I MAY be over-reacting... but...

S14Tobin

S14Tobin

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... I am right royally hacked off... and usually such a laid back bird! Background - I work fulltime, have 2 children of school age, and a OH who works shifts. Not unusual, but it does mean my time at the yard is limited, tightly managed and precious! We've had the house on the yard rented by a family, nice enough, but their daughters are a messy pair, nice enough again, kids so....! they've never had horses on DIY before, only FL, so everyone taught them what to do etc. now. They have their own stuff, but don't give 2 hoots about borrowing anyone elses, and now, tends to bemine, I have NO issue anyone using my barrow, broom etc, as long as they're there when i want them, don't get damaged, and put back in the right place. I am SICK and TIRED of finding my barrow dumped outside someone elses stable full of muck, or missing completely. Not once, over the past 3 weeks about 8 times, and then missing for 2. I left my spade to help people hack through the snow - they smashed the handle and left it, not enough decency to say anything. I went up last night to see them again with my barrow (they HAVE one, but can't share!) and giggling, messing about trying to hide the fact. I'm sick of asking for it back, and told them enough is enough, and to leave my stuff alone. They told me they can't see the problem, so I explained once again, I have a short time to do what I need to do, etc, but this time was rather more blunt. They said 'well people borrow our barrow', at this point my reply was well I don't so leave my stuff alone PLEASE! WRONG day for a 13 and 15 year old to annoy me, PMT Hour! Anyway stressed again, it's fine during the day, but PUT THINGS BACK and you both know times I come up etc. Anyway I toddled off to do my thing... filled kettle to damp hey etc, then shoved another on for P's dinner. Went back... they'd emptied it down the sink. ARGHHHHH Sorry, all sounds rather silly typed out, but I was about to blow a gasket. JHLKJBLUFLJ

Mince pies...

wanders off to have a strop.
 
((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))) sorry I cant suggest anything except to padlock your stuff together with a chain so no-one canuse it or to move. In the meanwhile dream of the day you'll get your own place.
 
Who do the family rent the house from? Does the YO have overall responsibility for the place? If so have a word, as the behaviour is unnacceptable, as is their reaction to your attempt to sort it out. It is beyond me why teenagers feel it is acceptable to treat adults in this way.
 
GRRRRR!!!

If I found my barrow full af another horses shyte I would tip it back into the stable :D

Seriously though, you hear this on so many yards - some people don't understand the true cost of owning horses because they are constantly freeloading off others!
 
It drives me barmy when people dont put things back where they found them or use stuff without asking, breaking nearly tips me over the edge, so fully sympathise. :D
 
*small voice* glad it's not just me then... house is rented off the YO, YO thinks the sun shines, and quite frankly it's annoying a few of us.... but it just ticks me off that they clearly can't see a problem .... Ive explained SO many times.... one of the other liveries who is not known for her ability to step away from a discussion :D even said - you'll have to be careful handling it because if they go running to 'YO', it'll all fire up... but seems so daft a problem issuing from a barrow!! Parents - erm... they have more £ than....! and not worth approaching... from what I know... Ive just tried to keep myself to myself and enjoy my boy.
 
TBH these are things that would really really annoy me too and the one of the reasons I am on a FL adult only yard with only 8 other liveries, I hate kids at the best of times. None of our stuff is locked away but nothing every goes missing. I think you did the right thing saying to them and padlocking everything away try to not leave anything they can get at and ignor them, they will soon start "borrowing" others stuff instead. Other than that the pitch fork sounds like a good idea.
 
I am on a DIY yard, everyone has their own mucking out equipment or shares with a friend. We had a lady on the yard last year who had nothing and would just help herself to whatever equipment she fancied! Mornings are frantic as everyone works and after the 5th day running of finding my barrow in her stable full of muck when I came back from turning out, I emptied it back into her stable (at the front I hasten to add, not on the clean bed) and took it back. I called the YO to explain later in the day and he did speak to her and asked her to buy her own equipment but it had no effect. She was eventually asked to leave the yard as she seemed to think that hay and shavings were hers for the taking as well!
 
FWIW when I found it full having been left outside one of their stables overnight I did tell her next time I would be emptying it up against their stable door.... (little sis guilty) I mentioned it to big sis, and she siad she couldn't see the issue as I wasn't using it at the time!! quite right, i wasn't... :rolleyes:
 
Oh honey - I feel for you - I too am a parent of a 4 and 10yo and work full time and I don't believe that anyone else who is not in our position can undertand the time constraints we are under.

OK - broken stuff - pin a bill to their door for replacement - if parent have that much money then let them buy a new one.

Full wheelbarrow - empty outside stable as you have warned them you will do.

Borrowed stuff at the "wrong time" tell them when the wrong time is and then if they are using it when you get up there just take it back - again you have warned them.

Seriously, if they have that much money they need to get their own stuff.

