Compasion vs Greed

[Witchy]

We had a horse at our yard that, despite the owner asking for more bedding to be put down, got cast after laying down in her stable after feeling a bit colicky. She desperately kicked out hard in panic and broke her leg/hip - the resulting brake cut a main artery in her leg and filled her leg up with blood. The vet could do nothing and she had to be put to sleep. All were devastated and an old fracture of the bone/hip may have been the cause for the brake (history is unknown).

The owner had within a day or two just paid for the following Month's livery.

Now, what would your opinion be:

1) Yard Manager should give the money back
2) Yard Manager should keep the money
3) Owner should pursue Yard Manager legally
4) Other option that I can't think of (please state).

Would be interested in your thoughts. Owner went back to the Yard last week after two months staying away - her subconsious telling her the horse was still there and all fine being looked after. My friend and I had to practically pick the poor girl off the floor due to the state she got herself in, it was truely a distressing situation

There have been many many incidents, many minor but some more serious - but what do you do....

 

[DipseyDeb]

Sooo sad, and a tricky situation, the YO, at the very least, should offer the poor girl her months livery back. Did the yard put the extra bedding down?

 

[Thelwell_Girl]

Was the horse PTS sleep while she was away? If she came to the yard, only to find out that news... Thats awful!

 

[Witchy]

No, no extra bedding was given, not for the want of continued asking. I also had to remove a rug that she had been left in that was saturated in sweat, dripping wet and had to feed hay as she had no hay for the night.... there are endless concerns.

It happened while she was there, she wouldn't put weight on the leg and then they realised and all hell broke loose. It was devastating, she was a beautiful school mistress with a big, big heart.

 

[Tinypony]

Can she get some legal advice? I truly hate livery yards that take the money then give the horses second-class care.

 

[Hollycat]

I feel they should give the money back, or at least compromise and split it. I was in a similar situation and never got my money back as I was just too upset to argue with the yard owner. If the YO is a*** then maybe a friend or relative should try and negociate the return of some of the money.

Really sorry for your friend

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Gosh this is a difficult one. My feeling is that IF the owner asked for extra bedding to be put down, and it wasn't done, then the yard is complicit in what happened and that legally the owner may have a valid claim against the yard? But if there's nothing in writing then they may get assy and say its her word against theirs: on the other hand you were obviusly a witness to the fact that she asked.

You say there are other issues. I assume this is a private yard not BHS or local authority approved? Maybe there would be some mileage in the owner going to Trading Standards? I'm not sure how I feel about the money issue: IF she paid a month in advance then she may have no redress, but for goodness sake the yard really ought to give her something back, I think so anyway, and if they were negligent then they should blimmin well give it all back imo.

How do other owners at the yard feel? Did anyone else know that this owner had asked for more bedding? My feeling is that she might benefit from having a chat with someone about this: Cits Advice probably don't have the necessary equine knowledge, but some solicitors do a "freebie" advice clinic (i.e. first consultation free, or fee refunded if they take up your case) - but a solicitor with knowledge of the equine situation would be needed really.

What an awful thing to happen: I know how I'd feel if it was mine. I do think if she asked for extra bedding and it wasn't given, the yard are responsible.

 

[Holly Hocks]

YO should give the money back, no question.

 

[Witchy]

Thanks guys.

Yes its so difficult isn't it. The opinion of other people at the yard both DIYers and Liveries is that the service is not what the standard should be. One person was given notice to leave because she asked three times for her stable to be mucked out more thoroughly - a professional who teaches her said her horse smelt of wee for gods sake!!

Extra bedding has been asked for and not given, extra hay has been asked for and not given and also hay has been stolen by her (we have proof) and she's just be let to get away with it!

A few people became DIY which was eventually stopped as YM wasnt earning enough money - a block was put anybody else becoming DIYers. Others are looking to move their horses. The owner of the Yard (bloke) is in the middle of a split and doesn't want to know (and unfortunately likes the girl).