DIY yard rule regarding when to muck out..

All very well to say get up earlier. However shift workers may have to work late and keep going and active well into the evening. No good being too tired for your family either. And those of us on diy get up early anyway to feed and turn out. And some of us are getting old!
 
Tinypony said:
I hate it when YO's use a sledgehammer to crack a nut. If they are unhappy with one livery they should tackle that direct. Maybe ask if the rule could be amended to all stables to be mucked out before horse put back in?

Winkingwillow, I'm just wondering, why would you love to see all stables mucked out by midday? What purpose does that serve apart from cosmetic? On a DIY livery yard all that needs to happen is that people need to muck out before their horse comes back in. I can understand it being different on a livery yard where staff do the mucking out.
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Sometimes horse needs to come in for farrier or vet and owner can't be there and I just hate putting a horse into a dirty stable. Yes I know it Doesn't do them any harm before anyone has a go, it's just something peculiar to me. The other reason for me is if I am showing any prospective clients around the yard, it would just be so much nicer if when they happen to pop their head over any stable doors, it all looked nice and tidy. That's all really.
 
teasle said:
All very well to say get up earlier. However shift workers may have to work late and keep going and active well into the evening. No good being too tired for your family either. And those of us on diy get up early anyway to feed and turn out. And some of us are getting old!
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That's exactly why I love being on the yard I am on. I often end up going there in the middle of the night or late evening in the winter when my horse is stabled at night because I do on call shifts, and very often am called out til early hours. So I have to work around that and go and muck out/bring in when I finish work...which could be anytime at all... :-). My YO doesn't care so long as I let him know before 10pm that I am likely to be there very late or in the night.
 
3OldPonies said:
Makes sense to me, if you do it first thing, which I on my own little pad did when my boys used to come in, you can stack the bedding at one side and let the floor dry out a bit. Stick it back down after riding or about an hour before bringing in to give the dust time to settle.
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I wonder this myself. I think the only answer can be that they don't... I like to leave my floor clear to dry when the stable is empty - keeps the ammonia smell down.

I have looked after horses for people when you go to muck out and the bed had been left down all day and you lift it and the wet is all pink and stinky. It makes my eyes sting and I hate putting a horse in a stable that smells like that straight after mucking out. When I lift my wet, it is just that - wet. Not old smelly wet. My stables smell like wood chip :)

It's making me gag thinking about that horrible fishy smell :(
 
Never heard of this rule but to all those saying we work so not possible, iv got 4 horses soon to be 5 and I muck out/water buckets/haynets and brush up all before work for 8am and that inclu taking my son to the childminder. I get up the yard at 5am. It can be done if people are willing to get up earlier but its a silly rule and I wouldn't entertain it.

My yard has no rules and we all get on fab with no issues
 
thatsmygirl said:
Never heard of this rule but to all those saying we work so not possible, iv got 4 horses soon to be 5 and I muck out/water buckets/haynets and brush up all before work for 8am and that inclu taking my son to the childminder. I get up the yard at 5am. It can be done if people are willing to get up earlier but its a silly rule and I wouldn't entertain it.

My yard has no rules and we all get on fab with no issues
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And you are how old.....???????? Will you be able to do this as you approach and pass 60?
 
I would like this expectation/rule over cold winter months, so if the weather suddenly changes or for whatever reason the horses owner cannot get down, you can grab in the horse and put into a clean stable without having to worry about mucking/skipping how ever many horses there are out.
 
thatsmygirl said:
Never heard of this rule but to all those saying we work so not possible, iv got 4 horses soon to be 5 and I muck out/water buckets/haynets and brush up all before work for 8am and that inclu taking my son to the childminder. I get up the yard at 5am. It can be done if people are willing to get up earlier but its a silly rule and I wouldn't entertain it.

So how would you cope if you were a firefighter for example and worked their shifts???!!!
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As someone who often does late shift finishing at 21.45 (provided no late stay due to emergency) then being back into work at 07.15 next day on early shift mucking out before work is impossible. I go after late shift to bring him in everything ready in stable, go home, sort cats etc, sleep then up by 5.45 to get ready & put horse out (5 miles from home in opposite direction from work)then make it to work just in time. Not everyone does a 9-5, & some jobs are 24/7 7 days a week service & we shouldn't be discriminated against. I do my hardest to make sure my horse is well looked after & wants for nothing. Luckily no restrictions on visiting either & my YO is very understanding re my hours.
 
