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

[The Fuzzy Furry]

If you want to stay there, buy some electric fencing, and fence the field/part of it yourself. Your electric fencing means it's yours to take with you when you leave, you could do a smaller bit with one other pony as companion to yours if you worked that out with the other liveries, and with a decent energiser/battery, you won't have escapee pony problems. I've done that in the past to stop ponies eating fencing but also where the fencing is a tad wobbly, and it's worked really well.

This ^ so perhaps try to do this, or entertain moving elsewhere where the fencing will keep your animals in.

It IS a landowners responsibility to prevent stock from straying from their land and if this is not prevented, then the LO is liable for any damages.

This does not take into account how poor any fencing is, neither do horses come under 'livestock' BUT he can still be accountable for damages caused, though you should also make sure your equine IS insured for 3rd party liability (such as being a gold member of the BHS which would cover you)

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

I kept my old horse (in the 1970s) on several different DIY yards over the years I had him, and my current horse Mollie is on her second DIY yard. Yet I've never seen or been offered a contract at any of those places.

Do other people have contracts, and it's just me?

Fiona, having been bitten v hard by the 2nd livery I ever took in back in the early 1980's, I've provided a contract copy for any potential liveries so they can see exactly what is/is not provided (even DIY).
Covers everyone for when rent is due, liabilities etc

Made things so much easier on both sides

With ref to fencing & buildings etc, the contract stated that I as YO would maintain all to be stock proof, water proof etc, but proven damages done by livery horse/pony/owner would incur either them to replace said item/rail etc or that I would and this would be added to their next month bill.

I also took - and still take - 2 months livery as a deposit as well as a month livery up front to cover for midnight flits/damages not paid for. Since doing this, have not (hand on heart) had a problem owner since

 

[Penny Less]

Our DIY yard is all DIY! We fix the fencing ourselves if we can and do minor repairs in the stables, replacing bolts etc. Its not ideal, but we dont pay that much, we have all year grazing and can pretty much do as we want. Also the farm water is on a meter and I know a chunk of our livery goes on that, and business rates, so not much left for repairs. Its a case of do it or leave, we all have a choice

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

Landowners do have to fence fields to be secure. However, the ability to do this in practical terms may well be influenced by how much money actually comes in from the renting of the fields, since fencing is vastly expensive and DIY livery costs have in some places not kept pace. If you are paying a full price for DIY then yep its reasonable to expect secure fields, if not, then TBH thats not so reasonable esp with a houdini pony (I have one so I know what they are like...)

Bear in mind also that the landowners responsibility can be fulfilled by fencing which would stop 'stock' from straying ie farm animals, so a couple of lines of barbed wire could fulfil the legals. You could try suing them if horse injured on barbed but thats more complex.

TBH if the fencing isnt suitable and they wont fix it then really you have to buy your own portable stuff that you can take when you leave (I have done this before), put up with it and accept the risk or move yards.

A decision to do nothing is still a decision you are taking - and your knowledge of the poor state of the fencing would count against you if anything happened.

NB also make sure you have gold BHS cover or equivalent to insure yourself against 3rd party liability if there is a field break out and someone else sues.

 

[sophiebailey]

Or a mum/sister/female OH for that matter?! Please don't assume women can't fix fences..

HAHA good point I just assumed that as i'm utterly useless at anything to do with fencing that other people were too muah hah hah

 

[I See Clover]

I agree with Amy ^^. AFAIC, DIY means you do your own horse. I fail to see why you should be expected to maintain fencing. I mean, you don't get out and harrow the fields, do you?

I fix fences if necessary as my YO is exactly like the OP's, but I don't think it's my responsibility. If it's my horse's safety, I'll fix stuff, but the YO should maintain fences etc as we're paying him money for a stable and safe grazing.

I'm delighted to say that there's now someone in charge of repairs, frankly more than time!

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

Wow, what a variety eh.

I'm guessing the cocky "your diy so pay for fencing and maintenance on top of your tack rate" are the livery yard owners and the "move quick" are the liveries, I think.

Put it this way. When on DIY you rent facilities for your horse, unless you've agreed that you will rent the land, there's a difference,.do you rent a space for the horse or do you have a field to yourself?

If I should just fix my fencing can I just build a school whilst I'm at it? Or dump a caravan there?

You can't have the penny and the bun. You either rent someone the facilities to keep a horse or you rent them a field in which they are responsible for.

Agree with all of the above.

 

[Moobucket]

I'd be very wary of a yard that doesn't have a contract as you are dealing with potentially very expensive situations... liability for land, buildings, horse welfare.

I have a contract just so everyone knows where they stand. I insist on doing all maintainance to avoid the situation where liveries are paying out for fencing, hedging etc. If you leave you can't take them with you can you!?

I think you need to be realistic about the cost of running a yard. Fencing can be up to £20 a meter.

If you are paying bottom end prices, have no contract and sagging barbed wire fences everywhere then I think you need to re-evaluate your sense of a bargain!

 

[amandaco2]

erm move?
there are no laws, if people are willing to stay and pay to be there, then these yards will never improve

 

[Marydoll]

This ^ so perhaps try to do this, or entertain moving elsewhere where the fencing will keep your animals in.

It IS a landowners responsibility to prevent stock from straying from their land and if this is not prevented, then the LO is liable for any damages.

This does not take into account how poor any fencing is, neither do horses come under 'livestock' BUT he can still be accountable for damages caused, though you should also make sure your equine IS insured for 3rd party liability (such as being a gold member of the BHS which would cover you)

Horses do come under livestock i checked with the police when mine were being worried by a dog.

 

[FionaM12]

HAHA good point I just assumed that as i'm utterly useless at anything to do with fencing that other people were too muah hah hah

Don't tell anyone but so am I . But lots of women aren't.