topclass
Well-Known Member
I totally agree, its going to stay mine and mine alone.
Am I being unreasonable
- Thread starter topclass
- Start date
I totally agree, its going to stay mine and mine alone.
Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
lucky escape Topclass really glad that you have seruity and CCTV .
PolarSkye
Well-Known Member
I haven't read all the replies so please excuse any repetition/redundancy.
The short answer is, no, I don't think you are being unreasonable.
Having been on three DIY yards, I've found that YOs do need to be very much "in charge" from the beginning, very upfront about what will and will not happen in certain circumstances and then let people decide whether they want to livery with them or not.
By way of example:
Yard 1: Horses brought in at night (by dark) during the winter, fields poo picked and then harrowed/rolled once the ground improved enough. In summer, horses out 24/7 (mandatory unless on box rest), fields poo picked and if not enough grass tough - absolutely no hay in the field. Small herds (singles, two max 3 to a field). No field rotation (not enough land).
Yard 2: Horses in at night all year round - fields rotated summer/winter - fields not poo picked. In winter/spring when fields were muddy, grazing restricted to maximum 5 hours. Large herds (at one point we had 8 in our field) so more playful. YO topped/fertilized, etc. the fields seasonally at no extra cost to liveries. Absolutely no hay in fields.
Yard 3: Horses in herds of three per field - up to those in the field how they manage the field. We choose to rotate within the field - so field is split down the middle and they spend an average of 6-8 weeks one one side to give the other side a chance to recover. We poo pick daily, are responsible for buying in our own fertilizer/weedkiller but YO will do the "spreading." We can (and do) hay in the field in winter. YO's attitude is if we trash our fields and we have no grazing then that's our problem.
All three yards were lucky to have relatively free-draining soil so, to be fair, other than the gateways the fields were/are pretty mud-free, but I do feel that someone needs to be responsible for field maintenance - whether it's the YO or the liveries - but that needs to be clear up front.
And, as for the livery you describe who is refusing to bring his horses in to save the fields, well - your yard, your rules.
P
The short answer is, no, I don't think you are being unreasonable.
Having been on three DIY yards, I've found that YOs do need to be very much "in charge" from the beginning, very upfront about what will and will not happen in certain circumstances and then let people decide whether they want to livery with them or not.
By way of example:
Yard 1: Horses brought in at night (by dark) during the winter, fields poo picked and then harrowed/rolled once the ground improved enough. In summer, horses out 24/7 (mandatory unless on box rest), fields poo picked and if not enough grass tough - absolutely no hay in the field. Small herds (singles, two max 3 to a field). No field rotation (not enough land).
Yard 2: Horses in at night all year round - fields rotated summer/winter - fields not poo picked. In winter/spring when fields were muddy, grazing restricted to maximum 5 hours. Large herds (at one point we had 8 in our field) so more playful. YO topped/fertilized, etc. the fields seasonally at no extra cost to liveries. Absolutely no hay in fields.
Yard 3: Horses in herds of three per field - up to those in the field how they manage the field. We choose to rotate within the field - so field is split down the middle and they spend an average of 6-8 weeks one one side to give the other side a chance to recover. We poo pick daily, are responsible for buying in our own fertilizer/weedkiller but YO will do the "spreading." We can (and do) hay in the field in winter. YO's attitude is if we trash our fields and we have no grazing then that's our problem.
All three yards were lucky to have relatively free-draining soil so, to be fair, other than the gateways the fields were/are pretty mud-free, but I do feel that someone needs to be responsible for field maintenance - whether it's the YO or the liveries - but that needs to be clear up front.
And, as for the livery you describe who is refusing to bring his horses in to save the fields, well - your yard, your rules.
P
Stoxx
Well-Known Member
I am glad you got this situation sorted when you did Topclass... it sounds as if it could have turned very nasty indeed.
I have my horse on livery and pay the same as most people's mortgage per month for the privilege. We have all year well managed turnout, however everyone has to understand that we live in England and there are exceptional circumstances. The horses have been in for 2 days due to the fields, our estate manager cannot control the weather and as long as they are well cared for they really don't die if they don't eat grass for 48 hrs. They get 2 leg stretches a day and all are very content.
