Grrr....I am NOT very happy. *long*

[Tiarella]

Sorry, rant time!

I go to college all day everyday and do not get home until 6 of a night, I have my dinner quickly and then go and sort out Doug in the dark. I then work at the weekend (usually one day, sometimes both) to pay for Doug all by myself. It is possible for me to ride of a night due to floodlights, but by the time I get up there im so tired and have a lot of work to do, as suprise suprise, I would like to pass my course.

Now. To the point,
My absolutely wonderful friend and her mum, t/o Doug for me in the morning and B/I in the afternoon so he is always in his stable when I get there. They always offer to help me, or sometimes just do him for me, which I am so grateful for. So I dont always come up everyday, but I know he is 100% looked after perfectly when I dont go up.
This week the yard owners have been bitching about me to my friend and her mum

Saying I never come up, I dont bother with Doug, do I have a BF?, I never ride etc etc. I think theyre angry at the fact I do not pay them to do Doug for me etc. I have now found out they put straw in Dougs bed because "there isnt enough." There is plenty! He doesnt need a nest, he isnt a bird. He has small banks on the two side walls and a good layering on the floor. They have also been putting lots and lots of hay in his stable, which he doesnt need. He has a large haylage net full of hay at night and some in his field whilst the snow is here. I was at the yard yesterday, I fed Doug his dinner, went round to help my friend with her horses, I came back 10 minutes later to find a massive pile of hay had been chucked over his door. I was JUST about to give him his night hay net. Its MY hay and straw that I bought out of my own money to feed to Doug when I want to. So why do they feel the need to feed him themselves? They dont do it to any other horses? Why mine?

Its very hard for me to just move yards, due to their being none round here, and other complications. Thankfully I have 12 week work experience this summer and Doug is coming with me

Sorry. I just needed to rant away

 

[Digger123]

What arrangements you have with your friend is your business.If your friends are happy doing your horse that's ok .It could be that the YO doesn't realise that your friends are doing him when you are not there.
In all fairness to the YO if they hardly see you up there during the week I am not surprised they are chucking hay over the door.Better that, than being left with no food.
You need to talk with your YO explain your difficulties and that your friend does him when you can't so he is still being cared for.

 

[Tiarella]

[ QUOTE ]
It could be that the YO doesn't realise that your friends are doing him when you are not there.
In all fairness to the YO if they hardly see you up there during the week I am not surprised they are chucking hay over the door.Better that, than being left with no food.
You need to talk with your YO explain your difficulties and that your friend does him when you can't so he is still being cared for.

[/ QUOTE ]

The YO knows my friend does him for me as he is kept in the same barn as thre YO's horses and they are always out on the yard.
Fair enough they chuck a bit of hay over in the morning if he hasnt been T/O yet, but to chuck half a slice (large slices) over the door because i've been gone 10 minutes doesnt seem fair to me who has to pay for the hay.

 

[Tickles]

Schpug, they might see you friend helping out but I suppose it is always possible that they think that is happening sort of like it does when they do it - without you specifically asking? Maybe you could exlpain, pref over a nice cup of tea or just when you happen to see them, so it seems v relaxed, the routine you have?

Have you considered a sharer for when you're busy with course work and to help with money? Or perhaps letting your friend/her mum take yours out so they can ride together (I'm assuming they only have one horse of their own here)?

I'm the sharer for someone on a course and it works quite well becasue she can still afford to keep horsey even though she isn't working full time anymore and gets 3 days off a week where she knows I'll look after/keep him amused.

 

[dianchi]

I have a polite written note from my mare tacked to her stable door that says things like, "my mummy comes up late at night so i will get my hay later" and helpful comments about her routine. It also has a little note at the bottom about if they are worried to call me and check. I have found that this really helps on the yard and has stopped the same sort of issues you have. Good luck!