Running a profitable yard reduces tension

Running a profitable business reduces yard tension.

June 2024

Any yard owner, as manager of the business, needs to have a good overall picture of what’s going on if the yard is to stay in business. A yard can only remain in business if it is genuinely profitable.

The Lingfield Equine Distance Learning  ‘Livery Yard Managers course’ will guide yard owners in setting up the building blocks of a good business.  You can work in your own time and at your own speed – no fixed completion dates – from the printed page, online or on your device; work in the office, at home, in the tack room – it’s your choice.  The course is full of advice on business matters, and ideas to help you make that profit.   A recent reviewer told us there were topics covered that she’d never have even thought of.

Livery Yards are vital for private horse owners.  If we want to continue to keep our horses privately rather than having them rigidly ring fenced within a licensing system or classified as agricultural animals, we must maintain this as a professional profitable sector.

When a yard is not profitable, something will breakdown – with animals in the frame it often means unexpected emergencies happen more often because jobs were not sorted earlier  – it becomes stressful for everyone.  As yard owner/manager you have a million jobs to keep on top of and as a business owner a number of hats to wear every day.  However, as with most things today   “there’s an app for that”   it’s a brilliant one too called LiveryLive.

Sometimes the yard owner cannot cope financially and things break down or the yard has to cut corners.  Things like regular maintenance jobs are missed or no one’s there for a bedding delivery or the vet visit, the yard owner brings in restrictions to try to save money or keep sane.  The yard gets a bad name for poor service, tensions run high and the owner finally realises the yard is not sustainable financially – it ultimately fails.

The story is similar from our article partner LIVERYLive who says:

“Even the best yards can feel a bit tense from time to time – it is a live animal environment after all and our equine friends can be unpredictable.  LIVERYLive can reduce tension by having all the necessary information literally to hand when things don’t go according to plan. With the LIVERYLive app, horse, rider and yard team information, like emergency contacts, feed and supplements, veterinary care and health and safety procedures can be constantly updated and are all instantly accessible 24/7, removing the need for guesswork and making the yard safer and more professional.

We all love being at the yard and it is a shame that so many are facing closure due to increasing financial pressure. Most yard owners want to continue to provide the service their liveries expect but feed, bedding, staff and insurance costs are rising and often difficult to pass on. No one wants to compromise on the care of their horse, but we want to feel we are getting value for money. Understanding what is included and what is an extra helps us to value the service we get.

The LIVERYLive app allows both horse owners and yard managers to review costs as they are incurred, making monthly bills less of a shock at the end the month. Being able to see the detail of what you are spending can help identify savings and make budgeting easier. With the LIVERYLive app everyone can see where they stand and financial misunderstanding and dispute can be avoided. Yard owners and managers are also able to streamline operations with the LIVERYLive app and reduce the time and money spent on admin with features like simple to use and accurate billing.

………….LIVERYLive users tell us that their yards are more relaxed because everyone knows what they need to know.”

Yard owners running a sustainable business, are doing well and have happy liveries.  Those who simply ‘cover their costs’, are providing the inexpensive or average cost livery services.

Sadly, less expensive yards are hugely devaluing this whole sector which is absolutely vital to private horse ownership.  If you are a horse owner, be very aware that the lower fee yards are having an affect now and will affect everyone and every horse in the near future. Yard managers / owners must increase fees and charge properly for their services.  They may well lose one or two liveries by doing so but others will take their place IF the service is good.  This applies even if it is the most expensive in the area.  Using an app like LIVERYLive will help. Running a profitable yard requires a change of ideas and applies even if it is a yard at home with one or two stables for liveries, this simple ‘private’ yard offering economy livery fees has a knock on effect on all the others in the area.  If a home owner can run  a yard cheaply or just cover their costs, they are not helping the industry at all. The same applies to the sole trader groom who works at the yard – they are a business which needs to make a profit – they need to earn a living wage if they are to continue – good grooms can and do charge well over the average hourly rate. By the same token – leisure horse owners must look at changing their views on the amount they pay for housing their horse and for the services provided by the yard. Owners must expect to pay a proper living wage to people who work with horses – it has to change if we want to keep horses privately.

A few yard owners around the country who want a sustainable and profitable business have increased their fees quite considerably in recent months.  Yes – they did indeed lose some of their liveries immediately but only for a short while.  Providing their services were good they soon filled their empty stables again at the increased profitable fees. It is these yards which now have waiting lists. Contrary to popular belief, most horse owners will pay more for a decent service.

If you are a yard manager and good at your job, trust your gut and take the plunge. Incremental increases are easier to accept so no need to do it all in one hit – but at least increase a little every year when you do the regular increase in line with the cost of living – you do increase with the cost of living don’t you ?   If not why not, every serious and professional business links prices to the current cost of living!

Wouldn’t it be great to have a waiting list of clients who are happy to pay more and are keen to keep their horse at your yard?   Get the building blocks right from the start  contact us: info@horse-care.uk  01984-656339. Enrol today with Lingfield Equine Distance Learning www.horse-care site