Children on yards

RubysGold

RubysGold

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At my yard we only have one child but OMG she is seriously starting to wind me (and other liveries) up. She is spoilt rotten.
She runs everywhere (even when theres horses walking down the corridor to their stable)
She was in the school when I rode the other day. There were 5 of us in there and she walked to the first corner in the school and then just cantered, she wound all the horses up, got in everyones way, didnt obey the rules of the school. Noone knew where to go to get out of her way. And in my opinion (and quite a few liveries agree) is dangerous.
Then, as well as this, we have a board where you write who is in what lesson. There were 2 half hour slots spare so I put my name on one of them (instructor asked me to), she decided she wanted an hour, so just rubbed my name off :O So when instructor told her she was only having half an hour she got in a mood and exclusively booked the school for next week. (I'm on holiday so don't care but its rude!)
So now I don't know what to do. :/
 
She sounds a complete nightmare! Can you not get the yard owner to have a word with her to 'remind' her of the rules (and general manners.)
Where are her parents? Do they know what she is like and do they condone her behaviour? You could have a word with them but if they are the kind of parents who think the sun shines out of her behind you probably won't get far. On the other hand, they maybe unaware of what is going on and may be horrified at her behaviour.

We have a few children on our yard and they are a pleasure to be around and I enjoy their company. I couldn't stand having a brat around like you have, you'll have to say something to someone, she shouldn't be allowed to get away with it.

Good luck!
 
OK, next time she misbehaves in the school, here's what I'd do....


Get off your horse and get someone to hold it (him/her? Don't know which you have!).
Get hold of her pony - both reins.
Lead her out of the school.
Shut the gate behind her, and tell her to come back when she has learned the rules of acceptable behaviour in a shared school situation.
If she kicks off - tell her a few home truths in your best scary instructor manner.
If her parents kick off, tell them they should be ashamed to be raising a such a vile brat, and that while they may indulge her, no one else has to so if she want so to play with the grown ups, she'd better learn how to behave with them.

:D
 
If she runs on the yard - tell her walk. If she misbehaves in the school - tell her what the rules are. You are an adult, just because she isn't your child, doesn't mean you can't politely but firmly correct her bad behaviour. If she runs to her parents, then tell them what she is doing wrong. If she was another adult, I assume you would have words with her ?
 
How old is this child? Why isn't she being supervised by an adult? No child should be on a yard without total adult supervision.
 
Spudlet said:
OK, next time she misbehaves in the school, here's what I'd do....


Get off your horse and get someone to hold it (him/her? Don't know which you have!).
Get hold of her pony - both reins.
Lead her out of the school.
Shut the gate behind her, and tell her to come back when she has learned the rules of acceptable behaviour in a shared school situation.
If she kicks off - tell her a few home truths in your best scary instructor manner.
If her parents kick off, tell them they should be ashamed to be raising a such a vile brat, and that while they may indulge her, no one else has to so if she want so to play with the grown ups, she'd better learn how to behave with them.

:D
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The Dinner Lady in me agrees with this! Kids need to be told, I've got to do this with some of the kids at the primary school where I work as some of them, have never been told how to behave. Never had a parent complain about me yet!

My son is 9 and doesn't behave like this and neither does my friend's 13 year old daughter that keeps her pony at my field act like this.

It's the bratty kids who aren't told NOW who turn into adults who leave tampons and chicken poo in livery's stables like what that fellow HHO'er in another post has to deal with!
 
sidesaddlegirl said:
The Dinner Lady in me agrees with this! Kids need to be told, I've got to do this with some of the kids at the primary school where I work as some of them, have never been told how to behave. Never had a parent complain about me yet!

My son is 9 and doesn't behave like this and neither does my friend's 13 year old daughter that keeps her pony at my field act like this.

It's the bratty kids who aren't told NOW who turn into adults who leave tampons and chicken poo in livery's stables like what that fellow HHO'er in another post has to deal with!
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It's the former riding school lead rein leader in me coming out.... 'STOP kicking that pony RIGHT NOW or we're going NOWHERE!'

Nice, well behaved children can be an absolute pleasure, even to a totally unmaternal cowbag such as myself, but spoilt brats? Grrrrrrrrrrrrr.....
 
I think I must be one of the lucky ones.
We have a yard with a mixture - young children (under 10), teenagers and adults and the atmosphere is great. (35 horses and ponies in totaal)
The kids know what the rules are and generally adhere to them. Any problems are dealt with immediately by the adults on the yard and we rarely have to involve parents or YO.
The child you describe sounds like a real spoilt brat and her behaviour should not be tolerated. Blame today's society and her parents for the lack of manners and respect.
Don't always leave everything to the YO to sort out.
Not all children are the same. Sometimes a quiet word at the right time is all that is needed. Children will try and push the boundaries and as responsible adults we need to help them make the right choices.
I am not condoning her behaviour but the children on the yards now are the future adults on the yards and if they don't learn now then they will be a nightmare on future yards. (Plenty of examples on here!)
 
