Am I being unreasonable

I'd never run a livery yard. But as I'm currently on livery, I expect the following:

- Grass in summer
- Turnout in winter
- If its full livery, I like them to be on a settled routine, if its DIY livery I will only consider it if theres enough land to do it properly

Otherwise I'd be as well keeping them in my own garden.

And I can't be doing with my horses being brought in and out whenever it rains in summer. I was once at a yard where there was no turn out for 3 weeks one summer because it was wet and the fields were getting spoilt. Then it went dry and I went away for a weekend only to return to find that I was paying £125 a week for my horse to be on 24/7 turnout!

I've also been at yards where the horses are prone to galloping madly around, and I have a suspicion its do with their field companions and hence field dynamics constantly being changed.
 
I understand all of your comments honestly I do but when I have split the fields as the liveries have asked for 5 x 4 acre fields they dont want grazing together their are youngster running amock galloping around trashing the fields one fell over and I got told it was because it was too muddy and what was I going to do about it:eek: but he had been seen free lunging them in the field so the horses next door were running around aswell when I mentioned this he said I was lying so my dad is a liar eh. Ive had a chat to them tonight and I got told by two of the worst one being a man if I aint up to the job he'll do it sorry and your qualified how oh that's right cant even tack up properly or know when your horses has colic so he has been given notice after telling me to ******* off and get a professional in I judge I ride I compete I teach and have had worked on several large professinal stud yards just a few things then he came over to me and said he and this other cow that's with him have decided to give ME :eek:another chance so they got told to leave by 10am next Saturday oh and they will be billed for the gate they broke tonight. Most liveries have no idea at all running costs are in to thousands for rates, insurance, public liability, repairs, field management the list goes on so I told them if its so easy then you run a business and by the way while were at it I know youve been stealing the shavings your on CCTV from Thursday night !!!! Didnt know what to say to this. So definatley closing yard
 
topclass said:
I understand all of your comments honestly I do but when I have split the fields as the liveries have asked for 5 x 4 acre fields they dont want grazing together their are youngster running amock galloping around trashing the fields one fell over and I got told it was because it was too muddy and what was I going to do about it:eek: but he had been seen free lunging them in the field so the horses next door were running around aswell when I mentioned this he said I was lying so my dad is a liar eh. Ive had a chat to them tonight and I got told by two of the worst one being a man if I aint up to the job he'll do it sorry and your qualified how oh that's right cant even tack up properly or know when your horses has colic so he has been given notice after telling me to ******* off and get a professional in I judge I ride I compete I teach and have had worked on several large professinal stud yards just a few things then he came over to me and said he and this other cow that's with him have decided to give ME :eek:another chance so they got told to leave by 10am next Saturday oh and they will be billed for the gate they broke tonight. Most liveries have no idea at all running costs are in to thousands for rates, insurance, public liability, repairs, field management the list goes on so I told them if its so easy then you run a business and by the way while were at it I know youve been stealing the shavings your on CCTV from Thursday night !!!! Didnt know what to say to this. So definatley closing yard
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Sounds as though you may have been trying to please too many people...if there is one thing I have learnt...a livery yard doesn't work unless someone is truly 'in charge'.
 
Sounds like chaos op, and that your liveries male the rules not you. In which case you're in a loose, loose situation.
 
OP - if you want to make it work you need to do the following:

1. Arrange a meeting where all of your liveries have to attend
2. Start the meeting saying that they all need to agree collectively on how the fields can be managed according to need and what is possible.
3. Let them all put their ideas on the table.
4. During this process, remind them of the risks involved in any point they bring up
5. Encourage them to come to a compromise if they can't all agree
6. Make sure all decisions and final rules are written down
 
I wouldnt bother having a chat, theyd just be off for stealing and throwing their weight around, calling me a liar, and swearing at me. Thats already used up more chances than Id want to give.
I dont blame you OP, if you are closing.
 
