DIYers -How much do you do for your yard ?

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MerrySherryRider

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Reading posts recently about DIY YO's offering a service made me wonder about how much liveries do on their yard or do they believe everything is the responsibility of the YO ?
Would you or have you, for instance, fill water buckets for the horses if troughs were not working, clear snow or organise a poo picking rota, or muck out the herds field shelter, pick ragwort, clear a blocked drain or (with permission) put up better lights, repair a broken latch on your stable door, mend electric fencing...
Do you believe that its the YO's responsibility to keep everything ticking over or do you, when possible, do tasks that benefit everyone ? Does your yard have DIY-handy livery/OH who lends a hand with small tasks ?
Does DIY mean getting stuck in or leaving it to the YO ?
 
It depends on the situation on a livery yard i would expect those to be the responsibility of the YO (obviously poo-picking your own fields but not organising a rota). I keep my three on a friends yard, they don't charge me a lot for it and mine are the only three horses there so i mainly maintain it myself.

I personally think DIY means do your horse yourself, not run the yard yourself otherwise your always going to have someone disgruntled that their doing more than someone else! I actually want to move my one horse (one is my mums, and the other is the YO's that i look after only one is actually mine) to a livery yard so i can get away from maintaining it as it's so much work, i don't envy yard owners!
 
The first few yards I was on as DIY livery if it wasn't major then we did it ourselves but fence repairs etc were done by YO. This one is very much DIY - have to mend fences, strim paddocks (pony's one gets full of docks), pull ragwort, fix light bulbs - basically if it's broken and it affects me I fix it coz YO isn't going to bother unless if affects her.

Personally I believe the DIY aspect is the looking after of the horse and shouldn't cover the yard after all you're paying to be there and broken doors, fences etc should be fixed by the YO. Then again I say that knowing that I pay quite a lot per month, perhaps if you really don't pay much then it might be different.
 
We are on a very small livery yard with only 4 liveries and YO horses! We are not expected to do any repair work at all the YO OH does it all! We are responsible for poo picking our own field (my mare and my friend mare share field) they repair and fencing, stable doors, lights etc! They even cleared a path in the snow :). They are very strict on keeping the place clean and tidy so we have to keep the outside of our stables, feed room and hay shed spotlessly clean.
 
Before we got our own land & stables, I kept our 2 on a DIY yard.

I used to regularly sweep the whole yard, dig the muck heap, help roll the big bale hay out of the loft, check all the horses water first thing in the morning, put up electric fencing, carry water to fields when trough froze, OH even helped harrow & roll fields when he was off work. Basically we helped out because we had the time spare ^ wanted to do it.

I didn't mind helping out, although it wasn't expected by the YO & it was appreciated.

I now have my own place & do everything myself!

To me DIY means doing your horse yourself, not maintaining field/yard, unless you rent grazing & stable or yard, then you are responsible for everything.
 
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We do everything on our yard, poo-picking, fixing fencing, salting the yard, clearing snow and general repairs etc. Our YO is 80 though, I wouldn't expect to do that anywhere else.
 
We have 15 horses and we (saying we its always me as i seem to get there first) clear the ice, move any broken bits of fencing (if its electric we tie it back together and if wooden tell the yard owner who will then replace), fill water buckets, poo pick and every single other thing you listed - the yard owner is not horsey at all and wants nothing to do with the yard, he only bought it to stop houses being built on it as he lives next door!! He will spend money when its needed of course (like on new fencing, burst pipes etc) but we manage and run the yard betweeen ourselves and it works out well :). We only go to the yard owner when something is broken that requires money to fix! One of the liverys is "yard manager" and gets to keep her trailer on the yard for free in return for making sure all us other liverys have someone to ask if something needs fixing (only she talks to the yard owner) but other than that it works well. That is IMO how a DIY yard should be, its in the name ;).

I feed every horse in the mornings too (breakfasts left outside stables) so nothing gets left out and if anyone is stuck and cant get up i will do there horse etc so we dont need a YO ;).
 
When it snowed here it was our YO who slipped and hurt herself (not badly thank god). She told us (the DIY'ers) where the salt was and we cleared our own path to the manure pile and salted it. We also cleaned up the pile where she fell and dumped her wheelbarrow.

