| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| alan |
Posted - 24 Apr 2012 : 2:27:29 PM
Just wondered what you a liners do with your toddlers/under school age kids while you do your yard duties? |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Daniel |
Posted - 27 Apr 2012 : 2:45:21 PM
When I was a livery yard my little man was happy to sit in the car and watch films as it is just not fair to have him under other peoples feet when they are handling their horses. Now I have moved them and it is only me and my friend who also has to children we have made them a park around the side of the yard. They are not near the horses or bored, they have a 10ft trampoline, swings, Slide, climbing frame, football goal etc. If its raining they play in the tackroom or kitchen with the toys or watch tv in there. they are very happy children and iv turned my horses out my little boy who is 3 loves to help my muck out 'HIS' horses lol.
My Arab is head over heels in love with my little boy and follows him like a dog with his nose on the back of his neck when he is poo picking hehe.
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| Callisto |
Posted - 26 Apr 2012 : 1:42:12 PM
So if a stable yard isn't safe, does that mean that farmers can't have children? I'm not surprised it is making her ill, particularly if she only contacted them because of concerns for her older child. I hope she manages to get them off her back asap. |
| alan |
Posted - 26 Apr 2012 : 12:37:27 PM
She's definitely not got anything to hide. Think ss are trying to say that a stable yard isn't safe for a child full stop so are they gonna investigate every horse owner who has children? This whole business is making her ill. |
| kastell |
Posted - 26 Apr 2012 : 09:50:19 AM
What your friend was doing sounds perfectly fine & responsible to me, keeping her child safe & warm, as well as keeping her eye on her. I did the same thing with my son when he was little. What would SS prefer the kid to be knocked over by a horse?
I worry terribly when my son is around when I have to get horses in & out, although he's older now & will go & stand in a safe area when I tell him! The local riding stables had a nasty accident when her young son got kicked by a pony, air ambulance etc arrived, luckily he made a full recovery.
I'd let SS come around & check the house, there's nothing to hide is there? Maybe she should take advice from the CAB, or a solicitor, surely they can't enforce her to use a Nursery if they have no proof of neglect. How many Mums put their kids in playpens whilst they do the housework, just keep an eye on them? |
| applause |
Posted - 26 Apr 2012 : 06:17:23 AM
dosen't it make you so angry why don't they stop wasting time and concentrate on real problems!!
And on another note gcarrie kids can get injured without horses, my youngest daughter on her first day at playschool rushed in, slipped and hit her head on the corner of a table leaving it quite badly cut. she now has a 'Harry Potter' scar. I think my kids have had more injuries with no horses than with!!! |
| alan |
Posted - 25 Apr 2012 : 9:44:57 PM
The latest on this is they're now checking to see where the kids sleep & the state of the house!! They even commented that the children's finger nails are a bit long & dirty. Surely this is a case of harassment & invasion of privacy? She runs her stud single handed & don't claim a penny from the government. That on earth is going on?!! |
| Judith S |
Posted - 25 Apr 2012 : 9:29:08 PM
One of our liveries used to put her baby in the wheelbarrow - we told her social services would have a field day, as if they don't have any real cases to chase. |
| alan |
Posted - 25 Apr 2012 : 8:51:33 PM
Yes Suyen I have received it. Will reply when I get a quiet moment. |
| suyents |
Posted - 25 Apr 2012 : 3:55:01 PM
Alan,, i have emailed you on alan@spirit-arabians.co.uk
Have you received it??
also sent a text from my Jordanian mobile.....
xx |
| gcarrie9 |
Posted - 25 Apr 2012 : 2:50:17 PM
Safety is paramount in my eyes, I have had the same horse for 14 years and just the other day an unexpected low flying aircraft took us both by surprise and he accidentally knocked me over. A swift unintentional kick in the head for a small child and it's all over. When you have horses that are stabled there are necessary jobs to be done every day, and I don't even let my dogs run around them, I certainly wouldn't allow my children to. Obviously a busy-body with good intentions in the wrong direction. I feel very sorry, I hope it turns out ok for your friend. |
| kathleen |
Posted - 25 Apr 2012 : 1:35:59 PM
Both of mine used to sit in the truck 6 foot away opposite the stable with windows open so they could talk to me as I mucked out(Livery yard with lots of other people and farm machinery) then a walk with me , Dog and Alliya and if they where really good i would put their hats on and Alliya would gently walk down the private lane to the gate |
| delly-b |
Posted - 25 Apr 2012 : 12:54:38 PM
OMG!!!!! .... Saying that, why doesn't it suprise me??!!
The poor woman... Did they not do anything regarding the original complaint then?... Oh I hope she can get them to see sense. I can only imagine what she must be going through. I hope she can get sone good legal advise and get it sorted out. |
| alan |
Posted - 25 Apr 2012 : 12:44:09 PM
My friend contacted social services herself as her older daughters father has been acting "inappropriately" towards her. They visited her at the yard. Its a private stud with no one else there. As soon as social services arrived they were more concerned about the toddler in the play pen than the original reason for them being called. They have FORCED my friend to place her child in nursery from 9 til 3 Monday to Friday or else they will prosecute her for neglect. |
| alan |
Posted - 25 Apr 2012 : 12:40:27 PM
My friend contacted social services herself as her older daughters father has been acting "inappropriately" towards her. They visited her at the yard. Its a private stud with no one else there. As soon as social services arrived they were more concerned about the toddler in the play pen than the original reason for them being called. They have FORCED my friend to place her child in nursery from 9 til 3 Monday to Friday or else they will prosecute her for neglect. |
| delly-b |
Posted - 25 Apr 2012 : 09:45:59 AM
I personally think your friend is doing the right thing, so long as the child is regularly checked on. As others have said horse yards can be dangerous for young children , well and adults! Of course it's a different story though if the child is left there for hours on end alone and not checked on. It sounds like a very good set up to me with the facilities in place. It's not that the child is loose in the room to get into danger. I'm sure if it was investigated they would realise this.. |
| Dark Angel |
Posted - 25 Apr 2012 : 06:28:36 AM
Do you think it could be someone on the yard who has contacted social services? Just a thought.
