Attn Y.O's - Duty of Care Legislation ???

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Llwyncwn

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Are there any other YO's out there who are getting a little twitchy regarding the concequences of this law to themselves? Mainly regarding diy liveries who's horses are out 24/7 and dont check their horses on a daily basis and assume others will check for them. For example, if a horse is found dead on your land due to an untreated injury in a wooded area away from the main yard, the YO could be proscecuted for neglect, lose his/her business and in the extreme, be banned from keeping horses.

My question is, how do you ensure that your diy's visit at least once a day or appoint another to do so? Also, do you have an 'induction' for new liveries regarding common sense stuff, i.e. not tying up to gates, rails, car door handles etc? Is this a good idea?

Also, do you INSIST that your clients have at least public liability/third party insurance?

Any help really appreciated.

H.
 
I had to sign a contract when I moved to current yard, which I'm sure had a clause about checking the horse at least once a day. Our YO has just given one girl notice to leave as she's been persistently assuming someone else will take care of her horse for her.
We didn't have an 'induction' as such, just shown where everything was, and tbh I'd be a bit annoyed if there was one covering common sense stuff.
 
i used to get my liveries to sign a contract, even though it prob wasn't worth the paper it was written on.
i think i'd insist on them having insurance, tbh... BHS Gold membership has a huge wodge of insurance/public liability along with it, and isn't expensive at all, i think i'd encourage them to get that.
i don't have liveries any more (nerves/temper won't stand it!) but imho you could never warn against even a quarter of the effing stupid things people will do with horses...
wink.gif
 
A contract including a paragraph about cheching the horse once a day is a good idea. If you are particulary worried about making sure this happens you could have a book where they have to put their initial against their horses name every day to show that they have been. That way you can keep an eye on who is not visiting daily and warn the offenders. I personally would not have a proplem with an induction. I know it would be stating the obvious to most people but it would cover you in the event of a stupid accident.
 
Likewise - had liveries, never again....

when we sold, I had to put mine into a DIY yard for a while - very good BHS contract - covered daily visits, right of the YO to call a vet in my absence (at my expense) if necessary for any reason, horses must be attended by a blacksmith every 10 weeks minimum etc etc - if you phone the BHS, they will send you a hard copy of it (not a soft copy as they can't accept liability if you change it etc) It covered worming, and the right of the YO to ask you to leave if animals not cared for to their min standards. I managed to get in because they'd just thrown out a girl with 3 horses who didn't even look at her horses.....

Even if you are just renting out land/facilities, the BHS contract is v good as it insists on min 3rd party insurance etc etc - some non horsey friends have just bought a place wit land and stables and want to rent them out - this would cover them....

Catherine
 
I think if you have a problem with one then I would tell her you are not happy with the situation and you will be checking the horse on a daily basis and charging her, make sure you have in the contract that you can call the vet without her consent if you feel it is necessary.Also I agree with all the above advice.
 
I insist that all my liveries have a minimum of 3rd party insurance and will check their documents before they bring their horses onto my yard.
With regards to duty of care, it is written in the yard rules (which you accept by signing the contract) that if you don't look after your horse properly, the yard will do it and charge it to you (worded slightly better than that :-) )
 
When I had my yard in England, my business insurance for the stables stipulated that I, as owner, must check all horses at least once in any 24 hour period - I would have done that anyway regardless of what the insurance company insisted on. I'd think most livery yard owners check all horses every day though don't they?

Yes all of my liveries had to have their own 3rd party liability insurance on top of my business policy.

Any neglect (only once in 15 years) was dealt with by me doing what needed to be done and then charging the owner for my time - this was written up in my T&Cs.
 
Thanks for your replies everyone. I have a very good contract in place which stipulates each must have at least 3rd party insurance - only 2 have let me have copies despite me nagging! It also covers checking their horses, H&S, calling vet in their absense, neglect and cruelty.

I have always checked the horses each day, even the ones out 24/7 on rough grazing, but these particular ones are only checked to make sure they have 4 legs (pointing down, not up) and are grazing happily. I dont check all of these for lumps, bumps and scratches. I suppose these are the ones who my thread relates to more than the others. Perhaps I have been to soft with some and they are now taking the micky - but for £7.50/wk, is it worth the new, real risk?

Fairhill, you would be surprised at the amount of people who have no common sense and tie their horses up to things which present a very real danger. This is why I felt that a H&S induction was a good idea, especially for new horse owners - that way I cover myself in some respects.
 
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