"Why owners and livery yards must acknowledge the true cost of keeping horses
THE true cost of keeping a horse must be appreciated by livery yard owners and clients now more than ever, if businesses are to survive.
This is the message from across the industry, which has been as much affected by recent price increases – as any other – but which had existing issues to deal with.
Cheryl Johns, who set up yard directory Livery List followed by an online support group for yard owners, told H&H businesses are facing huge and varied challenges.
“I work with thousands of yard owners across the UK and have done for many years and know that now, more than ever, there is an unavoidable level of concern around the future of this industry,” she said.
Ms Johns said the soaring cost of everything from electricity to bedding means yard owners have to increase prices to remain viable. But as there is no regulation or licensing of livery yards, reputable businesses that do everything by the book are competing with others that may not, and so can offer much lower prices. Ms Johns is concerned about the possible welfare implications of cut corners.
“There are yards that may not pay business rates, or have the right insurance, or do the right maintenance, so maybe aren’t as affected by price rises,” she said. “So liveries are handing in notice at the decent yards to go to the cheap ones, and many good ones are closing or on the brink of it, because they can’t do it.”
Ms Johns added that some owners do not appreciate how much it costs to keep horses; not only bedding, forage and feed, but everything else from insurance and rates to the cost of muckheap removal, fencing – and good staff. She added that many yard owners do not calculate, or update, what their costs are, and so what they should charge to make profit – which every business needs to survive."
https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news...-horses-807583
My horse Alice is going to be very upset...
THE true cost of keeping a horse must be appreciated by livery yard owners and clients now more than ever, if businesses are to survive.
This is the message from across the industry, which has been as much affected by recent price increases – as any other – but which had existing issues to deal with.
Cheryl Johns, who set up yard directory Livery List followed by an online support group for yard owners, told H&H businesses are facing huge and varied challenges.
“I work with thousands of yard owners across the UK and have done for many years and know that now, more than ever, there is an unavoidable level of concern around the future of this industry,” she said.
Ms Johns said the soaring cost of everything from electricity to bedding means yard owners have to increase prices to remain viable. But as there is no regulation or licensing of livery yards, reputable businesses that do everything by the book are competing with others that may not, and so can offer much lower prices. Ms Johns is concerned about the possible welfare implications of cut corners.
“There are yards that may not pay business rates, or have the right insurance, or do the right maintenance, so maybe aren’t as affected by price rises,” she said. “So liveries are handing in notice at the decent yards to go to the cheap ones, and many good ones are closing or on the brink of it, because they can’t do it.”
Ms Johns added that some owners do not appreciate how much it costs to keep horses; not only bedding, forage and feed, but everything else from insurance and rates to the cost of muckheap removal, fencing – and good staff. She added that many yard owners do not calculate, or update, what their costs are, and so what they should charge to make profit – which every business needs to survive."
https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news...-horses-807583
My horse Alice is going to be very upset...
