DIY v Full - a very strange way to describe it.....

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pitter_patter

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Just sat down to read my copy of a well known 'other' horse mag, as it had a bit in it about Yard politics, and I nearly spit out my coffee!!

It's got a 'case study' bit in it by a well known Bristol YO in there saying 2 things that I thought were a bit derogatory.

1) That people on full livery are more likely to be intelligent & professional people (and people on DIY are not then?)

2) People who see their horse as a substitute baby are the hardest to deal with (Why? because it read like they didn't do what the YO told them to?)

So am I alone in thinking that this is a bit 'rude'?

I know a fair few people who have high level management jobs who have either got their own yard set up or on a DIY yard, who compete to a very high standard that I am in AWE of!!

What do you guys think?

You never get this from Horse & Hound magazine!! I know what mag I'll be spending my hard earned pennies on in future!!
 
Well, having been the (unnamed) subject of a Horse and Hound case study about unreasonable YOs a few years ago, I can tell you not to believe all you read in any magazines
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The livery in question had been kicked off 8 yards before landing in mine (I didn't know her history obviously at that point) and I thought I was very polite when I asked her to leave, though she disagreed hence her "interview" with H&H
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I maybe wouldn't make the same generalisations that the "Bristol YO" has made, but I could provide some others
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Ouch!! I do seriously feel for YO's in many cases!!

We have a saying that every yard has a weirdo in it, and if you say that you don't think your yard has, then its probably you! ALL TONGUE IN CHEEK!! Looks like that was yours then!

I just think that she may have alienated a lot of people by those sweeping generalisations!!
 
I think those comments are badly worded but probably have some truth between them. I'm guessing more people on Full livery have busy careers. I'm on DIY and work fulltime mon-fri but many on my yard work from home or are not fulltime.

As for the substitute baby thing I think calling them harder to deal with is a bad way of putting it. They probably have more to say to YOs as DIYers are there every day. But when you put your horse on full livery you give them more responsibility for your horse and probably dont go to see it everyday so might be less trouble or something.
 
I can understand that people who treat their horse as a substitute baby are harder for the YO to deal with than those who are more business like perhaps. People who see their horse as their baby might have more particular (but not necessarily good) requirements for how it should be managed & also take things more personally if the YO recommends something else? To "baby" a horse that also sounds a bit like spoiling it/setting clear boundaries? That's the associations I get anyway.
 
I used to have mine on DIY, but I was very easy to deal with! Ok I would sometimes not be happy about new rules or things but I would usually just grumble to myself (or on here) then get on with it.

If I was a full livery I would probably be a night mare as I would want things done MY way. haha Bit like having someone else looking after my baby :P
 
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I think you're all missing a key point here - YOs are usually mad as a box of frogs anyway.
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I've been to many, many yards, never been asked to leave or had any trouble, but still think that the majority of my past YOs have been deranged to various degrees.
If we take the example of the Bristol YO mentioned above (note - I haven't read the article) - it is not exactly the act of a sane, rational business woman to discuss her customers in anything less than flattering terms in print.
You wouldn't see a hotel manager bitch about their customers...
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From what I can remember the YO was saying she will only have full liveries in (due to the previously mentioned reasons) and that is why she believes her yard to be free of yard bitching and politics.
 
[ QUOTE ]
QR
I think you're all missing a key point here - YOs are usually mad as a box of frogs anyway.
I've been to many, many yards, never been asked to leave or had any trouble, but still think that the majority of my past YOs have been deranged to various degrees.
If we take the example of the Bristol YO mentioned above (note - I haven't read the article) - it is not exactly the act of a sane, rational business woman to discuss her customers in anything less than flattering terms in print.
You wouldn't see a hotel manager bitch about their customers...
S



[/ QUOTE ]

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Exactly. My experience is most YO's are complete and utter control freaks, so DIYs definitely upset them and their little control issues!

Our old YO is like this, she absolutely loves all her monied, abcentee full liveries because it means she can have her yard to herself and still not do a proper day's work like the rest of us lowly DIYers! She was always "so busy", yet has staff that muck out etc and rides her own horses during the day and was certainly never anywhere to be seen at 6am when I was doing my horse before a full days work and after at 6pm in the evening......

Funny thing is she reckons she earns more from DIY livery and additional services than she does on full livery, so a lot of her yard is now DIY and from what I have heard she moans like hell about the DIYs and the bitichness, but she is the worlds worst for that and favouritism/cliques.

Thankfully I'm now on a completely DIY yard owned by a lovely farmer who isn't horsey and its absolute heaven!!!! (and no I'm not writing this because I left on bad terms, I didn't and could go back tomorrow if I wished, just makes me laugh when you get comments like the OP posted about DIYs and full liveries!
 
i don't really see the issue with either statement?

most professional people DO keep their horses on full/part livery as they can afford it and tend not to have the time to do all of the yard chores and ride as well.

most people who treat their horse as their baby are irritating and tend to have irrational wants in relation to their horse.

i say all of this as someone who keeps their horses on full livery and very much treat one of my horses with kid gloves- and i don't deem myself as a professional either.
 
I have also found that people who keep their horses on full livery do so because they either can't be arsed to do the work
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which is all part of owning a horse or they don't have a clue
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and just like to leave it to the YO. They may as well go to a riding school and hire one
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Please note this is all said in jest (but many a true word spoke or written in jest)
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I think it is true that more 'professional' people are likely to keep their horses on full or part livery - simply because if you have a career that requires long hours, you are unlikely to be able to afford the time to keep a horse on DIY. I don't think there is any justification behind saying they are more intelligent though.

I do think its true that people who treat their horses like babies are likely to be more difficult - because they will be more fussy and potentially less rational with regards to treating the horse like a horse, not a child!
 
So really you could take it either way then? Obviously I'm reading it as a person that HAS been on DIY (and is now on full). AND I do treat my horse like a baby, but then I don't have any kids and after all he is my pet!!

At least I know that's one to cross off my list of never going to LOL!!

I think I'd fail the 'interview' anyway
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Obviously the recession didn't get to the A38 then and money is bountiful......
 
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