I agree with Suyents, tell SS to take a running jump and go and investigate some deserving causes.
Too many kids grow up in their living rooms in front of the television these days. You can't beat fresh air, exercise and a bit of mud. These are the kids who grow up well adjusted and with healthy immune systems.
As long as children aren't too noisy and not being a nuisance to others there is no reason to exclude them from the yard. |
| applause |
Posted - 25 Apr 2012 : 05:42:31 AM
I have 3 9,13 and 14 and all 3 had to be out with me whilst on the farm as i didn't have the luxury of someone to look after them!
They would spend a lot of time in the pram as babies in all weathers, and in the buggy as toddlers. we are also a working farm as well as having horses so probably even more dangers. they all used to go to the creche for a morning a week so i could catch up. the discovery and car seat would also be usefull if we were doing cow things!
It certainly hasn't done them any harm. |
| Callisto |
Posted - 25 Apr 2012 : 12:56:57 AM
I would also think that your friend is doing it very well, the idea of a baby monitor as well would be an extra safeguard, but as brack369 says, it is no different to having your child in it's cot/playpen upstairs or in the living room while you are cooking in the kitchen or cleaning the rest of the house - not very practical to have a toddler clutching you when you are doing the housework, and certainly not a good idea to have a toddler out on the yard while you are handling horses. I know a certain eventer's wife who used to tuck her baby up in his pram and leave him in the tack room while she exercised her horse - there were 3 grooms on the yard that kept an eye on him, but obviously had to get on with their yard duties, so he didn't have a constant baby sitter with him. Nothing disastrous happened.
Sound's like interference from an over zealous busybody, hopefully social services will show some common sense - this is hardly neglect! |
| brack369 |
Posted - 24 Apr 2012 : 10:32:00 PM
Like emmo I try to avoid taking my twins. My horses are extremely gentle but it only takes something to spook them and the kids would be splattered. They usually play on my phone in the car or when horses are out they help me make feeds etc. I think your friends set up is great, it's not dissimilar to putting the child in a safe playpen with tv on while you cook the dinner in the kitchen.
It's really difficult when you have children with you. I personally don't let mine out of my sight for their own safety mainly but also out of consideration for other people and their horses. We have mums who allow their children to cycle round the yard while they muck out and have a chat. The other evening i went to put my horses away for the night and the kuds were all playing football in middle of yard. It made me nervous to leave my horses in the middle of such commotion.
It's nice to involve the children and get them out in the fresh air but they have to be extremely well supervised! |
| arabesque |
Posted - 24 Apr 2012 : 9:54:27 PM
I used to have to take mine with me when they were young - it was a nightmare! Your friend's setup sounds as good as it's going to get, I'd have been over the moon with those facilities. What about setting up a 2-way radio system, then it would be similar to having the toddler in a different room with a baby monitor?
Hopefully Social Services show some common sense! |
| connormum |
Posted - 24 Apr 2012 : 9:34:46 PM
Mine is now 7 and he either sits in the car playing his DS or runs about playing with the other kids his age and younger in the fields, hay barn. Don't like them running in the yard as there are a few green youngsters who have just arrived. He was just turned 6 when I got Freddie at my previous yard and either sat in the car or ran around with the others, different set up. I'd say, personally if your friends child is safe, warm and happy, confined in a travel cot etc and checked regularly, he/she would be fine. Many kids have much worse starts. I can't see any problem with it tbh. As long as the child is safe and happy and the adults can hear him/her if needed. Hope she gets it sorted :) Sarah x |
| Vik1 |
Posted - 24 Apr 2012 : 9:28:45 PM
A friend of mine would sometimes leave hers in the chair in the car while she mucked out. Shed time it for nap time. Another friend would have hers in the buggy/pram at the side of the school while she was riding. They would avoid taking them as much as possible tho.
I think your friends set up sounds fine. |
| suyents |
Posted - 24 Apr 2012 : 9:20:14 PM
tell social services to go and investigate the many mothers with toddlers in over heated, smokey bed sits...i can't believe they are wasting their resources on this, who complained??? |
| george |
Posted - 24 Apr 2012 : 8:50:49 PM
Connor has grown up around mine, he is only seven now but I am with glo....let kids do what they do best and make it a game  he loved getting filthy in the mud, just take a change of clothes for popping in the shops on the way home  just make sure you know where they are and I always wanted to fill an empty stable with toys and stick him in there for a bit  never did though, it's amazing to see your child becoming confident and aware around horses...if you keep them away they don't get the chance to learn, and it's so much healthier than being stuck indoors! |
| alan |
Posted - 24 Apr 2012 : 8:42:03 PM
The reason I ask is a friend of mine puts her toddler in tea room on their yard which is between 2 stables & opposite the other boxes. The room is heated & has a tv & is within earshot of all the yard. Her toddler is put in a play pen within this room. The child is only left there while my friend is handling horses, going in & out of stables feeding, etc. Imo this is far safer than the child being allowed to run around at that time. The child is checked every 10mins or so. She is now being investigated by social services for neglect as the social services feel that isn't a suitable environment for a child to be in. Once my friend starts mucking out stables that don't have horses in the child is allowed to run about. Just wondered what your views were. |
