A little rant about livery yard rants!

[marmalade76]

How often do you read on here about folks complaining about livery yards?

People seem to expect upto date, top of the range facilities which are maintained to perfection, well maintained grazing (but without the associated machinery left 'lying around'), either to themselves or with a constant companion provided, unlimited use of water and leccy, somewhere pothole-free to park their cars/lorries/trailers, secure tack rooms, CCTV, strict H&S, etc, etc and then expect to pay next to nothing for it all!

Now, if there weren't people willing to rent out their land and yards to horse owners, most of us would not be able to keep horses at all! We ought to be bloody grateful! What with all the stick they get, I am surprised that anyone would allow liveries on their yards at all!

 

[Ali27]

Completely agree with you! I love my yard and totally appreciate everything that yard owner does! I have to say that it seems that sometimes people just like to have a moan for the sake of it!

 

[SuperCoblet]

Well said!
I'm lucky enough to have my own paddock with a stable and barn which I can do what I wish with it without people complaining about it

 

[Trish C]

Totally true

I absolutely adore our yard, the YO and YM (and most of the other liveries ), they are incredibly genuine, unendingly generous and go so far beyond the call of duty to help people out and make everyone feel welcome. Yes there are things that in my ideal world I would improve, but not too many. And that's the point - it's MY ideal world, so unless it was me building the yard just for my own purposes, why should any place be everything I absolutely desire and dream about?! I would never complain about the facilities/set-up to the YO/YM because they do so much for me (for so little money!) and Monty, and any complaints I could have would just be petty and selfish

I will cry my eyes out and miss them like mad when I have to leave in August!

 

[skydancer]

to be fair tho - people are usuallly complaining about the PEOPLE on said liveries

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

I am surprised that anyone would allow liveries on their yards at all!

I gave up in the end.... have 4 empty stables, happy own Fuzzy's, better looking paddocks, happier other half - and every time I go to the yard its just how I left it

The producing/show/breaking liveries were fine, it was the DIY's who wanted everything for nothing - and dont get me started on the 'can you just do me a favour' or 'can I just borrow hay/feed/tools/tack' comments......

Would only ever do short term accom in the future for people who are stuck for a few weeks.

 

[darkhorse123]

I so agree with this - i really appreciate my horse has a fabulous place to live wiht kind caring yos who look aftert his field and stable - as op said, if they didnt do this where would my horse live?
Must be so difficult having people coming and going on your property at any time of the day, any day of the year - i knnow we are paying customers but in reality its not so much when you think of the inconvenience we must sometimes cause and yet they always are friendly, helpful and help to keep your horses grazing and stables up to scratch

 

[quirky]

Hear, hear!

If things are as bad as that, then vote with your feet!

The livery yard I am on is fab, by far the best I have been on and still some liveries moan and in not a polite manner either .

 

[Chavhorse]

Totally agree OP my YO's work very hard to provide excellent facilities.

Every morning at 8am YO sprays down and then flattens both the arena and round pens so they are ready for people to ride in at 9am. THey will often do someone's stal and hay, and just say have it on us and take the spare time to spend with your horse.

They are both truly supportive and as such the liveries will just do things to save them the trouble, without being asked like haying up at lunchtime so they do not have to break off to do it.

This morning three of us decided that as it was going to be a nice evening today and it was hissing down when we were there that as riding was out of the question we would clean out the stalls and hay up for our YO's 4 horses so they could relax tonight and take advantage of a free evening.

This afternoon one of the other liveries texted me to say she had spent 20 mins cold hosing Vardi's knee and had applied the wound creme,this has saved me from going down again this afternoon.

When we are vacation we just put the dates on the board and everyone takes a turn at doing your horse whilst you are away.

We have never ever had anything go missing out of our communal tackroom, in fact if you leave something out someone will put it away for you.

No rants here I love my yard and have made 10 very good fiends into the bargain.

 

[marmalade76]

Must be so difficult having people coming and going on your property at any time of the day, any day of the year - i knnow we are paying customers but in reality its not so much when you think of the inconvenience we must sometimes cause.....

Exactly! Livery yards are often part of / next to the owner's home.

