Do those on full livery really know what goes on?

[Gingerwitch]

Friend just phoned in tears, horse at livery yard where he has been for 6 months.... supposed to be turned out at 8ish and brought in at 4pm ish..... he is on full livery 7 days.... she has been away at her mums for the week, suppose to come back late tomorrow night, missed her boyfriend and horse too much, came back today - got to yard at 2 - yard "done" for the day not a yard owner or stable girl on site - bed was disgusting - she has had 8 wheel barrows of "wet" out, water buckets had all sorts in them - do not appear to have been changed for the last few days - horse stood in his lightweight turn out rug - and by the looks of it it has been on since she left on Monday morn... rub marks to shoulders are the tell tale sign, temps have gone from 13 degree to minus 2 over the last week.

Hay.... well apparantly the smell was bad enough - would appear they have just been topping up and then resoaking the nets he has not finished.

She met another livery and burst into tears - other livery looked at her scathingly and said - have you never checked out what time they come in normally ? and now you know why no one ever goes away.

She is upset and fuming - she has found a new yard to go to tomorrow BUT has just paid her December livery by direct debit - I have told her just to go - and write the money off as a chrismas prezzie to the horse - but do you really know what goes on on full livery yards, or do you just belive what you get told at the "show around" and when do you start to add two and two together and realise that the odd occasions you show up early - there appeared to be a valid reason for the horse to be in early.... or still in his box so late and did not think to check again because you trusted what you had been told.

 

[Ranyhyn]

Im sure the bank can retract that payment if she asks...but anyway I'd be playing holy hell with the yard and by God everyone would know about it. 8 barrows of wet and stinking conditions do not lend themselves to "maybe it hasn't been mucked out yet" etc you can tell what is yesterdays bed and what is last weeks...

Poor horse and poor gal, at most livery yards I have been at the standards for full liveries have been brilliant so I can't really comment on whether its the norm, but I definitely wouldn't be letting it lie!

 

[mik]

I am speechless, the sooner she goes from there the better, this is neglect. Unbelievable.

 

[Wagtail]

I'm afraid that this type of thing is all too common. I would advise any owner to turn up unexpectantly several times a couple of months into their livery. I run a livery yard and treat all the horses the same. What the owners pay for they get. They could turn up any time of the day and night and not be disappointed. BUT I have to say it would be very easy NOT to genuinely do everything a client expects and I have heard many horror stories.

 

[Herts05]

Is it a BHS registered yard? If so, would suggest she contacts them and gets them to do an unannounced spot check

 

[indiat]

No matter how good the yard sounds and or looks, I think every owner should do a few surprise visits. But I am shocked at the livery who said "Why do you think no one goes on holiday?" Why would you stay on a yard like that and fork out for a service you're not getting? Who has the energy to chase people to do the job you are delegating to them?

 

[Echo Bravo]

Pity she's not allowed to name and shame on here

 

[Capriole]

Ive worked at a livery yard, and it was spectacularly non eventful, everything the owners thought was happening to their horse was carried out, at the time they thought it was being carried out.

On the other hand, Ive been on full livery, while I was in my first uni term, and my mother was checking on the horse. She told me I needed to come home but didnt want to worry me. When I got home she told me she wasnt happy with the standard of care he was having. She had asked them several times she said to improve his care, I went up to see him straight away and he was looking crap, had a pish poor bed and no hay, I went to ask for another haynet for him and some more bedding, and got the biggest gobful ever...he had a perfectly decent bed and he'd had his hay I was told. So I politely told them I wasnt happy with that, it was too early in the day for him to have had his last hay for the night iykwim? and I would be getting it myself from the barn, to which I was told to get off the yard immediately. I told them I wasnt going anywhere at that time of the night but consider me gone directly.
The next morning I had several phonecalls off them begging me to reconsider and the YO had been drunk and everyone was very sorry...blah blah blah.
Moved him to DIY and my mother looked after him a damn sight better.

 

[Sussexbythesea]

Never experienced anything as bad as this but no I rarely trust any YO or YM completely. I've ended up topping up hay, topping up waters, finding my horse brought in really early because they are going to a show and then not leaving them anything to eat. Rugs not changed, dirty beds, wounds unoticed the list goes on.

One great YO diagnosed my horse with a bad hind leg when in actual fact he had colic and she didn't even offer to check him later that night even though I lived 20 miles away. (this was £485 pcm part-livery with a dressage trainer) That was the last straw. He is now back on DIY much nearer home.

 

[SpottedCat]

This does not surprise me in the slightest.

