Am I expecting too much of full livery?

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Hindsland

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Moved my horse to a new yard a few days ago on full livery. I left a note of things I'd like done for him, not much really, basically always have boots on for exercise, fly mask for hot sunny days, and boots on in the field for the first few days. Called in to see him today, he'd been exercised but no boots used, no fly mask on and only front boots on in the field. Surely providing requests are reasonable and not too time consuming these simple things should be done. Not a great start, feeling pretty deflated!
 
Yes, I'd expect them to be done - but a conversation would probably have more effect than leaving a note; depending on the circumstances it might not have been seen or passed on.

I'd just have a chat to them and confirm these things are okay, then monitor for a bit. There can often be crossed wirrs at the beginning, but it's how well they react to fixing it that will give you cause for concern.
 
If your contract states that these things are included or can be requested then yes, that's pretty rubbish. I'd go straight to the yard manager and have a chat. It might be that it hasn't been communicated properly to staff. Where I work, we do our best but very rarely communication does falter and a small thing is missed. However if things continue to be missed after talking to YM, I would have a think.
 
I have several horses on full livery (at my yard) and all of those requests are absolutely standard. When I dropped a mare off on competition livery last year I went to visit her without notice to find her in a field in a lovely fly rug and fly mask ... none of it my stuff! The YO said all horses got fly rugs and masks on hot days so she always had spares to go round! I felt like a neglectful owner lol.

As it's early days perhaps double check that your requests have been correctly noted. It's happened to me that an owner has muttered, oh and don't his bifbbvuisrup before leaving and I've not taken note there and then and completely forgotten what it was!
 
I discussed these points with staff when I took him, but just left the note in case other staff weren't told. A friendly note introducing my horse and his few basic needs. It's early days, and I'm sure it'll be sorted, just feeling a bit uneasy.
 
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As mine can burn her nose to a crisp with one day of full sun, I'd be rather annoyed. Especially as the boots in field are only a half job too. So they've seen the note and just not bothered with all four legs.
 
I had/have this issue with where mine is on full livery (tho on a smaller scale - forgetting fly masks and sunscreen mostly). If you address this now then be prepared for things to not improve - some yards are just more lax and you have to decide if it's something you're happy to compromise on.
 
That's basic stuff really and should be done but often there can be a breakdown in communication I have worked yards and if one person is told something it doesn't always get told to everyone that may be doing the horse on a regular basis, I always had the same full liveries to do and I alway said to the owners if anything changed or different to let me know as well, one other idea we had was a white or chalk board outside to leave little notes and reminders they really help.
 
This should be communicated to staff by the yard manager - this is the person you need to speak to. Hopefully you've now sorted it all out.
 
Possibly poor communication or misunderstanding.

1) Fly mask on hot sunny days - depends on when they turnout and what they think the weather forecast will be for that day, the weather can change quickly. Perhaps when they turned out they did not realise it was going to be hot?

2) Boots on in field, did you specifically say on fore and hind legs, if not then again could be open to misinterpretation.

3) Boots for exercise, this should have been done.

You do need to have a chat with the person you gave the note and instructions to, to try and find out what went wrong. People do make mistakes occasionally and if what you are asking is different from what they normally do it is more likely that someone may forget. How they react to your conversation will give a good idea of what sort of place you are dealing with.
 
Hindsland said:
Moved my horse to a new yard a few days ago on full livery. I left a note of things I'd like done for him, not much really, basically always have boots on for exercise, fly mask for hot sunny days, and boots on in the field for the first few days. Called in to see him today, he'd been exercised but no boots used, no fly mask on and only front boots on in the field. Surely providing requests are reasonable and not too time consuming these simple things should be done. Not a great start, feeling pretty deflated!
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Personally i like to have everything in writing in the contract and tick boxes Saying boots for turnout etc it makes things clear and agreed, that said I have never had a horse on Full livery only worked on a yard and looked after Full livery part etc.
 
This is quite basic stuff so no, not unreasonable to expect these things to be done.

Do agree that a note isn't the best way to go about giving these instructions and possibly instructions are open to interpretation.

I would have a chat with person in charge. I wouldn't be upset at this stage as I don't think the communication was ideal in the first instance.
 
I wouldn't be particularly happy. I'd have a chat with the person in charge to reiterate what I wanted, and then monitor the situation.

At my yard, there are small whiteboards on every box for owners to write what rugs/boots/etc. should be used on their horse. Most of the staff have been there long enough to know the horses well, but it's a useful memory jog and especially useful when we get new staff.
 
depends how much your paying them? if its a cheap deal than expect negligence that's what I think. Hope you get it sorted I wouldn't be happy
 
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