Capriole said:
I wouldnt bother having a chat, theyd just be off for stealing and throwing their weight around, calling me a liar, and swearing at me. Thats already used up more chances than Id want to give.
I dont blame you OP, if you are closing.
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Me too! I've stopped liveries for personal reasons but when I did them, there was one clause in the agreement I would always include. That read that the agreement could be terminated by the YO at any time without notice and without any reason being given. In practice, I'd give reasonable notice but it was a powerful weapon and seldom needed.

Another thing is that when starting out you get everyone else's rubbish -- the owners that no one else wants and who can't get into another yard.Get rid of them over time and you are left with nice people.

Lay down the law plainly and simply, put it in writing and get it signed by both parties. If they don't like it, show them the door under the clause above.
 
Sounds like you have been having a nightmare with your liveries OP. I don't blame you for wanting to give up. However, it may be worth saying goodbye to your current ones and maybe just taking on a couple of new people, a fresh start with less people maybe? Not sure if the finances would stack up for you if you had less? Either way, good luck with it
 
I would get rid of all your liveries and start afresh, advertise for private livery with personal care under strict management, my friend has found a fabulous yard in devon, only 3 others, all get turnout in field for a few hours winter, no 24/7 turnout, all pay to keep a stables in summer but can have 24/7 turnout? works a treat for her!!!
 
I have just taken on a livery yard but I only have part and full liveries. They all have daily turn out. If it is very wet it is restricted but they will all have a leg stretch. I find individual turn out a nightmare as they pace the fence so I have two in one paddock with an electric fence between. This stops the pacing. I also a decent
 
they sound horrible liveries - I didn't think I would even want to be on a yard with them as another livery - I would throw them off and start a fresh, define the grazing how you want it, make sure you have clear rules as to the turnout and actually anything else you feel like having rules about and start afresh with similarly minded liveries - we do exist! :) in fact where are you..... :D;)
 
poor you chuck them all off have a well deserved holiday sit down and work out the rules that suit you and your yard in writing then try again why should you close your yard and buissness there just not the right people for your yard thats all have allways said would rather have a empty boxs then let the wrong liveries slip through the net and i have had a few in the past it upsets you and has a effect on the other liveries aswell
 
QUOTE Billie1007 'Oh and Patterdale, consider yourself on my 'hate' list as you have your own land I am just a mere livery'

It's my husbands farm - which is FAR FAR worse than being a livery........a YO likes horses and has to at least try and be polite about it.
He thinks they're a total waste of time and money and cause he's closer to me can tell me exactly what he thinks and be extremely rude about them :D

All I ever hear is broken fencing, churned up patches etc etc, and the current favourite 'that black sod keeps scratching his arse on the gates, I hope you're paying for a new one when they're all bent in two!'
Yawn.

My very very own land would be amazing haha!

:D
 
I've tried and consistently failed to make my own land work. So I have the upmost admiration for yard owners that can make it work. It's expensive, time consuming, hard work and barely offset by livery income in most cases I imagine.
Which is why a) we don't rent out our land/stables to anyone and b)why if I ever get another horse - I'll be on livery :D
 
amymay said:
20 acres is plenty to be able to sustain 8 horses with winter turnout during the day and 24/7 over the summer.

It's in your interest to maintain the land, so I'm suprised you change extra for this, and don't simply build the costs into your livery charges tbh.
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Exactly.

If the horses are trashing the land, perhaps they are unsettled and you need to consider more strategic placing of the horses? eg., a Tb up in a corner on its own next to liveries who always take their horses out every morning will trash a field, for example. A cob, next to horses who hardly ever come out of the field may not.
 
patterdale said:
QUOTE Billie1007 'Oh and Patterdale, consider yourself on my 'hate' list as you have your own land I am just a mere livery'

It's my husbands farm - which is FAR FAR worse than being a livery........a YO likes horses and has to at least try and be polite about it.
He thinks they're a total waste of time and money and cause he's closer to me can tell me exactly what he thinks and be extremely rude about them :D

All I ever hear is broken fencing, churned up patches etc etc, and the current favourite 'that black sod keeps scratching his arse on the gates, I hope you're paying for a new one when they're all bent in two!'
Yawn.

