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The Australian Trainers Association has recommended an increase in daily training fees or the imposition of a levy on clients to offset skyrocketing feed costs due to the drought.

ATA chief executive Andrew Nicholl issued a bulletin to members outlining the impact the drought has had on feed prices for trainers.

The ATA is recommending an increase of between $2 and $4 a day per horse to counter the feed shortage.

“The necessary, and in many cases, simple option, is to increase the daily training fee to fund the increased expense,” Nicholl said.

“An alternative, and perhaps more saleable solution to owners, is a daily drought feed levy.

“This can be styled to suit the horse and feed regime, and be removed from an owner’s bill when stock feed pricing resets at a lower level in the future.”