Hugs xx
 
I'm afraid a lot of it's down to their age. A pair of bratty inmature little girls by the sounds of it. Poor you. I had a similar problem myself last year - but with feed going missing from my bins. In the end I left a "personalised note" inside one of my bins. Never know whether they got it (cos they weren't likely to let on!) but like to think so :D

Is there anywhere you can safely lock your few bits away? Luckily I have a people carrier (I have 4 kids) so can stash my fork and broom in the back of it if I'm feeling particularly p'ed off with my things going 'walkies'. If people think I'm being petty at our livery yard I couldn't care less! My stuff's, my stuff. Like you, I don't mind responsible people borrowing my stuff when I'm not using it as long as it's left where I always leave it and isn't abused. In your instance though, you're up against two inmature little girls who may even get a kick out of knowing they are winding you up. Wouldn't surprise me. Take action!
 
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Similar to me then - Ive a 5 & 12YO... I wouldn't mind so much, but they know when I go up, they HAVE a barrow etc, but if they are both mucking out, they ust can't wait. I suggested to the youngest one last night she 'ask Santa for a new barrow' her response was... Why? we've got one'... Mine was well KGKFLKGLKJBLJG use it then rather than mine!!!! (maybe a bit harsh, but.... *gurgle fume*

Ive locked barrow away with everything else now, so unless they go into mountain goat mode and climb over, they can't touch it.... I didnt click on to the fact they'd been using my old kettle and boiled it empty when they first moved in, so bought a new one... as for spade if I could get evidential proof it was them (could have been their dad too!) that they'd broken it, I'd be banging on the door - as it was, I told them I wanted it replacing... they just looked dumbly on... just honestly they can't see the problem!
 
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To be fair to all the youngsters, it is not just kids who are selfish and irresponsible when it comes to using and abusing other people's stuff.
The woman who has moved in opposite me (in her 60's) has an entourage of adult 'helpers' that would put Beyonce to shame. All of them seem to think it is acceptable to sit on my storage box outside my stable, and it is now broken. Despite me putting a very clear notice on it to say that it is not suitable for sitting on, and is now broken, apparently her hangers-on are still sitting on it. My next step is to lift my rubber mats, take an old sponge and saturate it with the wet dregs from underneath, then smear it all over the lid of my box (since it is broken, it might as well also be dirty). The next person to sit on it will have a smelly wet bottom.
My friend's yard brush kept disappearing. The culprit turned out to be a member of yard staff who 'preferred it because the bristles are stiffer'...
I have, on occasion, emptied my wheelbarrow into someone's stable when I found it full of their c**p. It usually only needs to happen the once for people to get the message.
Unfortunately you may need to lock up your stuff for the foreseeable future, just until they no longer see 'borrowing' it as the easy option.
 
Flicker said:
My next step is to lift my rubber mats, take an old sponge and saturate it with the wet dregs from underneath, then smear it all over the lid of my box (since it is broken, it might as well also be dirty). The next person to sit on it will have a smelly wet bottom.
Click to expand...

Superb idea!! Even better if you could be there to witness it too, eh!!! :D:D:D:D:D
 
I know how you feel. When mine was in I would normally come up to someone using mine and would have to wait till they finished. Mine is out now so don't get stressed as much.

I would leave it in your stable or paddlock it. It annoys me to think that if someone broke my wheelbarrow, I would be left to repair it.
 
OP - I sat reading your post very thoughtfully. Can you please PM me, from your description I have a funny feeling I know these teenagers. I dont know if you are near to me or not, if you arent (and you will see from my id details), then its not them obviously. However, if it is them, I maybe able to help you out.
 
Talking of stables... still tryign to find out who had used my water bucket, emptied it, then chucked it back in the stable when they'd finished! Ok ok, I'll stop moaning about it all now, you;ve all made me realise it's NOT just me... I'll be sweetness and light later... but if they try and wind me up... i'll be biting harder than they think I can!
 
It's not just teenagers. I have a stanley knife on a loop of baler twine in the haystore to cut the strings. OH has several stanley knives in his messy tool store. So... you're getting there before me aren't you. Yes, whenever he has 'a little job' to do he takes my knife because he knows where it is. And no, he doesn't put it back. EVER.:(
 
I have been in your position and found to my cost that losing my rag got me nowhere - as the parents then immediately took said girls side and everyone thought I was making a fuss out of nothing. Became very unpleasant. However, on a more positive note, when I loudly created merry hell - again - revolting girl moved onto another victim and then I was vindicated. All you can do is to lock everything away - and if you can't, then a very large sign painted on your wheelbarrow saying that if this is borrowed without notice and left full, then the muck would be returned to the borrower. Good luck!
 
goodness what a state of affairs. I'd just be moving elsewhere after letting the YO know why. They are taking your money and you are having to put up with all this rubbish.
 
At a previous yard I broke my own broom and threw it away. It was only when someone asked where my nice soft broom was, that I twigged that they had been using it on a regular basis! At least they put it back.
 
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