A yard issue-opinions welcome

skint1

skint1

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Our gelding shares a long, narrow field with 2 other geldings, one a pony. The pony's owner wanted to build a fat pen for him, which is totally understandable and have no problem with it, but what she has done is basically just run a line from one fence to another through the bottom third of the field, and then another line at the bottom near the gate as that was quite muddy and needs a rest (again, no problem with that either)

So now, to get our horse out of the field we have to open the first line, walk through the pen with her pony in it, open the second line and then open the gate. We have no problem with the line by the gate as the field did get poached there and needs to recover.

My daughter wants her to reconfigure the pen so that its self contained within the field but the livery thinks my daughter is just being a cow and won't do it.


My daughter is going to go to the YM to ask for a resolution but I am worried this is going to lead to a lot of trouble for us and we may even have to leave the yard, or get thrown out for being trouble makers or something.

Relevant background info:
My daughter and the pony's owner do not like each other anyway. The other livery in the field is on the side of the pony's owner. I am trying to be neutral because I ride out with the other liveries a lot and thought of them as friends but tbh I think on this occasion it would be best in the longer run to reconfigure the fence, not least because if her pony escapes she will get really stroppy. I think the pony owner is allowing her dislike of my daughter cloud her judgement.

We have been there over 4 years and have until recently been happy, the pony livery has been there less than a year but the other livery in the field has been there for 10 years and is family friends with the YO. I pay my rent on time, and obey the rules as best I can and whilst I have a polite acquaintance with the YO and YM I couldn't say we were friends.


So, I am asking- are we being unreasonable in asking for the fence to be reconfigured?

Sorry its so long!
 
Given the setup you describe I would have expected the pony paddock to be a section across the far end of the field so that it doesn't incovenience the other liveries. At least that is what i would have done if I'd been the pony owner.
 
PaddyMonty said:
Given the setup you describe I would have expected the pony paddock to be a section across the far end of the field so that it doesn't incovenience the other liveries. At least that is what i would have done if I'd been the pony owner.
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This.

Another situation where the the YM needs to actually do their job......
 
I suggested that a while ago. Pony owner doesn't fancy trying to walk all up the field with reluctant pony and put him in the pen and the grazing is a lot better at the far end than it is near the gate.

His owner is easily upset, if he gets out I think that will lead to extra trouble too
 
Why can't she put the fat pen at the furthest from the gate so only she has to go through the pen to exit.. Maybe she had not thought of that way and needs bit of advice from YO/YM
 
I agree it would be logical to have the pen contained or down the far end of the field

However if the pony doesn't cause you any hassle when leading your horse through I think I would probably let it go. We waste more time in a day than it takes to drop an electric strand and walk a horse through a gateway

Ask yourself if it is worth making a fuss or whether your daughter is just objecting on principle
 
Good point WelshD, I am trying to take that into account too, I feel that both sides are pretty much objecting on principle.

Personally, when the pony owner told me what she was going to do I wasn't entirely happy but I weighed it up in my head and thought I would take the path of least resistance and just live with it. In the last year we've had a couple of new liveries who are all very strong willed so I have been doing a lot of this. I am worn out by the stress of the rest of my life and the yard is pretty much my main social outlet, but my daughter is not so amenable.
 
PaddyMonty said:
Given the setup you describe I would have expected the pony paddock to be a section across the far end of the field so that it doesn't incovenience the other liveries. At least that is what i would have done if I'd been the pony owner.
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This. Plus I think that electric gates are unsafe if you have more than one horse involved. It's so easy for a horse or handler to get an accidental zap whilst trying to prevent the loose horse(s)coming through at the same time.

If it was a conventional solid non electrified gate, I would be a bit more relaxed about it.
 
