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pinkvboots
Platinum Member
 United Kingdom
3290 Posts |
 Posted - 18 Aug 2014 : 11:29:29 AM
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I just wanted to know what you do if your horses are at home, I have two of my own here and currently have a friends on livery that goes in a separate field, I have had a friend do mine for the last two years or so but I got back yesterday from being away and I really am not happy, I basically had to change my horses to suit her for a few days while I was away which meant they were out in that storm last Sunday which mine hate, she also really made me feel like she was doing me such a favour as she was not happy about doing the one I have on livery as she is not keen on the woman who owns him, she only had to say and she would have organized someone else to do hers it was not a problem, yet she didn't tell me this until a day before I was going,I got back to my place being a tip nothing looks like its been swept hay store full of loose hay, all the buckets filthy.
I get the feeling my horses hardly ever came in in the week and when they did they just got soaking wet hay thrown in on top of the shavings as they stink of mould and it was all stuck to the floor at the front of the stables, I just feel like she really didn't want to do it I have always paid her well I make up feeds in bags I fill all my haynets before I go, she only has to skip out if they have been in I have a tiny yard so its easy to manage, I just rinse all my buckets out every time I take them out of the stable it takes seconds and to sweep up takes minutes.
I was made to feel like she was doing me a huge favour by doing the livery I have as she is not keen on the woman, surely if its your job personal feelings about people shouldn't really come into it, I worked and ran many livery yards and never let my personal feelings get into the way of work I would never have made any money, she was only saying to me the day before I went that she is looking for more work as they yard next door where she works does not earn her enough, I have always thought I paid her well so I am stumped at what to make of it really.
Sorry its a bit of a long one
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Goldenmane
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4964 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2014 : 12:29:24 PM
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| Well, I would treat all horses like my own (whether I liked the owner or not!) She is not doing you a favour as you are paying her. Trust your instincts on this and maybe have a chat with her about how you feel. |
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Callisto
Platinum Member
6905 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2014 : 12:42:01 PM
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I find her attitude quite wrong - regardless of how you feel about an owner the horse is an innocent party, all she had to do was care for it properly, not chat to said livery. You have paid her to do a job and it appears she did not do it, is there something else going on in her life which has led to this? I assume she has cared for your horses before with no problems. I wouldn't use her again, personally - you have to trust the person who you leave in charge of your horse, obviously they may not do everything exactly as you do, but mouldy hay and an unswept yard is unacceptable, and quite frankly stupidity on her part - all she had to do was tidy up the day before you came home and you would have been none the wiser ( ). Not surprised she's not getting enough work with that attitude. |
  Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta)
Linda
East Sussex |
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barbara.gregory
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4531 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2014 : 4:57:10 PM
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"Holiday", what's that? Haven't had one for 28 years, honestly. You have now now found out why. I wouldn't leave my horses unless I was absolutley certain they would be looked after properly and I haven't yet felt that about anyone. I know it is more difficult with stallions but I would never forgive myself if there was an accident.
"I find her attitude quite wrong - regardless of how you feel about an owner the horse is an innocent party, all she had to do was care for it properly, not chat to said livery." Quite agree, Callisto. If you are paying someone the going wage to do something then they should do it properly.
Barbara |
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Ari
Platinum Member
1657 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2014 : 6:52:04 PM
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I choose not to go away; so often get asked to watch over my friends horses and I look after them as I would my own or how they request if that differs from my thoughts or routine.
I walk YO dog and feed the cats, I love the dog and enjoy his company.
I do this as a friend of the owner and animal and not for payment although I take the commitment very seriously. Goodies do come my way as a thank you but are not expected.
Your arrangement is very different in that you were paying for a service and I agree with all; her attitude was very wrong this time, even basic care and hygiene standards lacking with your own horses. Her feelings for livery lady are irrelevant and if that strong (can't imagine why that should impact an innocent horse) why not decline the job. That aside you are unhappy with the care given to your own horses and yard and Callisto makes a good point that something could be happening in your "friends" life that has impacted on the care given, but even so it's no excuse in my book.
Nowt queerer than folk and if you haven't paid her I wouldn't.
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pinkvboots
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3290 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2014 : 7:00:02 PM
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Thank you I just feel like she couldnt be bothered and it makes me sad really, I have always come back to a bit of a mess but not like yesterday, I rang her today and spoke to her husband she was out she drives past my house 4 times everyday but she has not knocked, I will never ask her to do it again I dont like people making me feel they are doing me such a huge favour when they are being paid, she should have told my livery she couldnt do her pony, she woulld have got someone else to do it I wouldnt have minded, her words to me were "I am only doing the llivery as its you" I wanted to tell her not to bother but she said it the day before I went so had to bite my tongue.
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pinkvboots
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3290 Posts |
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Ari
Platinum Member
1657 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2014 : 7:17:04 PM
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It's very sad and hard to deal with when friendships and trust is in doubt and it's natural for right minded people to find it very difficult. You don't have to fall out but the relationship should be on your terms going forward.
The older I get I find myself more tolerant if things are ok but not perfect but I have no patience with wrong. |
Edited by - Ari on 18 Aug 2014 7:37:50 PM |
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SuziQ
Gold Member
England
922 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2014 : 8:45:13 PM
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Dont jump too quickly..she may have had a really bad week.
I left a friend of mine and my sister in charge of mine for just over a week and came back to find that things hadn't worked out how I would have liked and my little pony was looking like a barrel..i took her out and boot camped her for a fortnight and shes fine.
