I can't win can I? Trials and tribulations of a YO

Enfys

Enfys

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I do try my best, really I do. I bend over backwards to make life more comfortable for my Owners. My barn, which is warm, weather proof and has power and water, is available for all Owners to use, whether they use a stable or not. There are tie ups all down the aisle, and haynets to use if they like...

So why do I feel like a **** simply because I have had to tell (I've asked them politely twice already) new owners not to park their truck directly outside the barn, tie their horses to it and feed them there? They asked if they could when they first looked around and I said No then, I am obviously not fierce enough :(

Not only do they obstruct the entrance, get in the way of everyone else (they watched a very small lady trying to carry a 50lb sack of beet cubes from the parking lot yesterday because she couldn't drive up to unload I am told - very polite and apologetic complaint) but their horses are trashing the drive (and my grass) and they are ripping up the grass as they drive over to turn around :( (OH not amused either)

Somehow they have made me feel like an ogre :( and still they asked me where they can tie the horses...:confused:

I have a feeling these won't be choosing to stay here for long ... ah well, such is life:(
 
measles said:
I feel for you. Tea and chocolate is my remedy in such situations..
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I'm sat in here, black coffee in hand - hiding. Pathetic. I hate confrontation :( It's my home FGS and I don't want to go out to finish up for the night.

If I could find the chocolates I bought for emergency gifts (the "Oh Thankyou, I got you something too" ones) I'd have eaten them, but I hid them too well :mad:
 
Can you not just tell them straight up and tell them why?! I have NOOO experience of running a yard or indeed of being on one, but surely the best way of dealing with it is to just say? I would also suggest putting some signage up or something to physically stop them fitting a truck ( I assume you mean lorry?) there.

I think honesty so the best policy though - TELL them to MOVE IT!!!
 
Poor You!
Maybe you should reiterate this in writing to everyone and include it in their next bill. Give them two copies and and ask them to sign one and return it to you. You could be clever and also include all the usual details you need for a Contact Form such as emergency contact and vet/farrier details, so they have to complete this.
For any new liveries ensure that you give them a copy of this and they sign and return this before they are allowed on the yard.
I'm on a large yard and for the most part people respect it as their own but you do get the odd one (usually inexperienced) who just haven't got a clue and are a liability!
 
Blitzenfys said:
I'm sat in here, black coffee in hand - hiding. Pathetic. I hate confrontation :( It's my home FGS and I don't want to go out to finish up for the night.

If I could find the chocolates I bought for emergency gifts (the "Oh Thankyou, I got you something too" ones) I'd have eaten them, but I hid them too well :mad:
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I do not like confrontation either BUT if this is YOUR yard then it's YOUR rules so just go TELL them!!! Honestly, it is not likely to be as bad as you are imagining.
 
Blitzenfys said:
I'm sat in here, black coffee in hand - hiding. Pathetic. I hate confrontation :( It's my home FGS and I don't want to go out to finish up for the night.

If I could find the chocolates I bought for emergency gifts (the "Oh Thankyou, I got you something too" ones) I'd have eaten them, but I hid them too well :mad:
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My YOs are lovely. If I've done something wrong they just look disappointed.

OMG - it's like a knife to the heart :(

I'd do anything to avoid that look!
 
Dealing with people is hard enough as it is, but when you have to repeatedly tell someone with deaf ears .... sessssh it becomes a nightmare.

I would simply pop up a nice permanent laminated sign. And a couple of nice 'ornate' boulders on the grass should put a swift end to that problem too ...
 
I did tell them straightout before they came that there wasn't anywhere they could park on the yard to tie their horses to the truck (sorry, pick up, Chevvy thing I think) They just ignored me. Twice (and they only came last Friday)

I can't get my head around why anyone would want to tie up outside (this is Canada remember) when there is a barn to go in.
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Their horses are super well behaved mature geldings so it isn't as if they are fire breathing dragons, spooky babies, whatever, that must be kept away from all others.

