How much to charge?

[Fazackerley]

Some elderly neighbours have asked if they can keep a pony in our field. We already have two horses. As far as I can see they want me to look after it, feed and water it, groom it, all the daily care you would expect for a pony living out. We do have a spare stable but I don't really want to get into bringing it in and out every day. It's for their granddaughter who visits in the holidays. I am completely at a loss as to what to charge. They don't seem to have thought about the farriwr or vets visits, but I could get it trimmed when the farriwr comes.

I am happy to do it, particularly if its a nice little person but I'd also like to make a bit of money out of this!

Do they have the pony already? Why not go & chat to them and if they haven't got it already point out the care required & the costs etc. Maybe they think it's like a garden ornament?

No ,they don't have the pony as their dd is looking. I've chatted to them I just don't know what to charge them!

Yes, so they already have the pony? And are they horsey or just doting grandparents?

Full livery often costs £100 a week upwards. Even if the pony only lives out I can't see it would be worth your while charging any less than £50 a week and that's on 'mates rates' as it were. They would have to pay around £30 a week just for DIY. Obviously this might vary depending where in the country you are. Who is going to exercise the pony?

Sorry cross posted

they sound quite clueless, so would be very cautious in getting involved. i think you should be talking to mother and grand daughter too, to see if they have anymore of an idea of what a pony entails and the costs. by the sounds of if you will be fully responsible for it. so would definitely be charging min of £100+ a week. who's going to excise it when the GD is not there? do the expect a pony to be calm and fit for work at the drop of a hat?

if it was a duaghter who would be about most nights and weekends I'd be more in board as you can teacher and mentor her about care for horses, but GD popping down the odd weekend and holidays just sounds wrong and I probably wouldn't go there.

Yes they are clueless. I think they've seen my dds ride over the years and think they want that for their gd. They have no clue about the amount of work that goes into it.

The last thing i want is a laminitic or a wild 5 year old. I do need to talk to the dd.

also what is her riding ability? are you expected to lead her about the field? who and were is she going to ride with, if off the leadrein will you be expected to supervise? are you insured for any accidents that happen on your land with you either there or not? (I'm not sure about the insurance part but thought it worth thinking about)

The dd used to ride. The gd belongs to a pony club centre so I think that means she will have insurance.

Be very careful - I’m not certain but would imagine you’d be liable for business rates if you started a “livery business”. And don’t forget that the money they pay you would be taxable.

Think it sounds like more hassle than it’s worth, imagine down the line if you had to call the vet for the pony and they wouldn’t pay, or they refused to listen when you told them its saddle didn’t fit etc etc etc.

I think that means she will have insurance

the problem being you would effectively be a livery yard, so it doesn't matter if she is insured you have to be insured for them being there. lots of livery yards are very strict on what age a child can be left on the yard by themselves, regardless would you be happy with a gd and clueless GP dealing with a pony on their own on your yard when you are not there?

you should tell them stop looking until you have made a decision and given them the costs. you don't want them getting carried away and buying a pony before you have said yes or for them to then boark at the cost.

Give them a breakdown in writing. Your time, field, feed, supplements, schooling, vet, farrier, daily turn out, rugs, laundry, poo picking, watering, etc.
My sis's horse is in part livery in the South East and she pays about £80 pw plus feed & farrier etc. Mine lived out in my field so just rugs, hay, farrier etc.

From a welfare point of view though, unless the DGD is able to ride at weekends that pony is going to be quite a handful when she does turn up .....

I wouldn't go there. It's not the pony I would mind, but the extra people coming to the stables. Do you want the grand daughter and all her friends hanging about during the summer holiday? Your quiet stables could become very busy

As others have said, cluelessness of GPs a big concern. Also ponies can be more challenging to keep.They seem to be expert at wrecking fences, and the need to restrict food in a lot of cases make them complicated to manage.
I would avoid this.

Yeah, I'm going to do it the other way around now. I've rescued an old boy who's owner sadly died. He's a poppet. He is to be mainly a companion but was a very good pony club pony in his day and apparently loves hacking and a bit of work. Gd can help lool after him and perhaps next year or even this year once he's settled and back and saddle done she can ride him.

So more expense for me , that's horses for you

Ah no, it's not more expense. Outdoor pets don't count!

That is a brilliant solution and very kind of you too !