Equipment borrowers

Once I had brought my barrow back to the yard after taking soaked hay up to the field. My haynets were still in it. I went to put the hose back having filled up my water while I was at the field, turned round to get my barrow to fetch bags of feed from my car - barrow had disappeared & nets were on the floor! Barrow was being used by newbies to muck out their stable as their barrow was teeny & meant 2 trips to the muck heap. I insisted they emptied it & gave it back to me straight away. A while later I realise they were using it every day when I wasn't there so after that I used to poo pick in the morining it full until the evening.
 
Wimbles said:
Thanks for the replies, least I don't feel quite so alone now!! I know I need to man up a bit but I've got 5 stabled horses on livery, work full time and I just want a quiet life without drama. One of the worst culprits is otherwise really nice and we get on so I almost feel like I don't want to rock the boat but I guess it's time that I said something as it's really not on.

I'll add another classic about the people on my yard - One of them asked if they could borrow one of my boys to hack out on with their friend. I'm fine with this. I trust a few of them to look after themselves and whoever totters along on top of them. The best horse is really fab so I said to use him but he cannot be stabled (even to tack up) and prefers to be tied up down the bottom yard where there are no low overhangs as he's 17.2hh. I told them exactly what to do and left them his tack without a second thought.

On the day they were to take him out I got a phonecall to say that the horse had been mental and was now loose down by the bottom field. Turns out they'd tied him up at the top yard so it's was easier for them, put his bridle on and clipped the leadrope to his bit (my pet hate), had shouted at him when they put the saddle on so he'd chucked his head up, yacked himself in the mouth, chucked his head up again, cracked his head on the overhang, pulled back and ran away from these muppets (I don't blame the horse one bit).

My bridle was given back in about 10 pieces, my saddle had hit the deck in the deep mud down the track and was returned covered in filth and worse still they had taken the bit off and tried to keep it. Words fail me!
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OMG; it does piss me off when I have to go looking for, then often emptying, my own wheelbarrow before I can use it myself; but that pales into insignificance to the way they treated your horse/tack etc. I hope your horse is ok and I pray they were deeply sorry and offered to replace/repair your stuff? I just don't understand the mentality of some people; if ever I have to borrow someone else's anything (which I don't like doing if I can help it) I always treat it with extra care and return it promptly in at least the same condition I was given it.
 
We don't have this on our (small yard). Sometimes a tool will get picked up and moved by a non horsey person but there are only a few places tools are put so easy to retrieve.
 
Wimbles said:
Thanks for the replies, least I don't feel quite so alone now!! I know I need to man up a bit but I've got 5 stabled horses on livery, work full time and I just want a quiet life without drama. One of the worst culprits is otherwise really nice and we get on so I almost feel like I don't want to rock the boat but I guess it's time that I said something as it's really not on.

I'll add another classic about the people on my yard - One of them asked if they could borrow one of my boys to hack out on with their friend. I'm fine with this. I trust a few of them to look after themselves and whoever totters along on top of them. The best horse is really fab so I said to use him but he cannot be stabled (even to tack up) and prefers to be tied up down the bottom yard where there are no low overhangs as he's 17.2hh. I told them exactly what to do and left them his tack without a second thought.

On the day they were to take him out I got a phonecall to say that the horse had been mental and was now loose down by the bottom field. Turns out they'd tied him up at the top yard so it's was easier for them, put his bridle on and clipped the leadrope to his bit (my pet hate), had shouted at him when they put the saddle on so he'd chucked his head up, yacked himself in the mouth, chucked his head up again, cracked his head on the overhang, pulled back and ran away from these muppets (I don't blame the horse one bit).

My bridle was given back in about 10 pieces, my saddle had hit the deck in the deep mud down the track and was returned covered in filth and worse still they had taken the bit off and tried to keep it. Words fail me!
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this is one reason why no one rides my horse unless I am there and go out with them people just can't be trusted, and clipping the rope onto a bit is so dangerous your horse could have done some serious damage to his mouth bloody idiots!
 
Toby_Zaphod said:
I've never understood how someone can be on DIY livery yet not own a barrow, fork or broom to muck out with? I couldn't 'borrow' tools on a daily basis but some thick skinned, tight, penny pinching b@s***ds can & do. It makes me sick. When you come on the yard & your tools are being used by someone else without your permission just walk over, say excuse me, retrieve them & put them back where they should be. Hopefully the 'thief' will know not to take the P again!
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Oh heck, that's me! We have all the gear for the ones at home, but the one on temporary livery is still there after 2 years and, as I've got a set at home, given we're temporary I've not got a barrow or a fork at the yard - I used to bring a fork (the only fork!) from home but changed cars and it really doesn't fit in the current car very well. Also, being temporary I've not got an allocated place to store any tools, plus there are masses of barrows/tools & I have permission from most people and know who isn't likely to be at the yard needing theirs so tend to work around them and I always take a half full barrow if there is one, so its empty for the owner when I put it back. I also wash it out (one person in particular almost never does) and so it looks better than when they left it. There's quite a bit of borrowing at the yard, lack of space and lots of people seems to mean not everyone has a barrow, but everyone is very good natured and always puts back.