I regularly fill all the horses waters when I top up my horse's. I sweep the entire aisleway when I'm done mucking my stall (it's an "American" style barn) and will give the horses that are allowed an extra flake of hay. If a board is down in my paddock, I will attempt to nail it back myself, although I haven't been super successful in that regard. If the weather is bad and the horses are out, I will bring them all in. The outdoor riding ring gets very mucky (as it mostly rains here), so after we finish riding, we rake it smooth so that large puddles don't form.

I think a nice barn is everyone's responsibility. Sitting back and waiting for someone else to do it for you is just counterproductive in my opinion.
 
Azmar said:
Varies tremendously. I know as I have moved yards few times! One, I do all above for my peace of mind I.e. Mend Walls, ragwort my fields, and all others I can manage to stop it blowing to mine, fit new door latches get door re-hung, water proof leaking roof(husband), weed field and sort winter grazing. Clean and tidy for BHS inspection. However it is close to home and so far I consider extras worth the effort. I do really consider it to be YO responsibility to maintain upkeep, but I live in the real world. Having said all this I have been a YO so I do appreciate stresses. On this yard I would and could keep on top of it all and make it so much better. Hey ho......::rolleyes:
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Our YO is a farmer - he will fix fencing, stables, lighting etc but other than that we are responsible for our own grazing (individual turnout), poo picking, ragwort etc. We also just keep the area outside our stables clean as well as the feed/hay barns. It actually works very well and everyone does their bit. It possibly helps that is it pretty exculsively an adult yard.
 
Having been on full livery and having to get OH to put lights up so I could ride and see in my stables to going on DIY, I will not do anything unless it affects my horses. I got sick of repairing fencing, due to other owners not bothering. Having to go round giving livery horses hay at 5.30, as they had run out etc.
I am now a selfish moo who only looks after mine and friends horses, as I do not run the yard.
 
At my yard, me and one other tend to do most things otherwise it won't get done. I fence off fields, clean out troughs, fix fences, sweep yard, tidy up the muck heap, check water for everyone, defrost taps, fill water holder and everything in between. Our yard it very much so rough and ready. I don't mind doing these bits as we have quite a lot of freedom (except when YO is on one) but I get annoyed that I have to do everything with my field even though I share it with 4 others. If I don't do it, it doesn't get done, and seeing as Harry is my first priority, it means everyone else benefits from it but hey ho.

I do think I do more than you would usually expect and it can be highly frustrating at times buy hey ho, as long as Harry is happy and I can do what I want, it's worth it :)
 
I seem to remember, from the law module at Uni, that on a DIY yard, the upkeep of the yard etc. is the responsibility of the YO for legal purposes. I don't remember the ins and outs of it though.
 
i have my two on grass livery - although DIY in the sense that it isn't full grass livery.

although, i am really, really lucky that all the 'yard' (we have stables, barns, storage areas, hard standing areas and the actual grazing) is owned by my friend and there are five of us in total, who are all friends. we all tend to 'muck in' and do things for ourselves and everyone else - for example, yesterday in one of the sections were two cobs are (which is separate from where the others non-good doers are) the fencing had broken slightly, so i mended it as i was there and text and left a note explaining what i had done. likewise, i'd always check water in fields and top up hay if neccessary. with things like lights that need replacing - generally, we'll just do whatever is easiest, if one of us is going past a shop and can pop in and buy a replacement, then we will do. equally, if my other half or one of the ladies other half is there and can replace it, then we will do.

poo picking and ragwort pulling - we share among ourselves, in a rota. as i am free lance and work differing hours, then i will often poo pick during the week and the favour is repayed at the weekend.

same for simple, small things - we all take turns in buying milk, tea and biscuits and it all works out pretty fairly - from everything from feeding in the mornings, popping another rug on if the owner can't get there at a certain time, late night checks to smashing the ice on troughs or laying down grit or fixing a leak (generally, 'man jobs' fall to an unlucky other half :D).

for 'big' jobs that involve the local, friendly farmer we all club together and spread the cost among ourselves.

we all tidy up after ourselves - if i've used the tie up area for my trimmer, then it makes sense that i'll sweep up and leave it in the state i found it.

we all look out for each other and each other's horses - and no-one ever minds returning the favour. it works really well, as we are like minded, have similar ideas on looking after horses (we all veer towards as natural an approach as possible) and it works well as a couple of the people work 9-5, one lady is a stay at home mum, one works part-time and i like myself work for myself and set my own hours - some days i'm there two or three times a day, other times i might only be able to fit in one visit a day, but i know that my horses will be looked after for me and more hay put in/rugs changed if need be.