 

[MiCsarah]

I have been on many yards due to taking my pony to college and back home etc. I adore my yard at the moment. I hardly see anybody up there, no bitching, YO will do anything to help you out, we only have to mention something and the next day its done. Due to our field being at the back of their house, they go out and check the ponies all the time. Its brilliant, yes it has its down falls but for the price I pay you cant expect perfection

 

[missponymad]

im not being funny but the yard isnt the liveries so why should they be moaning about it, the yard was designed how the OWNERS wanted THEIR yard. its not the liveries job to tell them what it should be like. of course the yard owners would love helpfull critisism to improve the yard but not constant. some people should be luck to get the stables let alone a sandschool and amazing hacks and a horse walker. Rant Over xx

 

[dumpling]

I'm not fussed about the facilities, it's the people they're that can make it good or bad, and in my experience you can get a whole load of shitstirrers!

 

[Hollyloveponies]

OMG marmalade76 totally agree with you i livery my horses and there fien at teh yard it is a small livery yard with a small school just with bark surface in a grass school normal stables fields but awesoem hacking and teh only thing posh is cctv but other than that nothing posh only 80 a month which is amazing love my yard the owners are so chilled and only a few people there xx

 

[Ranyhyn]

I'm lucky with my current livery - I have had a few problems before but nothing out of hand. With horse moving home soon I will only have a friend on the yard with me if anything, can't decide if thats a good thing or not!!

 

[LaurenM]

To be honest I think the only complaints I've ever made is in regards to fellow liveries attitudes!

My new YM fixed the fence so fast I doubted myself that part of it was ever missing. I commend him for having to put up with us moaning women all the time!

 

[DragonSlayer]

We are extremely lucky to have our own place....no liveries now....was too much like hard work, and got fed up of the politics....very happy indeed.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

If all yards were like the ones you are talking about in this thread then there would be very little moaning by liveries. Unfortunately there are many yards out there who provide nothing or very little & charge through the nose for it. They don't honour their side of the contract. Where no repairs are done, where it is basically dangerous to keep your horses but they don't care all they want is your money.....been there but not any more.

Now on a fantastic yard where the YO takes a pride in her ownership & wants everything to be just right. It's very small, 5 horses & you & your horses are almost vetted before you can come. As a result no one ever leaves, it's a little piece of paradise.

 

[Cop-Pop]

I quite the moaning ones - they make me feel better about the shambles I livery my horses in

 

[Mince Pie]

T_Z I am on a similar yard, 3 horses and 2 owners (including me!). Utter bliss and I have said to the YO that she will have to drag me out kicking and screaming!

 

[Bedlam]

But there are some that seem to think that you should be eternally grateful that they allow you to pay over £500 a month for full livery. Afterall, they are allowing you to graze your sub standard animal in the crappy fields that their superduper amazing special horses have been on for a few months before but have now been moved off to better grazing. They are rather valuable you know.

And so what if we can't actually exercise your horse this week like we agreed? You still pay us because that's what you said you would do. You just don't understand that I needed to be away this week to perfect my shoulder fore with my mentor. If I get that sorted then it will benefit your dobbin too. So that's all OK then. What? He's been a bit lively when your daughter got on this weekend? It's got nothing to do with not being ridden all week but staying in on full rations and you not knowing - I suggest that I just teach your daughter how to ride. Am I qualified to teach? Does that matter? Oh - actually on paper your daughter is actually more qualified than me? But I've competed a few times at a higher level than her so just trust me why don't you?

I'm now very happy on another yard - but there are some out there that deserve the rants and the bad press.

 

[Chavhorse]

Now on a fantastic yard where the YO takes a pride in her ownership & wants everything to be just right. It's very small, 5 horses & you & your horses are almost vetted before you can come. As a result no one ever leaves, it's a little piece of paradise.

Our yard has a month trial period, if you don't fit in or are a pain in the backside or your horse is badly behaved and you were not prepared to listen to advice then it would be the "I really don't think this is going to work out" conversation and bye bye.