Anyhow, over the 2 years and lots of equipment tried has meant I've been able to research the best, here's the results of my extensive testing:

There's a really old muck fork that someone's dad had, it's fabulous for mucking out straw (& everyone borrows it) . Not found anything modern to replicate it so am hunting at farm sales for similar
Other than that Fynalite are really good, that's the one I have from home (shavings, but actually works equally well with straw). I prefer short handled as you don't have to remember how close you are to the wall (pony sized stables at home). Don't get a plastic one, they really do not last, especially not with straw.

For brooms, frankly best value is Wickes http://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Heavy-Duty-Yard-Broom/p/600776 and they do last, have nice robust bristles. I'm also looking for a really wide yard broom at farm sales (not found one in a store) as we have a wide concrete bit and it's quicker to use one of the 2ft+ wide ones. Longer bristles seem to do this surface best. I also have a dustpan and stiff brush set which is green with a yellow edge and the brush is wooden with nice stiff bristles, this was £5 in a local garden centre. Has lasted a lot longer than standard equestrian or Poundshop ones that some people use.

For those wanting a barrow, after much testing of different types and makes, I'm (finally) getting one of these for the yard, bargain! http://www.wickes.co.uk/Chillington-County-Galvanised-Wheelbarrow-120L/p/167429
(Although galvanised is heavier, it's noticeable they last longer, and are hardy and don't crack in cold weather. 120L is more than enough for a good muck out in one barrow full, 90l sometimes isn't enough (we're straw), and if you have narrow passageways (we do from haybarn to yard) then you need a narrow one.)
If your barrow has a puncture simply buy a replacement wheel in Aldi, they seem to have them quite often very cheaply, (think Wickes also do them)

I do have a poo picker (£7 at Countrywide - amazing value AND has an adjustable height - just make sure the screw is in tight) http://www.countrywidefarmers.co.uk/pws/ProductDetails.ice?ProductID=4984&colour=Dark+Purple Countrywide also had some nice flat on one side buckets and also trugs on offer (£5 and £3) but I think sold out now, as well as a folding step (£7) which takes up no room at all in the car/trailer
For smaller stuff storage in one of these: http://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Storage-Site-Tub-189L/p/165132

No electricity at the yard? Muck out at night with one of these, take home every few days to recharge (they also do a less powerful one cheaper) http://www.screwfix.com/p/ae0183-re...and Lighting&gclid=CNGfw4zN4coCFQYq0wodtnUFnQ

Incidentally, Screwfix now do quite a range of reasonably priced equestrian products, worth having a look.

One of these is essential for speedy cutting of bailer twine http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/store/products/elico-yard-safety-knife-red
Hope that helps!
 
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I've always locked my things up right from the start at any place I've been, to keep people's borrowing tendencies to a minimum. I used to leave my grooming kit up on a shelf but it started walking itself all around the place and getting used for things like scrubbing the water troughs even when I etched my name into the plastic, so I acquired a big lockbox. Even things like hoses, I've always kept and used my own because nobody cares about anything they didn't pay for, and the way some people treat their own gear is below my expectations.
Liveries had their own halter and lead ropes outside their stables at the yard I worked at in Wales, and they would constantly be wandering around looking for it, it took me a few weeks to learn everybody's colour schemes so I could put them back as I came across them. Yard owner was a main perp in this!
 
Wimbles said:
Thanks for the replies, least I don't feel quite so alone now!! I know I need to man up a bit but I've got 5 stabled horses on livery, work full time and I just want a quiet life without drama. One of the worst culprits is otherwise really nice and we get on so I almost feel like I don't want to rock the boat but I guess it's time that I said something as it's really not on.

I'll add another classic about the people on my yard - One of them asked if they could borrow one of my boys to hack out on with their friend. I'm fine with this. I trust a few of them to look after themselves and whoever totters along on top of them. The best horse is really fab so I said to use him but he cannot be stabled (even to tack up) and prefers to be tied up down the bottom yard where there are no low overhangs as he's 17.2hh. I told them exactly what to do and left them his tack without a second thought.

On the day they were to take him out I got a phonecall to say that the horse had been mental and was now loose down by the bottom field. Turns out they'd tied him up at the top yard so it's was easier for them, put his bridle on and clipped the leadrope to his bit (my pet hate), had shouted at him when they put the saddle on so he'd chucked his head up, yacked himself in the mouth, chucked his head up again, cracked his head on the overhang, pulled back and ran away from these muppets (I don't blame the horse one bit).

My bridle was given back in about 10 pieces, my saddle had hit the deck in the deep mud down the track and was returned covered in filth and worse still they had taken the bit off and tried to keep it. Words fail me!
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Wimbles, this is just awful! Are there not any yards you could move to that aren't stuffed to the gills with horse-abusing light-fingered sociopaths? It's not, in my admittedly rather limited experience, normal for people to behave like that!
 
