Cameras on livery yards?

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LegOn

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Have you been on a yard where the YO's have surveillance cameras to check on things? Have you been told there are cameras & there scope - what they can/cant hear or see?

I was on a yard where the whole yard could be checked by surveillance but the YO's were very up front about them & what they were being used for but a friend of mine is on a small livery yard where she thinks the YO has a camera somewhere to see and even maybe hear what is going on when she isnt there! Not that anyone is doing anything wrong or against the rules - but of course people chat & talk & give out when having a bad day! The yard & YO seem to be fairly easy going in general & nothing is really an issue but she feels a bit paranoid that a few things have been mentioned that just seem 'overheard' or 'seen'!! Would it freak you out if a YO had a camera they didnt tell you about?
 
Cameras are a good thing but if the yard has cameras and doesnt tell its customers then that is not an appropriate use of those cameras. Businesses are supposed to have notices up if they have cameras. There are all sorts of rules now due to GDPR about what you do with the recordings.
 
Wheels said:
Cameras are a good thing but if the yard has cameras and doesnt tell its customers then that is not an appropriate use of those cameras. Businesses are supposed to have notices up if they have cameras. There are all sorts of rules now due to GDPR about what you do with the recordings.
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This. I had a nasty experience once, whilst looking around a potential new yard. I had permission to be there, but wasn't told about the cameras (no signs etc) until the next day when I was contacted by the YM questioning my every move. She even sent screenshots of me to a mutual friend. I wasn't doing anything wrong, I'd like to add!

It actually really upset me - apart from the fact that I was being filmed without my knowledge - the YM came across as being totally paranoid and suspicious of everything. I've since heard that she is, indeed, paranoid and suspicious of everything, and I'm counting my blessings that I didn't move my horse there! Other liveries don't stay there long...

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for increased security on yards. Horses, tack etc are precious and expensive, and any deterrent for thieves is a bonus. It's just the deceit and semi-stalking aspect of the incident that upset me.
 
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Our small diy yard has cameras covering all strategic points. We all know where they are, what they cover and the correct notices are up. The first question we asked the YO was "will you be able to spot us if we have a wee in our stable" :) They give us peace of mind, although we dont have a tack room and nothing valuable is ever left on site its just nice to know they are keeping an eye on the horses and yard for us
 
Cameras are good. Not telling liveries is bad!

The stud where my young horse is has cameras covering all internal areas and I have an app on my phone and can check up remotely!

I always feel like I’m spying though, even if I’m legitimately covering foal watch or something
 
My yard has cameras in the tack room and outside on doors entering the stables (American barn style) I have no issues as it’s great security. I’m not sure if they have voice recording but I imagine the YO and YM are too busy to bother listening to our ramblings 😂
 
The Trooper said:
I personally wouldn't mind cameras and think they would give me some peace of mind, I've nothing to hide (other than me peeing in my stable occasionally)...
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This in its entirety ;) I don't need witnesses - what happens in the stable, stays in the stable! But in terms of controlling yard idiots and thieves, it's all good.
 
I would think it odd if I wasn’t told.... especially if they have audio. I don’t think they will though, it would be very unusual and possibly illegal? I am sure I was told once that cameras are fine but employers can’t use audio to listen to employees. It could be different in a non-work situation though, I can imagine audio would sometimes be useful. I expect if things have been heard by the YO which she was not there for then people have just been talking
 
I have cctv but rarely actually look at it unless something happens. Somebody I know has a wildlife camera and religiously watches it back. I did have a rant one day about this person before I noticed the camera and I’m pretty sure It was viewed. I was and still am mortified but nothing was ever mentioned.
 
My yard has electric gates and CCTV everywhere. I've only ever thought of it as a good thing. Brought home 2 weeks ago when I had a nasty fall in a jump lesson and people could watch the footage back to tell the medics precisely what happened and how I fell, as I was babbling incoherently and insisting they shouldn't cut my jods. :rolleyes::oops:
 
I'm all for cctv (with the proper signage!).

I like that my horses and my gear have an extra eye on them.

If there's audio as well then that needs a sign up. I'll often take client calls when at a yard. I'm happy to wander off to a quiet spot, but I wouldn't be happy with the YO recording my side of the conversation.

Having one trained on the muckheap and the main gate is a good idea. Catch the buggers who don't fling the muck up and those who leave the gate open!
 
I can see the advantages of cameras in some areas I.e. entrances, tack room but it does seem rather an invasion of privacy in a setting where I’m going to relax and enjoy time with my horses especially if they are trained on all areas regardless of risk.

Certainly no secret cameras or voice recordings unless you’re trying to catch someone in particular as a result of a suspected crime.
 
I think thats the thing isnt it - its great peace of mind to have cameras & know that everything is checked & secure so why not tell everyone they are there - they are great addition to any yard, especially a yard that is remote or you might be there on your own. Its the not telling people they are there part that I think my friend has issues with!
 
LegOn said:
I think thats the thing isnt it - its great peace of mind to have cameras & know that everything is checked & secure so why not tell everyone they are there - they are great addition to any yard, especially a yard that is remote or you might be there on your own. Its the not telling people they are there part that I think my friend has issues with!
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I'm on a yard with cameras, but there's no secrecy about it.
Definitely like the peace of mind. Would agree with your friend finding it strange if the yard is being secretive about it though.
 
Many yards I have been on have had CCTV, one which it was only ever checked if there was an incident or if the YO got really sick of people not picking up poo out of the arena, or not forking up muck then she'd threaten to check cameras which solved the problem.
The only one where I had an issue was where I generally felt unwelcome on the yard anyway, because I didn't show up at the same time as everyone else because of my working hours I got icy stares and not spoken to. YO had taken offence at me asking another livery to grab the horse in, even though I had asked YO and she said she was unavailable. YO had laid into this other livery, and me at separate times. So we were having a little moan about it, found out later she religiously checks cameras and that they have audio when she turned into a raging lunatic about it. As it happens, me and other livery left within a week of each other ( YO had assumed we planned it that way, and lost her temper over her assumption!) And all other single liveries on that yard left because one by one she turned on them, the only people she was sweet as pie all the time to were the girl with 4 horses and the other with 3.
 
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