Janovich said:
thatsmygirl said:
Never heard of this rule but to all those saying we work so not possible, iv got 4 horses soon to be 5 and I muck out/water buckets/haynets and brush up all before work for 8am and that inclu taking my son to the childminder. I get up the yard at 5am. It can be done if people are willing to get up earlier but its a silly rule and I wouldn't entertain it.

So how would you cope if you were a firefighter for example and worked their shifts???!!!
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My point exactly.
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My friend was a firefighter and managed fine. Another was an ambulance driver with 6 horses. Again, no problem. I managed with young children and nursing shifts . Basically, if you want to, you do. If time is so limited perhaps diy is not the right choice.
 
MerrySherryRider said:
My friend was a firefighter and managed fine. Another was an ambulance driver with 6 horses. Again, no problem. I managed with young children and nursing shifts . Basically, if you want to, you do. If time is so limited perhaps diy is not the right choice.
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I agree with you MSR to a point,.. but to be informed that you have to be mucked out by a certain time of day is NOT going to fit in with alot of folk working shifts, so yes, as you've said, DIY is not the way to go in this case, and hence, why shift workers being told they have to perform certain stable duties/tasks by a certain hour is never going to fit with their way of life! They will almost certainly end up having to cough up and pay for certains duties to be done on a number of days of the week when their own working hours do not fit in with rules of this kind.
 
what a joke! as long as its cleared once a day, if that's their rule, it shouldn't matter when its done! I do mine first thing during the week but at the weekend it can be any time! craziness!
 
Camilla's Aunty Em said:
If you muck every evening or every morning, there's still the same amount of time between clear outs!
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Yes but the environment isn't consistent - it's warmer during the day and that will hasten breakdown/decay of waste. It might not make much difference but it does make some difference. Plus if you want to leave the floor clear to dry/air it is more effective to do that in the warmer part of the day.

Personally I don't think this rule is unreasonable provided it is applied with common sense. Since the OP is a long-standing livery, who can be relied upon to muck out properly once they have time to do it, the YO should be willing to make an exception - especially as this is a new rule. I suspect this is either a case of using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut or the YO is scared to confront whoever is leaving their stable messy all the time.
 
Tinypony said:
This reminds me why I'm happy to no longer be on a livery yard. One reason for a start - get away from trivial rules.
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This! I am on a livery yard but couldn't be bothered with all that nonsense, I'd sell the horse first. Horse gets mucked out after work. If it's wet I'll even bring him in to his dirty stable and muck out round him whilst he eats his hay net: he's never complained ;-)

For those that say a spotless yard before X o'clock gives a good impression to prospective clients I honestly disagree. I understand totally from a full livery POV but for those on DIY I bet it sets alarm bells off with people wondering how many rules they'll need to work their lives around to accommodate their hobby!
 
Janovich said:
I agree with you MSR to a point,.. but to be informed that you have to be mucked out by a certain time of day is NOT going to fit in with alot of folk working shifts, so yes, as you've said, DIY is not the way to go in this case, and hence, why shift workers being told they have to perform certain stable duties/tasks by a certain hour is never going to fit with their way of life! They will almost certainly end up having to cough up and pay for certains duties to be done on a number of days of the week when their own working hours do not fit in with rules of this kind.
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I think we all hate it when a YO changes the rules, but we all either comply or move on. Apart from the smell in an American barn it's not the worst thing to leave a stable all day, but it does make sense to leave a stable clean in case of an emergency or neighbouring horses on box rest.
 
Completely unreasonable rule for some people! I live in the centre of town and my yard is 14 miles away! there is no way i would have time to go to the yard to get my horse mucked out then get home for a shower - i refuse to go into work smelly it is just unprofessional - and then get back to work (10 miles from house 4 from yard) in time for work when you consider the rush hour traffic that i would then have to contend with! i would have to be at the yard before 5 am to get everything done and make it through the traffic! i would then have to go back at night and ride, then with traffic again i wouldnt get home until 9pm!
my horse is turned out in the morning and then after work i muck out her box and take her in. i also am carer for my grandparents as they both have dementia and i have to go there before and after work to make sure they are well. horses and work are not the only things that some people are dealing with, factor in everything else and it sometimes is not possibel to get up earlier, its not laziness on my part but the fact that i actually need sleep and i dont think that my 90 year old grandparents would appreciate their wake up call at 4 am!
 
To those that say if you can t muck out before work you should not be on diy, remember that some people have their horses for 20 plus years, and their lives and responsibilities change in that time, not necessarily bringing them extra money.Do you want to see these horses on the market that is crowded already or pts?
 