Wimbles - the experience you had with your horse is truly awful! I currently share a horse and have bought all of my own tack, travel stuff, boots, grooming kit etc etc as I didn't want to use the owners and accidentally break or scratch anything!! To me, if it's my own stuff I worry about it less than if borrowing!!
I also have rider only insurance - this was before my share horse, so if I was asked to ride someone's horse I am covered in case of accident ( I love to have a go on anything I'm offered but would never ask, think it's cheeky!)
Fortunately in all my experience I've never (and would never want to) encountered a yard like these described! You have my sympathy!!
 
Wimbles bill those idiots for a new bridle. They broke it they pay for it. And make them clean the saddle. Can't believe someone would think it's ok to keep a bit too are they mad?
 
Wimbles said:
Thanks for the replies, least I don't feel quite so alone now!! I know I need to man up a bit but I've got 5 stabled horses on livery, work full time and I just want a quiet life without drama. One of the worst culprits is otherwise really nice and we get on so I almost feel like I don't want to rock the boat but I guess it's time that I said something as it's really not on.

I'll add another classic about the people on my yard - One of them asked if they could borrow one of my boys to hack out on with their friend. I'm fine with this. I trust a few of them to look after themselves and whoever totters along on top of them. The best horse is really fab so I said to use him but he cannot be stabled (even to tack up) and prefers to be tied up down the bottom yard where there are no low overhangs as he's 17.2hh. I told them exactly what to do and left them his tack without a second thought.

On the day they were to take him out I got a phonecall to say that the horse had been mental and was now loose down by the bottom field. Turns out they'd tied him up at the top yard so it's was easier for them, put his bridle on and clipped the leadrope to his bit (my pet hate), had shouted at him when they put the saddle on so he'd chucked his head up, yacked himself in the mouth, chucked his head up again, cracked his head on the overhang, pulled back and ran away from these muppets (I don't blame the horse one bit).

My bridle was given back in about 10 pieces, my saddle had hit the deck in the deep mud down the track and was returned covered in filth and worse still they had taken the bit off and tried to keep it. Words fail me!
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This person went totally against the advice you gave her when you were good enough to loan her your horse. She tacked up where she was told not to. She clipped your horse up on the bit & as a result of her not listening your bridle was destroyed, your horse was injured, your saddle ended up in the mud etc. I would think that person should replace your bridle, clean your saddle, pay for any treatment to your horse, return your bit & shut the gate after herself when she is ejected permanently from your yard. You extended a favor to this person & they abusedit & didn;t take any notice of what you had to tell them. They should be history.
 
My broom was left snapped in half twice as I tried to walk the horse into the stable. It's like someone was telling me to buy a new one cos they broke them! So annoying. My tools are now tucked behind the water drinker and no-one touches them. I don't have a barrow, I just use the yard's communal ones.
 
My pet hate is when people borrow my wheelbarrow and either leave it full or leave it covered in mess. As a rule I dont mind too much (ie i mind a bit but am too polite to say) if they borrow it but at least return it clean. I am on pellets so my barrow doesnt get too dirty and if it does i wash it down, i hate it when i find it and it;s covered in dried on shavings or straw.
 
Wimbles said:
Thanks for the replies, least I don't feel quite so alone now!! I know I need to man up a bit but I've got 5 stabled horses on livery, work full time and I just want a quiet life without drama. One of the worst culprits is otherwise really nice and we get on so I almost feel like I don't want to rock the boat but I guess it's time that I said something as it's really not on.

I'll add another classic about the people on my yard - One of them asked if they could borrow one of my boys to hack out on with their friend. I'm fine with this. I trust a few of them to look after themselves and whoever totters along on top of them. The best horse is really fab so I said to use him but he cannot be stabled (even to tack up) and prefers to be tied up down the bottom yard where there are no low overhangs as he's 17.2hh. I told them exactly what to do and left them his tack without a second thought.

On the day they were to take him out I got a phonecall to say that the horse had been mental and was now loose down by the bottom field. Turns out they'd tied him up at the top yard so it's was easier for them, put his bridle on and clipped the leadrope to his bit (my pet hate), had shouted at him when they put the saddle on so he'd chucked his head up, yacked himself in the mouth, chucked his head up again, cracked his head on the overhang, pulled back and ran away from these muppets (I don't blame the horse one bit).

My bridle was given back in about 10 pieces, my saddle had hit the deck in the deep mud down the track and was returned covered in filth and worse still they had taken the bit off and tried to keep it. Words fail me!
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Now you see a borrowed brush or fork wouldn't bother me in the slightest as long as it came back (although the using it when I wanted it would), however the above story about tying the horse up in the wrong place, freaking your horse out and damaging your tack would have had me going mental at them. I hope you billed them for repairs or replacements?? These people are not your friends if they can do that to you and help themselves to your stuff. Do they ever do anything for you?
 
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