A bit of a dilemma

[EllenJay]

My current riding horse is on full livery - and up until lockdown I was really happy with his care. But in recent months due to lack of staff the care had gone down. I understand that the YO is suffering, but the horse care had seriously gone down. Normally I wouldn't have an issue about moving him, but my house is up for sale and I will be moving out of the area. So would you move him to a yard that can give the care you need, knowing that you will be moving again within 6 months, or would you leave him where he is, and put up and shut up.
Is it better to unsettle him twice?

I just don't know what to do

ETA - my boy is happy - I'm not

 

[HappyHollyDays]

As long as the standard of care does not compromise his safety then I would leave him there and personally I would help out if the yard are short staffed. I realise that’s not feasible for those that work long hours but even filling hay nets or scrubbing out water buckets at the weekend is helpful.

 

[ycbm]

How bad are the problems?
.

 

[EllenJay]

As long as the standard of care does not compromise his safety then I would leave him there and personally I would help out if the yard are short staffed. I realise that’s not feasible for those that work long hours but even filling hay nets or scrubbing out water buckets at the weekend is helpful.

I work full time - on average a 11 hour day including travel. I am paying full livery rates which are not cheap. If the costs were halfed would be happy to "help out". My issue is that I ask for him to be brought in during the day and am told "I don't have the staff". I asked them to hold for the vet (who visits weekly) for a minor issue, and they forgot. They haven't mucked him out for 3 months - I have and felt like a thief for taking a shavings bale.

Headcollars go missing, sunscreen isn't applied, not convinced his supplements are being fed. I have lost all confidence in the service I am receiving. But as I say - he is happy and not suffering.

 

[Trouper]

He is not suffering - yet. If he is not getting the diet he needs or veterinary attention or being kept clean in his stable then they are not providing the service for which you are paying. "No time" is not an excuse. I, too, would hesitate to involve a double move for him but I would be having a serious conversation with the YO.

 

[fabbydo]

Move. Sunscreen is important. So is mucking out! That's a big list of issues you gave.

 

[AmyMay]

I’d absolutely move.

 

[little_critter]

Why is there a lack of staff? Are the staff shielding?

 

[Upthecreek]

Why is there a lack of staff? It’s not right that you are paying the same amount for a lesser service than you received previously and I think you need to have this discussion with the YO. Either she takes action to ensure your horse receives the standard of care he received previously or she reduces your livery bill so you can pay a freelancer to do certain tasks or you move him. If your horse is the type that doesn’t get too unsettled by moving I’d be off as there isn’t really any excuse for not mucking out properly or not applying sunscreen.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I work full time - on average a 11 hour day including travel. I am paying full livery rates which are not cheap. If the costs were halfed would be happy to "help out". My issue is that I ask for him to be brought in during the day and am told "I don't have the staff". I asked them to hold for the vet (who visits weekly) for a minor issue, and they forgot. They haven't mucked him out for 3 months - I have and felt like a thief for taking a shavings bale.

Headcollars go missing, sunscreen isn't applied, not convinced his supplements are being fed. I have lost all confidence in the service I am receiving. But as I say - he is happy and not suffering.

Ok now you have filled in the gaps as to what is going on I wouldn’t be happy with the service either. If you have really lost confidence in them a discussion with the YO is needed, if things improve stick it out until you move, if not give notice.

 

[Sail_away]

How easily does he settle? I wouldn’t hesitate to move personally, but my horse settles immediately, he’s never stressy at a new place. If he’s going to take a couple months to settle then I’d be tempted to stay - or at least weigh up the benefits of moving against the stress it would cause him.

 

[EllenJay]

How easily does he settle? I wouldn’t hesitate to move personally, but my horse settles immediately, he’s never stressy at a new place. If he’s going to take a couple months to settle then I’d be tempted to stay - or at least weigh up the benefits of moving against the stress it would cause him.

I'm not sure about how quickly he settles. I got him as an older boy - owned for about 2 years, and when I got him moved him about 2 miles from his previous home. He settled within 6 months

 

[EllenJay]

Why is there a lack of staff? It’s not right that you are paying the same amount for a lesser service than you received previously and I think you need to have this discussion with the YO. Either she takes action to ensure your horse receives the standard of care he received previously or she reduces your livery bill so you can pay a freelancer to do certain tasks or you move him. If your horse is the type that doesn’t get too unsettled by moving I’d be off as there isn’t really any excuse for not mucking out properly or not applying sunscreen.

Sorry - missed this earlier. Lack of staff is down to Covid. It's a livery yard plus riding school. The liveries pay the staff, the riding school is the icing. But YO seems to have forgotten that and is spending her time on rebuilding the RS. I do feel for her, and was happy to subside her for a while.

I think that the decision had been made after writing this - I need to move.
Thanks everyone xx

 

[HeyMich]

Ask her to drop the cost of livery, significantly, and get in a freelancer to cover the basics until you move. Or just move to another yard. You can't go on like this, you are right that something has to change.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

TBH, if the horse is happy, I would be re-evaluating what his requirements actually are - but I certainly wouldn't pay for services that I am not getting.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Sorry - missed this earlier. Lack of staff is down to Covid. It's a livery yard plus riding school. The liveries pay the staff, the riding school is the icing. But YO seems to have forgotten that and is spending her time on rebuilding the RS. I do feel for her, and was happy to subside her for a while.

I think that the decision had been made after writing this - I need to move.
Thanks everyone xx

Well mucking out is a basic daily need so if they are not doing it wouldn't be paying for it, I would do it myself so it's clean then pay someone else to do it, sorry but they should have said they can't do full livery at the moment or maybe employ some more staff.

 

[Gingerwitch]

Hi EJ, as someone who has moved around the country on several occasions is it possible you can move him to where your going to only move him the once. It will be heart breaking for you to have to leave him where he is come autumn and winter if you are a few hours away. It's pretty difficult to move house, job and horse all at the same time although I must be stupid as considering this again in the next couple of years.

Other than that I would definitely move it even sounds like he is coping on grass livery, but at full livery rates, so perhaps you have more options than you think.
Good luck x

 

[EllenJay]

Just a quick update on this. I am moving yards tomorrow - really can't wait. Current YO has really shown her true colours - the last 3 weeks have been hell! I will really miss the staff (they are lovely, but don't have any management) and other liveries, but very excited about our new home