My sisters horse wouldn't let my friend catch her and rather than create stressed horses she left them out in their muzzles in the new paddock. It wasn't what I'd planned but they were all fine and it lets me get away which I hugely appreciate. |
Everyone in my life brings me happiness, some by arriving others by leaving. |
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Nichole Waller
Gold Member
England
1168 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2014 : 10:31:57 PM
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Bring them to me next time Liz  . I'll look after them for you
I know exactly how you feel. I used to get a 'friend' look after mine when I went on holiday. She has two horses of her own so should know what's she's doing. However everyone's standards are different.
I always do mine twice a day. Morning between 8.00 and 9.00 and evening between 4.00 and 7.00 depending on winter or summer. My 'friend' lives a stones throw from the yard yet sometimes doesn't make it over to feed breakfast until 11.30 or later! Ozzy has worn a trench in the field where he paces up and down waiting for his breakfast. One year when they were in over night, my mare ate the top of her stable door where she wasn't fed enough hay and was left in too long in the mornings. I've had this mare 20 years and she has never chewed her stable apart from that time...
My mare wears a sweet itch rug and instructions are that it should not come off AT ALL during summer. One year she ripped it and the 'friend' took it off and said " I thought I'd let the sun get to her back for a few hours" and didn't put on the fresh one until after 7.00 in the evening. My mare was eaten alive by the midges and proceeded to scratch her neck with her hind hoof, rip the spare rug and end up with a huge hole in her neck which I then had to get the vet out to sort out....
Going on holiday is a bloody nightmare...
I have used someone else the last two years and she has been brilliant, but I'm not sure how much longer she can do them for as her job has changed and also her mum is very unwell....
So Liz - I'll have yours when you go away and you have mine problem solved.... Xx |
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pinkvboots
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3290 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2014 : 08:43:40 AM
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Nichole at least I am not the only one to have had problems, Before I lived here the lovely Donna looked after mine she also has an Arab maybe thats the answer so I might take you up on that
Thing is Arabi is a bit special needs at times so I worry about him, my warmblood she will put up with anything and anyone and still cope she has lived out for most of her life before I had her, but Arabi hates the rain if left out in it he gets rain scald, his alergic to most things meant for horses most people cant catch him his had the most terrible bites on his face this year despite having a mask on, I came back to his tail half rubbed out so I know his lotion was not put on, he wont tolerate strange horses in a field his quite evil to them hence why my liveries horse goes out on his own, still want him Nichole
I still have not heard from said friend I have rang her once so if she wants her money she will have to come to me I am not chasing her. |
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kath
Gold Member
United Kingdom
943 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2014 : 10:50:46 AM
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We are quite lucky - we have ours at home and have two friends that 'livery' with us for a small nominal fee. We all help each other out - if someone is going away, be it on holiday or for an overnight show, then the others muck in to do the horses that are left (mum and i have three between us, the other ladies one each). It seems to work out well most of the time.
If there was ever a problem, i would get a 'horse sitter' or another friend in to do them. I know a few in our area how i would trust implicitly, and they would probably look after mine at least as well if not better than i do!
Its a real worry when you go away - you shouldnt have to forego a holiday just because you can't get help at home, but it isnt much of a break if you're worrying about them. Her attitude sounds appalling and i'm afraid i'd struggle not to have words! |
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LIV
Gold Member
England
705 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2014 : 1:36:06 PM
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I went away for 5 days last week and arranged for someone to come in and help my mum as it left her with 5 to do. The main reason for her coming in was to lead my gelding in hand twice daily as he's recovering from surgery and is on box rest with an exercise plan so the night before I just posted the instructions through her door and then got a message on FB to say that she had forgotten and her grandad had been taken ill so now had to take care of her gran..............and wasn't going to be able to come at all!
I was so angry that I didn't bother replying and won't ask her again. The thing that really annoyed me was that I had someone else lined up but she contacted me and said that if I ever needed any help then she would be happy to do it so I didn't pursue it with the other girl. 8.00pm the night before I go away is just too late to start asking other people and I didn't want to make anyone feel like they had to do it. My poor gelding didn't get much in hand exercise as he's too much for my mum.
People are just so unreliable. I think if I go away again then I'd look to put them in holiday livery with someone I could trust. x |
     
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pinkvboots
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3290 Posts |
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glo
Gold Member
England
1297 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2014 : 5:26:20 PM
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I would pay her, just to keep the peace, you had a good holiday and did not worry about the horses when you where away, just don't use her again! There are lots of pet sitters and I am sure you will find a good reliable person to look after your horses the way you do.
Do be realistic on how much you pay, I pay £50 a day for my horses to be looked after how I would do them, thats about 2/3 hours a day at most, |
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Edited by - glo on 19 Aug 2014 5:27:16 PM |
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Nichole Waller
Gold Member
England
1168 Posts |
Posted - 19 Aug 2014 : 10:54:10 PM
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| I'd still have him Liz, I've got spare fields so he wouldn't have to share with anyone else.. Would just have to ask my yard owners permission to have them with me for a week or two. I have winter fields that rest all summer that I could use for a few weeks and if it's during winter time then could use my summer fields. Just give me a call and we can work something out. Xx |
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pinkvboots
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3290 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2014 : 09:05:08 AM
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| Thank you Nichole I am not planning on going away until next year now so I will see you before then and we can talk about it x I do get my friend whos pony is on livery with me to do them most of the time but we all went on holiday together. |
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Horses and going on Holiday