 

[Hullabaloo]

There are good yards and bad yards so I think some of the rants are justified. Fortunately mine is fab
When you keep a horse at livery you have to be prepared to compromise and fit in around the yard rules and work with the other liveries. It seems some people move to a yard then decide the rules don't apply to them and they should have different treatment. Then they get funny when the YO puts their foot down or the other liveries object.
On the other hand some yard owners forget that we are customers. While I appreciate we are using the YOs property and should respect that at all times, they are also happy to take our money so should provide the service they have promised.

I think the key to being a happy YO is to sift out the nutters, something my YO is very good at thankfully!

ETA - and the key to being a happy livery is to sift out the nutty YOs. I've been lucky with that so far

 

[tallyho!]

I never read them tbh. Can't stand yard moans... utterly boring... except I have just read this one. Doh!!!

To liveries: If you don't like it then move. Or if it's too expensive, take up knitting!

To Owners: If you can't maintain a safe, efficient establishment, don't run one. Don't promise what you can't deliver.

 

[AndiK]

TBH - I have had a rant on here about liveries not the yard!

I like to use HH forum for a little bit of escapism, advice, a good giggle and sometimes a bit of a rant. Sometimes all you want is to hear that people agree and are on your side and have a bit of a whine and you feel better

I like the rants sometimes because they too make me realise how lucky I am

IMO if you dont like the threads dont read them or comment on them, otherwise enjoy and try to console when it really is going tits up for the OP.

ps - love my new yard, the other liveries and the YO

 

[nuttynugget]

To be honest all the livery yard rants I have read have been about other people and how they use facilities rather than the facilities themselves... Unfortunately some people ruin the yards for others by bitching, thinking they know best etc.

Sometimes its a good outlet to discuss this with HHO members as you don't know them personally can't bitch to other people you know. Sometimes its handy to have some advice. If you keep moving every time someone does something to annoy you, you will be forever running!

My advice to OP: if you don't like them don't read them. There are plenty types of posts I don't like on her so I ignore them.

 

[marmalade76]

My advice to OP: if you don't like them don't read them. There are plenty types of posts I don't like on her so I ignore them.

I have no problem with people who really have something to moan about, but those who are moaning about something and nothing, like a few shavings in a water bucket and a few dropped gates really need to get real!

 

[Marydoll]

I love the yard im on,its well run and the folks are happy to help in any way they can. It took going through a couple of crappy places to get there though.
There are very few good yards out there tbh so spaces are limited.
I feel really sorry for folks stuck in crappy places where you worry about your horse more that enjoy them, and for whatever reason you cant move out right away. Ive known moaning liveries and **** yard managers, both usually go hand in hand

 

[aintgotnohay]

livery yards are bitches paradise-nearly always woman.always moaning about such and such livery.my ym is a nightmare always complaining but never acting on some liveries taking the p**s.one rule for one and one rule for somebody else.im not perfect but i always come down and do my ponies/empty MY wheelbarrow and shut gates etc.tbh i want to move.am fed up of bitch bitch bitch,kids,drunks and snide comments sometimes from others.

 

[Fantasy_World]

I would just say that if people are not happy with their yard then vote with your feet.
Personally I am sick of broken promises by yard owners.
Either promising to do something or to offer a service and then either not do it or else removing the service and leaving one well quite in the ****
Also yards that say they have no plans to expand and then do and make everything seem perfect for the new people ( ie can't do enough for them) whilst at the same time ignoring the needs of the liveries who were on the yard first.
Minor issues don't bother me really unless the costs are high.
Health and safety issues are obviously a different ball game though as is the provision of water and enough grass for the horses and safe and maintained fences.
I think they are the most important issues on any yard really.
Everything else is secondary unless the yard owner is charging a premium price for a service that is not being delivered.
Well done to those that have found the perfect yard. Can you offer some tips on finding one lol.
But anyway I am ranting however I agree with some of the other posters in that this forum does offer a platform in which to let off steam. I think a few of us in the horse world need this outlet. Yards and horses in general can be very stressful. Yes we may choose to have horses but we don't all choose the associated hassle that often comes with them when you are not lucky enough to be in the position of owning your own land and stables and therefore not needing to be pandering to the wishes of others.