Consumer rights - purchasing supplies for a horse! Please help!

Chilidog

Hi all - the stables where I keep my horse is changing their pricing structure so that going forward (from 1st March) we are having to buy all our straw, haylage etc rather than having it all included in our package. This in itself isn't a problem but the owner of the stables is saying that we have to purchase any items that we need through him rather than being able to shop around to ensure we are getting value for money or better quality than those he will supply. My question is can he do this? Surely there is some law that says he can't dictate what supplies I buy for my horse? Really would appreciate any feedback on this from savvy consumer rights people. Thanks guys! Looking forward to hearing from you.

hcb42

I cannot see why they cannot do this.

Perhaps you need to ask him for a different pricing structure if you shop around and opt for the flexibility

PasturesNew

When I lived in a mobile home I had to buy my gas and electricity from the site owner. I was also limited to only using one papershop for deliveries and one milkman, chosen by the site owner.

It's legal to do this to humans, it's legal for animals.

dreamypuma

Assuming you are not under contract, he is free to charge what he likes or set the conditions for provisioning his services.

This would be in the same way that you are free to look else where for alternate services that better suited your needs if you don't agree. Or negotiate your own terms with him.

In essence both parties need to agree or part company.

Judith_W

Sounds to me the same as being forced to buy the expensive wine in restaurants. You can't bring your own in as they come by their prices taking this into account.

Hintza

He could also charge you car parking.

I'm really surprised he is doing this though as it will make prices much more transparent especially if you have been on full livery.

You will also have the problem that nobody else is using your bags of food or your hay or your shavings.

Out of interest how much is he charging for full livery currently? If you have a small hardy pony then you might actually save some money!