She is somewhere between 10 and 12 :/ Not sure which.
When I moved there there were no kids, she arrived about a month after me.
I'm not sure her mother knows exactly what she does but she's the one that changed the lesson times I think. And if you say anything to her little darling she's likely to go mental.
As much as I'd like to do what you say Spudlet, (would love to see her face) I don't dare, I'm useless with confrontation
Even my instructor can't stand the girl. Her mother pays for lesson after lesson, and the kid takes the mick. whatever she's told not to do, she does. Especially when jumping and told to slow down, she speeds up :O
I want to talk to YM about it but don't want to sound like I'm moaning :/ And not sure how to word it.
 
If others on the yard feel the same way, could several of you approach the YO? Just say you are concerned from a safety issue.
 
You don't have to be confrontational - just calm, matter of fact, this is what I'm doing, like it or lump it kiddo! If her mother goes mental, then stay calm (cos that reeeeally winds the screamers up:p), be the bigger adult, and say 'we cannot have an adult discussion while you are behaving in this way, please come and speak to me when you have calmed down' and walk away.

I hate confrontation as well, believe it or not:D

Do speak to the YM, especially if there are safety concerns - I'm sure the YMN would rather be told than lose clients over it. You could couch it as a request for her advice and support in dealing with the situation, then she will see that you want to help deal with the problem rather than passing it all over to her, and you will feel more in control:)
 
How old is she? I think that is crucial.

My feeling would be to speak up when she behaves dangerously or in contravention of any laid down rules of the yard. You don't have to "tell her off" just say, that is against the rules stop doing it please, no excuse but she probably thinks it is ok because no one has said anything. Sounds like the instructor is standing up to her at least, but I think the liveries need to stand up to her too. Otherwise you are all indulging her bad behaviour.

I'd also speak to the YO about her and ask her to speak to the girl and/or her parents about acceptable behaviour. Your YO would I presume have 10 happy liveries and risk upsetting this one than have 10 unhappy ones because she hasn't addressed this.

If it doesn't improve you may have to get together with your fellow liveries and ask for a rule that children must be supervised at all times or something.

But better to try and get her understanding the bad behaviour and resolve it than getting heavy about supervision. The sport needs children, and we all need to try and engage the next generation. They can also be very useful to have around, all that energy and enthusiasm and no pesky job..........
 
Spudlet said:
It's the former riding school lead rein leader in me coming out.... 'STOP kicking that pony RIGHT NOW or we're going NOWHERE!'

Nice, well behaved children can be an absolute pleasure, even to a totally unmaternal cowbag such as myself, but spoilt brats? Grrrrrrrrrrrrr.....
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haha yeah, I was a riding school lead rein leader too.......

Worst thing is watching my nephew's lessons, I want to shake some of the leaders for being so useless and disinterested. Some are brilliant, but the others I just think, I could do a better job! In fact one lesson they were a leader short....... I was out of my seat like a shot :o jogging round the school chanting up down up down in time to the trot :o

Trouble is they pay them now, used to rely upon pure horsey enthusiasm...... :rolleyes:
 
hmmmm She sounds like a little darling!

I was going to sugest that if you catch her running on the yard you should stick your leg out and trip her up! lol!

I think your Y/O has a responibility to ensure that all her liveries are using the school courteously - perhaps she could print a notice reminding people of school rules inc, passing left on left, faster paces on the track, hats to be worn at all times, pick up droppings, put jumps away, only book for lessons etc etc?

I do like the idea of escorting her out of the school and telling her not to come back until she's learnt some manners though ;)
 
Spudlet said:
WHAT? They get PAID??!!!!

**Goes to draft backdated invoice**:D:D:D
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Yep, and they need qualifications, and they get breaks and facilities etc.

Not like back in my day when you showed up as early as your parents would allow, did back breaking work ALL day and might if you are lucky get rewarded with a free ride, which would of course be to the field bareback.

There were no qualifications, but it was good experience, there were no official breaks but you ate your pack up sitting on hay bales if it was warm or the muck heap if it was cold. There were no facilities, in fact when I started helping down the yard there was only one tap, and that was for the whole yard. No loo, no handwash facilities.... we thought it was luxury when the YO got a little chemical loo which lived in the horse box, as for when we eventually got a kettle and could have pot noodle for lunch - that was the height of sophistication. There was certainly no such thing as health and safety or minimum wage :eek:

Kids these days don't know they are born!