 

[Syrah]

She's certainly doing the right thing in getting the hell out of there as quickly as possible for the horses sake.

I trust my YO completely to do what is best for my horse. I've turned up at all sorts of times, not because I'm checking up but just because that is the way it is with my work.

Bed is clean for when she comes in, clean water, fresh hay, appropriate rugs, rugs changed if temp changes during the day or night, hard feed is adjusted for the level of work she's doing, given a larger field with more grass when she needed it.

What a shame for your friend and her horse, but hopefully the new yard will be everything they need and want.

 

[Jesstickle]

This is why my two are on DIY and will only ever be on DIY. I'd rather get up at stupid o clock and come home after 8 then chance it.

Which does not mean there aren't good yards out there. It is just less hassle to me to do it myself than to try and find one!

Can't say I'm that surprised.

 

[blood_magik]

It's very hard to know exactly what's going on when you're not there.

I will admit to going up after hours to make sure horsey is appropriately rugged and has enough hay to do him until the morning but that's for my own peace of mind and because I like to see him every day.

There's really no excuse for not mucking out or feeding properly though
Poor horse

 

[Theocat]

I've only been on my new yard five days and my horse abandoned me mid-scratch tonight to slobber all over the YO in a disgustingly affectionate way when she appeared, so I'm pretty confident he's happy and well looked after.

It's my third good yard in a row, so they do exist - I really hope your friend finds somewhere good.

 

[Luci07]

Happy with mine too - I, like a lot of other liveries (albeit we are part and not full) do come up at different times due to work. Wasn't always the case before the new YO took over but I was up most evenings so would always finish off mine anyway.

Quite apart from the fact that my job means part livery is a better more ordered option for me, I always like the fact that there are staff around all day on the yard - which is brilliant when you have demanding diva of an older mare who is not keen on being out all day...

 

[Denzalwood]

If I had my best boy on full livery and indeed could afford the cost of such, I'd invest a few quid on a cctv for the stable just to see whats really going on, probably a little naughty, but wouldn't you want to know what's happening and when? theres some very good wireless battery powered systems readilly available from outlets such as Maplins, I vre had a few things robbed from my yard and keep threatening to do this, one day, one day

 

[dafthoss]

I'm not suprised which is a shame really as if you pay for a service you should get it. I have heard to many horror stories and have also see first hand how a once well run yard that I would trust to look after a horse of mine short term (I mean a week max) become some where I wouldnt even want him on DIY. This is why he is and will always be on DIY I would rather miss out on sleep than have to worry about if he has been looked after properly.

 

[Holly Hocks]

I had always been happy when my horses were on full livery - I always thought they were fine. However just over a year ago I moved them close to home to a DIY yard - they have never looked better. My mare, who the last YOs had said was "a skinny type who would never carry much weight" is now, much to my shame, obese (not many TBs that you have to double net the haylage for!). On full livery you don't know exactly what they are getting fed, or how much feed/haylage, or how much turnout they really do have etc. At least on DIY you are responsible for all that.

 

[conkers]

I agree with what others have said. I have to be on full livery due to my job and learnt long ago to make unexpected visits at differing times of the day.

It is never easy giving the care of your horse up to someone else because, lets face it, no one looks after your horse as good as you. But I think I am lucky in the yard I am at. They aren't perfect but they do cover the basics well. And they don't have a hissy fit if I top my net up / add some extra bedding to my stable. It actually feels like being on DIY but with the benefits of full livery, if that makes sense.

Good yards are out there. Unfortunately, they seem as rare as hens teeth.

 

[Pocket_Rocket]

I don't think I would trust anyone to look after my horse on full livery you just don't know what goes on. And no disrespect to your friend (I don't know her situation) but I don't understand people that have horses on full livery if I had all the money in the world I would still keep my horse on diy. I used to work on a livery yard and the horse owners would come up once a year! Not saying thats what your friend does but just saying there are a lot of people out there that just seem to dump the horse on full livery and don't ever see it! Those are the people I don't understand!

I would be fuming if my horse was treated like that though. And if I had to put my horse on full livery then I think I would be very distrusting to start with and turn up a few times with out telling them just to ensure the horse is being cared for correctly. After all full livery is not cheap and you expect the horse to receive professional care. I would leave the yard ASAP, make sure the horse is safe then write a full blown letter complaining about the care or lack of that the horse has received and that its neglect at the end of the day. Also inform them that a refund will be required ASAP as the horse was not mucked out, rug changed, fresh nets filled, etc so therefore your friend is entitled to her money back. It's a shame your friend doesn't have any photo's of the stable, rub marks, etc as then she wouldhave concrete evidence against the yard andcould take it further or at least threaten to take it further.

