DIY Liveries.....RANT!

[Kiribati_uk]

Sorry for ranting at xmas but.........
One of my liveries came up yesterday and hayed/watered and went saying they couldn't be arsed to turnout cos then they would have to come back later!!!!
I offered to turnout for them for free!(can't bring in cos ponies don't like strangers and are funny to catch)
WE have LOTS of grass so it's not like they would be stood in mud all day!
Then today they do the SAME!!!!!!
And they dont muckout ever ponies been in since november and they haven't mucked out, they tell me it's deep litter!(MY ARSE!)
Can I make my liveries muck out weekly??

 

[flying solo]

Poor horses!

 

[springer1021]

Sorry for ranting at xmas but.........
One of my liveries came up yesterday and hayed/watered and went saying they couldn't be arsed to turnout cos then they would have to come back later!!!!
I offered to turnout for them for free!(can't bring in cos ponies don't like strangers and are funny to catch)
WE have LOTS of grass so it's not like they would be stood in mud all day!
Then today they do the SAME!!!!!!
And they dont muckout ever ponies been in since november and they haven't mucked out, they tell me it's deep litter!(MY ARSE!)
Can I make my liveries muck out weekly??

Your yard - your rules.

I'd be having words with them.

 

[Luci07]

I would check what your own legal liability is as well in terms of equine welfare. I am never sure a this board seems to have a variety of opinions!. However as said earlier your yard, your rules.

 

[muddygreymare]

Poor horses I'd speak to them, tell them its not good for the horses, and be firm because as someone else said, its your yard, you make the rules and make sure they listen to you and sort themselves out. If they cba to turnout/muck out etc, should they really have horses?

 

[Kiribati_uk]

I know my yard my rules, but I didn't want to offend them but this has just really P155ed me off.
I like a quiet life so haven't said anything before, I know they are short of money so in there eyes not mucking out is saving them money I suppose.
Was just wondering what was rules for other yards do you have to muckout everyday or is deep litter allowed?

 

[jendie]

Deep litter is NOT the same as 'never mucking out'. I've used deep litter and mucked out twice daily!! Sounds like they need a reality check. Their poor ponies must be knee deep in poo.

 

[Spring Feather]

If your stables are wooden then I'd use the excuse that the manure will rot the wood so you need the deep litter bedding to be completely cleared out once a week/fortnight. If they're not wooden but you have concrete floors then use the same reason that the urine and heat build-up will crack the concrete.

As for them not turning out yesterday and today. It's lazy on their part but the horses won't suffer from it so it's really up to them what they choose to do.

 

[ridefast]

Not mucking out is saving money? What about when their horses get thrush? Will they not treat it? Have the horses not had any fresh bedding at all then?

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

You don't need to check laws???? You are the YO, your yard, your rules, What happens on your yard reflects on you, do you want to have people believing you allow or condone what is happening regarding mucking out & animal care on you yard?

The New Year is coming up, I would suggest that it is an ideal time to notify your liveries of the rules that you want on your yard regarding mucking out, poo picking, turning out, feeding, watering etc etc. If any livery decides that they don't want to follow the rules then they can always find somewhere else to keep their pony. If you run a nice clean & professionally run yard you will have no problem filling any places with clients that respect their animals & want the best for them. In turn you will find your life is easier as you won't have the worries that you have now with this particular livery.

Every yard needs rules, then everyone knows what is expected of them & this stops many problems arising. Don't just rant on here, you know what needs doing so do it, you'll have an easier time in the end.

 

[Spotsrock]

Deep litter just means leaving some of the damp to form a good base. All poop should be removed at least daily and the base kept level with fresh clean bedding on top. I'd say something unless u can't afford to loose their rent. In which case start doing them urself and look for new liveries maybe. I understand wanting easy life, good luck and sympathies.

 

[custard]

As for them not turning out yesterday and today. It's lazy on their part but the horses won't suffer from it so it's really up to them what they choose to do.

I disagree, the horses will suffer. Soon as they go out and start hooning round and pull a ligament/tendon or, get colic from the sudden change in diet/lack of being able to move about, then they will be back on box rest for weeks on end poor souls.

I think it's unacceptable (can you tell I don't have/want liveries?) and would just insist they stick to the same routine except by prior arrangement with you and they muck out daily or leave. I've never seen the point in deep litter, it's just plain lazy, my filthy old boy used to take me 15 minutes to MO properly and that was with a good straw bed. Yes MO is a grind but if you don't like it, don't have a horse, simple!

 

[JoJo_]

Definitely start bringing in some yard rules! For starters horses stabled should be mucked out at least once daily. Stabled horses should be seen to by 11 or noon so either turned out or fed and watered. If liveries dont do this then you should and charge them for it.

My yard turnout for me in the mornings as part of my diy package so I only go once a day to muckout, bring in and ride etc.

 

[Spring Feather]

I disagree, the horses will suffer. Soon as they go out and start hooning round and pull a ligament/tendon or, get colic from the sudden change in diet/lack of being able to move about, then they will be back on box rest for weeks on end poor souls.

Don't be so melodramatic lol! You don't know these horses and have no idea whether they hoon around after they've been in a stable for a day or two so to make this statement as fact is silly. Many horses go through mixed up routines and I don't see competition horses, broodmares, stallions keeling over and dying after every event or temporary change of living conditions

 

[Echo Bravo]

I'm surprised you have let them get away with not mucking out. I'm afraid that this does reflect on your management of your yard, in other words sloppy.

 

[Kiribati_uk]

Thanks guys, just always had nice normal liveries NEVER had trouble before, so will write a list of numpty proof rules, and if they don't like it tough because the mucking out and turning out issue is only tip of iceberg.
I have my own competition horses and i like having few liveries about, but these individuals are leaving a very bad taste in my mouth!!

