Leaving a livery yard...

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chestnuttyy

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So I've finally taken the plunge and have found a place on a lovely new yard.

Current yard requires 4 weeks notice and I intend to do this in writing. I just wondered how people approach this... Do I tell them why I'm leaving or just a short note saying something like 'Please accept this letter as 4 weeks’ notice of my intention to leave the livery facilities at .... I will be leaving on ...'.

My reasons for leaving aren't particularly complementary (yard bullies, facilities are so badly maintained can't use them).

Wwyd? X
 
I generally opt for diplomacy and give a brief reason without criticising. Something like travel distance or horses needing different facilities etc etc.
 
I do exactly the same as horserider. You never know and someday you may have to return to that particular yard, do leaving on a good note is always preferable.
 
I'd start it with "Please accept this letter as my notice to quit - My leaving date will be X. Can I take this oppotunity to thank you for the time I have spent here and wish you all the best"

Words to that effect at least. Horse world is way too small to fall out if you can help it.

I left one yard that was appalling and the end result was me having a complete stand up row with the lunatic daughter of the owners.

I choose to leave but I paid my notice we shook hands. They said I was welcome back - I said I would come back if needed to.

We were both lying! But we can all see each other at events etc and smile sweetly and there are no bad feelings or issues.

Good luck with the move x
 
Thanks. I thought diplomacy would be the best option, but then thought if I was a YO I'd want to know why someone wasn't happy.

Will go with the short and sweet option and won't be leaving sooner than the required 4 weeks anyway :),
 
same as all the above, theres no need to fall out. I recently moved yards due to the problems at my old yard, rubbish facilities, yard owner being mad and a liar, when I told her I was giving notice she asked me why and I said because the new yard has better turnout which is true and left it at that. No point in telling her shes a mad old bag :D
 
I wouldnt go in to details.
The horse world can be a small place and bad reputations and gossip can stick.
You never know when you may need them.

Just write you please accept my 4weeks notice.
I will be leaving on this date.
Sorry to be leaving, wish you all the best.
 
When I left my old yard, just after Christmas I wrote a huge long letter telling them exactly what I thought of them, brutally honest and quite nasty I suppose. Then I deleted the whole thing and actually gave them a two liner so polite you could take it to the Queens garden party.
Total wimp out but think about the future. Your yard is probably close to where you live? You will probably bump into them again? May need help in the future? The horse comunity round here is quite a tight knit one. We all use the same feed and tack shops. It might even put future yard's off taking you if you were perceived as a trouble maker.
I know where you are at the moment I really do. Been there. Don't do something you're going to regret is my best advice. When you move, think forwards. It was the best thing I've done recently. ;)
 
As others have said, keep it cordial... You never know when you might need them again!

I've always moved for more facilities / nearer home / more grazing etc. I've always put it in writing - something along the lines of:

Please accept this letter as my x weeks notice. I will be moving on x date.

(Horse) and I have enjoyed our time here but unfortunately, due to a change in curcumstances, we now need X,Y Z.
 
I've always been diplomatic and mentioned things that can't be argued with (closer to home, better hacking etc) but part of me does wonder if that doesn't help anyone.

If you are running a business then feedback is useful to improve your service and better than wondering why you can't fill empty boxes.

But even polite and constructive criticism could be taken the wrong way and I'm not going to make enemies in the horse world
 
Baileybones said:
I'd start it with "Please accept this letter as my notice to quit - My leaving date will be X. Can I take this oppotunity to thank you for the time I have spent here and wish you all the best"

Words to that effect at least. Horse world is way too small to fall out if you can help it.

I left one yard that was appalling and the end result was me having a complete stand up row with the lunatic daughter of the owners.

I choose to leave but I paid my notice we shook hands. They said I was welcome back - I said I would come back if needed to.

We were both lying! But we can all see each other at events etc and smile sweetly and there are no bad feelings or issues.

Good luck with the move x
Click to expand...

^^^^
good advice.. always try to leave on a good note!!!!
 
From a YO perspective i would much rather know what the real issues are.
Otherwise the yard does not get the opportunity to improve or rectify the situation plus the YO may be oblivious (bullying for example) but the yards reputation is under threat if the 'real' reasons are aired to the broader community.

It is a difficult to balance constructive criticism and feedback with an amicable parting but not impossible :)
People leave yards for a variety of reasons but I would definitely like to know what the reason is.
We say to every livery that no matter what the issue is please let us know. Simple resolvable issues if left to fester can burn a hole in the soul.
While dicussing yard issues with everyone else on the yard other than the YO or YM doesn't tend to get things changed or fixed ;)

At the end of the day the door swings both ways, everyone has different requirements and what is important to one person may be irrelevant to someone else.
People come, people go and if everyone can remain friends that is huge bonus.
 
Echo Lark. When I first brought Mac over from Ireland many years ago, a friend already at livery in Surrey told me that there's a compromise at every yard, it's simply finding one where the compromise is one you can live with. Since then, I've kept horses at several yards, one of which I was very sad to leave. I think all were aware of the reason we were leaving. However, I wasn't rude / didn't burn my bridges.

