Calling all livery yard owners and workers!

[ChestnutConvert]

I just have a couple of questions for people that own/run or work on a livery yard. I have been working part time on a yard, turn out/muck out/feed/hay and soon to start full time as taking in more liveries. This might seem a silly question but do the workers usually groom or ride horses on full livery (not competition)?? I guess it depends on the owners way of running things and what they offer as a package.

Also i was wondering if it would be acceptable for a yard worker to take up an offer of a share of a horse that is on livery at the yard if it was offered?

 

[martlin]

I own a yard, I do part, full and schooling livery. The full liveries are kept reasonably tidy and get exercised 6 days a week, a mixture of walker, lunging and hacking, but no schooling.

As to your second question, I would rather my employees weren't my clients. It confuses things and makes relations tricky.

 

[V1NN]

The full livery offered at the yard i keep my horse on does not include riding or lunging this is extra if required, same as the yard i worked at previously. I dont see why there should be a problem in you sharing one of the horses on the yard either. Best of luck x

 

[ChestnutConvert]

Thanks, i would just like a general idea of views before making an idiot of myself by asking.

The yard is very relaxed, full of hackers/'local level' sj and dressage horses so will see. A horse to ride always appears eventually!

 

[martlin]

It very much depends on the set up, does the YO rely on the extra income from exercising clients' horses? If so, by taking on a share, you reduce that income and that can create uneasy feeling.
But if the YO doesn't provide ''services'' at extra charges, and a horse to ride just ''appears'', it might be more acceptable.
Why don't you just ask your boss?

 

[ChestnutConvert]

At the mo there is no exercising of clients horses, although they could do with being ridden more (not my business!) I will find out if this will change when they decide to take on more liveries.

I am planning to ask, i just wanted a general idea so i could justge if i would look silly or not!

 

[the watcher]

I work on a yard three days a week and I also keep my horses there as a livery client. I can tell you that is a really difficult balance to strike. If I am there in my own time doing my own horses and the yard owner is really busy I can sense the simmering resentment that i am there but not working, when I am working I can't touch my own horses as they have to be done in my own time.