| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Sazza |
Posted - 16 Apr 2013 : 07:47:54 AM
Just a moan really... I sort of loan a mare from a friend (I say sort of as I dont pay for her anymore.. just help out when I can fit it around work) The owner is lovely but the YO has now decided that he doesnt want anyone hanging round the yard unless the mare's owner is there so now I cant just pop down like I used to, I have to contact the mares owner and arrange for us to be there at the same time.
Such a pain in the bum especially as I have known the YO for years.. does he suddenly think im going to nick all the tack or something?? |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Sazza |
Posted - 19 Apr 2013 : 8:38:45 PM
I understand yards need to have rules... but to dictate when people can and cant come to the yard is stupid. 6am is a reasonable time, i dont see why going at that time would be a problem. aah pop you are too far away too :-( |
| Vik1 |
Posted - 19 Apr 2013 : 7:20:02 PM
Cinders i do agree. There most def has to be rules! My yo wont allow children under 14 on the yard unless they are supervised at all times. The same with times. She doesnt mind someone coming up early before 7am as long as they make her aware of it. Like if it was for a show. Same with night time. Theres occasions when we might of been at an evening clinic and not back until 10pm. As long as she knows she is happy. I think this is reasonable. It can be quite disconcerting seeing headlights coming down the drive in the pitch black after 8pm during winter months. So there is flexibility there.
I think it is easier on a slightly bigger yard. I had 1 livery at my own place (my best friend at the time). It became difficult as my 3 were getting disturbed after they were settled for the night. She would upset the routine. Having only 1 livery can also feel a bit invasive as strange as that sounds because as you say, its your home. Its harder to be flexible too as the small number of horses need to have routine/act as a herd. |
| SuziQ |
Posted - 19 Apr 2013 : 4:22:35 PM
Oh Cinders that is a shame, there are lovely liveries out there!
When I lived in Croydon I had my mare in livery at a ladies house, she was very reluctant to take me on having been bitten badly in the past but a mutual friend told me her concerns and I drafted up a trial agreement that said basically after 3 months if neither party were happy I would go.
I told her my working hours, introduced her to my boyfriend, now husband and we sorted out some ground rules before I moved Perdy. Towards the end of the trial period her husband was taken seriously ill and I stepped in and cared for her 2 hunters for 5 weeks. After our relationship had changed completely and I was there very happily for over 2 years, each doing hoiday cover for the other, she went away with her husband for 2 weeks for him to recuperate later in the summer, the first time in many years as she didnt have anyone she trusted to look after her animals.
We were both very sad for me to leave when Fraser and I found a house in Kent, got married and moved away. We still exchange cards and see each other, she is a friend. |
| CINDERS |
Posted - 19 Apr 2013 : 2:59:30 PM
I am not saying that a YO should not be there, my husband works from home so is there most of the time but when I have read this and other threads liveries seem to want it all and some are not paying good money.
Another example I could give would be the woman at our old yard that would turn up with her children and leave them there whilst going out for a ride, is this reasonable, IMO not. I do not like nor do I have children and see no reason why I should be plagued either as another livery or as the YO with other peoples offspring. If you have younger liveries they bring boyfriends.
If I were to take liveries I would make the rules clear at the outset but like to think I would be flexible about time within reason but I would also like any livery to respect my privacy and ask before turning up with a gang of mates. Trouble is you can choose the liveries but not their entourage.
Of course people should be able to see their horse as and when they choose but surely this has to be within a reasonable period of time and flexibility goes both ways. Subject to my insurers agreement I would happily give any person leaving their horse with us the key to the yard (once I had grown to trust them)just in case there was no-one in. Trouble is we live in a litigious society and if someone was there alone or brought their children and were hurt I could be sued and because of my job I see the spurious claims that people make.
Any horse liveried with us would be treated as our own and I would expect them to be fed etc (by us if necessary) at the same time as our own. Working full time myself I wuld happily do vets, farrier and dentist vists for people but as before would expect them to respect that the yard is also our home.