My very very own land would be amazing haha!

:D
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I'm with you on that. My OH resents the horses and the damage they do, I work for a livery yard as well and the YO is much nicer than my OH! (About horses anyway). Still, mine live out 24/7 all year round and the field is fine, in fact its too lush at the moment and it never getsa fertilised.
 
Running a livery yard !!!!!!
Been there done that, and still have the scars.
Get out while you still have the will to live is my advice.
If you have to much land for your own use, pal up with a local farmer with sheep. They are great for the land and are his responsibility. Ours grazes his sheep 3/4 of the year at no charge. Then we grow it for hay and he makes it for us at no charge. We have enough grazing and hay in the winter for our horses, he has plenty of grazing for his sheep. Win win win all round and no agro
 
Well the situation is now resolved after being taken to one side yesterday afternoon by tow of the liveries including he guy with the gear and no feckin idea and I got told to buck my ideas up if i know whats good for me and they will run my yard as they see fit :eek: So ladies and gentlemen by 9pm last night every single liveries was off my premises and i dont care about the screaming and yelling I will be abused verbally or physically man handled into my canteen room and door shut behind me I completely lost it and throw them all off.

11.30pm last night the guy with the gear tried to get back onto my property by cutting my chain on the gate police rang they came he said he owned it and was my partner ??? not whilst my husband was in the house ???he's been arrested and got done for drink driving and now its all my fault well sod him I hope they nail his sorry ass to the floor.

Been and done my horses this morning checked my land and there are two gates completely missing all my jumps have gone and 3 newish wheel barrows as well so but neighbour seen said guy and a redhead of which we had one liveries carrying the jumps away in his horsebox so police informed and found all the stolen stuff along with 8 bales of shavings so. Now for some peace and quite and for me to have time with my horses and not be a slave for them. A well deserved happy ending for me :D
 
You have definitely done the right thing, who do they think they are:eek: running your yard for you:confused:

I really feel for you I have had liveries for many years, there is always the slightly "odd" one but one the whole they have all been lovely, helpful, easy to get on with and I have trusted them all, the thought of someone coming back to steal would never have occurred to me. Speachless:(

Enjoy the peace and quiet:)
 
amymay said:
20 acres is plenty to be able to sustain 8 horses with winter turnout during the day and 24/7 over the summer.

It's in your interest to maintain the land, so I'm suprised you change extra for this, and don't simply build the costs into your livery charges tbh.
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20 acre certainly isnt enought when they want a new field every 6 weeks and when I say trash I mean trash all of it not just the gates/fencs lines I have been doing this job some 25 years and have had several yards much bigger yards than this some 60 horses and know what I should n should be doing but it just seems liveries have no idear about it its just a case of I pay you money and Ill do as I please I am the cheapest livery in a 15 mile radius and as for my interest in the land it took me 5 years to get this land back from a livery who had it before she just destroyed it all no grass at all rubble everywhere, no fencing no water troughs so its been my money my sweat my tears making it perfect so dont tell me its in my best interest they just took the p*** and I think ive paid enought for it £500k then nearly £175 to get it right for what £20 and £30 a week you do the maths
 
topclass said:
Well the situation is now resolved after being taken to one side yesterday afternoon by tow of the liveries including he guy with the gear and no feckin idea and I got told to buck my ideas up if i know whats good for me and they will run my yard as they see fit :eek: So ladies and gentlemen by 9pm last night every single liveries was off my premises and i dont care about the screaming and yelling I will be abused verbally or physically man handled into my canteen room and door shut behind me I completely lost it and throw them all off.

