Getting rid of the kids on my yard...

R2R

R2R

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I have three kids on my yard who are getting increasingly annoying!!! They have been told the yard is not a youth club, and they are to get their jobs done before riding etc which they dont..they all loan ponies from me, one loans my friends horse under my guidance and simply, it keeps on happening – the eye rolling, the huffing, the stuff not being done etc. They get free or discount livery to help around the yard, and think they are hard done by having to skip a field, do waters, sweep the barn out and muck out a horse each!!!

We keep talking to them, to no avail – can I just give them their notice, even though they are effectively ‘just being kids?’
 
No, i think you should give them a notice as they are being rude.
If a girl who loans horses on my yard were to do this she would be gone, all kids, including me, on our yard get our jobs done first then mess around and just be kids.
If they want to just be kids they could go to a riding school, where they wouldnt have to do any jobs, it could eventually lead to the welfare of your pony if they would rather mess about then groom or ride or clean there field or stable.
 
Shoot them? :D
I`d tell them to buck up their ideas and do what they`re asked or they dont loan the ponies simple as....
Ban them from riding for a week, lock away all tack etc so they cant ride and make them to do their tasks, hopefully they`ll see that there is a lot more to horses than just riding them..if they dont comply give them notice and telll them you`ll find some other well ehaved kids to loan the horses:D
i really like my shooting idea though:p sew up their mouths???
 
Are they teenagers by any chance....??? If they are, then eye rolling, huffing, etc. comes as part and parcel I'm afraid (on the whole, before someone yells at me for generalizing!).

Keep it plain and simple. They don't do their jobs, they don't ride. If they don't stick to that then they are out.
 
OK phew...they are really good kids but have very little respect! They get help, lessons, taken to pony club etc and it’s not like we ask them to do the entire yard or take the mickey at all. Perhaps I have spoiled them, as it appears they think they can just get away with things despite warnings to the contrary!
 
Hehe, aren't us teenagers lovely? :D

Tbh, if I was like that on the yard, I would fully expect not to be allowed to ride in the helpers lesson and I'd feel ashamed of myself. It's a privilege to be able to ride, not a right!
 
MrsMozart said:
Are they teenagers by any chance....??? If they are, then eye rolling, huffing, etc. comes as part and parcel I'm afraid (on the whole, before someone yells at me for generalizing!).

Keep it plain and simple. They don't do their jobs, they don't ride. If they don't stick to that then they are out.
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At what age does it stop?

Individually they are all fab, but the three of them together = moaning, eye rolling, slaggings off (which my liveries hear) and general teenage behaviour, which, not being at the age where I can even have teenage children, I shouldnt be dealing with!!!
 
From my memory, this has been going on for some time? You have given them plenty of opportunities to improve all round,time to call it a day, I think! They get a huge amount from you, and you appear to get not much back other than stress. I'm sure there are plenty of others out there who would snatch your hand off - or maybe you just want a few weeks of peace and quiet!
 
Being a teenager is no excuse for bad behaviour. There are plenty of young girls and boys who would give their eyeteeth for the chance of a loan pony. Give them a verbal warning then follow it up with notice if necessary.
 
You are super super generous,

I think they are going through the kevins. If it was me I would get them all together and say 'no help, no horses' plain and simple. Part of growing up is learning to take responisbility for their actions.

I was always told as a child/teenager that if I didn't help look after the horses the pony would go. In fact my sisters loan pony was sent back because she never wanted to muck out or do any of the hard jobs.

You could always have a word with their parents too? Maybe they can talk to their kids and tell them to have a bit more respect for you?
 
Groom 42 yes it goes on and on and on, they get better, then redeem themselves, then it all starts again within a week.

I really dont take the mickey out of them, I used to work much harder as a teenager just to sit on a horse, let alone have one to take to pony club etc!

FW, PMSL at "The Kevins"...might have a word with their parents, but they are much worse at home by the sounds of things?!
 
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I just apply one rule with my kids and any other kids for that matter...


Do Now't-Get Now't.. and I stick to it...if they dont do jobs then they dont ride..simples.

Or just kick em off..
 
