Box Rest On Full Livery - Should I Pay More ?

[Finetoday]

Horse on full livery for 4 years at current yard. When I say ‘full’ I mean 7 days a week muck out, turn in/out, hay (stable & filed), poo pick. No riding or lunging involved. Use of usual facilities.
Horse has injured himself and now requires box rest for 2 months.

Issue - this yard turn out 24/7 for the bulk of the year depending on weather and field conditions. Now weather has improved they were all put out 24/7 literally this week. Although I was never told from the outset that this is the routine, it seems to suit the horses, so I’ve gone with it and still pay ‘full livery’ for maybe 8 months a year for horse to be in the field (with hay and poo picked).

So presumably YO has costed livery accordingly.

Should I expect to pay extra for these unscheduled months of being in ?

What does your contract say, if you have one?

No contract, and I’ll admit I was miffed at the start when I realised this is their routine. Happy horses and happy yard have made me overlook the fact I’m paying full livery but not technically receiving it for the majority of the year.

So you're on grass livery for 8 months a year and full livery for 4 months.

I think it depends what you're paying in comparison to other local yards.

If you are paying full whack then they are taking the piss but you have accepted this for the last 4 years so it's now hard to argue.

If it's 'cheap' then you probably need to suck it up and pay a bit more

Even if the horses are out 24/7, surely it's still full livery in the sense that the yard owner is there daily doing checks so you don't have to, and will bring them in or turn them out if the weather changes etc?

It's much better than having restricted turnout, surely?

In terms of paying extra for box rest, I do think that's fair as it's more work than if the horses were turned in/out twice a day. A horse on box rest needs much more checking and interaction.

Whilst they are turned out they are still being fully cared for though, I presume you don’t need to visit to do checks? As long as they are brought in daily to be groomed, rugs changed etc I would still call that full livery. It is no easier to poo pick field than stable.
I think the livery fee probably does reflect what is offered currently so if yours needs 2 months box rest whilst others are out that might be extra. It comes down to the yard owner though, very much an individual situation. Not really something people here can decide.

Yes, you should pay more if your horse is on box rest! Even if they were still in at night, box rest is added work, added bedding, added feed, so would be charged more.

There are still jobs being done, even while your horse is out 24/7. There will be extra poo picking, more field repairwork and fencing, rug changing, fly spraying, field rotation. If the horses are out of the stables, then they'll start stripping them, dusting, pressure washing, disinfecting, repairing, repainting etc. Winter rugs will be cleaned, reproofed and put into storage.

Thanks @britnay the extra bedding is what I was thinking too.

When the horses are out they are out 24/7 - there is no bringing in for a groom and a hoof pick, or fly spraying in the fields - These are things I’d do.
And definitely no rug cleaning and neither would I expect it lol.

If they don’t groom or fly spray I wouldn’t call that full livery. I know lots of people who pay for full livery so they can be away for work or holidays for weeks on end and not have to worry about their horse.

That doesn't sound like full livery to me.

Surely the whole point of full livery is that your horses' needs are fully met without you needing to go down to sort them?

I was on a full livery yard with a similar kind of set up.

November to April, horses in overnight. All stable duties included in cost. All feed, hay and bedding included. Horses not groomed or exercised.

April to November, horses out 24/7. However horses were checked and fly repelled twice a day. All field duties taken care of by yard. Hay placed in field if needed. Livery cost was same all year round.

Any horse requiring box rest would be accommodated at no extra cost.

I have never heard of anyone pay more for box rest on the yards I have been on.