Ideas for a present for the yard?

tobiano1984

tobiano1984

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Earlier this year I had a horrible accident and lost my no1 horse, and was laid up at my parents house for 8 weeks and then still pretty useless for another month after that. During this time my lovely liveries at my little yard (6 liveries and my own horses) looked after my 4 horses and generally managed the yard and supported my non-horsey OH who was left holding the proverbial baby!

Now it's all pretty much back to normal and I've got some insurance money coming through, so I wanted to buy a yard present to say thank you to everyone. I'm going to buy some new plastic jumps but since not everyone jumps I wanted to think of something else for the yard. Any ideas on what I could get?! Will probably spend £700 or so on jumps and then have another few £100 to spend on something else....

Thanks in advance for any ideas! x
 
Sorry to hear of your accident - glad you're feeling better.

Maybe some nice dressage letters/arena decorations? Alternatively, something like a hot drinks facility (not sure if you've already got one)?
 
smja said:
Sorry to hear of your accident - glad you're feeling better.

Maybe some nice dressage letters/arena decorations? Alternatively, something like a hot drinks facility (not sure if you've already got one)?
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Great idea! Our letters are pretty ropey these days. We already have tea making facilities and a fridge!
 
oh i am sorry for u! how did the accident happen (if you even want to talk about it)??
what about a nice fireplace would be nice, u can use it all together and have fun with each other
 
I would be more inclined to take everyone out for an expenses paid dinner, and then give a small personal gift to each person.
 
The list of things I'd consider a real treat on my yard is endless!

Top of my list would have to be a horse shower, although I appreciate running costs would be a problem - either with electricity if it was a permananet fixture or calor gas for a portable one. I suppose the same goes for heated rug racks.
Maybe a woodburner and a little seating area around it if they spend a lot of time there? We always hang around for a coffee after riding at weekends and I'd love a nice warm comfortable spot to sit in, rather than taking over a stable to get out of the wind and rain!

Why not have a yard vote on what they would like? Or do you want to surprise them?
 
I'm not that keen on the idea of a woodburner in a wooden barn full of straw! :-)

We do have sofas in the tackroom and tea facilities so that's quite well covered already. I'd like it to be a surprise - and not that keen on individual presents as it would be hard to work out, one of the liveries put in many hours, others just did little bits here and there so not sure how I'd decide what to give to who.

I like the idea of mounting block/dressage markers, also thought about mirrors in the school but just seen they're £1000s...!

I'd rather not have something electric (did think of solarium/hot wash) as already have a battle with the landlord over how much elec we use for school lights etc.
 
I would love the dinner and small personal gift. If not then jumps and mounting block. They sound a great bunch - also you have had such a tough time, sounds like you need a present too.
 
RebelRebel said:
I would love the dinner and small personal gift. If not then jumps and mounting block. They sound a great bunch - also you have had such a tough time, sounds like you need a present too.
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I might get the main helper a personal gift, she literally did hours a day looking after my lot. I also thought about having a BBQ/drinks at the yard on me.
 
tobiano1984 said:
Earlier this year I had a horrible accident and lost my no1 horse, and was laid up at my parents house for 8 weeks and then still pretty useless for another month after that. During this time my lovely liveries at my little yard (6 liveries and my own horses) looked after my 4 horses and generally managed the yard and supported my non-horsey OH who was left holding the proverbial baby!

Now it's all pretty much back to normal and I've got some insurance money coming through, so I wanted to buy a yard present to say thank you to everyone. I'm going to buy some new plastic jumps but since not everyone jumps I wanted to think of something else for the yard. Any ideas on what I could get?! Will probably spend £700 or so on jumps and then have another few £100 to spend on something else....

Thanks in advance for any ideas! x
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As you know or remember I had a serious accident, I broke my humerus in Nov 2013 and my livereis self run my yard till mid june 2014. I could do nothing for 8 months. I have only been back in full work 8 weeks

here are some ideas


Horse shower from robinsons good price makes washing horses and cars down easier
tongue twisters for the stables one each
stable mirrors
jumps show jump or x country
school mirrors
a private lesson with a top notch trainer
a day trip out
tea and biscuits
treat them to a meal (I did at a top chinese my favourite)
also I treated them all to a river boat cruise 2 weeks ago along with family
day out at thorpe park / lego land etc
 
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What about a whole load of new barrows, brooms, poop scoopers and other everyday kit which would make life easier around the place generally? Failing that, saddle racks/bridle hooks by every door, improved storage facilities/boxes/shelves or whatever, water carriers, horses names plates on every door. There's bound to be something on your yard which is a chore so anything to make life easier....
 
tobiano1984 said:
Earlier this year I had a horrible accident and lost my no1 horse, and was laid up at my parents house for 8 weeks and then still pretty useless for another month after that. During this time my lovely liveries at my little yard (6 liveries and my own horses) looked after my 4 horses and generally managed the yard and supported my non-horsey OH who was left holding the proverbial baby!