This. I start work at 2.25am on my earliest start. And on late's finish at 3am in the morning. I have to fit sleep in somewhere lol. This is why when my horses lived in I always had to be in livery, to ensure they were turned out and mucked out. Nights are infact the best shift for looking after them. As I can get all the jobs done in the morning and then go back up before work too.

Now they live out life is a lot easier. OH can go chuck their feeds to them and check them over etc.
 
saddlesore said:
For those that say a spotless yard before X o'clock gives a good impression to prospective clients I honestly disagree. I understand totally from a full livery POV but for those on DIY I bet it sets alarm bells off with people wondering how many rules they'll need to work their lives around to accommodate their hobby!
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I agree. I can't stand spotless yards where someone is on your case if you don't sweep up every speck of dirt ten seconds after you've caused it. I sweep up once, before taking the barrow to the muck heap. Any mess caused after that (eg shedding coat, chippings blowing off the barrow) get swept up tomorrow. Life is too short FGS.

As for "not having time" to muck out mornings meaning people "shouldn't be on DIY" - its not lack of time, its a lifestyle choice. I don't want to get up at 4am so I can be at the yard, stables all finished and horses out, then home to shower and breakfast, before heading off for work. It's all done in a clock-watching stressed rush and means going to bed at 8pm (I need 8hrs sleep), instead of being a chance to take my time, potter about and relax after work. I guess it may work fine if you are single, childless and friendless and happy to stay that way :tongue3: . But if not, in a world where the majority of people still work days, do family stuff and go out eves, sleeping at night, I wouldn't be happy with a YO imposing a particular lifestyle on me with their daft rules.
 
Interesting to hear peoples POV. Like I said I can see both sides (kind of!), and will sort something out to make it work for us- not a problem for now as horse is out overnight anyway :)
 
Fides said:
I have looked after horses for people when you go to muck out and the bed had been left down all day and you lift it and the wet is all pink and stinky. It makes my eyes sting and I hate putting a horse in a stable that smells like that straight after mucking out. When I lift my wet, it is just that - wet. Not old smelly wet. My stables smell like wood chip :)
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I have a very wet horse. When I muck out eves the bed is never pink and stinky, that doesn't happen unless the wet has been left from a few days to a week. I suspect the people asking you favours are being a bit cheeky and only skipping out in the days prior.
 
Another consideration..

If I muck out before work I am likely to be rushing to get it done and get to work and I probably miss bits.

When I muck out after work I relax and take my time and do a thorough job which ultimately leads to a cleaner stable overall.
 
I've not read all the replies (don't you just hate that! ;p) but I cannot stand not mucking out before I go to work-it just doesn't happen and my horses are at home. I have a 45 min commute although I also work flexi. When I was on DIY I got there early and when I couldn't I paid for livery. I always hated the thought of horses going back into a dirty stable so I wouldn't personally do it. I also disliked those sorts of yards where people are muckily mucking out until 9pm at night-but then, I never chose those yards, I get that some people have to/want to.
 
When either of mine are in, I'll muck out in the morning *if* said horse is on 24/7 box rest, then again in the evening. If they are in through the night, out in the morning, I'll tend to leave mucking out till the evening or very quickly skip out and finish off properly in the evening.

There are days where that wouldn't be possible, like tomorrow for example, I have to be on a bus by 7:15am, my yard opens at 7am, and is 10mins in the wrong direction for getting the bus. I'd need to go up much earlier and that would depend on the YO saying it was ok for me to be there at 5:45am to get enough time to muck out, get home, get showered and ready for work.

I would struggle with that rule OP, I wouldn't be very happy about it either.
 
At the risk of causing an almighty ruck - and I can see that for shiftworkers or people who don't have yards close or even at home mucking out a.m. can be awkward, how do you justify to yourselves allowing the ammonia to build up during the day/week if you muck out in the evening? Would it not be better if you struggle to get it done, to go assisted DIY or have a sharer so that stuff doesn't build up and have a chance to affect your horse's breathing? What would you do if your horse was on box-rest, or couldn't be turned out for any reason leave it to stagnate in a dirty bed all day?

btw - don't shout at me, I'm just interested that's all.

And I'm not knocking you, just it does start to raise some welfare questions, presumably YO's wouldn't need to put rules in place if they didn't feel the need.

One other thing, someone mentioned yard sweeping. It's not just done to look pretty! If a yard is messy then it is very easy to miss stuff that could get stuck in a horse's foot, or other problems such as slipping if there is mud and loose hair all over the place.
 
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