hmm,small problem (long)

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catherine22

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A girl (14) at my yard has a pony which she has had for ages and out grown, she then asked for a horse which she got (not just like that but looked for decent one etc etc!)

When they just has the pony he was on livery that I turned him out everyday and mucked out a couple of times a weeks so he has pretty much on part livery. Now they have 2 they are both on DIY so I only do them when asked. Its half term this week and she hasnt been up any day this week before 11.30, today it was gone 12. I give them breakfast at 8 but they have nothing then until she gets there.

I need to say something but she never seems to take any notice and the added problem is that my OH works for her parents (not for much longer tho-completely unrelated)

I think purely that she doesnt think/know about the problems it could cause ie ulcers and behavioural problems to the horses so how do I go about telling her she must turn them out earlier or at least sort something out with some1, not necessarily me to give them haylage while they are waiting?

Any ideas?

Sorry its so long
 
In honesty, why dont you ask them to leave a chunk of haylede out with the feeds to be chucked in at feeding time?

Then dont get involved, you will annoy them - and that is the voice of experience?!
 
I was on livery yard once where if you were not there by 10am to muck out etc - you were charged (at a higher rate than pre-arranged) and the staff mucked out etc. Obviously not ideal as you don't know where you stand day by day etc, but it worked there no one was there normally after 9am.
 
Ask YO/YM to have a word? Does YO turnout for a fee? If she can't get there (this could be parents not able to drop off earlier) then they should pay someone to turn out IMO not rely on others. My yard does turnout + DIY £1.50 per day extra per horse
 
PS When Bruce was on DIY he used to go out after the others...at 11am, becasue I didnt want him out all day or he was a twit....he hates being out all day (they never really get turned out in Germany)

Everyone used to say I was cruel! DIY yards!!! The blinking animal was happy as larry. I used to leave a couple of sections of hayledge on top of his brekkie that saw him through the morning....
 
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I used to leave a couple of sections of hayledge on top of his brekkie that saw him through the morning....

[/ QUOTE ]

Quite. But the problem here is the pony being left with nor forage nor turnout all morning.
Ownere new to part ot DIY, so up to YO .YM to remind them, get up or pay up
 
thanks guys will have a word later.

i also think as well as not understanding there are 5 kids in their family so in the hols even if she is up early she has to wait for parents etc to get ready. but she only got the 2nd horse because she said she'd have them both diy coz they couldnt afford 2 part livery. which is understandable.but i dont think the parents thought it thru that they'd have to take her every morning
 
I would just ask them to leave hay on top of feed to be thrown over the door. Explain that the horse needs constant forage so if she can not get down earlier she should arrange with someone to throw it in (dont volounter though
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Really though if she can not afford to pay someone to do it then she should not have got the 2nd horse.
 
So is this your yard? If so then you need to make it brutally clear to her parents that horses require a basic duty of care and they are failing on that count - and if they dont like it they can find somewhere else.

If it isnt your yard then I would be bringing it to the attention of the yard owner.
 
I can really relate to this, I am on a diy yard and most of them are clueless, parents no nothing and kids are too lazy. On the weekend most of the owners don't turn up till gone 9 and there is no-one who feeds for them. There is one woman in particular who has 2, one for her and one for her daughter, they will stand in until at least 11.30 with no hay or anything. Unfortunately, the worst did happen at 8.30am on saturday and her horse caught his leg in the haynet (far too low down and never listens!!) luckily I was there and found him, had to cut the haynet off his leg luckily no cut but it was wrapped around his fetlock so tight that it had swollen around the haynet. Tried calling her and call was rejected. Took her to one side at 11.45 when she arrived to tell her what happened and all she could say was oh you should have called my home I would have come straight away. Think the point was made and I have now told her - not asked - that I will put in a section of hay for them both in the morning if they are not up. Small steps but slightly happier horses. However haynets are still tied so low down. some people just think horses should fit around them, funny that I always thought it should be the other way round!!
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