DIY Livery...where do i stand? so very angry

S

Sophstar

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 July 2011
Messages
791
Location
Hampshire
Visit site
I have both my ponies on DIY livery at a small yard and the YO is an old man who just potters round the place. I have a huge issue with my houdini pony who can find the smallest hole anywhere and escape and tonight I have just retrieved him from standing in a 2ft deep stream after clambering through barb wire from a rotten old fence post that had collapsed and left a hole. I have had issues in the past where the fencing is so old and knackered and other people's ponies have broken it (they know its weak) and ponies have escaped into neighbours fields. Tonight I have truly had enough and despite me telling the yard owner that the fence is broken and I have had to use a multitude of things to block it off, he laughs and potters on his way. A typical old greedy man who won't spare a penny to improve anything. Is there any legislation that is in place for DIY yards in regards to providing SOLID FENCING etc?!!I find it ridiculous I pay my livery to not know where my pony will be when I go back up. I have already had a £200 vet bill from where my pony cut himself on some old fencing and finding him merrily wading through a stream this evening has really pissed me off with the entire state of the fencing at the yard.:mad:
 
Thats terrible, poor you...I hope pony was ok.
If I were you I'd think about moving yards, I think its totally unacceptable not to provide secure fencing!
Hope you sort it out :)
 
A reason that all livery yards should be licenced. Our yard is a bit similar with poor fencing in places (although nowhere as bad as yours sounds!). We have a gate held together with gaffer tape. I dont' know where you stand legally, but if it's so bad, then you really should look to move somewhere else..
 
a friend and i are currently looking for a new place as my pony doesnt attempt to escape through the winter, only spring time when all the other fields look greener! there are limited yards round our area that allow 24/7 turnout which my 2 and my friends 2 mares require so its not too easy. and yes it is an old farmer! must be a characteristic of them...not giving a **** but taking the money.
 
No law to force him to do the fencing afaik. So its either mend it yourself or move, not sure why you've not already gone.
 
If you cant move elsewhere can you electric fence within the boundary on mains to keep him in? Just label everything as urs so the old man cant walk off with it......
 
Not sure its fair to lump all old farmers together. Ours has just re-done 100 posts & new rails when they weren't at all dangerous. & a lami paddock. Sure he's not the only nice farmer.
 
Sorry, i don't know much re legislation. We're on diy and tbh fencing is classed as liveries responsibility. I'm sure that's not the case everywhere but just something to consider. Hope pony is ok
 
Mrs C said:
Sorry, i don't know much re legislation. We're on diy and tbh fencing is classed as liveries responsibility. I'm sure that's not the case everywhere but just something to consider. Hope pony is ok
Click to expand...

I'm surprised at this. Sorry this isn't a personal slur, so long as your liveries are aware of this. But I would have thought that a DIY YO would be responsible for providing safe, secure premises, but no services on top of that.
 
I would expect the YO (regardless of age) to provide a safe environment for my horse which includes a secure, dry stable and a well fenced (doesn't need to be posh, just do the job) paddock and if things like use of a school are included this is maintained.

However if my horse broke or damaged these things which were firstly supplied in good, working condition then i would replace/repair what the horse had broke or offer to pay for the work to be done.

If your not happy with the service/yard you are paying for then leave. You are responsible for your horses welfare and if the yard your on knowingly has bad fencing then you either need to provide your own or don't put your horse there in the first place.
 
nikicb said:
I'm surprised at this. Sorry this isn't a personal slur, so long as your liveries are aware of this. But I would have thought that a DIY YO would be responsible for providing safe, secure premises, but no services on top of that.
Click to expand...

Agree with Nikicb - surely DIY means that you do your own horses - if you were responsible for the fencing then that would surely mean that you were renting the field independently of any other facilities...in which case, yes the fencing would be your responsibility. And if you have a number of liveries all using the same field, who knows which horse broke the fencing, and who is going to fix it?
 
I cant believe that a responsible horse owner would leave their pony at this place. At least if they did, that they would take reasonable precautions to protect their animal.

If this place is cheap and the only one with 24/7 turnout then buy some fencing as others have suggested.

