Cost to Graze a horse???

[duhorse]

I was hoping to get some input on a decision I have to make. I have way to much pasture for my 3 horses and plan on grazing a few horses for someone I know so that my horses don't get overweight and founder. What should I charge per horse to allow these horses to graze on my fields? I am not looking to make a huge profit, but it would be nice to be able to cover my own horse expenses

[Marybeth]

I don't know if this will help you in any way or not. But we are buying 5 acres , 4 is pasture with hay and to have it bailed and kept would be 100.00. If we don't keep the hay it is no charge to us to have the guy bail it and he would keep it himself. lol If that makes any sense. Location is Illinois.

[patty dukes]

I don't know much about charging people BUT I moved from Kentucky to Alabama last September and I have found out that it depends on where in the country you are at as to how high the prices are. I can get a bale of hay in Kentucky for $2.25-$3.00 a square bale that is the good hay also Here in Alabama the cheapest hay I have found starts out at $6.50 a bale for the good stuff. I am not going to buy bad hay so I have been paying out the wazoo for hay. The feed store has it here for $12.00 a bale!!!!!!!!!!! Talk about gas prices!! And more than likely they won't buy hay if they graze in your field.
Anyway as far as charging for the use of your field I guess it would depend on where you are and the going rate. My dad lived in Michigan and the things there were expensive. He lived near Detroit though.
Also I can't help but warn you about the risks in doing business with friends if they are friends. AND do you know that your horses will get along with their horses and vice versa? You don't want to put the horses in danger of being hurt and yourself being sued.
Please don't take what I say as offensive but I wish I had a warning about a few things.

[dragonexpress]

Hello just thought i would let you know what we pay in western australia for a horse to graze in a paddock its between AU $12.00 to $25.00 per week...On my property i have 12 acres and i have 6 horses of my own and i agist one here as well which i feed hay for breakfast put it out in the paddock during the day put rugs on and off put it the stable of a nite and feed it dinner and pik up its poo and i charge $120 aweek for full board and the owner comes once a month as she works away..that $120 covers my feed bill for my horses and her one every week ..AS for feed here its been pretty pricey $$$$ as we have been in drought we used to pay $5.50 for a bale of oaten hay then it went to $30 for about 7 months at the moment we are paying about $7.50 which is better than it was Anyway i thought u would like to know that useless bit of information LOL
Goodnite everyone enjoy your day

[patty dukes]

was wondering the money exchange rate between Australia and the States?

I know $100. in USA money was $140. in Canadian money when I went to Canada we seen gas for like 73 cents we thought WOW we are going to fill up!!! We found out it was 73 cents a LITER!!! That has nothing to do with this but I though it was funny we got all excited thinking we were getting a deal to find out it wasn't gallons.
This was in 1999 when we paid like 1.00 a gallon (USA)...........man I miss those days!!!

[bndranch]

We get charged $15. per head per month and we maintain the fences. Granted we have known this guy for years and he sold all his stock so its nice to have a place to stash horses for the summer months. For our cows it was $10 per head per month unless it was a cow and calf pair which was just the $10 for the two. By the way we are in the northern panhandle of Idaho. Hope that helps just a little.

[duhorse]

Im not offended:) Some people would not know better so thank you for looking out for me. I did 2 years as an animal science equine major at MSU so I am not going into this blind. My horses will actually be in a different field to prevent any problems. She is more of a buisness friend:) I go to her when I need a horse trained or want some lessons.

[patty dukes]

Oh wow I bet you could teach me a thing or 2!!!

[kitcat0601]

Im in Florida and hay is very expensive. For a bale of T&A its 13.00 a bale, and thats for 40lb bale if that. The compressed stuff (75lbs) is almost 20.00 a bale. Everything is expensive here. I would love to move somewhere without Hurricanes, Blizzard's,Tornado's or Forest Fires. Know of any place like that? :0

[bndranch]

Well........Idaho is out , we are on fire watch almost all summer. And we have been known to get a few blizzards. But then again give me those anyday over a tornado or hurricane!!!!

[patty dukes]

Well Kentucky is very nice and beautiful. I love Kentucky!!!! The downside is they do have some tornadoes every once in a while and sometimes there is about a foot of snow or ice BUT unless you live near a big there really isn't much money to be made. That is why we moved.

[wisteriafarms]

Hi
I am in Southeast Michigan, about halfway between Detroit and Lansing. Pasture board around me is anywhere from $125/month to $225/month. The difference lies somewhat in other amenities and access to them, but also in the individual attention each horse receives. For 125, your horse is in with 50 others and you are risking your neck to try to bring your horse in lol, and there is a waiting list for arena time. For 225 your horse is only in with a few others and gets a visual check from farm employees daily, and the arena is available whenever you are. You didn't say whether these horses would be at your place 24 hours, or if it was a neighbor who would just be bringing them over to graze.
The place I am at charges $225. I don't mind paying that because of the small herd sizes and individual attention, plus arenas and trails.
If all they are paying for is grazing, not arena time or things like that, I personally would be willing to pay $75-$100/month. Because you are still providing a safe enclosure and maintaining the fences, mowing, doing visual check of the horses and their environment, etc. The grass may be free, but your time isn't lol.

Hope that helps...sorry to have rambled lol

Julie

[chrystalpaths]

I have also been considering this. I am down to 2, and have 20 fenced acres. needless to say it's a bit much. The girls have a nice small area with enough yukky pasture to graze all day long. I have to mow this acreage weekly and was thinking of horses or sheep. Needless to say health checks, coggins etc would be paramount to allowing any equine access to my pastures and I use electric fencing which can be an issue for some but works for me. I would charge $25/horse/month as I am looking out for them and maintaining the fence lines.

[kitcat0601]

I was looking at your pasture cam last night Brittany. It looked so pretty and serine. We are on fire watch most of Spring, although it poured the other night. I was stuck in my barn with lightning, raining cats and dogs and hail. Boy, that scared me. First thing I thought of was Tornado. So, I watched the rain blow in the stalls and my paint gelding get soaked because my fiance needs to fix the roof. Among other half done projects on my barn. Men...