Irrational YO - IS it just me?

JoG

JoG

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 March 2007
Messages
1,148
Visit site
My horse is on full livery at the moment, though I am used to DIY I can't manage that at the mo. Went to check him today as usual and found his rugs hanging down to his hock/knee one side, his neck covers were still turned up and he had hay instead of haylage.
frown.gif
There was no-one around so i left a note with some "moans" on it (staff regularly list "moans" on a whiteboard at the end of the barn) asking that his rugs be straightened in the morning and the necks turned back and also that he has haylage only as otherwise he coughs.

I've just had the YO call me and have a right go, saying how dare I leave such a note and for my information she did my horse this morning and left them wonky deliberately in case my horse rolled after she had mucked out!! She then said that she doesn't like feeding horses 100% haylage (which he has had for the last 12months with no problem) and so he can have 50:50 hay and haylage.....

Am I wrong/unfair to be sitting here fuming?
mad.gif
 
From both sides, it perhaps wasnt the most tactful to leave a whingy note, as your horse could have rolled 2 minutes after he was mucked out and had rugs straightened etc. It may have been better to wait till you could speak to someone face to face about the issues. However, I would be very cross if someone told me they wouldnt feed my horse haylage if that is what I was paying for and had asked for.....
 
Not you are not wrong you are paying for a service to your requirments and they are not following out what you have asked. And what a stupid excuse about leaving rugs wonky as was he surpose to straighen them if he rolled to save her a job. Sorry love but start looking else where for livery, it's expense to keep a horse as it is, start looking for somewhere better for your hard earned money
 
Don't know why someone would leave rugs on wonky deliberately (other than laziness!), as surely it's just asking for an accident to happen.

I do think it was wrong of her to ring you up and have a go at you, both rude and unnessecary. Really you two need to have a calm discussion about how you would like your horse looked after and try to sort out any differences. I hope this was just a one off and she isn't like this allt he time otherwise it is going to make your life at this yard miserable!
frown.gif
 
I wouldn't have been very impressed with that at all. You are paying full livery to have your horse fully looked after. Not putting rugs on straight, feeding hay instead of haylage etc is rubbish. Sounds like cost cutting re the haylage. And laziness re the rugs.

Afraid I tend to agree with Johnrobert and would if nothing else at least keep an eye out for something else.
 
god i'm so glad i'm off a yard like this ive found a friend with one mare and wanted another livery so just me and her she is so good to my horse visa versa the yard I was at just didn't do what i asked and i used to worry no end thinking he's gone to bed in same rugs he wares in the day muddy feed and not picked out I payed for full livery but ended up doing most of the looking after myself sorry to hear your problems I would try to find a smaller yard who looks after your preciouse horse as good as you, good luck.
 
If the rug was already askew, rolling on it could easily have pulled it over further and trapped your horses legs while he was trying to get up. That is like saying I found his bucket knocked over and didn't give him a fresh bucket in case he knocked it over again. What claptrap. And as for the haylage, well hundreds of horses eat it 100% with no ill effects (including mine for most of the 15 years I've had her) so double claptrap. I'd certainly speak to her face to face - I suspect she was pi**ed off because any Tom Dick or other livery could have read your "complaint", but you are paying for your wishes to be carried out and you have a right to say that more loudly if no-one takes any notice.
 
It is not up to the yard owner to decide what to feed YOUR horse. She has no previous knowledge of the horses medical history and therefore can not make an informed decision.

When you moved on i presume you ask her to feed him haylage, if this is the case then she should not be questioning you.

With regards to the rug, it should have been folded back so even with her hair brained theory regarding rolling she should have at least folded his neck back so he didn’t get too warm.

I think you need to write down exactly what you expect and what they are willing to provide so that there is no further issues.
 
Is sadly not the first time, and from previous experience (last time the vet wasn't called when I asked) if I go and speak face to face I get screamed at and told that my horse is looked after very well and the staff work so very hard and i should appreciate how much they do for me......

Pretty difficult to vote with my feet as the horse is up for sale and another livery is riding for me so am desperately looking for a sales livery yard instead
frown.gif
 
i had similar problems at a previous yard & finally lost it when the Y/O saw fit to tack up & put a young lass on my small sec A (who has big issues) he promplty went nuts bucking & it took me weeks to handle him again without panic or fear from him.
i moved to another HH frequenters yard & was really happy there just us 2 untill i was offered th chance of what is a near perfect yard right on my doorstep.

speak to Y/O in person & if things dont improve by a set time look for elsewhere.
Good luck
 
Poor you. I'm no great fan of dealers, but I think I'd be asking around to see if someone could recommend one you could send your horse too asap. At this rate, you aren't going to have a healthy horse to sell, or she might just chuck you off the yard. Once you are off make sure the bush telegraph knows exactly what sort of nutcase she is!
 
I'd suggest this unfortunately might be indicative of the YO attitude. Some full livery yards (but NOT all) do seem to think they know better than the owner and such expectations of care are an annoyance.
But there are some very good full livery yards out there too.

Or it may just be teething troubles - it might just be worth a chat to sort out a communication misunderstanding. But only you can pick up the vibes of the place and know whether you trust them.
 
It sounds like you need to remind your YO, who employs who!
Your requests are normal, and you certinaly shouldnt be yelled at, no matter what. You are the customer afterall!

Do you have a livery agreement ? with everything inc, about haylage, rugs etc?
If you do, I'd talk to her calmly, saying all you expect is what you pay for. If she cant do as she's legally agreed to, you'll need a reduction in the livery to compensate

If you dont have an aggreement, ask for one listing every detail, of what you expect. So you can pull her and her staff up in future
 
Bit of a wierd system, a board for moans, I mean that's just asking for trouble, are you sure you got that right?
We have a board but it's generally for questions/searches for lost items/who's paid for bedding etc. I've never heard of a board for moans, and certainly not a public one.
 
I would rather find a field somewhere and let my horses live out 24/7 than put up with YO's who can't or wont give you a service that you are paying for. I am so so glad that I do my horses myself even if it does mean that I have to get up at 5.30am.

I would find somewhere else if you can.
 
I agree with TicTac. I was on a yard with a YO whose mood changed by the hour, making life very uncomfortable. I now rent a field and my horse lives out 24/7 and it's wonderful! Yes, he's always dirty, but it's so nice just to see his happy face every day rather than a miserable YO!
 
[ QUOTE ]
...and the staff work so very hard and i should appreciate how much they do for me......

[/ QUOTE ]

... in exchange for a not insubstantial livery bill????!!!!

I was on a yard with a moody YO who's moods changed with her knickers. I put up with her because it was close to home, but in the end it all got too much, so I just went out one Saturday morning in my car looking for horses in fields and people about to talk to and found the yard I'm at now, and it's great
smile.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top