11.30pm last night the guy with the gear tried to get back onto my property by cutting my chain on the gate police rang they came he said he owned it and was my partner ??? not whilst my husband was in the house ???he's been arrested and got done for drink driving and now its all my fault well sod him I hope they nail his sorry ass to the floor.

Been and done my horses this morning checked my land and there are two gates completely missing all my jumps have gone and 3 newish wheel barrows as well so but neighbour seen said guy and a redhead of which we had one liveries carrying the jumps away in his horsebox so police informed and found all the stolen stuff along with 8 bales of shavings so. Now for some peace and quite and for me to have time with my horses and not be a slave for them. A well deserved happy ending for me :D
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OMG The nerve of some people!!!!! you deserve some piece?!!!!
 
How very odd. I knew some livery customers could be nuttier than squirrel poop but that sequence of events sounds extremely unbalanced.
 
OMG - sounds like you need a break!

If you decide to do it again then dont do 'cheap'. Have less horses for more money...there are ways you can justify this and then the fields wont get trashed.

For now...enjoy the peace!
 
topclass said:
Well the situation is now resolved after being taken to one side yesterday afternoon by tow of the liveries including he guy with the gear and no feckin idea and I got told to buck my ideas up if i know whats good for me and they will run my yard as they see fit :eek: So ladies and gentlemen by 9pm last night every single liveries was off my premises and i dont care about the screaming and yelling I will be abused verbally or physically man handled into my canteen room and door shut behind me I completely lost it and throw them all off.

11.30pm last night the guy with the gear tried to get back onto my property by cutting my chain on the gate police rang they came he said he owned it and was my partner ??? not whilst my husband was in the house ???he's been arrested and got done for drink driving and now its all my fault well sod him I hope they nail his sorry ass to the floor.

Been and done my horses this morning checked my land and there are two gates completely missing all my jumps have gone and 3 newish wheel barrows as well so but neighbour seen said guy and a redhead of which we had one liveries carrying the jumps away in his horsebox so police informed and found all the stolen stuff along with 8 bales of shavings so. Now for some peace and quite and for me to have time with my horses and not be a slave for them. A well deserved happy ending for me :D
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Good grief...is all I can say.....!
 
20 acre certainly isnt enought when they want a new field every 6 weeks
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No, I suppose it wouldn't be (possibly), but again if the land is managed, then it can be done (I'm assuming group turnout here though). But I suppose it's how you run your yard at the end of the day that's the important things. Your land, your rules - but it sounds as if it's been your land, liveries rules. Good lesson for the future though.

Glad you have got rid of those who were trouble makers, your update post certainly gives the impression of a very unpleasant bunch of people.

What did they do with their horses?
 
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Parker79 said:
OMG - sounds like you need a break!

If you decide to do it again then dont do 'cheap'. Have less horses for more money...there are ways you can justify this and then the fields wont get trashed.

For now...enjoy the peace!
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This. Charge more, get non-nutty liveries and do it to your rules. Sounds like you have had a horrendous experience.
 
They all had individual turnout as they didnt want other horsee in with theirs so hence why 20 acres wasnt enough.

It gets better trust me................


Things have come to light the police have just been back and wait for this girls/boys the wagon the "guy with the gear" has had been reported stolen and also so had his mare!!!! he did a moonlight flit from a yard in Harrogate after police got a tip off but he had gone by then and the red headed woman is his wife!!! Apparently they have been trying to track them for over 4 years both have now been arrested and horses have been taken and held as evidence OMG I was so so lucky I was planning to go away for a week prior to all of this and leave the redhead in charge of my home and yard!!!!!!

I feel so much better and what I did neglect to tell you all if that these two recommended my other liveries saying they knew them and they were looking for a place to go as they werent happy at other yards!!! It seems they may all have been in it. Im so happy I had a cry if im honest now i can let my 2 dogs out on their land to do as they please couldnt do this before as they were all frightened of my rotties now I know why:D
 
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