I honestly dont know how you can sleep at night, I would be worrying myself sick.

Its no good blaming the YO, he is what he is, its your choice to stay.
 
I think it depends on the yard tbh, my first yard used to drive me mad, leccy fence was always being switched off and pony escaping and gorging on grass etc. I moved, the yard wasn't cheap and I expected better. This was a yard with owners on site and services etc etc

However we moved to a much smaller, cheaper very DIY yard . We're still there. The fencing is rubbish in places so I've just electric fenced my field and my dad has patched bits up. I don't mind as I have complete free rein with my field and can manage my boys however I want which is perfect for us.
 
Sophstar said:
I have both my ponies on DIY livery at a small yard and the YO is an old man who just potters round the place. I have a huge issue with my houdini pony who can find the smallest hole anywhere and escape and tonight I have just retrieved him from standing in a 2ft deep stream after clambering through barb wire from a rotten old fence post that had collapsed and left a hole. I have had issues in the past where the fencing is so old and knackered and other people's ponies have broken it (they know its weak) and ponies have escaped into neighbours fields. Tonight I have truly had enough and despite me telling the yard owner that the fence is broken and I have had to use a multitude of things to block it off, he laughs and potters on his way. A typical old greedy man who won't spare a penny to improve anything. Is there any legislation that is in place for DIY yards in regards to providing SOLID FENCING etc?!!I find it ridiculous I pay my livery to not know where my pony will be when I go back up. I have already had a £200 vet bill from where my pony cut himself on some old fencing and finding him merrily wading through a stream this evening has really pissed me off with the entire state of the fencing at the yard.:mad:
Click to expand...

When you got to visit a yard for the first time you do very simple checks like "What is the grazing like", "How do the stables look" and "How are the fences maintained". If you knew the fences were "old and knackered" why the hell did you move there??? Knowing that the fencing was inadequate you do not have a leg to stand on - move your horses to a safer environment.
 
Had this a few years ago at my old yard!! My old YO would never invest in new fencing, just patch it with scrap.

Horse ended up at vets due to an old rusty nail going through her frog and out her heel where he had been attempting to fix the fencing with old nails. Vets said if nail had been a few milemteres higher I would of lost her!! I moved!!!!

Since then another horse has been up vets after being impailed, and one of the ponies was found wandering along the main road.

It's just not worth the risk!!!
 
Well, I think you've got a few options

repair/replace at your own expense or put up electric fencing at your own expense to keep your horse away from the bad fencing.

carry on as now, knowing next time this happens you could possibly end up with a dead animal, a seriously injured animal, and/or one that will never fully recover from its injuries. Plus an enormous vets bill which may or may not be paid by insurers.

Leave and find somewhere better. That may apprear to be more expensive, but could work out considerably cheaper in the long run. This is actually the option I took when I was in your situation, and looking back, it was the best thing I ever did.
 
Dont hesitate - just leave as quick as possible. It is not worth the risk.

It took me ages to find a yard with good turnout round here, but in the end I had to sacrifice the turnout to get my mare out of a field with dodgy fencing. It was fine when I moved there, but after 4 years the fencing started to need maintenance and unfortunately the field owner liked to do patch up jobs with baling twine! I moved within 2 weeks.

Not worth the risk IMO
 
rockysmum said:
Its no good blaming the YO, he is what he is, its your choice to stay.
Click to expand...

absolutely this! the YO may be responsible for for the fencing etc but you are in charge of where you livery your pony.
if you think the YO is putting your pony at risk then you need to either move pony or sort the fencing yourself.
 
Vectro said:
What do you expect, its a diy yard, fix it yourself that's the point of diy. Clearly your not cut out for this yard so move.
Click to expand...

not necessarily, I would class DIY as my horse, not fencing, of course if my horse broke it, I'd fix it, or pay for the materials, the yard should supply a safe and secure place for you to keep your horse and the money you pay them, should go towards maintenance, otherwise, what are you paying them for, other than the privilege of keeping your horse there obviously. DIY is regarding the upkeep of your animal, in my eyes :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top