fed in the winter. Horses checked several times a day. Works out around £50 per week.
 
I would move in your situation. When I much younger and kept my horses as cheaply as possible I campaigned the local farmers and found a friendly one willing to rent grazing for the 2 I had then. There was lots of grass. Now I have 10 acres and 5 horses and one tiny pony and I rotate my paddocks. Mine have been getting hay for the past 3 weeks as my grass is very sparse until they move onto their winter paddocks in mid October. So I am feeding half a bale each per horse per day.
 
As has previously been said, you're paying for space at the yard. If you're not happy with the space/provisions at the price charged then look elsewhere.

I would expect extra hay/haylage to be an extra cost unless it was a premium price and already factored in
 
I've been on some yards where grass livery prices inc hay or haylage in winter & others where the prices ramp up as soon as the hay goes out. I've never been anywhere where they expect the grass to last without any supplemental feeding though. I think that sort of winter acres per horse would be pretty expensive.

I think mine has been £45-£50 per week per horse in the last few years. I have a feeling that might go up this year as hay crops in the area weren't good.
 
Im on grass. Mine is in a pair. Some are pairs some are herds and a couple due to behaviour are on their own. We are rotating onto winter grazing soon hay is supplemented at cost price and we are told when, only puts the price up about £20 a month. Warned can go to £30 jan/ feb. And then back to summer grazing by April.

Im paying already as delaying going onto winter grass until sept/ oct is over- my mare shares with another very good doer.
 
Grass livery doest mean a good supply of grass it just means you have the use off the field and no stable, it's just a term used. The YO puts haylage out as you've said and you should pay for it, in the same way the owners of the stabled horses do. If you feel it's not frequent enough have a chat with yo to put out more frequently. Hay, haylage, straw is very expensive when the summer has been so wet as it ruins the crop. The YO has provided you with all round 24 hour turn out with an additional charge for feeding your horse extra forage. If it's too expensive for you move the horse or look for a part loaner but with the weather as wet as it is you'll struggle not to need to top up with dry forage as fields are trashed so easily as it's so muddy. We have 6 on 11 acres living out and cone Xmas every year they need additional forage. I worry about what you'll do if this horse needs veterinary treatment if you are struggling paying a small contribution for haulage.
 
As everyone has said grass livery is just space in the field. A lot of people with overweight animals will pay grass livery even if they have a bare paddock and are feeding soaked hay all year.
This year around me the grass has practically grown continuously so apart from an old lady everything is far too fat. If I were you I would be looking for somewhere else and budget for feeding hay from now till April depending on where you are.
 
Becca2403 said:
I have my horse at grass livery, She is out in a large herd of around 25 horses and ponies, mixed gender. Through the winter the're is little to no grass on the fields, resulting in deep mud and my horse losing weight rapidly even when bought in and fed. I cannot afford to have a stable for her at this livery yard, but this has Only been an issue since coming to this yard. She has lived out her entire life with no problems. (She's a cob)
My main issue is that I am paying for GRASS livery, and there is no grass, most of the other horses in the herd are owned by YO. YO will put a couple of large bales of haylage into the field as and when she can be bothered, but still insists on charging an extra amount weekly for the 'additional feeding'. I'm pretty sure if there is no grass in the field then the haylage should be provided free of charge?! Or am I mistaken? Especially when the charge for haylage is more than the charge of livery each week!!! During winter I pay more for my horse to be chased away from the bales by a herd of hungry horses than it would cost to have her in stable. I'm struggling with the additional cost as I've always had my horses at home before and never had to pay for fields/excess haylage/bags and bags of feed every month.
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Unless it is written in the contract that the livery goes up in the winter to cover the haylage then you need to speak to YO. I don't know any yard round here where the livery is the same all year round for grass livery.

You are right you are paying for grass livery, there is no grass because your horse has eaten it that is where your pay goes, if you want haylage then you pay for it. You cannot expect the land owner to pay for your haylage within your livery as they will end up making no money for repairs to the fields, stables, water, lighting .

Sorry but get in the real world, grass livery you pay for your horse to be out full time on the forage the land provides NOT extra forage on top.
 
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Where I am, grass livery includes hay if it's needed. It's the same price year round.
Admittedly it's rare they need the hay, as they have two very large fields (31 acres split into two fields) and the herd is quite small (usually around 8-10 horses), but if it was needed they would pop it in.
 
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