Looking at this and previous threads maybe liveries are not for me. |
| Pop |
Posted - 19 Apr 2013 : 1:14:32 PM
Just right on the border of Bucks, Berks and Oxfordshire. :) |
| Sazza |
Posted - 19 Apr 2013 : 12:41:04 PM
Aww Cheshire is a bit far for me but thank you anyway Ruthie.. where abouts are you pop?
My best friend has a lovely arab gelding and I can visit him as often as I like.. the yard is great but its a little bit of a drive. I dnt mind but have to watch my petrol use atm. |
| Pasch |
Posted - 19 Apr 2013 : 11:55:45 AM
Cinders I agree there must be rules,however,the first yard I was talking about had no such rule,sometimes nobody was there in the middle of the morning(and gate locked) some days they weren't there at all because had to go somewhere,some other days they had to leave early afternoon,in the end it was a problem to just go and see my horse and I was paying very good money!If you are not ready to be there don't take liveries as someone said you are dealing with the public.
Other places including where I am now I can go anytime during the day and if they have to go somewhere and can't be there they'll let me know but I can still go and see/ride my horses. |
| CINDERS |
Posted - 19 Apr 2013 : 11:34:29 AM
I do not have liveries because it seems most are unreasonable. My yard is my home and no I would not want someone turning up at 6am when I am trying to get ready for my day job. It is a service industry but like most businesses there have to be rules and procedures in place to protect everyone and the horses. If I had liveries I would expect them to be open from 7 to 7 with other times by prior arrangement. Yard owners have a right to privacy and a life as well
One yard I was at people used to come and leave their kids there, YO was a glorified babysitter and I can think of nothing worse than hoards of stranger turning up because they have some tenuous connection to the horse aside from the additional risk of someone hurting themselves and suing me.
YO are a bit mad I agree but if their rules are clearly stated at the outset (said rules are usually to protect all parties) then horse have the choice to not use the yard if they are unhappy. |
| Pasch |
Posted - 18 Apr 2013 : 10:37:02 PM
Vik1 you are SO right.Second everything you said.
Had some nightmarish experiences at several yards.In Italy most yards only do full livery,but I had places where I had to arrange with YO the time when I could go as they weren't living there and gate was locked and of course I had no key,and the guy often didn't even say hello,another place the shelter in the paddock had concrete floor and no bedding,poor Pasch had scratched knees and hocks so had to fork out more money and buy mats,which I took away of course but they are laying down in a corner gathering dust...Had to clean mats myself everyday if I didn't want him to lay down in his poo as she only had one worker and paddocks were cleaned every fortnight...
Then YO changing her mind all the time about turn out,feeding,not to speak about bad hay and not feeding enough...Had to give extra hay when nobody was watching...
I don't mind mucking out but not if I pay somebody money to do it and then they don't!
Now I am in a very simple place,just the basics but very cheap,things are clear from the beginning and people are nice,not perfect but then no such thing as a perfect place.Horses are well fed,they look happy and relaxed,other liveries are nice and they have wonderful hacking,so I am crossing my fingers everything stays that way! |
| Vik1 |
Posted - 18 Apr 2013 : 9:49:03 PM
Ive been on livery yards and had my own place. Once youve had your own place its very difficult to go back to livery. I dont mind compromising, its the mood swings I cant cope with. If it wasnt for the fact my mare is difficult and not many would put up with her behaviour I would of seriously lost my temper by now. I have the patience of a saint! I can not stand rudeness esp to people who are paying quite alot of money each month. It is after all in the service industry and as I have a customer service background this is a particular bug bear for me.
The thing I really dont get is alot of livery yard owners think that liveries should feel privileged to be allowed to keep their horse there. When actually it is the other way round. Yard owners have to be flexible and certainly have to be a people person too.
|
| SuziQ |
Posted - 18 Apr 2013 : 9:46:03 PM
I share with my sister and we drive each other NUTS!!! But it is lovely to only have to deal with each other and everything we do is to keep the horses happy!
