Do i pay or not pay?

[Friesianfoal1999]

Hi there,

Question, would you pay?
I have just been told we have to pay for the harrowing for the field, we have been at the yard for a year and a half. And it wasnt harrowed for a couple of years before we got here.
We are also handing in our notice on this thursday coming and will be leaving 4 weeks after that.
Would you pay? i feel like im just paying for them to benefit from it?
I think its fair to pay half of the amount asked for what we have used.

what do you think?? be honest i want to do whats right

 

[meleeka]

It depends on if you want to leave on good terms and if you don’t mind burning your bridges. If you are going because or something they’ve done or not don’t then no, I probably wouldn’t pay.

 

[kathantoinette]

Is there a written contract? Did it state who was responsible for paying for the harrowing of the field? How much money are they asking for?

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I would expect the cost of harrowing to be factored into your normal monthly livery fee, so no, I wouldn't pay extra.

 

[Friesianfoal1999]

It depends on if you want to leave on good terms and if you don’t mind burning your bridges. If you are going because or something they’ve done or not don’t then no, I probably wouldn’t pay.

Thanks !

Is there a written contract? Did it state who was responsible for paying for the harrowing of the field? How much money are they asking for?

Yep there is and it does state we have to. But what annoys me is 6 other horses have been on the yard in the last year alone and have left.

 

[holeymoley]

I agree with the others on it depending on what terms you want to leave.

It should be factored in to livery fees though... a bit like a yard I was at charging through the nose for basic diy and then charging an extra £25 a month for muck heap removal! Rats.

 

[Shay]

If you haven't handed in your notice yet - yes. You are legally responsible under the terms of the contract. If you have handed in your notice - then possibly no, depending on the precise terms.

But is it going to be enforced? Quite probably not - and obviosuly if procedings are issued against you then just pay. But more importantly is reputation. Is it going to matter to other YOs and is it going to impact your choice of livery going forward?

Legal niceties aside - if you skipout on a livery bill other yards around you will know. I know some don't mind. It might depend on how many you have to choose from.

 

[Upthecreek]

If it’s in the contract you should pay according to what is stated as that is what you agreed to. Harrowing is necessary at this time of year and I don’t think it makes any difference that you are leaving. Personally I think it’s really poor form to sign a contract and then try to get out of what is agreed because you’ve decided to leave. Don’t forget once you’ve given notice you still have 4 weeks there and it could be quite unpleasant. Presumably you paid a deposit and YO could withhold this if you break the terms of the contract.

 

[holeymoley]

Ah if it’s in the contract then yes you need to pay.

 

[Nasicus]

If it a field you had use of over winter? If so, then yes, as you've used it and the horses are the reason it needs harrowing now, presumably to break up the poo and help smooth it out a bit.
It's not 'harrowing for their future benefit' so much as 'harrowing to repair the (unavoidable) damage your horses have done' in that case.

 

[AmyMay]

Yep, you pay as per your contract.

 

[criso]

You will have to pay as it's in the contract but I do see why it feels unfair as other people who happened to leave before the bill came in have not and their horses have had use of the land and contributed to the need to for it to be done.

It's why it makes more sense to include it in the livery charge, then everyone contributes towards it for the time they are there.

 

[Red-1]

Yes I would pay, for the reasons stated above.

It can't be a fortune?

 

[Sussexbythesea]

I don’t think I’d pay given they didn’t harrow last year or previous years. Have they delivered everything they say they will in their side of the contract? IME livery contracts are not worth the paper they’re written on as often they don’t deliver their side but expect liveries to comply. They’ll also change them whenever it suits.

 

[Trouper]

I wouldn't imagine that harrowing costs shared out between liveries would be enormous so I would pay and ride off into the sunset from the moral high ground. If it is in your contract, but they have not done it yearly in the 18 months you have been there, then you have already "benefitted" from one missed harrowing. Not worth the argument I think.

 

[Jill's Gym Karma]

Yes I would pay, but I would politely suggest to the Yard Owner that this be included in monthly livery fees going forward, with a clear costs breakdown so there are no disgruntled feelings in future.

 

[Dusty 123]

Yes I would pay there is no point living on bad teams because you didn’t pay . You don’t want to give yourself a bad reputation because other yards will find out . Once it’s in a contract you have to pay. I actually never heard of a yard expecting people to pay for harrowing I always got it for free.

 

[IrishMilo]

If it's in your contract then I think you're probably better off paying and leaving on good terms.