Times have really changed! As a kid I remember helping on a few different yards, one in particular was a polo yard and at 13 yrs old I was expected to muck out 15 horses on my own, for free. It was boardering on slave labour and I would frequently not even get a ride OR be put on whatever mental polo pony nobody else would ride. Another yard that springs to mind was owned by an absolutely vile woman who had me forking up her muck heap so it was in perfectly symmetrical steps during a baking hot summer whilst she stood there barking orders at me, again I didn't always get a ride.

If it were me, I'd kick them off the yard. Don't give them anymore chances. I don't know if kids are just generally more ungrateful these days or whether they have been spoiled by the VERY good deal at your yard. Either way I couldn't be doing with sullen faced bitchy teenagers who don't appreciate how good they have it.
 
thelwell_girl said:
Hehe, aren't us teenagers lovely? :D

Tbh, if I was like that on the yard, I would fully expect not to be allowed to ride in the helpers lesson and I'd feel ashamed of myself. It's a privilege to be able to ride, not a right!
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TWG I have read lots of your posts and if you could get to me, I would have you at the yard in a shot :D
 
Tbh I was watering, feeding, mucking out, brushing, sweeping, halter training and lunging from 13 yrs old and, despite being a particularly unpleasant teenager, it never transferred to the stables. That was my escape from being a 'teenager', as no one there expected me to behave like a brat. If I had, I'm sure the shocked stares and head shakes from the adults would have quickly set me straight. Most of all, the disappointment from my mentor.

I love deep conversations, I would firmly tell them, follow up with a letter that starts with 'Further to our conversation on:" and pretend they are ADULTS acting that way. Tell them the behaviour isn't appropriate, the attitude isn't acceptable and the work standard isn't high enough. Pretend you are giving a disciplinary talk to an employee. I think if you treat them like adults they're more likely to respond like adults (hopefully). Oh lastly go back to basics. DH has a work list for his job that is so explicit its not funny so in the written letter, rather than general terms like 'rudeness' or 'do your chores', being exact. 'Eye rolling, rumors, making childish faces etc' and 'brush the horses. Put brushes back in tack box. Put tack box back in tack room on shelf' etc etc.

Though some teens are just difficult and if you have had enough already, I doubt anyone would blame you.
 
b****y hell, when I was young (many years ago) I worked my butt off at a riding school - and never got a free ride out of it. I really would get strict and lay down the ground rules - either do the work, or leave. Having horses is certainly not all about riding, and they have to learn that.

good luck ! sm x
 
Shysmum, I used to go and sit on my own, every Saurday with a list of the riding school ponies which needed to be used. All of which were in stalls (bum first) and all of which would kick (lovely) i.e. it was a job noone else blinking wanted!!
This, in all weathers, meant that I would have a lesson on the (then knackered) rs ponies, usually one that had been naughty during the day...and my parents would then pick me up and pay for the privelage!!

I just know how it feels to be keen and not have the opportunities other kids have.
 
they don't know they're born do they :D. Funnily enough, where i worked, the ponies were in stalls, and you had to dodge the back legs and the bites. They were very unhappy ponies. And my poor dad dropped me off there at 6 am every sat/sun.

I hope you get this sorted out, it must be a real nightmare for you. sm x
 
R2R said:
At what age does it stop?
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It doesn't! Take a horse whip to them, I find a short sharp shock often does the trick and if all fails plug them into the electric fence, That soon messes the hair up and they will then realise you mean business! lol

Just be firm and to the point. Tell them in a language they understand or what ever, that your yard is not a play gound and that you want your horses looked after properly or not at all. Good luck :-)
 
You may laugh, tictac but they havent sussed you can hear the electric box ticking..and therefore touch the electric to "see if its working" quite often :D
 
Sharer for OH's pony got like you're describing, incl the huffing when asked to take care of said pony. Had a chat with her parents - said that it was less effort for us to do the pony ourselves, and if things didn't change, she'd lose the pony. Also mentioned to parents that we weren't prepared to deal with their child's teenage tantrums, so any bad behaviour/jobs not done would be referred to them at the end of the day. Somewhat embarrassed parents, one recalcitrant child - for one day, until she did it again. I followed up - simply informed dad of what had gone on, and he and mum did the 'parent thing' - much nicer child now! She knows I WILL tell her parents, and she knows what is at stake if she screws up.

Kids these days seem to think everyone owes them. I think not!
 
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