Hating owning a livery yard

[Starzaan]

This is why I won’t do DIY I’m afraid. I am too much of a control freak.

It’s bonkers to provide tools for DIY. Take them away and get a bit tougher when it comes to payment terms.

 

[DizzyDoughnut]

When I was last on a yard there was a liveries WhatsApp group and if our YO found a forgotten poo or junk left lying around they took a photo and posted it to the group with a who ever left this please clean it up asap message, and it worked either the guilty party would own up and clean it or even if they didn't own up they'd clean it up. If the yard was not swept or left in mess again all it took was a message to the group to tidy up after ourselves. It was also really handy for general messages about field changes etc and if anyone needed help with something they could just ask in the group.

 

[Birker2020]

When I was last on a yard there was a liveries WhatsApp group and if our YO found a forgotten poo or junk left lying around they took a photo and posted it to the group with a who ever left this please clean it up asap message, and it worked either the guilty party would own up and clean it or even if they didn't own up they'd clean it up. If the yard was not swept or left in mess again all it took was a message to the group to tidy up after ourselves. It was also really handy for general messages about field changes etc and if anyone needed help with something they could just ask in the group.

We use a Whats App group chat too and its very useful although I'm currently off it and FB for a bit of headspace.

I like the idea of photos though.
I can't imagine not sweeping up outside my stable - its something I'm anal about. I take great pride in my stable and the area around it. My paddock too.

 

[Chianti]

I've been on a couple of DIY yards. On the first one nearly all the liveries were good and kept the yard very tidy. I think this was helped by there being a yard manager who kept an eye on things. The owner was also around a lot. On the second there was no manager and the owner - like many I suspect- basically didn't want to know and standards weren't that good. I think you have to strike a balance. I've always swept and tidied and respected other's property and that's how it should be. What you don't want to do is piss off the good liveries by making it seem as if they're on Big Brother. We go to the yard to relax not worry about being watched. It must be easy to get focused on the bad liveries and not those who are helping. It did used to piss me off on the first yard when another livery and I would sweep the whole yard and never got a 'thank you'. To me it sounds as if your selection process needs changing. Do you ask for references and why someone is looking for livery? I would think a good contract and clear processes for payment would solve a lot of your problems.

 

[DizzyDoughnut]

We use a Whats App group chat too and its very useful although I'm currently off it and FB for a bit of headspace.

I like the idea of photos though.
I can't imagine not sweeping up outside my stable - its something I'm anal about. I take great pride in my stable and the area around it. My paddock too.

It was really good and meant that people did generally keep things neat and it was only ever a genuine mistake and the photos of poo in random places always made me giggle. I think it was the photos that made it work so well as well as just bluntly saying whoever left this clean it up, there was no beating around the bush or dropping hints and hoping people noticed.

 

[Goldenstar]

I used to run a DIY yard .
You have to factor in labour to tidy up and sweep communally used areas sort muck heaps etc etc .
You need to weed the yard and keep the place looking neat .
You need to be clear with the jumps that breakages must be paid for .
You need to be on top on non payment and get rid of bad payers ruthlessly you don’t need to do that very often to make the point .
The tools you have you need to shut away when not in use .
Put a cheap cctv in the school going to your phone and sadly add a sign that’s said the non poo pickers will be served notice .
There is no other way .

 

[Rowreach]

... and once you have everything sorted out and clear rules in place, you need to adopt a policy of vetting potential liveries very very carefully before letting them on the yard.

(25 years as a YO, now the world's most perfect livery )

 

[PapaverFollis]

The very nicest yard I was ever on you didn't have a sniff of getting on there unless someone already on the yard could personally vouch for you being a sane person.

It was also full livery! ?

 

[Cloball]

Sometimes I question if I know enough to buy a horse and not be seen as ridiculous on a livery yard and then I see posts like yours and I think I must be better than this!

Just echoing everyone's else's opinions, perfectly reasonable requests that I managed perfectly well when I was last a livery aged 14. If adults can't manage then increase the livery to cover the extra work or give warning and notice to repeat offenders.

 

[Neversaydie]

I’d Take the tools away. Tell them it’s DIY buy your own. Get cctv up on arena , hay and straw shed and livery blocks. Inform them that anyone caught not poo picking the arena will be charged £20 extra on livery for your time to clean it and damage to the surface. Anyone caught leaving hay and straw trailing across the yard will be charged for your time to tidy up. Any damages NOT declared will be charged for to jumps, property etc. Unfortunately they are taking the mickey out if you. I’d also give the late payer 14days in writing to set up a standing order and settle her account or she will have her notice in writing.

 

[Quigleyandme]

Some people, a lot of people, are just slovenly, lazy and selfish and have no respect. I’m not sure rules would resonate with them. I would be inclined to write to each livery so there is no doubt as to what your expectations are and if they ALL don’t comply you’ll be wacking their livery up by £50 a month to cover the extra labour and costs involved in keeping the yard in good nick. Let them police themselves. I would also take the tools away.

