Help! Sharer snow day dilemma

[SaddlePsych'D]

Could do with some thoughts/advice as just not sure what the sensible/reasonable thing is here.

Yard is technically DIY but there is a YM (lead tenant I guess) who does turnout and ad hoc assistance. YM contacted me this morning to warn of treacherous roads and people stuck on lanes, including them with their 4x4. Agreed probably not sensible for me to try going up in my little car and to contact owner to see if they are more able to get there.

Called owner straight away to relay this. She didn't sound sure about her ability to get there and sounded like she planned to ask YM to cover today. I suggested they would be best talking directly to each other.

YM rang me again, owner not called them yet. I said it sounded like they were planning to ask for cover. YM not pleased about this and said if I didn't go up then owner needs to. They offered to give one of us a lift from their house if we can get to there as they live much closer.

I absolutely do not want to let owner down but equally feeling really worried about risking my car and self getting to the yard. Also kind of tricky that owner and YM are not communicating directly. Do I just suck it up and try and get there/to YM house or push it back and say they need to sort it between them?

Stupid snow!

 

[doodle]

I think as a sharer it is your day and so your responsibility to do the horse. YM maybe swamped with lots of people needing help at the last minute. Is there any other liveries on the yard that could help out?

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I think as a sharer it is your day and so your responsibility to do the horse. YM maybe swamped with lots of people needing help at the last minute. Is there any other liveries on the yard that could help out?

No its just YM and owner at the yard.

 

[doodle]

Hhmm I think take her up on the offer of a lift. Difficult.

 

[ester]

Given response of YM I'd get to YM's house, in part because it's usually better yard wise if you can clear some snow too and if YM is on her own that might be a big job too. There's always more to do once it's snowed.

 

[PapaverFollis]

How far is it? Can you get close enough on less difficult roads to then walk in? Perhaps get him all sorted and ask for YM to fetch in or put hay in later? Or take a flask and packed lunch and stay out long enough to do a late morning and a mid afternoon stables... It does kind of depend on the nuances of the sharing arrangement as to who is responsible. But in your shoes I think I'd be trying to make my own way there. But I'm an obstinate baggage at times.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would try to get to ym house but I find it a bit off that the owner has just sort of left you to it, I personally would as the horses owner try to get there myself rather than just leave my sharer to get on with it.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

It's 30 min for me if I go directly to yard or to YM. Then 10 min from YM with them. I think I'm probably going to have to risk it.

I did today's hay yesterday and horses brought back in already because of the snow so I think it's just mucking out is the only job to be done now.

Eta I'm not sure how far away owner is or what their routes are like to the yard

 

[FestiveG]

It would depend on how the share is supposed to work. If you have a set day, when you would normally have responsibly for the horse, then if the bad weather is on your day, it's your responsibility on that day. I can see that in that situation the owner would expect you to sort it out.
When on a yard in the past, I have walked some distance to see to ours.

 

[milliepops]

How far is it? Can you get close enough on less difficult roads to then walk in? Perhaps get him all sorted and ask for YM to fetch in or put hay in later? Or take a flask and packed lunch and stay out long enough to do a late morning and a mid afternoon stables... It does kind of depend on the nuances of the sharing arrangement as to who is responsible. But in your shoes I think I'd be trying to make my own way there. But I'm an obstinate baggage at times.

this is what I used to do, trudge over and stay for a few hours helping, then if I had to leave earlier than i would have done evening stables, YO would hay/feed at the normal time and it would just be a few more poos in tomorrow's wheelbarrow. fortunately for me now OH has a super truck and variety of other vehicles so we are normally the ones doing everyone else's

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

It would depend on how the share is supposed to work. If you have a set day, when you would normally have responsibly for the horse, then if the bad weather is on your day, it's your responsibility on that day. I can see that in that situation the owner would expect you to sort it out.
When on a yard in the past, I have walked some distance to see to ours.

We agree the days at the start of each week so not fixed the same every week. So this week we agreed Fri, Sat, Sun. I didn't do Friday as weather was nice and owner wanted to ride, which I thought was fair enough given the weather had been really awful this week.

Eta it's not so much about bad weather - if its cold/wet/windy I still obviously go up and do my day. Its more the being initially told not to try going because of the roads being so treacherous. I'm going to try to get there and hope for the best.

 

[splashgirl45]

the days change each week, that would drive me mad. interesting that you seem to have the snow days but let owner have a ride in the good weather on your day. if i was being mean, i would say owner has checked weather forecast and tried to pick non snow days. perhaps i am too suspicious...

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

the days change each week, that would drive me mad. interesting that you seem to have the snow days but let owner have a ride in the good weather on your day. if i was being mean, i would say owner has checked weather forecast and tried to pick non snow days. perhaps i am too suspicious...

The flexible days usually work quite well for me with my job as some weeks I have more on than others so things move about a bit. Friday sort of worked out for me anyway as it gave me a chance to sort out some work IT issues.

 

[doodle]

Off topic but I think owner changing and saying she wanted to ride on your day as the weather was nice is out of order. Either she wants a sharer who can ride the horse or keep him for herself.

 

[PapaverFollis]

I agree. Flexible days work well for you but shouldn't be messed with once agreed UNLESS it can then work both ways.

 

[BatHorse]

I think as it's your day you should try to get there. Is there somewhere close to the yard your car will make it to, and then you walk the rest? You shouldn't really accept a lift from the YM at this time, if one of you develops covid you'll both have to self isolate

 

[Red-1]

If you agreed to be responsible for the horse on that day, then I think you are the one who needs to able to get there or arrange cover.

