How much would/could you put up with?

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Lill

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Before asking liveries to leave a yard?
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I've heard generally its like '3 strikes and out' but maybe i imagined that?
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Depends on the issue.

I think the only thing I would expect to be an immediate eviction would be Theft or deliberate mistreatment of a horse.

what are we talking about?
 
It depends I guess on what has actually happened.

A woman was abusive to our YO when she was actually in the wrong and she was given a letter informing her she had to be out by the wknd (which gave her 3 days).
Someone else didn't look after their horse at all, didn't muck out or come down to feed it (when the horse was stabled), when the YO then put the horse on full livery and billed the owner she said she wasn't paying as she didn't ask for it to be done. So she was told to go as well.

Smaller things, like repeatedly not putting jumps away, or ignoring rules are given warnings.
 
It depends on what the issue is really - small petty things that are repeatedly done are just as annoying and rubs people up the wrong way quicker then anything and spoils the atmosphere of a yard.

I have a livery yard and any Issues are dealt with as soon as possible with a quiet word and I always back it up with a letter. If it affects or could affect anyone else on the yard then everyone has a letter sent to them stating the facts , reasons and whys etc. so that everyone is informed, and I have written proof.

I would generally hope that after a quiet word the problem is resolved but if ignored then a second letter is given stating the facts and then I would generally give them a short but reasonable time to sort the problem out and if it is ignored then I would give them their notice, this is normally one week. For gross misconduct I reserve the right to give 24hrs notice. All these terms are all laid out in their contracts which they all sign and therefore agree to.

Lucky I have never had to go that Far!! But to have everything in place just in case is a safety net for yard managers and owners. My liveries have everything given to them in a pack when the join the yard,- Rules, risk assesssment, Fire Drill, Health & safety and Accident procedure. It all sounds a bit strict but everyone knows and theres no grey areas. Hope you get your 'Problem' Sorted!!
 
So how many warnings would it take before you asked them to leave?

What about attempted theft?

You do sound very organised tigrablackhorse, probably the best way to be though!
 
I think a lot of livery owners let liveries get away with far too much, to the great annoyance of those who just want to get on and have no intention of creating more work for everyone else.

It's difficult though, especially when you aren't witness to things happening as a lot of yards can be incredibly cliquey and people do tend to gang up on each other.
 
Attempted theft ....that is a grey area though, I take it the item was not actually taken? do you have proof etc?

Nobody likes a tea leaf, as it puts pressure on everyone, everybody could be guilty, everyone in the line of fire and nobody trusts nobody, but if you have proof them I think the most reasonable thing to do is remove the keys from them, give them a written notice that they have to come off the yard and don't allow that individual on the yard again, the horse will have to be taken care off by the yard owner at the owners extra cost unless they move it when notice has been given....which is the general idea but at least the owner has a chance to find new premises and its not taken out on the horse.

Make it clear to everyone else that this is the action that is taken if anyone is suspected of theft, using other peoples equipment without their say so etc...usually keeps wandering hands at bay and that CCTV is in place.

Again nobody likes a tea leaf!
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I was always worried about getting evicted from my old yard - I was a good livery and always paid on time and did what I was told but my pony was a difficult pony in that he refused to stable and jumped out several times and he tried to break the door down and succeeded, he also had bouts of being unhappy with his fields mates and getting competitive when it came to feeding hay in the field.

In the end I moved yards to somewhere more suited to my ponies needs where he can live out all year without having to be stabled in a smaller gentler group and they have enough grazing to not normally need to feed hay in the fields and if they do he will have his own pile rather than one large pile to share with others.
 
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, using other peoples equipment without their say so etc...

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Oh that definitely applies!
 
Lill - As a Yard Owner you have to be very organised as as soon as something goes wrong I am the person that is responsible - be it directly or indirectly !!! warnings - I feel that twice/ three times depending on the case, is enough as whatever is the problem surely can be sorted in the first instance. Theft is a tricky matter as you must be sure before you start pointing fingers and accusations. I have CCTV that is recorded (ten cameras) - mainly for security but it has helped prove a point in the past. I assure you it is NOT for Spying on clients!!!!! If unsure then you must approched the yard as a whole - state the claim and make sure that the outcome that you have decided upon is declared. Back it up in writing. If it's a one off larger attempt then again declare to the whole yard and state that the police will invloved if any further attempts are made. Back up in writing.

People 'borrowing' other clients property is very annoying. Again make sure everyone is aware that they are responsible for their own property and not to leave it lying around. Keep small items ( grooming kits, Fly spray etc) in a locked tack box. Tack if being used again is a big problem at some yards so lockable saddle racks are available or tack safes. Other people must be responsible for their own stuff but as a YO you must make people aware that it is unacceptable to 'borrow' and is not tolerated. Keep a notice posted on the notice board to remind people.

I have twenty liveries at my yard with 24 horses and no one locks anything away. I trust people to mark down their hay and bedding that they have taken, and it always adds up at the end of the month !! again as I state the rules and what is what is not not tolerated makes a huge difference. Everyones Happy - PS out of my 20 liveries 12 have been with me for 8 years, two have been here for 5 years and the rest for at least three years. Somethings working !!
 
I you are 100% sure that the person that you are accusung of attempted theft is the correct person. Then give them immediate notice. It's the only way to keep the confidence of your other liveries and the reputation of the yard. Remove access rights and keys and make sure you are on the premises whenever they wish to attend to their horse in the notice period. After they have left change locks or numbers and keep the respect of the other clients. It also shows that you do not tolerate unacceptable behaviour.

If they owe you any money this is then payable before they leave. - cash - no cheques as they seem to be very bouncy after a issue !!! Keep calm and keep professional. Don't lose your temper and speak clearly without raising your voice. Keep control of the situation. Good luck.
 
Pst i'm not a YO but thanks very much for your reply.
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I have taken most of my tack home, just the two saddles that are in use and a bridle but they will be coming home with me on Friday night as i'm away for the weekend
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Prehaps you could take reference to a few of the issues raised here and then go and have a quiet word with your YO armed with a bit more inside knowlegde and information !!!!!
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