 

[Echo Bravo]

So ask them to leave simples

 

[Kiribati_uk]

I'm surprised you have let them get away with not mucking out. I'm afraid that this does reflect on your management of your yard, in other words sloppy.

Yes Sloppy is probably right but in my defence(well its not really) they made me feel like Im useless and that i know nothing(10years @olympic event yard, 6years riding racers in ireland)the mother speaks to me like im a child, I HATE confortation anything for easy life, I skip ponies out give them extra haylage top up water at night.
But yes I need to grow a pair!!!

 

[NativePonyLover]

Good luck - I hope they see sense very soon

I am on DIY and I must admit, sometimes it is easier to leave in\reduce turn out on occasion but always with extra hay, a treat ball and two daily muck outs if he has been in.

You sound like you have lovely other liveries so I hope these follow suit!

 

[Spring Feather]

So ask them to leave simples

^^^ This. I'd give them the new pricelist for 2012 along with the yards rules and regulations. If they don't adhere to them then give them a months notice and get rid.

 

[Rose Folly]

There's nothing wrong with deep litter per se. We've used it for years with no problems. As another post pointed out, you leave a deep base - some people take out the wettest bits, we don't as our stable is very well drained - but you should (I think) take out all droppings twice daily. You then rake over the surface of what's left, and put down a decent sprinkle of more shavings on top. We then totally cleear it out, hose, disinfect in the spring, and start the process again. Our horses have this stable, which is more of a barn, as shelter access, as they're dout 24/7. We've never had a case of thrush, and it makes a very soft bed for a laminitic or other horse who needs to be kept in. Because it IS deep litter the bed builds up warmth, and last winter our three used it as hot bottles for their feet!

Having said all that, you are the YO. I'm one myself, and if you don't like the way people are doing things you must say so. YOUR stables, YOUR rules. And while the deep litter aspect wouldn't worry me too much, the fact that thery were too d...n lazy to put their poor ponies out to stretch their legs for two consecutive days would make me hopping! Hope you sort something out.

 

[skydancer]

Some people dont deserve horses - this is just an excuse to be lazy and neglectful! Tell them if they dont turn out and look after them properly then she will have to leave! Either that or report her anonymously

 

[Ali2]

I'd kick 'em off!

 

[scribble]

your yard so your rules, if they dont like it they can leave and yes i am a DIY livery but the horses health comes first. They get turned out even in snow for half hr while they are mucked out. IF it is money saving and they cant afford it then they should not have horses.

 

[Pedantic]

Your yard, tell em to buck up or ****k off, lazy gits shouldn't have horses.

 

[Wundahorse]

I know my yard my rules, but I didn't want to offend them but this has just really P155ed me off.
I like a quiet life so haven't said anything before, I know they are short of money so in there eyes not mucking out is saving them money I suppose.
Was just wondering what was rules for other yards do you have to muckout everyday or is deep litter allowed?

You must be one of those wonderful yard owners who try their best to keep everyone happy.I would speak with the owners and reinforce their responsibilities to their ponies,and demand an immediate improvement in the welfare of the ponies.If things do not improve i would be tempted to ask them to leave.Other liveries may be feeling upset about this too,so you could potentially end up with more problems than you bargained for.I was in a situation like this with an owner neglecting her horses.

 

[topclass]

As a YO there is no excuse for not mucking your horse out at least once a day deep litter remove the poo but I dont allow deep litter on my yard as I am open to inspection at any time as a registered business animal welfare is first and foremost if they cant do it then pay someone to do it bone idol is not a disease. Give her a notice in writing telling her it has to be done and if nothing improves im afraid I would kick her off. I have done had to do this to one livery many years ago who's horse was not mucked out for 6 months just fresh straw on top until she asked me to do full livery while she went on holiday 18 barrows where taken out Make my blood boil this does. Id move heaven and earth for my boys

 

[noodle_]

i have limited funds...... but my horse gets mucked out daily....fully - no deep litter - cant stand it.

lazy people......have a word....!!!

 

[Walrus]

As a YO there is no excuse for not mucking your horse out at least once a day deep litter remove the poo but I dont allow deep litter on my yard as I am open to inspection at any time as a registered business animal welfare is first and foremost if they cant do it then pay someone to do it bone idol is not a disease. Give her a notice in writing telling her it has to be done and if nothing improves im afraid I would kick her off. I have done had to do this to one livery many years ago who's horse was not mucked out for 6 months just fresh straw on top until she asked me to do full livery while she went on holiday 18 barrows where taken out Make my blood boil this does. Id move heaven and earth for my boys

Please don't imply that deep litter compromises animal welfare, that's quite simply not true. I class my horse's bed as deep litter and it is immaculate. Droppings removed twice a day, fresh shavings every week and excess wet (but not the whole base) removed weekly. "Deep litter" does not mean "doesn't muck out at all"!

OP - it's your yard and your rules. I don't see a huge problem with not turning out 1 or 2 days of the year provided adequate hay and water were provided. However if there is an ongoing problem with their horse management (such as not mucking out at all) then it's your responsibility to lay down some rules.

 

[kirstyl]

I hate the title of this thread DIY Liveries - Rant! I keep my horse on DIY livery and I work extremely hard to balance home, work, husband, children, horse and dog but my horse is always mucked out thoroughly, turned out daily and cared for in the best way I possibly can. I have been on a DIY yard in the past where there was a similar livery to the OPs, who didn't muck out, or provide hay or water and relied entirely on the goodwill of others to look after her horse. It was extremely distressing and frustrating for the other liveries who couldn't bear to see the horse not looked after but the YO didn't step in and sort the situation out. As the YO you are responsible for the welfare of the horses on your yard and much as I can understand how difficult it is for you to confront them, it's your job!!