It seems that some liveries think that by paying livery they own a part of the yard! Being a livery means you pay to use the facilities provided, if these facilities get withdrawn due to situations beyond the YO's control then so be it!
I have my horse on livery and pay the same as most people's mortgage per month for the privilege. We have all year well managed turnout, however everyone has to understand that we live in England and there are exceptional circumstances. The horses have been in for 2 days due to the fields, our estate manager cannot control the weather and as long as they are well cared for they really don't die if they don't eat grass for 48 hrs. They get 2 leg stretches a day and all are very content.
It seems that some liveries think that by paying livery they own a part of the yard! Being a livery means you pay to use the facilities provided, if these facilities get withdrawn due to situations beyond the YO's control then so be it!
Marydoll
Well-Known Member
Op ive read all the posts and you have had some awful people,theres no doubting that 
but you were the one managing the yard and you allowed it to happen, so while i do feel for you, you let the situation get out of hand, no you shouldnt feel threatened in your own place, but you let them make all the choices and never reined them in so tbh you need to shoulder some of the blame.
Your liveries sound like a nightmare, but again it didnt happen overnight.
Having been on a yard, id rather a well run yard with a huge list of do's and donts, and a proper turnout regime in the contract. Its all to easy to verbally say yes all year turnout, as that brings liveries in, turnout, as weve seen on many threads on here is hugely important to liveries, but when the weather and conditions dont support it, if theyve asked, and been told yes its all year turnout, thats what theyll look for regardless of whats happening to the fields. im not saying its right, just thats the turnout regime many yo agree to when customers specifically asked about it, before taking a livery place.
I have my own rented place with support for field maintainance, but the regime for turnout is my choice, its on clay, and to make it work i need to restrict in the winter, so fully get where youre coming from....... What im saying in a waffly way is, turnout conditions need to be laid out and specific, ie there will be a strong possibility of restricted turnout in the winter as the fields used if very wet cant support the level of horses. The choices being, bring in after a few hours, or longer turnout on small sacrifice fields which will be the only fields used over the winter period, and regardless of the condition they end up in, no further grazing will be available until the spring ..... Put your own date on it.
Turnout is the biggest issue on many yards, and causes the most problems.
Youve had your fingers burnt by trying your best to please everyone op and sadly it never works.
but you were the one managing the yard and you allowed it to happen, so while i do feel for you, you let the situation get out of hand, no you shouldnt feel threatened in your own place, but you let them make all the choices and never reined them in so tbh you need to shoulder some of the blame.Your liveries sound like a nightmare, but again it didnt happen overnight.
Having been on a yard, id rather a well run yard with a huge list of do's and donts, and a proper turnout regime in the contract. Its all to easy to verbally say yes all year turnout, as that brings liveries in, turnout, as weve seen on many threads on here is hugely important to liveries, but when the weather and conditions dont support it, if theyve asked, and been told yes its all year turnout, thats what theyll look for regardless of whats happening to the fields. im not saying its right, just thats the turnout regime many yo agree to when customers specifically asked about it, before taking a livery place.
I have my own rented place with support for field maintainance, but the regime for turnout is my choice, its on clay, and to make it work i need to restrict in the winter, so fully get where youre coming from....... What im saying in a waffly way is, turnout conditions need to be laid out and specific, ie there will be a strong possibility of restricted turnout in the winter as the fields used if very wet cant support the level of horses. The choices being, bring in after a few hours, or longer turnout on small sacrifice fields which will be the only fields used over the winter period, and regardless of the condition they end up in, no further grazing will be available until the spring ..... Put your own date on it.
Turnout is the biggest issue on many yards, and causes the most problems.
Youve had your fingers burnt by trying your best to please everyone op and sadly it never works.
SeasonalSituation
Well-Known Member
Hi TC,
I'm gonna be brutally honest at first - I think you are being unreasonable. They are customers and they do pay for the service, so yes you are.
Now, I think you are way too much reasonable when I found out more. They took the mick and I am glad you sorted it out
Hope your fields are all fine now and you enjoy the land you spent so much time and money making good
I'm gonna be brutally honest at first - I think you are being unreasonable. They are customers and they do pay for the service, so yes you are.
Now, I think you are way too much reasonable when I found out more. They took the mick and I am glad you sorted it out
Hope your fields are all fine now and you enjoy the land you spent so much time and money making good