[Smucka]

New to forum my first post
We have a few barns and our new neighbour wants to stable 15 ponies or horses in there over the winter months. He will feed and look after the horses and use our spring water feed.
How much should I charge as he wants to know a price but I have no idea. Land is in west wales Carmarthenshire .
Many thanks for any advice.

[Backinwellies]

  no idea about horses and wouldn.t consider housing anyones either......But wanted to say hi from another Carmarthenshire resident.

[Buttermilk]

I would say at least £20 per animal a week.  Check the status of the buildings as if agricultural you may need change of use for equestrian.

[Backinwellies]

I would say at least £20 per animal a week.  Check the status of the buildings as if agricultural you may need change of use for equestrian.

.... and then have to change them back again if you want to use them for agricultural use later

[kelly58]

If the horses are being used for agricultural purposes you dont need to have change of use for the barn 

[Sbom]

Also, make sure you have something in writing stating who is responsible for what and if they default on payment or care how it will be sorted out.
Horses aren't worth a great deal at the moment and I'd worry what would happen if the neighbours could no longer afford them... You really don't want to get dumped with 15 hungry mouths to feed, provide feet and vet care for or even sell on.....

[harmony]

DIY livery varies from £10 to £25 depending on what that may or may not include. It could just be grazing, stabling and turnout, stabling and grazing and there are the other extras that might come with the package such as use of a school, tack store, etc.


If you provide livery then technically you should have insurance.


I assume in this case several horses will be kept loose under cover so relatively basic and with no initial outlay from yourselves to provide for eg loose boxes. The owner is going to do everything so will you have any work in respect of them other than renting him space.


I would think about the following:
Do they have insurance? I would check they do.
How will they be bedded and where will the muck go?
I would need to know their vet and that should you need to call them in an emergency they will pick up the bill.


I can't see them paying the prices suggested on here x 15. However, they obviously need somewhere, you have buildings and it is close to them so it could be beneficial to both of you.


Do you know them well? Go round and have a look how the horses are kept now. If it looks like somewhere you wouldn't be happy with, politely tell them you don't want to do it. If you are happy go from there. Make sure you have a sound agreement covering all angles if you go ahead.


Take payment in advance, perhaps monthly, don't let it get behind.

[Smucka]

Many thanks for all the advice given.
The horses and ponies are kept outside all year on a hill behind our place. But the owners think it will be a cold winter and are looking to home some of the older animals in our old cow barn.
Good point on checking the insurance we don't want to be liable if one escapes and damages buildings or anything else.
They will feed and muck them out. And the muck I don't mind in a few years will be good for the veggies.
 They are nice people and we want to be good neighbours but I don't want to give it to them free of charge or really charge them too much. They don't use or ride the horses at all, just get them graze grow old and die on the hill it seems. And we not using all of the barns. So was thinking 1-2 pound a animal a week. Or is that too low.
James

[honeyend]

I would say lots and most of it up front.
My step father who was incredibly sharp got landed with someone's horses over the winter. They paid the first 3months up front and then didn't see them for another 3 months. By then he was giving them extra food and had to call out the vet. He never did get the rest of his money.
  I also ended up with 16 in summer. There wasn't supposed to be 16 but that is what turned up. Same thing they paid up front for the month, can every day for a week or so, ate all the hay I had and then I had to keep chasing them. I lost £400 and it was a lot of aggravation to get rid of them.
   Also you have to factor in the time clearing the sheds. Know they have a regular fodder and bedding supply, will check them and pay up.
  I have had horses most of my life and they seem to attract the most unreliable people, they think because they are paying they can go all over your property and bring everyone and their mother with them. If you have one or two and they are trouble its  'relatively' easy to ship them out, get a herd  and you could end up with a huge welfare problem.
  Sorry to be so negative but unless you charge descent money, which they will not want to pay you will end up out of pocket.

[harmony]

Don't be put off by the negative comments. People can only pass on their own experiences and of course they will be mixed. I have horses and would object to being tarred with the same brush because someone has had a bad experience.


As I said you know your neighbour. From what you said about bringing in the older ones because of the weather it seems to me they are genuine. After all, it would be cheaper and easier to keep them running out.


There has been a post on here about someone taking in goats and getting lumbered with them. Does that make goat owners as bad as horse owners 

[harmony]

Hopefully not Scarlet Dragon! Cos that would make me double trouble too!


I think that actually Smucka's neighbour's don't want livery as such but the use of a building for shelter. I thought Smucka's post implied the owners intend to look after and provide for their horses. As Scarlet Dragon suggests a flat rate maybe the answer.


I've done livery and never had a problem but I know it happens. At least this would be just one owner and a neighbour at that. I am sure an amicable arrangement can be made.

[Backinwellies]

My reservation is it does say 'new' neighbour ........... so not sure how well you know them really.

[Steph Hen]

£10 a week grazing, and if they're in a barn, another £5-10? My mum lets out ground near Bridgend. Since there's so many and they're just ponies, and just the one owner, Maybe £200 a week, plus £200 deposit? Maybe let the whole lot as a block, so they don't end up in April, tying up your ground and sheds with two of the 15 ponies for £30 a week..?

Get a proper signed document and agree a clear end date.

Good cash for not a lot of effort so long as they keep paying   

[muddypuddle]

I agree with Harmony. I would make sure that there is insurance for the horses and ask for a copy of the certificates, that you yourself are covered by yours. I assume they would look to deep litter in a loose barn on straw. Are they going to need hay and straw on site and is there somewhere to store it? I would include the extra storage as part of the price.
As mentioned if you are only providing the building (and water) then things such as feed, bedding, turning out, grazing etc can be eliminated.
I would also draw up an agreement for how many horses you are willing to accept what you will/ will not provide;
Just the sheds/storage with no responsibility to the care or welfare of the animals.
 I would make it clear that if there are any welfare concerns and the owners cannot be contacted you will call out the vet at their expense or report them to the respective authorities.
Where they can have a muck heap, that is does/does not include grazing.
The length of how long you are willing to rent the space out, the notice you wish them to give/ you to give.
That they must clear out the sheds at the end etc. (take some pictures of before).
It is not unreasonable to take a deposit in case you do get landed with anything unforeseen (including a dirty shed at the end).
Get 2 copies signed and dated, also put in a sentence that states they have read and fully understood the terms and conditions, you do not want them to say that they didn't know what they were signing.

It sounds a bit overwhelming but it is better to watch your own back. People are usually very nice until it goes wrong. I am a horse owner and livery and generally would not have my nose put out by signing an agreement if they are genuine people. If they do not wish to sign anything it maybe a good warning indicator to steer clear.
I hope if you go ahead that everything works out well for you. 

[Hevxxx99]

IS there grazing? It sounds to me as though the neighbour wants to put the ponies, which sound like feral hill ponies, in the barn store-cattle style for the duration. I'd say it's a bit different to normal livery and £2-£5 a week wouldn't be unreasonable (paid up front just in case)