I do miss the social side of being at livery and having people around to ride with but not the shannaigans, gossip and bitching!! |
| RUTHIE |
Posted - 18 Apr 2013 : 9:25:42 PM
Echo that Pop...three lovely horses. One PBA....one ISH and one very young 2 yr old Crabbet. Lots of riding/handling and...poo picking!! Cheshire if interested!!  |
| Pop |
Posted - 18 Apr 2013 : 6:56:43 PM
Sazza, you can come and muck out for me at any time of the day or night you please; and have 4 amazing horses to choose from. I have one for every occasion. From a nice sensible forward going hack right thru to a complete fizzy nut case drama queen space head. Come on down and enjoy |
| Sazza |
Posted - 18 Apr 2013 : 1:32:03 PM
I was all set to go and muck out this morning then the mare's owner text me saying id better not as it was early and YO wouldnt like it (it was 6am). I dont think I'll bother anymore. Both the horse and her owner are lovely but I dont want someone dictating when I can and cant go. Will have to look around
for something else now. gutted but dont want the hassle. |
| brack369 |
Posted - 18 Apr 2013 : 1:06:40 PM
I'm sure our YO is partly scared of half the liveries at mine. We can all do what we want. It sounds great but there's still a lot for us to moan about |
| joanna_piana |
Posted - 18 Apr 2013 : 10:17:32 AM
It's definately entertaining that's for sure, I tend to keep my head down on the whole. As long as the horses are happy that's the main thing but you do need to compromise as everyone likes to do things differently. I guess it's about finding a compromise you can cope with. I love being on livery as enjoy having people to chat to and encourage you to do things and motivate you to ride more etc. I do like the idea of having my own place but think i'd like a couple of liveries otherwise I'd be bored and then I can be the mad YO |
| FireLight |
Posted - 18 Apr 2013 : 10:16:33 AM
The yard I'm on is a refreshing change as everything is done for the horses benefit and welfare. Brilliant you may think but some owners on our yard still moan as it doesn't suit their life style and daily routine! Don't have a horse then! |
| pinkvboots |
Posted - 18 Apr 2013 : 09:47:57 AM
I have been in some mad livery yards and worked for mental yard owners, one guy I know has the yard blown and hoovered every day and if your horse hangs its head out the door eating hay it has to have a grill on the door, another woman would make us do the muck heap by hand even though we had a machine to push it back, we used to wait until she went out and use the machine, thankfully I keep mine at home now but I use a menage in the farm next door and hear all about the horrors that go on which I must say keeps me entertained. |
| Pop |
Posted - 18 Apr 2013 : 09:27:28 AM
I really don't think I would like the Livery Yard system. It all seems so strange, maybe just stories; but seems to me people get told when and for how long they can turn out their horse, and some yards say no hay in fields, stuff like that. I hear so many stories of how people have to manage their horses according to livery yard policies, rather than is what is best for the horse. And the gossip, wow ...... |
| joanna_piana |
Posted - 18 Apr 2013 : 09:26:07 AM
ha ha both my YO's are great (mental but great) but I think it's a prerequisite of horse ownership to be slightly mad so running a yard you have no hope! |
| Callisto |
Posted - 18 Apr 2013 : 08:34:28 AM
Originally posted by joanna_piana
I think all YO's are slightly mental and get worse as they get older!
I think the same can be said about liveries! (I've never been a YO - don't think I could cope) |
| Judith S |
Posted - 18 Apr 2013 : 08:28:36 AM
Originally posted by joanna_piana
I think all YO's are slightly mental and get worse as they get older!
Thanks for the vote of confidence - but where would all you liveries be without us |
| Sazza |
Posted - 17 Apr 2013 : 05:48:53 AM
Just need to find a nice little place with a bit of land then I wont have to worry about grumpy YOs!! |
| Pasch |
Posted - 16 Apr 2013 : 11:45:50 PM
Originally posted by joanna_piana
I think all YO's are slightly mental and get worse as they get older!
So agree.... |
| joanna_piana |
Posted - 16 Apr 2013 : 1:52:13 PM
I think all YO's are slightly mental and get worse as they get older! |