we've never had any problems ... although before, when i was on true DIY yards were a completely different kettle of fish and i :eek: looking back at what i put up with and am so, so glad for the set up i have now :D
 
Everything! We have repainted stables, changed locks to super sturdy ones, harrow, roll, reseed etc. in the spring, pull ragwort, installed CCTV and floodlighting, all of that stuff :D That said, it is just us on the yard, and no YM, so it is VERY DIY :D
 
My experiences on three yards:
Yard 1: YO always on yard doing jobs - fixed fencing, electrics, plumbing, drove tractor round, swept/leafblower yard, cut verges, painted fences, pressure washed stables/yard etc. Yard was immaculate and never had to do a thing except always sweep up after ourselves to maintain immaculateness!!
Yard 2: YO claimed to be farmer. We did everything, fixed (electric) fencing, carried water, dealt with weeds, dangerous objects in fields, swept, maintained yard. Only thing done was emptying muck heap and moving big bales by tractor. Nice big wheelbarrows were provided tho!
Yard 3: YO is also contractor so does all fencing, maintains paths/gateways, sprays weeds, harrows, brushes yard with tractor, grits common areas, sorts lighting, plumbing and general handyman type stuff, shifts bales and muck trailer. I also; clear snow and ice outside my stables, dig weeds where spray hasn't reached, empty shared muck bins (although I might be the only 1 on a yard of 30 who does this last one!!)
 
Yard 1 - I did everything myself which I would expect but if there was a problem with fencing or repairs needed doing then YO would do it.

Yard 2 - It drives me mad sometimes. You have to fix fencing, fix water, fix hoses, buy your hose, buy your own lightbulbs etc., etc. I think things like this should be down to the YO, but I'm on a farm and the farmer has just let the place go down hill and never gets off his ****
 
I'm very lucky on my current yard as it is very well maintained. If I have any gripes, YO will work with me to resolve them.

All I need to do is ensure my horses have food (grass/hay), water (if auto drinker is frozen) and poo-pick. I have told YO that I will deal with Ragwort etc in my field as they had been expecting to be taking this on.
Any little bits and pieces I can do to help, then I will.
 
I'll fix anything that needs fixing, help fence 10 acre fields, help lay the outdoor arena surface, wheelbarrow 5 gallon drums of water across the field when the hosepipe freezes, and ragwort the field because its my horses I'm looking after, and I have a really good relationship with my YO, so when I cant get to the yard because of 10 inches of snow, he fed, hayed and watered foalie for no extra charge, and feeds on a morning for no extra charge,(although he did get an extra special bottle of whisky for christmas), and if I need help with anything he's there, and if he goes on holiday I'll brave the stallion for feeds and mucking out, so I wouldnt change it for the world.
 
I'm a DIY YO who lives on-site - and keep my own horse at home alongside the livery's. I take responsibility for supplying water; electricity; grazing & loose-boxes - all part of the livery "fee". Also fixtures and fittings like stable doors, tack-rooms etc. Basically whatever's there, be in fencing/gates, stable doors/windows etc, if its there when the livery takes over; and they or their horse breaks it, then its their responsibility to fix or pay cost of repair.

I leave livery's to take responsibility for if they need to sub-divide field by electric fencing; basically they know what fencing their horse needs and if I as YO put something up and their horses trash it and/or (worse) get tangled up in it, nobody's gonna thank me, but if they put it up themselves, then (sorry to be hard hearted) and horseys get tangled up, then that's their problem.

Poo picking is their responsibility (they have their own field); however if I see ragwort out there I'll deal with it. Ditto field maintenance - my responsibility.

In the recent cold snap, we all pitched in with a shovel party and got the place as clear as we could, then put down some rock-salt to keep it that way as much as possible.

Its a different scenario when YO lives on-site and keeps their horse there too I think; rather than some remote DIY yard where the livery hires the yard rather than a livery space, if you see what I mean. If I was hiring out a "yard" I'd probably expect the hirer(s) to take more responsibility for stuff like fencing/field maintenance etc, apart from maintenance of stuff like water/electric, or other fixtures etc., which would need to be decided upon at the time of commencement of the lease, a bit like a house tenancy I guess.

In a DIY situation, I would certainly not expect anyone to leave their horses or tasks for someone else to "do" - and would ask anyone to leave that did so.
 
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