Raising Boarding prices as a result of hay prices?

[equine.trailrider]

Just curious to know who is raising their boarding prices due to the hay prices this year?
How much did you start at and what did you raise it to?

[BarnBum]

I don't board but my gf just got notice the rates are going up $50 on Aug. 1 at her barn.

[Crookedblaze]

At the place where I used to board a 12 x 12 went from $240 to $290. O.o

[Roewyn]

The barn I used to board at raised theirs up $25, but it they claimed it was for gas prices and transportation of feed/hay... and they're raising it another $50 in December.

The barn I boarded at before that raised it $50 while I was there, and that was within 4 months.

With the corn & rice shortage and the skyrocketing cost of oil, I wouldnt be suprised if everyone raised prices before December regardless of hay prices...

Eden

[equine.trailrider]

It's tough. I already raised my prices from $150 to $175 but I am considering raising it again! The cost of everything is skyrocketing and I can't board horses for charity!

[palomino_grl]

I just raised mine $50, as well!

[strayacres]

With the horses being on pasture right now and my hay prices not having increased as of yet - I'm not raising mine. That was the whole purpose of the pasture land. So that we saved that money over the summer for winter hay to take the bite out of any increase. Good Luck to all - it's a tough tough business that's for sure

I pay 20.00 extra a month, but that was because I feed the more expensive grain to my child. With grain prices going up I figured it was worth it and he is nice and fat and shiny. Plus that I had the option of getting it myself but it was it just easier to write the check.

[BarnBum]

Originally Posted by equine.trailrider

It's tough. I already raised my prices from $150 to $175 but I am considering raising it again! The cost of everything is skyrocketing and I can't board horses for charity!

Your boarders should understand. With all these floods going on, corn crops are lost and that is going to raise anything with corn in it higher.

[Crookedblaze]

Aww man Barnbum, you're right.

At our new place, the owners usually buy hay in bulk, a 12 ton truckload to last all year...last year it was around $1400 last year, this year it's about $2300 O.O

[Lopin]

We are increasing ours from $275 to $300 (full care) and from $180 to $200 (pasture board).

[equine.trailrider]

It's not the lack of money to get the hay. I saved board $ for it. I went to get some of the hay I planned to get for $2.50 a bale and although it's nice hay, it's over 2 hours away! After loading it onto the trailer it was almost an all day trip! We just pulled the trailer in the barn and are unloading it tomorrow morning. I have to go to plan B which is to purchase more expensive hay locally!
Strayacres, I thought you were still feeding hay on the pasture you rented? How does that save you $, by not having to feed as much hay?
The cheapest hay I've found is a 50/50 grass/alfalfa for $4 a bale.

[strayacres]

We've had the horses down there now for 2 months and have only used 1 round bale while there. So that is a savings.

[Ferronsgranny]

I got lucky and bought 150 bales of grass hay this evening for $3.00 a bale. They had just loaded the hay today from the field and delivered it, plus stacked it for me.

[GreyDot]

Our BO's hay bill went up by $120/month, but instead of putting up board, she's just getting rid of the 'multi-horse' discount that one couple pays for their second horse, which will simply have them paying full board on each of their two horses. The BO does knows that none of us would be able to pay more than the $450 we're already paying per horse. Our bermuda has gone from $11 to $12 for three-string bale (when buying in quantity).

[equine.trailrider]

Originally Posted by strayacres

We've had the horses down there now for 2 months and have only used 1 round bale while there. So that is a savings.

That's a huge savings compared to usual for you!! When they're off the pasture are you raising prices again? I honestly don't know how you can charge as little as you do and still cover your costs! You shouldn't have to pinch pennies to board other's horses! It's not charity work.

[strayacres]

No I'm not planning on raising the price of board. My hay prices didn't increase and my grain prices did but not much since it's our mix so we don't fall into the name game etc.. it just mill products. I did the pasture this year to save the $$ so I wouldn't have to raise the prices. If I do anything I may limit the amount of grain per horse per day that I supply where as right now it's whatever the horse needs to maintain. Which is very little for most of them but Reba is starting to hurt.

[Rusty's Girl]

Our prices increased a little this year, but that was mostly due to the fact that the barn relocated to a new place with brand new/more facilites that required extra $$. Fortunately, board hasn't changed as the result of hay price increases in several years, but who knows what tomorrow will bring.

[paso_lover]

As I stated in an earlier post my hay has gone from 30 to 50 bucks a round bail. I raised my price to $175.00 (and might have to raise it some more), lost 2 horses cuz she found somewhere cheaper but the horses will have no care (I know that for a fact as owner is always out of town and everything falls on horse owners shoulders) but on the brighter side I may have just sold the 2 remaining horses here PLUS they will still be boarded here. So I may just not have to go back to work....cross fingers.

[equine.trailrider]

The only stables around me with comparable or better facilities are in a whole different league than my little hobby farm. They are high end equestrian centers. The most affordable of the two has charged $260 forever. Those boarders are in for a shock as, from what I understand, they will be raising their fees considerably very soon.
I have will be at 7 stalls by winter and offer per diem stalling, pasture or stall board. I am currently charging $175/month but will probably be increasing next spring IF and only if my hay prices warrant it this year. I decided to buy in smaller quantities more frequently due to lack of help stacking it in the barn!