As a YO, it's really frustrating if someone hands in their notice because of something you could have done something about if only they'd spoken with you (more turnout, less turnout, different field friend, flat field, hilly field, etc). Particularly if they've complained/ sought advice on it widely amongst other liveries/ on t'internet, but that's another story.

If I were in your shoes, I'd probably do a polite note, giving a leaving date and thanking them for looking after your horse for however long, and then have a friendly chat with them over a coffee. Of course, if your YO is a raving nutter and screams and shouts, that's not so easy (been there, done that, bought the ear muffs), but don't assume they will turn into a raving nutter just because you're handing in your notice/ raising something that you're not happy with.

Hope you enjoy your new yard!
 
I did the polite thing with a letter, and in person. Things deteriorated as my notice period progressed. Then I was asked why I had gone - I was asked to tell them honestly, so I did - in couched phrases so that it did not sound like blame, and woo did I get a torrent of abuse - apparently I am always playing the victim... tbh I thought I had coped with the last twelve months pretty well - both parents being diagnosed and operated on for cancer, myself being diagnosed with MS, losing my 18 yr old greyhound, pony being seriously injured in back and it being touch and go and then long rehab... and still keeping smiling, getting on my horse and doing my thing whenever physically possible... but apparently it was all an act so that people would feel sorry for me?!?!?!
Lesson learnt? Don't tell people - they may ask and say they want to know, but by god they didn't want to know! I honestly did it politely but they just couldn't accept that they had ever done anything wrong, and could not see that I had done the whole yard for them on many occasions, without pay or thanks, and groomed for them at 12 hours notice at events etc...
sorry - rant over - just still very upset by the way they have been - they actually posted about me on facebook - lies - and made me ill (stress relapses MS faster than anything else).

To sum up?! Be careful what you say are the reasons for leaving, as some people are just not adult enough to accept that you are being honest and trying to answer their queries.
 
Honestly honesty is not always the best policy in this area , and I apologise to YOers who post on here But the issue has got to the stage you are giving notice it shows there communication problems between the owners and customers of the buisness.
It's not OP's job to improve the yardowners buisness by pointing out its failings it her job to enjoy the expensive hobby of enjoying her horse if the buisness is preventing this she should just leave and say nothing in my experiance very few YOers take advice of this type well .
While you are committed to staying is another thing however ,that's when you should raise concerns once you have given notice there is simply no point.
 
I have never had a problem with owners leaving. All my liveries have either been Army (being posted) or short term liveries such as a colt that was with me until he was gelded and could go onto a larger yard.

I only have one livery now and that is a friend. I do take rehab liveries every now and again.

I do not have an outdoor /indoor school ,jumps etc. but plenty of lovely off road riding with areas that can be used to school in and x- country fences that the hunt use.

A short polite note informing of your intention to leave giving the required length of time and the date you intend to leave. I would expect the place to be left clean and tidy.
 
chestnuttyy said:
So I've finally taken the plunge and have found a place on a lovely new yard.

Current yard requires 4 weeks notice and I intend to do this in writing. I just wondered how people approach this... Do I tell them why I'm leaving or just a short note saying something like 'Please accept this letter as 4 weeks’ notice of my intention to leave the livery facilities at .... I will be leaving on ...'.

My reasons for leaving aren't particularly complementary (yard bullies, facilities are so badly maintained can't use them).

Wwyd? X
Click to expand...



I would say something like

keep it short and sweet.



Dear ****



Please find this enclosed letter as my 4 weeks notice of termination of my livery contract with you as per my signed livery agreement. I have enjoyed being at your yard but its now time for me to move on. I shall be vacating the yard on this date *XX*. Thank you for your help in the past and I wish you and your horse <<< if she has one or leave this bit out well in the future


Kind Regards

xxxxx






.
 
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On the other hand - I once left a yard for genuine reasons (horse needed 365 24/7 turnout because of COPD and a space at a friends field became available) and simply gave verbal notice and mentioned reason. Then I heard that another livery (my closest friend there actually) had been given grief and blamed by the YO for me going (I was a very good livery apparently) so I ended up having to write a letter to clear her name and explain why it may have looked like her fault (it was due to a single individual stirring the manure and I did name her and tell it straight). As far as I know I'd be welcome back there.
 
I'm moving yard tomorrow for more turn out. I asked the YO if he could provide this asap and through next winter (copd). He had a think, apologised and said no, so I said I would start looking for another yard. All done friendly, professional.....

I've been told I can go back if things don't work out. Still no turnout though....
 
