Horse without water...AGAIN

AprilBlossom

AprilBlossom

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 May 2010
Messages
2,383
Location
Gloucester
Visit site
I felt sick today when I popped in to yard where my share/loan horse is. Did yards last night and automatic water all good, snowed overnight and evidently the water bowls stopped working.

- background - horses are at a private yard in ground of a posh house and owned by the family who live there. They are at boarding school/work away all week and frequent weekends so treat horse as my own (with all expenses provided for bar my petrol, not a bad sounding deal...) family are novice owners but want to care for their horses when they are about.

Family text this am to say theyd sort horses and were leaving them in because of snow. Myself and other share/loaner advised to put them out with hay as per their routine for last 3 weeks were rugged and out 24/7 but its their call, their horses and they stayed in. Popped in to say hi about midday and had intended to poo pick the field, darn snow...on not even close inspection noticed the donkey, who just has a water bucket, had no water. The boys had no water either as bowls completely empty. Quickly filled some buckets as yard tap still functioning.

It's not the first time this has happened. First time was when cold weather came in suddenly and whilst not condoning it, I can forgive it as a novice oversight which I advised of and stressed the importance of providing a constant water supply. The boys were clearly very thirsty as they made pathetic whinnying noises at us approaching with water and proceeded to drain almost 2 buckets each immediately!

I gave the daughter who was at home a stern warning and she said she was sorry but how do I get the message across that it's not about saying sorry, more just acting on mine and other sharers advice which is given in a caring manner, not to be awkward or anything. How do I get the message across that the basic needs MUST be provided for, before something very bad happens??!

They're home for the holidays now hence my concern leaving them unsupervised for a few weeks...Any advice most appreciated, thanks!
 
This is a tough one, as legally it is up to them what they decide what they do with their horses, but I can see exactly where your concern is coming from - I would be exactly the same. I think I'd continue to 'pop' up the yard conveniently and check on the horses. This way you can make note whether it's a regular thing and the owners really just cannot be bothered, or it was just a one-off. If it continues to happen, I'd give the owner a ring and have a chat with her about the importance of a fresh constant water supply. Hope this helps
 
We fill up the big rubber buckets and put under the auto water, can you not get some big buckets put them in all the stables and put up a big note asking for them to be filled up every day when mucking out?
 
nativetyponies said:
Doesn't anyone read/watch the weather forecasts?

it isn't too hard to work out in advance that it might be frosty..therefore buckets are in order?
:confused::confused:
Click to expand...

Their answer is to throw money at the problem instead of common sense. Apparently they'd had an electrician (???) and plumber out to change the water supply to warm water and massively insulate all pipes so assumed no problem.

NP quite right though, should have bucketed myself last night although I have to admit the weather forecast round here has been snow for weeks and nope, nothing, so it's taken with a bit of salt..hah, does that count as a pun!?
 
Not sure how old the children are but it might be worth speaking to the parents first. Just raise it in conversation and mention how concerned you were.

I know how you feel though, there is a horse on our yard that had a slice of hay left at 6pm. Knowing that the owners wouldn't be back until 10am the next day (16 hours). I spoke to the farmer about filling a haynet up which he agreed was the best thing to do as neither of us had their number. Whilst I hate feeding other people's horses when not asked, equally I hate seeing a horse with no access to hay. :(
 
Feeding has also been an issue raised multiple inescapable. Notes have been left.

Daughter who has pony is 15, the father bought G recently for himself as he is learning to ride. He's had 3 lessons in 2 months. Luckily G is an incredibly tolerant horse, especially so for an ex grade A sjer - so he hasn't come a cropper yet, but I've raised these issues with both father and daugter, so has my friend who rides the pony.

It just seems they assume having a posh clean looking yard is enough, regardless of what i say! Christ, he had a 'i'm not happy' moment with me yesterday as their cod liver supplement ran out earlier this week...got some more yesterday... Yet he won't listen to me saying a similar thing back regarding water, probably a slightly more fundamental need! Grr am so annoyed.
 
I know where you are coming from ive worked in the past for people that are loaded and have a yard full of horse just for weekend pets, and they dont have a clue about looking after them. Get some massive rubber buckets and put them in the stable bill the owners for the buckets and put up a massive not saying re fill water daily. Ive done this in the past.
 
dingle12 said:
I know where you are coming from ive worked in the past for people that are loaded and have a yard full of horse just for weekend pets, and they dont have a clue about looking after them. Get some massive rubber buckets and put them in the stable bill the owners for the buckets and put up a massive not saying re fill water daily. Ive done this in the past.
Click to expand...

I'll happily do it all myself AND sweep the yard to within an inch of its life if I work for them and they pay me. Cash in hand would be lovely haha!

Has anyone ever moved from a sharer type relationship to that of a groom? I can't see how to approach it without being told where to go lol

Thanks, will make another random visit with stashes of post its!!
 
I have a friend whose daughter who has expensive polo ponies roughed off for the winter. I am fed up of telling them they have no water, today the tough was frozen again and I had to break the ice.
My friends ex bought the ponies and she tries but she works full time and they have never been her hobby. The daughter, I saw red when she's in her PJ's at 10.30 and her horses have nothing to drink.
Some people just think they will get by, and do know something often they do.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top