Even though i'm on full livery, I have to...

H

Horsey_Gal

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 April 2007
Messages
640
Visit site
muck out on xmas day!!!
ok, the owners of the yard own another business that gets v busy on xmas day but surely that's theres problem?? (yes they employ staff on the yard as well but they get it off!) i can't believe i'm paying for full livery and having to do everything on xmas day (not sure about boxing day yet!) They say that if we want our horses seeing to, we have to do it ourselves!! This is a posh livery yard with 1st class facilities!! am i over-reacting?
 
Yes you are overreacting IMO. Most businesses take time out on Christmas day, why shouldn't a livery yard! You'll have the day off anyway, is mucking out your horse once a year [or finding a friend to do it] THAT big a deal?

Presumably you can ask for a reduction in cost for that day as you won't get a full service.
 
I am in the same situation but dont have a problem with it, mine is for xmas day, boxing day and new years day. Everyone deserves a day off and I assume you think you have priority to a relaxing xmas day over people that work at the yard!
 
TBH, if that was me, i wouldnt mind at all. Esp if i was happy with the yard and grooms.

ets plus you get the chance to see your horsey on xmas day!
 
I think I would be upset to be paying full livery and then be told this. I work at a College with an Animal Unit and the animals there have to be cared for 265 days a year. It may be reduced in that routine cleaning doesn't get done, but all will be fed, watered, health checked etc. Same as charities etc.

With regards to everyone deserving a day off, I think that if you work in certain jobs, you have to accept that you will be working 'anti-social' hours - whether this is mucking out on Christmas day, on call Dr / Nurse / Vet or tending a bar on New Years Eve. Unfortunate, but true!
 
I do think you are over reacting, unless you are actually going to be away. Those grooms work all year for you, let them have one extra day off

There is nothing nicer on Christmas Day than shovelling the brown stuff - well it is a welcome escape from the outlaws
blush.gif
grin.gif
 
I must say it wouldn't really bother me - unless I had other plans, for example my family live miles away, and I like to see them Christmas Eve and stay over Christmas day and Boxing Day.

I might be a bit worried about a break in routine - who / when will feeding take place, what happens if feeds etc get messed up, turnout goes wrong etc...
 
I think mucking out the horses can be a great chance to get away from family things on Christmas day - nobody can argue when you leave saying you need to feed your horse....and come back several hours later, instead of spending all day stuck inside being sociable.

But then I prefer my horses to a lot of people, sorry! And at least you get an apetite up for all that food, and feel virtuous knowing you have done something worthwhile with your day
smile.gif
 
I don't think that it is terribly good practice to be honest. On Christmas day, unless the liveries are desperate to muck out their own horse, then it is the same as any other day, except the horses get turned out rather than exercised (although if something needed walking and was not allowed out for whatever reason, then that would be done). When you offer full livery you can't pick and choose when to do your clients horses. That is the whole point of FULL livery. It is up to the YO to ensure that she has sufficient staff to get the work done - sure people are entitled to days off, but usually a rota system works well.

If you are on a MOnday to Friday full livery, then I would probably feel differently as if you are able to do weekends, then you should be able to do bank holidays. But full livery 7 days a week should be just that.
 
You are really over reacting - one day of the year you will have to do your own horse is that sucha a hardship really ???

I make my liveries do there's X mas, boxing and NY day or they can pay (£5) for me to do it !!!

no one minds at all !!
 
From the other side of the fence, I muck out all our full liveries on xmas day and positively enjoy it- the owners which do come out generally help out unasked and we get it done very quickly with everyone in great spirits
 
I'm on full and have always had to do Christmas although it is not a problem for them to do it if I really can't, say if I am on holiday or something.
I don't mind doing it to be honest, it's a nice atmosphere and we always have mulled wine and mince pies.
It's also good to get out of the mad house which is ours at that time of year.
 
[ QUOTE ]
the animals there have to be cared for 265 days a year.

[/ QUOTE ]

What about the other 100 days?
tongue.gif
 
I think you are over reacting! Crikey at least you have a horse! Overall a horse is your responisbity! And after all one day of mucking out one day isnt really hard...most people do it everyday! I think it would be a nice treat to see/do your horse on xmas day...may be fun going to do them for a bit!
smile.gif
 
I dont think you are overreacting. Some jobs have to be done all year round, its part of working with animals. At the yard I used to work at the grooms either got xmas day or new years day off, they were quite happy with this.
I would imagine it will be chaos.
crazy.gif
 
DRAMA QUEEN!!

To me its not the same as anyother day- its holiday!

and your begrudging people having the day off to do what they want to do with their own families.
I cant put this in a way that would sound nice but....
you sound very bratty- Just get out of bed and do it yourself...

It may be nice for you to spend abit of time with said horse on xmas day
 
All of my full liveries in the UK had to deal with their own horses on Christmas Day and all other Bank Holidays (twas in their contracts) - all loved doing these days!
smile.gif
 
I think this is fair and to be honest think you are over reacting.

It is the common practice of most yards, if it causes you a problem could you not work something out with another livery.. favour for a favour and all that
wink.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
All of my full liveries in the UK had to deal with their own horses on Christmas Day - all loved doing it!
smile.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

everyone at my last yard did their own and they loved it- xmas day up there for a couple of hours was lovely!!
 
When I was an animal technician, we did the same, worked either Christmas Day or New Years day.

What would happen if I couldn't do my horse on Chistmas Day because I was working, for example if I was a nurse on a 12 hour shift? I don't begrudge anyone time off. Although I now work in a College and have a set period at Christmas, it hasn't always been that way. It isn't just livery yards, think hospitals, care homes, airports etc etc.
 
If i had my own horse, I would muck it out on xmas day no problem. But I wouldnt have my horse on full Livery anyway-personal choice.

I enjoy mucking out.
 
[ QUOTE ]

What would happen if I couldn't do my horse on Chistmas Day because I was working, for example if I was a nurse on a 12 hour shift?

[/ QUOTE ]

Ask a fellow livery?

Different yards have different practices and to be honest, I don't think having to muck out one day a year is a catastrophe.
 
I think that is fine - as it was in their contracts, they obviously knew that was going to be the case. I would worry in our yard where there are 40 odd liveries, all horses (full, part and DIY) used to being fed at 6am suddenly having to wait for their breakfast. Some of the owners can't tell hay from straw, probably couldn't even find their own horse
tongue.gif
It would be chaos!!

 
i can see your point as your on full livery so i suppose you dont / cant muck out usually anyway so why would you want to on xmas day. they should really provide xmas cover and charge you a bomb thats common practice for some yards i know.

our yard does a few of the horses that are on full livery or people that really cant make it up.

but all the part liverys (full 5 days) do there own, we love spending xmas morning with our neds!! we all open presents together and maybe go for a quick xmas ride.

i couldnt imagine not seeing my horse christmas day she is family!!
 
I feel you are over reacting, but that is coming from someone who has only ever been on DIY, and now has her own field, so I haven't ever had full livery (not have I wanted it).

The few times I've managed to ride on Christmas day I've been so pleased, even invited my parents up to us this Christmas in the hope that we can ride the boys around the block together, first time we've each had a horse to ride on Christmas day, it will be lovely!

Quite curious as to how full livery really works, if you come back from a ride, and your horse sh*ts in the stable, do you pick it up, or is it normal practise to call for a worker to do it? Do you pick up poo in the school?
 
Ahh, I will confuse you slightly here then, because I did feed all the full liveries on Christmas Day as I was doing my horses anyway. I would give them their hard feed and enough hay to tide them over till their owners came but I didn't turn out or muck out - or bring them in.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top