Kids with "wethinkweknowbetterthanyouitious"

Smile and go along with it. And see what stupid thing's they'll agree with/argue the toss about :p

Works especially well if they think they know 'everyone who's everything'....so saying about 'oh you know *so and so, insert stupid made up name here* ...' and then hearing what they then reply about 'Oh yes, I knew him/her from back when....we were best mates.... blahblahblah' can be quite amusing to the old ears!!!
 
Ah. If it's horsey and they think they can do more than what they're capable of and you're 'so unfair' not letting them ride certain horses or do certain things.

A horse garanteed to put them on the floor [ie, the one they want to ride] is always a good way to shut them up on the matter.
 
Lots of biting of tongues (on my part) but it is a bit like looking in a mirror of 30 odd years ago. As far as riding goes get an instructor - they tend to listen to them more than parents - even if you do say exactly the same things - you just pay for teenager to listen! Must admit MB isn't too bad - she's actually right on a few things.
 
Such a shame that you aren't allowed to lock them in a stable of an evening and ignore them til morning.

Mind you, wouldn't be fair on the horsey neighbours I suppose.

:p
 
I am not parent, all 3's parents drop them off and we dont see them for dust...

Oh its things like I have put one of their ponies (mine, on loan to them) on 1 scoop hifi lite with a blob of easy beet and vitamin supplement and garlic once a day. Because she is overweight there has been much eye rolling/huffing etc and questioning why. Same with the fact I ask them to hay the ponies in the dust paddock daily – and get to the yard to find them with nothing. When questioned I get “they are fat” etc...

My friends 22 year old cob (my responsibility, on loan to them) had his feed cut by them to a mere handful, I couldn’t work out why he was dropping off but then found out they had “cut his feed because he was excited on hacks”

All are in work, on no grass, and whilst fat horse is overweight she is ridden for 40 mins a day and therefore hi fi lite and her vits/garlic are quite important I would say!

They are asked to skip the field and check the troughs daily – the field contains their ponies on a DIY basis and it is not being done....so I get up after work to find unfed, un-skipped ponies....

Same with riding – I have told them to work on things and they are ignoring me and just doing what they fancy...I have asked them not to canter on hard ground on unshod ponies and they always come back and say "they had a short canter as the ground was good...." WHERE!!!

They are just driving me mad at the moment, I wish they would ask and not taking it upon themselves to think they know better? They are good kids but I hate the eye rolling/huffing/questioning etc? How do I solve it?
 
Tell the ungrateful brats that until they show respect for your reasonable requests that they won't be getting any riding and that you will find someone willing who can obey a simple instruction?
 
Say it blunt.

No due care,no riding. End of.

Said it myself countless times. Horses, especially others who let people ride their horses out of kindness, are a perk and as far as I'm concerned with anyone who rides mine, they treat them right and give them the care they need on AND out of the saddle. A hell of a lot of hard work and money goes into keeping them.

I'll just be a scary old spinster when I'm older though [well, I am now at 20. LOL] and my horses opinions always come above kids opinions so am not bothered saying it how it is to them tbh.

:)

Good luck.
 
JessnGeorge said:
Tell the ungrateful brats that until they show respect for your reasonable requests that they won't be getting any riding and that you will find someone willing who can obey a simple instruction?
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I have to admit they are lovely kids...but it is getting that way :( I think I have given them too much rope?
 
I'd also talk to them, and if nothing changes, go straight to the parents and put it down in black and white about your concerns.
 
Your horse, your rules.

Agree with Binky - give them an ultimatum, abide by your rules or don't ride.

If they get huffy and don't like it then I'm afraid they will have to do the other.
 
Oh I have spoken to them loads. It goes in, we have 2 weeks of them listening, and then it goes back to kiddyhell!!
 
Talk to the parents then and give them the ultimatum. Explain exactly why you want doing what you're asking - implications of colic from not having anything to munch through in a bare paddock, injuries and unsoundness from fast work on hard ground, etc.
You shouldn't HAVE to explain ideally as your opinion should be respected and undertaken, not ignored as they are your horses.
I'm sure the parents having the worry of being liable for injuries and vet care, due to their kids lack of command and respect for your rules will have a huge difference on the next time you see the kids after they've had a 'chat' from their parents.
 
I think what you've done for these kids is lovely.

BUT

They're taking advantage. You're their YO, not their mate, so lay down a few basic rules, accept that as teens they will want to bend the rules a little, but ask that they discuss it with you before doing so. So if they approach you and say "I think we should cut x's feed down as he's too excited on hacks" reply "well, I hear what you're saying, but that feed is non heating, so lets give it a couple of months and see if it's still happening then...". If they think they'll just get a straight "no, you don't know what you're doing" they won't bother asking. Don't treat them like kids, make it clear that if they behave like young adults you'll treat them like young adults. if they act responsibly, you'll give them more responsibility.
Laying down the law and with holding riding won't work.
I'd also say I wouldn't leave a bunch of teenagers on a yard on their own, so maybe draw up a rota of parents to stay with them each day? That way they're more likely to actually DO something whilst there rather than mess about? Speak to the parents and say that you feel that not only are you loaning the ponies and letting them use facilities, that you're now looking after said ponies too? let the parents have some shame over their darlings taking advantage of you?
 
If they wern't putting the horses at risk, I'd say let them struggle a little and fail - often experience is the best educator and letting them make mistakes can teach more than telling them, as I well and truely found out.

But in this scenario with the horses at risk, I think it might be time to talk to their parents politely, and explain what the problem is.
 
They are not on their own - someone is there. We then ask them to do the work and then get the eye rolling/huffing/puffing etc. It isnt like we take the mickey - they were told that if they were down all day it wasnt a youth club and they had to help.

I should add that they get free lessons/taken to pony club/shows/fed lunch (!!!!) ponies sourced for them/tack provided etc in return for what essentially is helping out around the yard. They never muck out more than one box at the weekend, and are only asked to do things like help me screw in fence post clips, clean troughs, and sweep the barn etc.
 
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