Is it fair that YO's can keep paddocks exclusively for themselves?

Enfys

Enfys

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One of my livery owners has been complaining to someone who told a mutual friend (who told me) that he thinks it is unfair that I use certain paddocks specifically for my own horses and that he thinks his should go in them not mine. :mad: That's his tough luck, my land, my mortgage, my horses, my business, if he doesn't like it he can always move on I delegate paddocks according to what suits the individual horse, and yes, owners too.

Anyway, that's by the by, just a mini rant, what I am really interested in is YO's and Livery Owners opinions.

Do you think it is fair, or right, that Yard Owners can reserve specific paddocks for their exclusive use?
 
I am a livery and I agree with you. Your land, your decision!!

If I were lucky enough to have land - I would also expect to pick the best field for my horse!!! Selfish - maybe! But if they don't like it - go elsewhere!!!
 
I'm a livery and I think it is totally fair for you to decide what fields you wish to let!

What a flippin' cheek expecting a YO to let the liveries choose which bits of land they want regardless of the YO's own horses!
 
Of course it is fair , the clue is the word owner , if you can't have some perks ( in this case the grazing the owner wants ) why have the hassle and expense.
Liverys can vote with their feet if they dont like what's offered.
That's the market in operation.
 
Haha I have mixed views and can understand both sides.

When I was a livery it used to p me off that YO kept best grazing as I always thought for the money she should have looked after customers first and self second.

Now however as a YO I can appreciate having my own space. if liveries want to trash their T/O its up to them.
 
Yes.

I wouldn't expect to change these randomly to get the best ones and upset other herds. But I expect that mine could either go out with others, or (my preference) mine are paddocked in their own herd.

If this is clear from the start (regarding what they get rotation/acreage etc) people can jump if they want to moan.
 
You should have heard what this person ( grass livery by the way) also thinks about me reserving the largest stables! :D
 
I'm a YO and we have certain paddock blocks designated for our own horses and for livery horses. My paddocks are smaller, but closer to the stables. We also have a seperate block for our mares and youngstock. I've always done it like this and when people look round I make it very clear where their summer and winter grazing will be and which paddocks are not used for the livery rotation. I agree with the other posters, you're offering a certain package and if this chap doesn't like it he can vote with his feet. From experience you occasionally come across people like this looking for something to moan about, they only cause bad feeling and stir up problems with people that are otherwise happy and just want to get on with things!
 
Totally agree. Your land, your right.
However, I did once leave a yard because while the YO's horses had fantastic fields, the liveries horses were in paddocks that were so slippery with deep mud that the horses were sliding all over the place. The farmer had 300 acres of which a fair porportion was lying unused, even for haymaking.
Didn't begrudge the YO using the best fields but equally, didn't want to pay for grazing that wasn't fit for purpose.
 
Enfys said:
Anyway, that's by the by, just a mini rant, what I am really interested in is YO's and Livery Owners opinions.

Do you think it is fair, or right, that Yard Owners can reserve specific paddocks for their exclusive use?
Click to expand...

I am a livery. However, it wouldn't occur to me to think about where you keep your horses..... Your land, your choice.

Some people have nothing better to worry about clearly:rolleyes::D
 
Of course it is fair. Someone has to have the best paddocks and it is always going to be the owner.

Canada may be different but frankly liveries in the UK rarely pay enough to make that kind of agro worth while. I was told by a yard owner in around 1983 that a tenner a week was not worth any agro and he would (and did) get rid of anyone who gave him any hassle at all. He always had people queueing up to go there. What people pay now does not seem to have gone up by that much in the last 30 years if you consider how much land and fuel (for maintenance) has gone up in that time.
 
When we have a livery ( not very often if can be helped) I show them what will be theirs and which is for our horses, stables and tack room included. I do not move them around its theirs to do what they want ( within reason) .

They take it or lump it.
 
I never like conversations that start "a friend of a friend of a friend of mine told me ......"

I definitely agree with your yard your rules but I wouldn't be too quick to judge this livery before you clear the air face to face with them.
 
Your land, your rules!!!

Our yard rule is that livery horses come in at night during the winter months. The YO usually leaves hers out though. I had a livery moan at me once that it was unfair... I think she was shocked when I said I didn't agree and that the YO could do as she liked!!
 
No of course not! You should give your liveries the best fields and then just to make certain they are ok they should have the best rooms in your house as well :p
Seriously though absolutely! Your land you make the decisions. One thing I can never understand with being a livery is why other liveries think they have a right to tell YO what field they are having! We luckily have a great YO who has sorted out a spare field for our boys as our current winter field resembles a lake due to being next to the river which has spilt over well and truly. To be honest I'm extremley grateful for her doing this as it may be a little while before they go back to their proper field.
 
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My liveries get the best stables with the expensive fittings and sealed runbber matting that is like a firm matress (costs £1500 a stable). I get the bog standard wooden stables with the bog standard rubber matting. I also don't have any paddocks that are exclusively for my horses. However, if I wanted the best stables and the best grazing for my horses, then that would be up to me and totally fair.
 
On the whole I would expect the YO to keep the best for themselves as they usually live there so it's not just a business it's their home and I would do exactly the same.

However more generally I don't care for the if you don't like it jog on response that so often the first thing rolled out from YO's rather than You are a valued customer how can I help? Or even just explaining why not.

Disclaimer: I've never fallen out with YO, YM or seriously with anyone else on a yard nor left on any bad terms. Just been a bit disappointed that's all.
 
The grazing in question is a few acres in the middle of a forest, a 1/4 mile from the barn, down an unlit track which runs between the stallion pens. It is also only usable for horses between October and April when the bugs are sleeping, in summer it is only good for hay.

The stallions are no problem incidentally, but as a YO I would not consider it fair to expect owners coming in the dark and the cold to walk that far, find their horses, retrieve them and then put them back.

Sussexbythesea:

However more generally I don't care for the if you don't like it jog on response that so often the first thing rolled out from YO's rather than You are a valued customer how can I help? Or even just explaining why not.

:) I can see both sides, naturally owners want the best they can get for the money. I do tell prospective liveries which paddocks and stables are mine when they visit, they know exactly what they are getting before they come. I even encourage prospective owners to just drop in to view without an appointment.

I am on sandy soil, the paddocks get minimal mud thank heavens, and actually, in my opinion, the liveries do have the better paddocks, and every year for the past six years I have spent thousands creating new paddocks from unfenced land - for their use. They just want the ones I keep :( Disregarding the fact that I do actually do know my land better than they do.
 
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Grass is always greener on the other side though "sigh" he obviously thinks you have the best for yourself so hence wants the fields you use.
 
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