Children left at yard by adults WWYD

When I was a teenager and had my first pony on a first yard, looking back, I too knew very little. I was ok at riding and handling but the care side of things in reality I had no clue.
I took the bus to the yard and my parents picked me up after work. I was totally unsupervised but I don't think for a minute my mum thought of it as free child care or knew of the danger aspect (as Red-1 commented as far as she was concerned I'd had lessons and could ride!) I don't think I'd ever ridden on a road before tacking up this new pony and heading out alone one day!
I think non horsey parents just don't know the dangers. I've been completely different with my daughter, but that's because I'm aware.
Op, it's totally not your job your right. Yo needs to speak to mum and explain things to her. Sounds like the poor kid might be better off in a RS that does livery even working livery where she can get the extra support. I was incredibly lucky to get on very well with the adult liveries on my first yard who all thaught me a lot and even ended up all pitching in and helping me buy said pony when my loan period was up and his owner decided to sell.
The "right" yard is the key I think for kids like this.
 
DaisyMoo said:
I get where you are coming from but when you are put in a very awkward position by someone you make the best of it and not taking my horse and walking made it much safer with the horrible position I was put in that I didn't want to be in. My friend was on YO horse, which made it difficult for her to refuse, and whenever it gets to the corner of the track it canters up it whwther you want to or not as it has fallen into bad habits :( anyway walking behind should anything happen was much safer and I've spoken to YO this morning and she is fully supportive of our reasons for being concerned and agrees that we should not go riding so of o am volunteered by her son again I can confidently tell him no with worrying about any repercussions. Once again thank you all I really appreciate all your comments help and advice
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Yes it may well be awkward. But life is full of awkward situations. You need to stand your ground and say no. Who do you think would have been responsible if that child had been injured? As far as the staff at the yard were concerned you consented to take the child out and looking after her. What is more awkward... saying no, or dealing with the aftermath of an accident?
 
Sussexbythesea said:
Yes I'd forgotten about that case which seems to be a miscarriage of justice in some ways and scary considering the implications for all horse owners.

They didn't have specific public liability insurance though and turned down an out of court settlement covered by the insurance they did have. Nevertheless you'd want to avoid that whole nasty situation whatever the outcome as the stress would be immense.
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Hmm my understanding of that case was that the totally inexperienced new owner of the ex racer believed that her son's gf was more experienced than she actually was and encouraged her to get on. Disastrous outcome for all and I would question how she came to acquire the horse but some dealers will do anything for money. The girl was horrendously injured and deserved the compensation - there is no point in making comparisons to people whose children are disabled through natural causes however much you or I might sympathise with their cases.

However, this is potentially the sort of scenario that could arise in the OPs situation and it needs sorting - this child is alone and vulnerable. Anything could happen and the parent could well be looking for someone to blame.
 
my mum is scared of horses. So was not helpful as a child! but she paid for me to have riding lessons for 3 years and always stayed. Then at 15 I got my first horse-but we purposely kept him at a liver yard with a riding school so I could always have lessons to hack in company.

Although I see people point of 'back in the day'- but its more also the issue of having babysit without agreement! regardless of the horse and the dangers associated with horse riding.

I too would be worried about where blame would be placed if she got injured.
 
I think the situation needs sorting between the YO and the parent. Even if you don't supervise the girl and just ignore her, if something were to happen to her how would you answer the parents question "so you just stood back and let her do....?"
No, she is not your responsibility, you have not agreed to supervise but if something happens I bet the parents won't just shrug their shoulders and accept it's down to their lack of supervision, they will want to know why you didn't intervene when something was going wrong. And if you intervene when something is going a bit wrong, then you suddenly take in the role of supervising and lay yourself open to blame when something goes really wrong.
 
Snuffles said:
Do not take responsibility for this child while on the yard or out on a hack, with the sue everyone for everything culture I would not take the risk. You have a horse to enjoy and to relax. The YO needs to sort this out.
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^^^ This. You dare not take any risks in this litigacious age. The sheer stupidity and audacity of some parents just frankly appals me.
 
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