Psst and they tidy the muck heap with a digger now, not with five little girls weilding forks.
 
we have kids on the yard i am at and have no problems at all as all children under 12 have to be with an adult thank god, but i would deffinately speak to your YO as she is just being ignorant and putting others in danger and herself, personally i cannot keep my mouth shut so if it was me would be telling her a piece of my mind, nicely of course
 
Katt, that is just unbelievable:D

Mind you at my first riding school I used to get a free lesson every other week for being general dogsbody - bless the owner, things were rough for me at home at the time and I think she wanted to help me out:) She's really the reason I am where I am today, I think if I'd been stuck at one lesson a fortnight, which is all I could afford, I'd have given up as it was so hard to make any headway with such a big gap between lessons!
 
I occassionaly take my 2 girls to the yard with me (only when I have no choice!!) They are 4 and 5 and love being there. But they know the rules and if they misbehave, run scream or don't listein they know they will not be allowed to go again. Also my YO knows that she is completely within her rights to say something to my girls if they step out line. I believe its for the best, otherwise it can plain dangerous as horses aren't toys and someone could get hurt. I did however have an awful experience and was mortified when I took my friend to the yard so her 10 year old could be lead round the ring on my horse. She also brought her 3 young boys ranging in age from 2 - 6. They were outrageously badly behaved to the point where some of the teenage girls actually asked me to take them in hand as they were scareing the ponies. I was so p***ed off with my friend as I had enough on my plate with my 2 girls, horse and her daughter it wasn't much to ask her to look after her other kids herself. Needless to say I was really embarrassed and have never ever invited and friend with their children to the yard again!!!!!!
 
There are 5 teenagers at my yard. Two of them are really irritating, one of them is a spoilt little brat, the other is a cheeky rude loud mouth brat. I actualy said something to them a couple of weeks ago and they were very rude back and now they snigger and get digs in.

I would actually say something again but I know they will run off to their parents......oh and the language and shouting is terrible.
 
I am really impressed with all the kids who actually ride at the my yard or have ponies. They are so polite and well behaved, which is one of the reasons I really want my girls to start riding!!!!!
 
I've no advice, were it my child I'd pat you on the back for telling her off!

But I find it all so sad, it's the kind of behaviour that makes people want adult only yards, and such is the demand for adult only yards I've found it nigh impossible to find a yard for my daughter's ponies. I found somewhere eventually (miles away), but I was upset that I couldn't get her onto a decent yard with facilities because YO's would simply say 'sorry, no children' :(

And mine's well behaved, at current yard she was found mucking out someone elses stable... they love her LOL.
 
Firstly, I don't have kids and am not overly maternal! That said most of the time I tolerate kids quite well, tbh I have to, I'm on a big livery yard with many kids from sort of 8ish through to teens.

What you have to remember is that kids, on the whole don't think like adults. They are still learning about life, so to expect them to behave like an adult in certain situations is fairly unreasonable. That said, obviously they should be being taught by a responsible adult around them!

Do you know what, I frequently encounter kids running about playing, the odd screech here or there, sharing a school attempting to do dressage amid gymkhana games and ponies whizzing about in canter not necessarily obeying school rules. But do you know what, instead of getting huffy about it, I see it as a super way for my horses to accept and cope with a variety of different situations. Mine are the horses that don't seem to bat an eyelid in competition warm up situations etc .... I wonder why ...

If they overstep the mark I would have no hesitation in saying something to them/their parents, and if it was really overstepping the mark then the YO. Kids often have a hard time of it but at the end of the day they need a yard to keep their hoses on as much as we do, and they also pay to be there so surely some degree of tolerance is required?

If you really dislike children then find a completely child free yard. Otherwise, make friends with them, believe it or not they have their uses - the main one being cheap labour :)
 
We have all ages on our yard- from 1-75 years old (or there abouts!!) Two youngest are YO's kids, and they are generally well behaved, but obviously she is always with them anyway so it's fine :) We have a 9yo who is also always supervised, she's polite too, and was very careful when I was in the school with her on my youngster. I've taken her on a couple of hacks too and she's fine, she does as she's told. Is occasionally a little irritating, as she thinks all us teenagers are great, and so won't leave us alone :p But nah all the kids are fine!

There are 3 teenagers on the yard (including me), who are also all fine, and I think we are pretty polite :p
 
OP, as much as I abhor todays compensation culture a quiet word to the YM / YO may be in order because if an accident is caused by this revolting little madam there will be a good case for negligence against YO / YM.

If they are aware of her antics and that she is behaving in a manner likely to cause injury to others and they do nothing about it they are breaching the terms of their insurance policy and open to being taken to court for damages anyone who gets injured.

This may be something they have not thought about and you would be doing them a favour by pointing it out. Why should they have to pay just because the little brats parents don't know how to discipline the monster.
 
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