 

[skint1]

I am so sorry you're having this experience, please don't give up though- good DIY livery is so rare to find and very much appreciated by those of us who have it.

I agree with everyone else, you don't need to supply tools, I wouldn't expect that and it's so kind of you to do so. Personally, if I broke something, I'd report it, offer to pay or something, I would expect to tidy up after myself anywhere on the yard and keep it to the acceptable standard, I would pay my rent on time. I have been at my yard 12 years, had my ups and downs but never have I ever missed a payment.

What about introducing a contract which includes setting up a standing order and obeying any ground rules that may apply.

 

[jay2bee]

Hello all.
Thank you for all your replies. I’m amazed to reach the end of two pages of replies on HHO and all are sensible and no fighting has broken out. Must be a record!

I’ve read everything and I’m going to write out a list of rules, which I am going to print and leave with a covering letter explaining that any broken rules will result in being given notice.
Basically everything I put in my original post. I do make everyone sign a contract with said rules on when they move to the yard and pay in advance, but clearly they weren’t taken seriously.

I lost my rag a bit tonight when a livery had taken down my horses rugs from a rug rack so she could put hers up. She said she didn’t realise they were mine. I said it didn’t effing matter whose they were, that’s just incredibly selfish and rude. I then stomped off like a sulking child. Not my finest hour but Jesus wept.

I’m a pretty strong person, I’ve worked in racing all my adult life, I can hold my own and I’m not afraid of confrontation. I’ve been trying to remain polite and professional but the gloves will be off and the notices will be handed out without mercy if they continue to take the piss, simple as. What was I thinking - people are crap! The horses are welcome to stay if they can only get rid of their owners ?

 

[jay2bee]

Oh and I don’t want to start any groups on WhatsApp or otherwise. Just a breeding ground for trouble in my experience. I’ve always just dealt with each person directly.

 

[black and brown]

If you have rules make sure you enforce them otherwise they are meaningless. If they are not enforced 'good' liveries soon become disillusioned.

 

[Gloi]

We have to look out for pointed comments in red marker on the whiteboard to know the YO has her eye on people for something.

 

[Ratface]

The bijou Horse Palace where Old Horse lives is always immaculate. It has colour-coded hanging flower baskets, court yards with stripey mown grass centres, security systems with and without roaming teeth and a YO with plenty. There are cameras everywhere linked to her phones. YO is a manic tidier/sweeper-up/bowl/bucket scrubber/hoof picker-out/visual condition scorer.
She can spot an unlevel/uncomfortable horse at a hundred yards, checks grazing and fencing daily and is a general control freak. I'm the only (full) livery, the rest are OH's relatives. She's paid a month in advance by Direct Debit. Any extras like balancer, farrier, dentist etc, I give her in cash prior to her getting/organising it. She invited me to move when she came to see OH at our previous yard. A very nice one, beautifully managed by farm owner, but I was being bullied by a nasty little mob. I think that my main drawback was that I didn't join in the group behaviour of swearing, drinking alcohol, smoking, leaving sweating ponies tied up by their reins, whilst owners fagged it in the tea room etc. I did sweep the yard, throw up the muck heap and step it, poo pick field and school and put away cones and jumps after use. I was called in to a yard meeting and told to leave, so I did. YO came to see me before I went and apologised. He said he had to "let them get on with it" because "you're the odd one out". Thank Heaven for that.

 

[Trouper]

YO came to see me before I went and apologised. He said he had to "let them get on with it" because "you're the odd one out". Thank Heaven for that.

What a coward.

 

[dorsetladette]

What a coward.

My thoughts too.

Sounds like it work out well in the end for you Ratface.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Your being too nice don't supply tools or jumps it's diy, you have to get tough when I ran yards I would close fields if not poo picked and padlocked the school if droppings are not picked up.

Sweeping put it on a rota so 1 person sweeps an area each day, get some large white boards and write a rota on one get another for yard rules, state if muck is not chucked up each livery will be charged a fee each week for you to pay someone to do it.

Liveries that fall behind get as much money from them as you can then give notice, I would suggest taking a month's deposit from future liveries so if they fall behind you have a month to cover it, make it very clear if they fall behind one month they leave.

I have always made it clear that I won't tolerate dirty stables and lack of basic care and I will make sure I enforce it with an iron fist.

I wouldn't want to run a yard again I don't have the patience or tolerance now.

 

[LegOn]

If it helps - I'm on a full livery yard, I've never been a YO or even worked on a yard but ALL those things drive me bonkers... jesus christ people a little bit of common decency and respect for those around you!