That is the problem; once they start throwing their weight around they decide they can take over the yard and bully the rest of the liveries. Funnily enough it is always the ones who spend hours drinking cups of tea and never riding their horses which cause the problems ime. Just be careful that she doesn't try to gang up with the other against you I.e. You are the only one with a problem. If you are going to go to the YM then make sure the other livery goes with you and says she is not happy too.
 
WelshD said:
I agree it would be logical to have the pen contained or down the far end of the field

However if the pony doesn't cause you any hassle when leading your horse through I think I would probably let it go. We waste more time in a day than it takes to drop an electric strand and walk a horse through a gateway

Ask yourself if it is worth making a fuss or whether your daughter is just objecting on principle
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God welsh d, you're on fire today.... Another post saying what I wanted to say but far more eloquently.
 
I am with your daughter I would not want to lead my horse through a pen with another horse in .
YO should have sorted it in advance and needs to sort it now.
 
I wouldn't really mind, as others have said, there are much worse wastes of time to deal with! Buuuut - I think the livery is a bit silly not to make a separate pen just to make everyone's lives easier.

Neither your daughter or the other livery are really to blame for feeling the way they do about this, but the YO/YM should have known straight away that this would be more of a nuisance than it needs to be, and set up a self contained pen from the outset. The clue is in the word 'manager'.
 
CBAnglo said:
That is the problem; once they start throwing their weight around they decide they can take over the yard and bully the rest of the liveries. Funnily enough it is always the ones who spend hours drinking cups of tea and never riding their horses which cause the problems ime. Just be careful that she doesn't try to gang up with the other against you I.e. You are the only one with a problem. If you are going to go to the YM then make sure the other livery goes with you and says she is not happy too.
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To be fair to pony owner she is a very regular rider and has extremely high standards which are hard to live up to.

The other livery will not back us up, she is understandably trying to stay neutral as she can but I think she's of the view the problem is my daughter's attitude to the pony owner, not the fencing. My view is that the problem is their mutual loathing of each other of which the fencing is but one symptom.
 
skint1 said:
To be fair to pony owner she is a very regular rider and has extremely high standards which are hard to live up to.

The other livery will not back us up, she is understandably trying to stay neutral as she can but I think she's of the view the problem is my daughter's attitude to the pony owner, not the fencing. My view is that the problem is their mutual loathing of each other of which the fencing is but one symptom.
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Good luck mum !!!
 
lol thanks! I think I am gonna need it :D

And thanks to everyone for their responses, I do hope it can be sorted. We have a lot of autonomy on this yard, if the YM is having to break up petty squabbles they may instigate a few more rules and that won't be good for anyone
 
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It's a hard balance more rules ( and management ) usually equals less squabbles .
How old is your daughter and the other lady .
 
I think I would try to talk your daughter into leaving things be for now with the proviso that, if the pony starts causing issues, the location of the pen will be reviewed.

I'd then present that solution to the other livery, explaining that your main concern is her pony escaping, and also get the YO involved.
 
Is there any way you can get the two of them to address the underlying issues they have with each other? Maybe arrange an opportunity to get them both together over a coffee and see if they can resolve their differences by talking everything through calmly and keeping it light if you can. It sounds like a nice yard for you and it would be a shame to have to move because of this.
 
I'd accidently let the pony out, when getting yours in. It will make a point and hopefully she move the fat pen to the other end,
 
Goldenstar said:
It's a hard balance more rules ( and management ) usually equals less squabbles .
How old is your daughter and the other lady .
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My daughter in early 20s, other lady early 40s (similar age to me)

madlady said:
I think I would try to talk your daughter into leaving things be for now with the proviso that, if the pony starts causing issues, the location of the pen will be reviewed.

