diy + fencing

colouredhat

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7 March 2005
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106
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Bulls Hill, Ross-on-Wye
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So i've been at my yard months and its becoming more and more obvious that the yard owner and managers just dont have a clue.
We pay 110 a month for a stable, v small paddocks and use of a v deep menage. But. That was the same when i moved on.
We were told we had to provide our own electric fencing from the start but...monday night they went round and removed all the wooden fence posts saying we had to get our own. Contracts say about fencing but not posts. They left us in an impossible situation where to be able to turn the horses out we had to get out and buy stakes. Totally unreasonsble. And now they're chuntering on about putting the rates up!

Ok. Rant over.

Just wonddered if anyone has had anything similar happen before?

And no i can't move yards its next door to my house!!
 
Are you the only person in the yard? They have a legal duty of care if they are charging for livery and must ensure the safety of your horse. Sounds like this situation will not last long.
The posts are part and parcel of the fencing, I would interpret that if you want electric fencing over and above their fencing then you have to provide it and maintain it [eg if you have laminitics].
Legally there is the problem of horses escaping on to road, I think the owners of the yard would be responsible, but just in case I suggest you ask to check their insurance documents. Ask the BHS [gold membership legal help line] for clarification and make sure you are insured just in case.
 
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I have never heard anything like this before, so what are you paying for ? is this the same for everyone else that is there or just you. If you do provide the fence please make sure that when you do leave that you take it with you Bl***y cheek.
 
It all depends on the wording of the livery contract to be honest, if it says you are responsible for 'fencing' then that could well be interpreted as posts as well as what goes between it. But not fair to not give you more notice.

I have in the past when on DIY gone out and bought electric when I wasnt happy with the nature (barbed) or state of a roadside fence. And when I went, so did my electric fence with me of course (which was OK as mine was the only one in the field)

Do you know why they removed the posts? is it cos they are old and wobbly and people moan at them about that but since fencing is client duty they were just there to use as long as they lasted?

£110 a month wouldnt pay for much post and tape/rail/wire fencing, so it may be you have to pay the increase but see if you can get the fixed posts back, as they are safer.
 
At my old yard (DIY £100 pcm) All of the field maintenance was done for us, if you wanted anything extra then you did it yourself, however, all post and rail and well maintained.

I have to do my own fencing at my new yard (LOTS cheaper pcm) but the posts were all in situ.... I also have to do all my own maintenance ect but for what I am paying this is not unreasonable.....
 
I don't think any of the contracts I have seen mention much about the owner's responsibilities, in general you inspected the facilities and accepted them when you paid your first rent, but if they then removed the fences without telling you , its unbelievable.
Livery is different to renting a farmers field, but even then the fencing should be maintained, unless it is made clear before.
 
When I did DIY at my yard, I was terrified of the fences/stables not being in good condition - I am even more so after reading lots of threads on here about people suing for slipping on ice etc. I can't believe that these yards get away with it, or that you let them.

Removing fence posts is very strange - they are going to end up with holes all over the fields if each time people leave they rip the fence posts out and take them away. Perhaps they are banking on people not being bothered to take them and so they get a new fence.

I suppose, from the other side, I can see that DIY does not make YOs any money, and there sometimes just aren't the funds available to replace fences, but to take up existing posts is just wierd!
 
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