If I get it right, the YM phoned you (as the person responsible today) to warn you that the roads are bad, and she offered a solution, for you to go to her house and she would get you there via a 4 by 4 vehicle?

Job sorted? Safe and you can do the horse. Sounds quite kind of the YM to be honest. Or drive as far as is safe, and walk the rest. (Edited as temporarily forgot Covid (doh!)).

If you are happy to swap days, as a general thing, then that is fine; if not, then you would presumably say something to the owner of the horse in advance.

If you prefer, or are not able, to be personally responsible on 'your' day, I would think a part/full livery type share would be better (presumably different horse/different yard), so you could call the yard and arrange to pay for livery for that day. Or have a different kind of share arrangement. With one of my sharers, we both agreed to change yards to a full livery set up as we both had the same employer (different shift, so it usually worked perfectly) when work became mad-busy. The extra money she gave me meant I could pay for the upgraded yard. Both happy, as was the horse.

 

[AmyMay]

To be honest, bottom line is that this is ultimately the owners responsibility. You can’t get there (not your fault).

Hopefully at half past midday someone has actually done something with the horse.

Oh, and the YM attitude is pretty $h!t

 

[Littlewills]

No way would I go or expect any sharer to go. You spoke to the YM and the owner and it was left as she was going to sort it out. I'd ring her now and say you cant get there, YM has just rung as shes not doing it, what is owners plan?

 

[AdorableAlice]

Can you pay the yard manager to do the horse for you. If she/he is already on the yard that would make the most sense to me, and would leave you safely at home, cars safe and covid safe.

 

[mavandkaz]

To be honest, bottom line is that this is ultimately the owners responsibility. You can’t get there (not your fault).

Hopefully at half past midday someone has actually done something with the horse.

Oh, and the YM attitude is pretty $h!t

This, I have sharers and wouldn't expect them to put themselves at risk to go and see to MY horse. If neither of us could make it, the yard would do it for me and I would be charged (if the sharer then offered to pay for this, that would be great but not expected)
I mean if you were constantly making excuses not to go then that would be different, but sounds like it's more the other way round.
Although the yard owner has offered a lift from hers, I wouldn't feel comfortable with that in current lockdown restrictions.

 

[Equi]

It is a tricky one. End of the day your safety is paramount. I am not able to get to yard today cause I’m basically snowed in but the yard has very little snow barely a skiff, so thankfully someone closer was able to fill a few nets for my boy so he’ll survive.

 

[Tiddlypom]

The owner should sort this out with the YM.

If roads are that tricky (and they are here too atm), then the fewer people making hazardous journeys and risking their necks the better. I would not expect a sharer to risk themselves/their car for my horse.

Car sharing atm is out too, due to Covid.

 

[PurBee]

Snow chains for vehicle - everyone should have a set in their boot! We’re so un-used to snow even an inch or two sends the county into meltdown on the roads. Snow chains give peace of mind and help a lot. Theyre cheap so worth investing in for these dodgy months we’re prone to.

But as AAlice says, if i was AT the yard i’d do the horses, if the others cant get there due to ice/snow. Makes sense.
There’s no point in holding the mentality ‘but its not my job/day to do it’ - when plans go awry due to weather/covid etc we just have to do what needs doing...
Having animals has fostered that mentality in me.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I wouldn’t dream of leaving my sharer to do the horses in weather like this. My horses, my responsibility and it would be me getting there any way I could.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

As far as I know YM turned them all out, mucked out and then brought them all in as it was snowing so heavily. I think the only thing to be done is muck out as I got the hay for today ready to go last night. YM has extra to do with their own horses so is holding firm that if its not me then it needs to be owner. Owner is saying they can't get there either/not comfortable with the car share.

I've investigated the roads near my house and I think I can make it out to the main roads and to YM house. I'm not keen on it but I don't fancy my chances walking on roads, its a long trek uphill and winding. I'm going to do my best to get there and if not the only choice I have is to message owner.

If I get it right, the YM phoned you (as the person responsible today) to warn you that the roads are bad, and she offered a solution, for you to go to her house and she would get you there via a 4 by 4 vehicle?

Initially they said don't try to come up at all since they themselves got stuck at the yard and had seen various cars around the area stuck/abandoned. As they've since managed to get unstuck and presumably roads in the area not so bad, they've offered the lift.

 

[Gingerwitch]

My view is, share horse is mine today, so what happens on my day is for me to resolve. I was also surprised at the time of your first post, it's a bit late to be sorting pony care out at this time.
Most yard owners will step in but if they are frozen after someti about multi horses and are going for a warm and something to eat, I would not be best pleased to have another horse dumped on me so late in the day.
I hope pony has been seen to.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

My view is, share horse is mine today, so what happens on my day is for me to resolve. I was also surprised at the time of your first post, it's a bit late to be sorting pony care out at this time.
Most yard owners will step in but if they are frozen after someti about multi horses and are going for a warm and something to eat, I would not be best pleased to have another horse dumped on me so late in the day.
I hope pony has been seen to.

YM does mornings anyway. Sorry I didn't explain the DIY with assistance very well.

 

[dixie]

Oh, and the YM attitude is pretty $h!t

I agree. If the conditions are too dangerous surely it’s not much to chuck them some hay and skip out for the day.
Also we knew this was coming and maybe something should have been arranged yesterday?

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I wouldn’t dream of leaving my sharer to do the horses in weather like this. My horses, my responsibility and it would be me getting there any way I could.

This would be my take on it too. It would either be me or a joint effort unless I absolutely couldn’t make it.