 

[The Amber Gambler]

This is shocking!!

I completely trust my YO which for me is very unusual, I have done DIY for years but due to work & home life, my horse in now on full livery. I can turn up at anytime & her stable is pristine, she is always warm & has plenty of haylage & water. My tack is cleaned each week & if something is wearing or needs replacing, I am told!

Our expensive pets are our pride & joy and when you are paying top coin you should have a top service, I would have no hesitation in moving my horse if I thought she wasn't being treated as I expected, as sad as it sounds I wouldn't sleep if I thought she wasn't being kept as well as I thought.

I feel for friend, hope she manages the situation ok

 

[mudmonkey17]

I had similar experiences on a previous yard. With old owner knew could go on holiday or work long days and know that horse was well cared for. New owners took over and talked the talk like they took great care over horses but basically were in it to make money and cut corners wherever possible. Put up with some niggles and went up more often than necessary so knew he was ok but final sraw was when they missed a horrific injury on my horse. I found him when i went up in morning and they had fed any haynetted him but not seen the injury.
Now on assisted diy and never been happier, trust yard owner completely when go away and know he perfectly mucked out and cared for when i get back.

 

[blood_magik]

some of us have jobs that have odd hours.
I couldn't have my boy if he wasn't on full livery because he would have no set routine due to my varying shifts.
it wouldn't be fair for me to expect him to wait until 9pm to be fed one day but feed at 4 the next.

 

[FanyDuChamp]

My 2 are on full livery on a small yard. I trust my YO implicitly but we have been there for over 3 years now and I go up whenever, not at a set time. I have never been unhappy when I got up there. Always have water, generally have haylage, Fany eats hers incredibly quickly so she does finish hers, and are always okay and happy.

But at our last yard I went and he had been left without water and food and was unrugged. Not happy, so we left.
FDC

 

[Daytona]

I just moved yards, my horse never touched it's hayledge in it's hay bar for 8 days , I thought her ulcers had flared up. Called the vet, nothingwrong apart from about 1/2ft down into the haybar the hayledge was totally rotten and so foosty it was roasting hot. Had not been changed in weeks , also water buckets not getting changed and rugs left on. I work offshore at times so can go a week or more not seeing horse so needed to know it's cared for. Another horse done it's check ligament and for two weeks the staff brought it in daily as it was on full livery but owner away, never bothered to call vet. Fast treatment is the key to something like that. So I packed up and left. As I was having to come up every night to give my horse fresh hay and water and was being charged £400pm for the privilege . Horse now at a fab yard.

 

[Holly Hocks]

I had similar experiences on a previous yard. With old owner knew could go on holiday or work long days and know that horse was well cared for. New owners took over and talked the talk like they took great care over horses but basically were in it to make money and cut corners wherever possible. Put up with some niggles and went up more often than necessary so knew he was ok but final sraw was when they missed a horrific injury on my horse. I found him when i went up in morning and they had fed any haynetted him but not seen the injury.
Now on assisted diy and never been happier, trust yard owner completely when go away and know he perfectly mucked out and cared for when i get back.

That's not the first time I've heard that about that yard Mudmonkey17! Glad you've got a good yard now. x

 

[hannahmurphy]

Geez if a yard whom you pay handsomely cannot even muster up the basics you have to wonder what the hell goes on. Even the most inexperienced groom can managed a decent clean bed, fresh water & sweet smelling hay.

Too many horse folk are not right in the head .....

 

[giveitago]

Aside from the yard responsibilities, where were your livery friends? Didnt they notice a problem?

Always make friends at a yard and if you cant, its not the right yard. I wouldnt dream of ignoring a horse that was so badly treated. I would of at least pointed out the crappy water/hay etc and even changed it myself. Thats what friends are for, surely.

 

[Marydoll]

Some days im up at 05.00 to do my guys,all 3 of them, then go to work a 12.5 hr shift, husband brings them in for me, but i still go over them myself when work day is done to make sure theyre fine.
Im lucky i only work p/t, but even when i was f/t my horses were done by me,ive seen and heard about to many dodgy things on full livery.
Unexpe ted visits and checks are the only way to get an idea of whats going on.
What happened to op's friend is outright neglect of basic care, ask for cash back in writing and make out its cc to a solicitor, if no joy, small claims court

 

[MiCsarah]

Would happily put my horse on full livery at friends yard. Would probably get looked after better than I do. She is a clean freak so would always be spotless. Would be brilliant, now jst to find £140pw to pay for it!