Now it's all pretty much back to normal and I've got some insurance money coming through, so I wanted to buy a yard present to say thank you to everyone. I'm going to buy some new plastic jumps but since not everyone jumps I wanted to think of something else for the yard. Any ideas on what I could get?! Will probably spend £700 or so on jumps and then have another few £100 to spend on something else....

Thanks in advance for any ideas! x
Click to expand...
As you know I broke my humerus in nov 2013 and my livereis self run my yard till mid june 2014.

here are some ideas


Horse shower from robinsons good price makes washing horses and cars down easier>>http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/overhead-hosing-frame.html
tongue twisters for the stables one each
stable mirrors
jumps
tea and biscuits
treat them to a meal (I did at a top chinese my favourite)
also I treated them all to a river boat cruise 2 weeks ago along with family
day out at thorpe park / lego land etc
 
I think individual gifts would be nice as if someone leaves they still get the benefit from it

Stable name plates with pic of horse on
Leather headcollars (needn't be expensive) with brass nameplates on
 
Sorry to hear that you have been out of action for a while, how lovely that you have people nearby who are willing to help out like that. My suggestion for a "thank you" would be to organise an "activity day". Hire a good trainer to come along and give them all a private lesson - like a mini clinic. Arrange a bbq or buffet lunch. And give each person a small individual gift - stock pin, head collar, etc etc. If there is one person who has taken on the main work I would get them an additional gift and give that to them quietly so that you can recognise their additional contribution without making a big public show of treating one person differently from everyone else.
 
I'd go with organising a clinic for a day. Depending on what would be appropriate for your liveries you could have a trainer/behaviourist do a session, or get a showing judge giving tips, or talks by a vet, farrier, hoof care worker, nutritionist etc and buffet to keep it informal and friendly.
Or a yard ride at a local park/beach complete with hot potatoes or sandwiches at the end pre ordered from a local pub.
 
A party!

The people who helped and their families who would also have been affected by their mum/dad, boyfriend/girlfriend helping out. Then during your amazing thank you speech you could say that you wanted to give them all a shared gift to the value of **** and would they like to have a think and come up with suggestions. You could leave a box out so that ideas can be put in.

They sound like a wonderful bunch of people.
 
Yes... agree with Tnavas... a party... a hog roast, and a general 'Yeehaa Knees up'...you could make your own dance area with straw bales etc,..!! Everyone welcome including at Tnavas has said,..mums/dads/bf/gf/husbands/wives/OH's... having a good get together at the yard (with the owners permission of course) I think would go down a treat.

I would also be inclined to ask the owners too if there's anything that the yard would benefit from,...they may be able to come up with some good suggestions for you!!

Enjoy,..whatever you decide to do..
 
maresmaid said:
Sorry to hear that you have been out of action for a while, how lovely that you have people nearby who are willing to help out like that. My suggestion for a "thank you" would be to organise an "activity day". Hire a good trainer to come along and give them all a private lesson - like a mini clinic. Arrange a bbq or buffet lunch. And give each person a small individual gift - stock pin, head collar, etc etc. If there is one person who has taken on the main work I would get them an additional gift and give that to them quietly so that you can recognise their additional contribution without making a big public show of treating one person differently from everyone else.
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great idea
 
When I had lots of help on my yard when my husband passed away, I bought the yard a hay wheelbarrow and a large rug rack to hold 8 rugs to dry off when wet... It serves all of us and so useful
 
PuB lunch or yard BBQ and a small individual gift would get my vote (I also agree with the person who mentioned an additional extra for the above-and-Beyond helper). Not loving the yard/group gift idea really, I feel like it would be better that they could 'own' their gift even if they move on, I know it's not meant that way but a yard gift to me feels a bit like my OH getting himself a drill for my birthday or something :o
 
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