AIBU?

You are not being unreasonable. I'd be incensed. In fact, this did happen to me once, but I only found out after I'd already left the yard in question. I do remember yelling a lot, and have never spoken to the person since I found out.

Your YO has a duty of care to your horse. Even if your horse did not have the history it has, even if your horse were in full work......whatever.....it is NOT ON for anyone to ride it EVER without your EXPRESS permission. Nobody should be as much as giving your horse a piece of carrot without your permission.

You really should take this up with your YO, forcefully. And leave.
 
Given that you have a stallion, and it will be difficult to move as a result, I guess you will have to be reasonable with the YO. This is a shame, as personally I would like to be giving her a fairly lengthy piece of my mind.
I would however talk to my vet to see if/what damage is likely to have been caused.
I would then also have a serious chat with said rider, probably in front of the entire yard, making her, and everyone else aware of the fact that under no circumstances is anyone to ever sit on one of your horses without permission. I would point out that you will expect her to pay for any damage to the horse, and that next time she won't get off so lightly. This is why I'm glad my horses aren't good with strangers.
 
I don't understand this... She helped herself to your horse? How on earth did she get away with doing that? Didn't anyone see her do it? And why hasn't your YO owner kicked her out? I find it really hard to get my head round this. Move asap - you don't need idiots like that near your horses!
 
Its interesting it's been passed off as a misunderstanding. Seeing as your YO bent over backwards to sort facilities for your stallion and stood by you while some on the yard went up in arms about him and didn't want him to be turned out I have to say your YO doesn't seem overly unreasonable. Maybe look hard and long at the situation before jumping the gun?

You don't seem to be as enraged in your first post as you have after others got enraged on your behalf

I would personally approach the YO and ask how they saw it as a misunderstanding (though I suspect you know that) and seek reassurances that it is made clear to everyone that riding someone else's horse won't be tolerated and if anyone sees anyone riding someone's horse they need to say something
 
WelshD said:
Its interesting it's been passed off as a misunderstanding. Seeing as your YO bent over backwards to sort facilities for your stallion and stood by you while some on the yard went up in arms about him and didn't want him to be turned out I have to say your YO doesn't seem overly unreasonable. Maybe look hard and long at the situation before jumping the gun?

You don't seem to be as enraged in your first post as you have after others got enraged on your behalf

I would personally approach the YO and ask how they saw it as a misunderstanding (though I suspect you know that) and seek reassurances that it is made clear to everyone that riding someone else's horse won't be tolerated and if anyone sees anyone riding someone's horse they need to say something
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This.

Yes I would be spitting bricks, but a 'misunderstanding' is a bit of a weird thing to say. I think I'd want to know more. Was it a work rider who was directed to the wrong horse? Or someone who has ridden/been given permission to do things with the horse before? Or are you on full livery which includes exercise?
 
This only happened to me once when i was a child, i was unsure of this girl who was mouthy and i was a bit scared of her. The pony had lost a front shoe and id not ridden him because of this, when i went along i saw he was missing from the field and when i found out she had him i went looking for her, she had decided to take him a hack :mad::mad:i couldnt find her and i remember crying i was so worried about him and had to wait till she got back, i put him in the stable and checked he was ok, i still remember his wee hot foot. I was 11yo and had to be dragged off of the girl after laying into her like a rabid demon and removing some hair ( hers may i add ) i made my feelings on the situation quite clear.
While i would never advocate such action as an adult, or child for that matter, i was so incensed it "just happened " im sure its whats described as the red mist decending, she never went near said pony or my stuff again.
I feel for you op my incident was over 40 yrs ago and i remember it as if it were yesterday, i hope your horse is ok.
These days Id go with the poster who advised having the horse checked by the vet with a letter re the damage that could be done through her actions and bill it to the girl, also if youre a BHS gold member speak to someone on their legal helpline.
 
You need to move yards - she knows she can get away with it. Just locking your tack away won't do it I'm afraid
If she has put back your horse's recovery I would be sending her the bill for any subsequent consequential vet /physio call outs. .
You most certainly are not being unreasonable. Your horse is not a hireling!
I do wonder what goes through the heads of people like this. The short answer is not much!
 
Huge note on horses door and yard notice board if you have one, letting everyone know this horse is NOT to be ridden by anyone other than yourself. Is the horse on a yard where its working livery/schooling livery? I don't understand why the YO would be fine with what happened?
 
paddi22 said:
What is the general opinion of the person who rode your horse at the yard? Is she regarded in high esteem or do people think shes a fool?

Its just sometimes a person can get a lot of sway/power at a yard and can set a very strong atmosphere. It's amazing then when the person leaves how a yard can change in atmosphere almost overnight!

I've seen people at yard 'normalise' bad behaviour because they are strong personalities and people are afraid to pull them up on it. They always counter by accusing any others as being overdramatic and over reacting.
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I think this point is worth considering, and one I have seen in action for myself at various times in various places. If the offender is held in high regard by the YO their offense can be looked at in a very different way than if it were someone who is not. That is the essence of Yard Politics. Sad but true.

If you really like everything else about the yard you could try to get past this, maybe getting a lockable tack box, but then I guess you run the risk that they might put other tack on your horse, hope you manage to resolve it soon!
 
Without wishing to be horrid - how do you know this wasn't a set up to get you kicked off the yard. I apologise if I am wrong, but the yard does seam to have had several issues with your stallion since you moved on - and this could be why the YO is behaving in the way they are. Hoping that this would cause you to cause a row... so then move you off ?

I am not saying what has been done to your horse is anywhere near right - if it were me -then the police would have been called already as I would have committed a serious injury.
 
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