I sweep my barn when I'm finished, not just outside my stable, I tidy up the arena when I'm finished. I clean up the wash bay when I'm finished - I leave things as I would like to find them. I tidy up our tack room once a week and sweep etc but honestly it doesnt take much but the shit people do and leave lying around is unreal! I can imagine it would drive you crazy as a YO - our YO is very accommodating but continuously asking a bunch of adults to clean up after themselves is insane!

 

[Snowfilly]

Your being too nice don't supply tools or jumps it's diy, you have to get tough when I ran yards I would close fields if not poo picked and padlocked the school if droppings are not picked up.

Sweeping put it on a rota so 1 person sweeps an area each day, get some large white boards and write a rota on one get another for yard rules, state if muck is not chucked up each livery will be charged a fee each week for you to pay someone to do it.

Liveries that fall behind get as much money from them as you can then give notice, I would suggest taking a month's deposit from future liveries so if they fall behind you have a month to cover it, make it very clear if they fall behind one month they leave.

I have always made it clear that I won't tolerate dirty stables and lack of basic care and I will make sure I enforce it with an iron fist.

I wouldn't want to run a yard again I don't have the patience or tolerance now.

Any hint of that and I’d be straight off the yard! I’m paying for services like field and school use, it’s not my fault if someone else misuses them and I wouldn’t expect to pay money for something I’m not allowed to use.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I have every sympathy, OP!
We had a friend's pony here for about 12 months, never again!
If you want to continue to run a livery yard, you need to be much tougher, be as visible on the yard as you can be until you've got them knocked into shape and really make your expectations known.
As for the finance, take a months livery as deposit, don't allow anyone to fill into arrears and ensure that all liveries pay by standing order, DD will cost you for your bank to claim it.

 

[Ratface]

My thoughts too.

Sounds like it work out well in the end for you Ratface.

Re: owner of previous yard. He wasn't a coward. He was financially sensible. There were nine of them and one of me.
Recently, I saw one of the bullies in the local shopping centre. She was sickly-sweet. I was polite. She said that YO had made her and her mate had been given "a seperate set of fields, stables and a muck trailer all to ourselves, up the road. We love it!"
"How lovely. Must rush". And I did.
Obviously, the penny had belatedly dropped . . .

 

[canteron]

There will always be a poisonous group who will impose their low standards if they feel they are ‘stronger’ than you.

Be prepared to take a short term
hit for a long term easier life!

CCTV a good idea on so many levels.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

What was I thinking - people are crap! The horses are welcome to stay if they can only get rid of their owners ?

Oh I feel your pain, many years now since I had liveries but never, ever again. I missed having their horses around but the owners not so much, not a sane one amongst them!

I then stomped off like a sulking child. Not my finest hour but Jesus wept.

? Oh I think that was probably very much one of your finest hours, I bet the news will soon get around now that you are not taking anymore shite from anyone so they need to shape up or ship out.

Good luck, you and all livery owners certainly deserve it.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Any hint of that and I’d be straight off the yard! I’m paying for services like field and school use, it’s not my fault if someone else misuses them and I wouldn’t expect to pay money for something I’m not allowed to use.

I didn't do it lightly and you tend to know who the culprits are and make sure your actions affect them and not necessarily others.

I think I did it twice in about 6 years and I do find rules written in a tack room threatening such acts is often enough to deter people.

I do find if paddocks are shared the ones that poo pick will kick the lazy ones up the arse to do it so saves the yard owner the job.

One thing that drove me nuts was saying the same thing over and over it got tedious and I won't want to do it again.

 

[Ossy2]

As others have said, definitely need to toughen up rules, give the late payer notice, remove tools from communal use. Put ccvt on arena and much heap. Where we are DIY livery is in short supply so we never have trouble filling those stables, although we do a combination so not completely DIY so getting rid of those not complying shouldn’t be an issue in terms of having empty stables. Although we always say the DIYs take more managing than the full liveries. I think on purely DIY of that size if you want things doing a particular way and the place to be tidy you have to expect some degree of management of it, unfortunately I’d see it as unusual not to expect to have to do a degree of tidying and management of DIY to keep on top of things, but liveries should be doing what’s required of them.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

I wish I was a livery at yours! All of your rules I would fully respect, where I am now it’s the YM that makes everything a mess and doesn’t tidy up after hi (leaves poo in the arena, on the yard, doesn’t brush up after the farrier)

Wish I could be somewhere tidier sometimes!

It sounds like you’ve got a few bad liveries, I think they’re very reasonable rules and all of the other liveries (9) do them without thinking!

 

[irishdraft]

I used to have about 8/9 liveries here at my home , a mix of diy and full. The full liveries were the best to have without doubt. The stories I could tell of various situations I have had over the years with diyers, in the end stopped diy altogether & carried on with full until natural wastage occured and decided not to continue.