BouncyPants said:
I did the polite thing with a letter, and in person. Things deteriorated as my notice period progressed. Then I was asked why I had gone - I was asked to tell them honestly, so I did - in couched phrases so that it did not sound like blame, and woo did I get a torrent of abuse - apparently I am always playing the victim... tbh I thought I had coped with the last twelve months pretty well - both parents being diagnosed and operated on for cancer, myself being diagnosed with MS, losing my 18 yr old greyhound, pony being seriously injured in back and it being touch and go and then long rehab... and still keeping smiling, getting on my horse and doing my thing whenever physically possible... but apparently it was all an act so that people would feel sorry for me?!?!?!
Lesson learnt? Don't tell people - they may ask and say they want to know, but by god they didn't want to know! I honestly did it politely but they just couldn't accept that they had ever done anything wrong, and could not see that I had done the whole yard for them on many occasions, without pay or thanks, and groomed for them at 12 hours notice at events etc...
sorry - rant over - just still very upset by the way they have been - they actually posted about me on facebook - lies - and made me ill (stress relapses MS faster than anything else).

To sum up?! Be careful what you say are the reasons for leaving, as some people are just not adult enough to accept that you are being honest and trying to answer their queries.
Click to expand...

I think in that situation the lines between the relationship between YO and customer may have become slightly blurred?


Goldenstar said:
Honestly honesty is not always the best policy in this area , and I apologise to YOers who post on here But the issue has got to the stage you are giving notice it shows there communication problems between the owners and customers of the buisness.
It's not OP's job to improve the yardowners buisness by pointing out its failings it her job to enjoy the expensive hobby of enjoying her horse if the buisness is preventing this she should just leave and say nothing in my experiance very few YOers take advice of this type well .
While you are committed to staying is another thing however ,that's when you should raise concerns once you have given notice there is simply no point.
Click to expand...

The problem is when the situation gets to the 'giving notice' phase without any communication in between, as you point out. In some instances people just will not speak up regardless as to whether the YO/YM is approachable or a 'nutter' (as they all seem to be on this thread!!)
It is a pity if an issue can result in someone leaving if it were entirely resolvable should the YO have had any knowledge of said issue.
I have been on both sides of the fence so fully understand that it is confrontation of any description is uncomfortable.
 
I waited til we were alone and then just said due to Rubys COPD and the fact she hasn't settled on individual turnout, I would like to give notice and move to a friends yard. I thanked her for having us and said it was a real shame etc. she was nice until the day I left, I handed back my keys and said I would be back to poo pick my field (it was under snow but beginning to thaw) and she said don't worry we don't like liveries coming back once they have moved, she also didnt say bye. Oh well, more work for her because I hadn't poo picked my field for 3 weeks ;) I was more then happy to do it though.

She has now deleted me from FaceBook and blocked me from seeing any of her comments :confused:
 
LaurenBay said:
She has now deleted me from FaceBook and blocked me from seeing any of her comments :confused:
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To be honest, I blocked my old yard owner from my facebook as I was so upset that he was discussing how rude I was with friends of mine...
I think people get a bit too attached to facebook as a method of communication - when I have found it a bit wierd to hear too many personal details about people on facebook I have messaged them and said I am reducing my friends list but they have my mobile etc to keep in touch and not to take it personally - only one person has gone ballistic and said that means I am not the friend she thought I was... social media is good in its place, but it can become a way of bullying others so easily, sadly :(
 
Just give the YO a short nicely worded note, dated so they know when your notice was given & in it state the day you will be leaving & thank them for your time there. That is all they need to know.

The fact that you may have been bullied, your tack used, your feed/hay stolen etc etc should not enter into it just keep the note brief & nicely worded. Then hopefully your period of notice should go smoothly without too much bad blood. Remain polite throughout.

If you are pressed for a reason for moving then you can always say the other yard is nearer to home or suits your needs a little better or something similar that way you stay on the right side of the YO.Don't declare war on the yard, remember you still have your notice to see out or you could just pay your notice & leave when you want.
 
When I've left I have just left. Handed my notice in and gone. You don't have to explain your reasons all you have to say is this is my four weeks notice ill be leaving on XX date.

I would also (having heard horror stories and also having had this happen to myself) remove my belongings from the tack room. When I handed my notice in at the last livery yard I was on (I had worked there for over ten years) they locked the tack room and I was only allowed in it if there was another livery there. Now to me it was ridiculous as over the ten years period I have been left there alone nearly everyday for periods :rolleyes: but it meant I could get access to my tools, tack, rugs etc unless a livery or the YO was there.

So remove everything and then hand your notice in would be my suggestion.
 
I think the way YO's react when other liveries leave is the best indication of the atmosphere you can expect once you've handed your notice in.

I lied when I left my last yard and said it was due to travelling distance. Having seen other liveries leave amidst bitching and bad feeling from the YO, it was slightly alarming, as they had been good liveries.

My real reasons for leaving were issues I had previously discussed but had fallen on deaf ears and compromised the health of my horses.

I gave a weeks notice but paid for 4 weeks as the YO requested. My 2 stables were filled the day we moved even though I was still paying rent on them.

No point in giving the real reason, they had a waiting list and unsurprisingly, a quick turnabout in liveries.
 
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