I'd then present that solution to the other livery, explaining that your main concern is her pony escaping, and also get the YO involved.
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This is what I hope to do!. .
The other thing I considered was swapping daughter's gelding into field with my mare-pony owner has a pony mare in with my mare, I thought a straight swap would solve all the other issues too but no one wants to mix the mares and geldings up so that went in the bin
 
WandaMare said:
Is there any way you can get the two of them to address the underlying issues they have with each other? Maybe arrange an opportunity to get them both together over a coffee and see if they can resolve their differences by talking everything through calmly and keeping it light if you can. It sounds like a nice yard for you and it would be a shame to have to move because of this.
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Locking them both in a tack room has occurred to me :)

The Polo Bear said:
I'd accidently let the pony out, when getting yours in. It will make a point and hopefully she move the fat pen to the other end,
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I couldn't do that, would feel too guilty!
 
skint1 said:
I suggested that a while ago. Pony owner doesn't fancy trying to walk all up the field with reluctant pony and put him in the pen and the grazing is a lot better at the far end than it is near the gate.
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skint1 said:
To be fair to pony owner she is a very regular rider and has extremely high standards which are hard to live up to.

The other livery will not back us up, she is understandably trying to stay neutral as she can but I think she's of the view the problem is my daughter's attitude to the pony owner, not the fencing. My view is that the problem is their mutual loathing of each other of which the fencing is but one symptom.
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From these posts, it sounds like the fat paddock is already in the best place for it, the place with the least grass, and tbh attaching it to the actual fencing may also make it sturdier (not sure as have no idea of what it is actually like!). As you say the pony in question isn't causing any bother then really I'd just crack on with life. Obviously if the pony or your daughter's horse were kicking off or if the fencing were unsafe, then it would need to be addressed - perhaps by one of you moving to a different paddock entirely. But if not well pony owner is simply trying to manage their animal properly, and probably very concerned about risk of laminitis, so I'd understand and make allowances.

As others have said, it's really up to the YM to sort out. But tbh you sound as if you feel it is down to your daughter and this other livery not getting along. So if you can't just move to another field then can you encourage your daughter to be reasonable? Or if she is still a teenager/child, then just pull rank as the parent and tell her to do so - does that still work with young people? I'm speaking as someone who has zero parenting experience btw. But I have experienced a similar type of field division, and it honestly wasn't an issue for anyone involved. Yes, whoever is at the far end has to walk further, and the tape adds a few seconds to bringing in, but you get on with it. Good practice for gates at least.

Sadly there will always be people who don't get along. It sucks to be them, but it sucks more to be the people who get dragged into it. I feel rather sorry for the third owner involved - it's nothing to do with them, of course they want to stay neutral!

ETA Ok, so your daughter is early twenties. Leave her to it. Your only other option would be to have your mare and your daughter's gelding in together, if that would be allowed?

Ah, just read back, that doesn't suit either. Hmm. Honestly? Ignore the lot of them and buy yourself a huge bar of dairy milk. Life is too short, you have tried your best. Step back, and remain neutral. And hand anyone who moans a wheelbarrow and a demand for poo picking :)
 
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Surely the pony owner could leave a walkway at one side of the pen for the OP to pass? However, I would probably not be saying anything unless it actually causes you a problem to walk through the pen. From what I can see, the only problem is actually a short time delay when you have to open and close the fence to go through.
 
Wagtail, that's exactly what I was about to suggest. Could the fat paddock stay where it is and to avoid leading another horse through it, make a channel down the side where it joins the main fence, that way, fat paddock stays secure and pony has no chance to escape.
 
Can't they put a narrow walkway alongside the fence so you dont have to both going through the ponies part at all. You'd need a gate across the "bottom" so that your equine doesn't go in the narrow part and cause mayhem..

The offset would be to let her move the line a little further down your field so no grazing space lost for her pony...
 
Pony owner is suiting herself and not considering your POV enough. IIWY, I'd say, "You want the pen up the easy, gate end of the field not at the bottom, fine, but you'll have to fence two sides of a square and leave a wide channel for ours to walk through." This is assuming her pony is a pita to get past but if it isn't and stays out of the way then, again IIWY, I'd say nowt and just go through the pen, there's no problem there worth a drama.
 
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