Grooms at my yard... Idle, unmotivated or overextended?

PapaFrita

PapaFrita

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My yard is VERY expensive (not by UK standards, but certainly by those of my town) It has a great school which is raked (well, you know what I mean) daily and it has immacculate jumps. Tack is cleaned every day, beds are mucked out every day (this, apparently is rather exceptional!
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) and horses are polished to within an inch of their lives and will be tacked up and waiting for you when you arrive if you request.
Supposedly.
There are 3 grooms and about 30 horses. I know they don't get paid much which is outrageous considering how much they charge, BUT there are only 4 - 5 liveries, so there isn't THAT much cash coming in from us. The others are all YO's horses.
Whilst the YO gets the treatment he describes, I and the other 3 or so liveries certainly do NOT. Honestly, I'm not that bothered about tack getting cleaned (hasn't been since I've been there although they went through the palaver of asking me to bring some saddle soap for precisely that purpose) and I wouldn't care if PF wasn't show-perfect to be ridden every day. HOWEVER, it really narks me when groom tells me he didn't have time to muck her out, or that she can't go out if she's a bit sweaty (appearances, don'tcha know)
I KNOW groom has also fibbed to me about having put an extra rug on PF when it was snowing, AND I know he lied to YO's wife about lunging her horse for 20 mins because I was there at the time and it was barely 5 and just before she arrived.
Now, do they live in fear of their pain-in-the-butt, appearance-obsessed boss and so pander to him exclusively? Are they overextended or are their duties reasonable? Are they just unmotivated because they don't get paid enough???
 
It must be very annoying and worrying to find that the basics are not being done but 10 horses to one poorly paid groom is not going to ensure a good job gets done, nor will an unreasonable boss.
 
The reasons for them not carrying out their contractual obligations isn't really for you to worry about. The YO is being paid by you to supply certain services to you & this is not happening. You should bring it to his attention so he can take steps to rectify the matter. At the moment you are paying for a service that isn't being provided.

If you don't really want to involve the YO because it may cause pronlems for the grooms then you need to speak to them about it. Alot of workers will do as little as they can get away with. If the YOs horses are looking good & being cared for he may be blinkered to what is happening with the other liveries. Also for a groom or YO to tell you you can't take your own horse out is ridiculous. This need sorting out though. If there is too much work for 3 grooms to do the the YO will either have to do some himself or take on extra staff:(
 
See, what I think the YO should do is offer a basic service (mucking out, feed and water) for a MUCH lower rate, and then allow grooms to charge for 'extras' like tack-cleaning, having horses ready, etc.
F and Luis at old yard had 26 horses to look after, but the priorities were bed and water and THEN they got groomed. I prefer it that way tbh.
 
I definatly agree with you, but the problem seems to be that the grooms are doing what the person who is the nastiest wants first - in this case a nice appearance. You could try complaining loudly?
 
I've spoken to 'my' groom, but he always says he's too busy. Apparently though, tipping him would get more jobs done...
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YO is NOT an approachable man and when he or his wife are there, everyone is scurrying around attending to their horses. If I didn't go there every day and see to it myself I'm sure PF would be left in her stable all day and might not even have her rug taken off...
Frankly not good enough!
 
Is there another yard nearby that you could move too... i know moving isnt just that simple. But if your already having to do half the work anyway, isnt there another yard, which will do just like the feed and muck out each day for you - cheaper.
 
i worked in a yard very similar, i was appalled by the things that went on, when future clients were shown round they were told they would get this that and the other, however was a different story when owners not around. clients were paying extra for lunging and ridden work and half the time staff were so bogged down with work it didnt get done, hence i left that patricular yard, i think you have to be very picky and feel very comfortable in where you put your horses on full or part livery. you dodnt always get what you think you do
 
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Seriously, a groom told you you couldn't take your own horse out? Stuff that for a game of soldiers!

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Yes.... I didn't take it too well either! He said YO wouldn't like it and I asked when YO was even going to see her since he barely looks at other horses anyway.
Perhaps he should tell YO that he didn't have time to groom her because he was mucking her stable out!!
 
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I definatly agree with you, but the problem seems to be that the grooms are doing what the person who is the nastiest wants first

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That's exactly right. He also happens to be the man who pays their wages!
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You could try complaining loudly?

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Thing is, grooms will get into trouble and it's not reeeeally their fault, is it?
 
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i think you have to be very picky and feel very comfortable in where you put your horses on full or part livery. you dodnt always get what you think you do

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Yes, quite right. And no, you don't!! I shudder for all the horses whose owners hardly ever go down to the yard!
 
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