There is mention in the Contract/Barn Details about vehicles parking etc no one else has a problem with it. :(

Off I go then, nags to feed and it'll be dark soon...on the bright side, and there always is one, there is only a month to go before the nights start getting shorter again, that's something to look forwards to isn't it? :D
 
hannahmurphy said:
And a couple of nice 'ornate' boulders on the grass should put a swift end to that problem too ...
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They would indeed, I suggested that very thing to OH last night, not allowed to..
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They'll kill the plough when the snow comes and I drive into them!!! (Which I would) Fair enough I suppose.:)
 
Just tell them to shift the truck as it is a fire hazard.

Of hit them in the pocket with a parking fee -at least equal to a livery charge.
 
It sounds as though you feel intimidated by these people which isn't really fair considering its your yard and you are only making a reasonable request.

I would just walk up to them, chin up :) and confidently remind them that you asked them not to park the lorry next to the barn because of the problems it causes for others etc. Keep the conversation friendly and upbeat and reassert exactly what you would like them to do then just carry on on your way without getting pulled into a heavy awkward conversation. If they do try and justify themselves, I would just look slightly annoyed, repeat the request and say you need to get on, you're busy etc.

Stick to your boundaries and when people cross them, the sooner you point it out to them the better. Good luck
 
I agree with asking them to pay a parking fee and also the laminated sign. You could write on it, that there will be a parking fee plus any costs for repairs to the lawn?
 
Enfys, you are clearly at risk of going native! :eek: You are becoming a polite, non-confrontational Canadian!! Go on, find some of that inner British obstinate rudeness that is your national heritage, and go all multicultural on them! :)
 
If you want to reduce the confrontation, perhaps you could remind them that they are not allowed to park the truck on the yard because it is a nuisance for everyone, but then say you've noticed they like to feed the horses off it and ask what they are trying to achieve. That might let you suggest a solution that works for both of you (and also then you can let us know why anyone would want to feed horses tied to a truck...)
 
hannahmurphy said:
I would simply pop up a nice permanent laminated sign. And a couple of nice 'ornate' boulders on the grass should put a swift end to that problem too ...
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Herts05 said:
Maybe you should reiterate this in writing to everyone and include it in their next bill.
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s4sugar said:
Of hit them in the pocket with a parking fee -at least equal to a livery charge.
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Any, or all, of these are great ideas!

Good luck getting it all sorted out, nothing worse than people who don't follow the rules
 
Id be tempted to tap them on the shoulder and sign it to them apologising that you never knew they had hearing problems :D:D
Nah seriously, it sounds like you need to start as you mean to go on with them,Theyre just in your door, and completely ignoring you, in your own place bloomin cheek!
What are they going to be doing when their slippers are right under the table.:eek:
You could try"ive asked you nicely, and you chose to disregard my request, now im telling you,PLEASE DO NOT PARK YOUR TRUCK AT THE BARN, ARE WE CLEAR ?"
Tell them Its a fire and safety hazard, and wont be tolerated, youve a whole yard of people and horses whose safety is being put at risk.
Good luck:D:D
 
spookypony said:
Enfys, you are clearly at risk of going native! :eek: You are becoming a polite, non-confrontational Canadian!! Go on, find some of that inner British obstinate rudeness that is your national heritage, and go all multicultural on them! :)
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This made me laugh.:D
My sister lives in Canada (and has for some years now) and she runs a barn/liverie riding school, she still retains her British,,, um... ness! she's even more forthright than i am! :eek:

I dont envy your job though, horses are one thing, horsey people on the other hand.....:confused: :rolleyes:
 
CaveCanem said:
You're British, clamp the feckers.
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Bwah ha ha ha. :D Do it, do it, do it!

Put up a sign, just so they can't possibly say they didn't know (I KNOW they know, but there are people in this world who don't consider anything said to be an actual rule) and next time they part there, point to the sign and tell them to move it or lose it.

Easy to say give them the boot - depends on how much you need the board.

Re the polite Canadian thing, I'm not really seeing it, tbh. I'm still getting told off all the time for being too direct and I suspect I've toned it down since I've lived here. Okay, maybe I wasn't a particularly well behaved native Canadian either. ;) But mostly we're "polite" because there is enough space to either go away or tell the other person to go away.
 
To quote my own yard owner 'this is not any livery yard, it is mine, obey the rules or you have a week to leave' There is no point stressing out over people not willing to play by your yard rules when there are no doubt pleanty who will. Chin up and tell them!
 
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