Cowpony
Well-Known Member
Just after some views as to whether I'm in the wrong here, and if not how to respond. Sorry, it's got very long! Red wine for all those who get to the end!
Some background: I have two horses on a livery yard. We have single sex herd turnout. There are probably 10 mares in a fairly large field. The gate is in a corner, so hedge at right angles to the gate on one side. That makes it difficult to get horses out when others are near the gate, because they can't move away in one direction. Gate can't be moved due to trees, and the yard wouldn't do it anyway. Gate opens inward, which also makes things difficult.
One of the ponies, let's call her baymare, has always come to the gate when others are being taken out. She's never caused any problems, but will NOT move away when you ask her to. She just stands and is oblivious to any request to move, unless you can get close enough to push her physically.
Recently the horses have all changed from 24/7 turnout to having to be in overnight. In theory we can leave them out until 6pm, but we have to bring them in down a road, so most of us try to get them in during daylight, which is about 4pm currently.
Last week one of mine was kicked by baymare while being brought in by the yard. She was fine, but it was clearly bad enough for the yard to tell me.
Yesterday baymare's owners didn't go to get her in until 5pm. Another horse was out too, which was being brought in by the yard staff, so the yard brought baymare in at the same time. Prior to that another livery had got her horse in and commented on the yard chat that baymare was very unhappy about being left out while others were coming in. Subtext she's at the gate and being a pain!
Today I went to get my two in. Baymare wandered to the gate with us, but stopped short and wasn't interfering with me getting them out. Just as I was opening the gate baymare raced backwards towards me and my horses, kicking out quite aggressively. Luckily none of us were hurt, but I had to let one go, complete with leadrope, as she pulled back to get away. Again, luckily, she didn't run off, so I took the one I had hold of out, tied her up and went back in for the other. It could have been so much worse.
Once back at the yard a message arrived in the chat saying baymares owners would be up at 5pm. By this time she was once again the last out, with one other for company. The others who had caught in after me had their OHs with them, who were able to push baymare out of the way while the liveries took their horses through the gate.
I asked politely whether it would be possible for baymare to be brought in earlier in future, either by owners or the yard, as she is clearly very unhappy about being left til last, and it's getting dangerous. I put it on the yard chat because I thought it was important that others should know to be careful. Also, many people only bring one in, and would happily bring baymare in with theirs if asked.
Baymare's owner has expressed relief that none of us were hurt, but is clearly not going to get the pony in any earlier, and has suggested we talk about it next time I'm up there. I'm rarely there at the same time as them. They have also said they understand the process is new to all of us (I've been bringing horses in from these fields for 12 years and never had an issue like this before) and described where baymare's stable is. I know exactly where it is and they know that I know, so I feel this is a snide way of saying maybe I should have spoken to them rather than putting it on the chat. The earliest I may be there at the same time as them is Friday.
There's so much I want to say to them, but in essence it's "we don't need to chat, just keep everybody safe by getting your unhappy pony in earlier!" But I don't want to cause a row. In general it's a lovely friendly yard and most of us help each other when we can. But I'm fuming! Not about the pony. It's just horses being horses. But about the owner's complete disregard for others' safety. And that they once again left her out until 5pm having been told that she was unhappy the day before.
So what do I say to them? And how?
Some background: I have two horses on a livery yard. We have single sex herd turnout. There are probably 10 mares in a fairly large field. The gate is in a corner, so hedge at right angles to the gate on one side. That makes it difficult to get horses out when others are near the gate, because they can't move away in one direction. Gate can't be moved due to trees, and the yard wouldn't do it anyway. Gate opens inward, which also makes things difficult.
One of the ponies, let's call her baymare, has always come to the gate when others are being taken out. She's never caused any problems, but will NOT move away when you ask her to. She just stands and is oblivious to any request to move, unless you can get close enough to push her physically.
Recently the horses have all changed from 24/7 turnout to having to be in overnight. In theory we can leave them out until 6pm, but we have to bring them in down a road, so most of us try to get them in during daylight, which is about 4pm currently.
Last week one of mine was kicked by baymare while being brought in by the yard. She was fine, but it was clearly bad enough for the yard to tell me.
Yesterday baymare's owners didn't go to get her in until 5pm. Another horse was out too, which was being brought in by the yard staff, so the yard brought baymare in at the same time. Prior to that another livery had got her horse in and commented on the yard chat that baymare was very unhappy about being left out while others were coming in. Subtext she's at the gate and being a pain!
Today I went to get my two in. Baymare wandered to the gate with us, but stopped short and wasn't interfering with me getting them out. Just as I was opening the gate baymare raced backwards towards me and my horses, kicking out quite aggressively. Luckily none of us were hurt, but I had to let one go, complete with leadrope, as she pulled back to get away. Again, luckily, she didn't run off, so I took the one I had hold of out, tied her up and went back in for the other. It could have been so much worse.
Once back at the yard a message arrived in the chat saying baymares owners would be up at 5pm. By this time she was once again the last out, with one other for company. The others who had caught in after me had their OHs with them, who were able to push baymare out of the way while the liveries took their horses through the gate.
I asked politely whether it would be possible for baymare to be brought in earlier in future, either by owners or the yard, as she is clearly very unhappy about being left til last, and it's getting dangerous. I put it on the yard chat because I thought it was important that others should know to be careful. Also, many people only bring one in, and would happily bring baymare in with theirs if asked.
Baymare's owner has expressed relief that none of us were hurt, but is clearly not going to get the pony in any earlier, and has suggested we talk about it next time I'm up there. I'm rarely there at the same time as them. They have also said they understand the process is new to all of us (I've been bringing horses in from these fields for 12 years and never had an issue like this before) and described where baymare's stable is. I know exactly where it is and they know that I know, so I feel this is a snide way of saying maybe I should have spoken to them rather than putting it on the chat. The earliest I may be there at the same time as them is Friday.
There's so much I want to say to them, but in essence it's "we don't need to chat, just keep everybody safe by getting your unhappy pony in earlier!" But I don't want to cause a row. In general it's a lovely friendly yard and most of us help each other when we can. But I'm fuming! Not about the pony. It's just horses being horses. But about the owner's complete disregard for others' safety. And that they once again left her out until 5pm having been told that she was unhappy the day before.
So what do I say to them? And how?
An agreement does need to be made but it needs IMHO to be dealt solely by the YM and BM owner, not by other 'fuming' liveries posting 'sub-text-y' messages on their group chat. Sounds like a drama waiting to happen!
