Let's hear it for good YO / YMs!!!

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Greylegs

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There's been a lot of talk on the forum lately about bad YOs and divided opinion on issues of care and responsibility! There's even been on one thread a post from someone who thinks that all owners of horses at livery yards think that YOs are little better than the stuff we all chuck on the muck heap every morning! (which is totally wrong, but a whole different discussion...)

So leaving aside for a moment the rights and wrongs of recent unfortunate events, I'd like to offer a shout out for good YO / YMs who are genuinely appreciated, starting with the folks who own/run the yard where my horse lives.

They are the most genuine and decent people I've ever had the pleasure to know. They work their socks off to keep the place tidy and well maintained and continually invest in improvements small and large to ensure everyone is happy. The YO somehow manages to work a delicate balancing act to ensure that 24 very different people with very different horses and needs all get as near as possible an "ideal" care plan for their horses within the resources available. And they are always available for a chat when things need tweaking or special needs arise.

Over the years they've laughed and cried with me and many others over the ups and downs of horse ownership. And on top of that the YO's hubby can reverse a trailer into a tight space in the blink of an eye - a skill he is happy to deploy when asked. Oh ... And the Christmas party for owners and OHs is the social event of the year.

So, if you're a YO or YM out there who thinks no one appreciates you, then think again. I for one say "hurray for good YOs and THANK YOU for all you do for us".

So, all you YOs out there who feel unloved and down trodden, there are those amongst us who truly appreciate what you do for us. Without you we wouldn't be able to keep and enjoy our horses and sleep easy in our beds secure in the knowledge that our precious ponies are safe and cared for.
 
Am happy with mine as he fixed the fence when my stupid bargy pony pushed his way out and then spent all day reinforcing the stable which he also pushed out of. :o He then fitted an anti weave grille to stop him rearing out! :eek:
 
My YO is a lovely chap, and his daughter who runs the livery side of the farm is extremely fair, open, obliging and sociable.

Considering the behaviour of one member of the yard, I sometimes wonder what you would have to do to fall out with them. Which makes me double concious of following the rules, because it's their home.
 
The last yard I was on had the best yard owners ever. We had a whole park and private estate to ride on with amazing cantering areas. The YOs would do anything for you - and I never had to worry about my horses. I felt totally at ease with them and they were so kind to the horses. I first met them when I took my horse to the yard to ride out with a friend who liveried there and when we got back from the hack he gave my horse a feed and stable for him to chill out before I took him home. That's when I just knew I had to move there. When we used to get back from hacks, they would invite us all in for food and wine. Unfortunately I had to leave as I had two horses on full livery there and it was a long way from home and I had to move them closer to home.
 
I have to say that my post was in jest I am a yard manager but I just have sole charge of my own and my bosses horses. No liveries or staff horses anymore so we pretty much share everything!
 
I loved my prev YO :) ........ And certainly think my farmer, his wife and mother who I rent the field from are great :)

In fact I've always got on well with all my YOs (and the welfare of the horses on the DIY livery was always of upmost importance or you felt their wrath )
 
Holly Hocks said:
The last yard I was on had the best yard owners ever. We had a whole park and private estate to ride on with amazing cantering areas. The YOs would do anything for you - and I never had to worry about my horses. I felt totally at ease with them and they were so kind to the horses. I first met them when I took my horse to the yard to ride out with a friend who liveried there and when we got back from the hack he gave my horse a feed and stable for him to chill out before I took him home. That's when I just knew I had to move there. When we used to get back from hacks, they would invite us all in for food and wine. Unfortunately I had to leave as I had two horses on full livery there and it was a long way from home and I had to move them closer to home.
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I want to be in a yard like this ( and I keep mine at home!!)
 
Mariposa said:
I want to be in a yard like this ( and I keep mine at home!!)
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I really really want to move back there, but it's just too far away to go up more than 3 times a week - it was 25 miles each way. I keep trying to persuade OH that we should live in that area so that I can move the horses back there :D
 
My current YO is fab and has a genuine affection for the horses she looks after, which is just as well because mine is a naughty b****r sometimes!

When my boy shredded his t/o rug she loaned him one of hers while I sorted replacements and she even patched me up and looked after me (including providing therapeutic brandy ;)) when I had a fall in my SJ lesson a few weeks ago. Lovely lady :D
 
I was happy with the farmer I rented my land and stables from :) I paid them and they left me in peace :D great arrangement :D

The yard I worked for I was happy there working and with my horses for over ten years :) Was a shame they shut it as a livery yard but times change and all that.
 
Mine are amazing! I rent the yard in its entirety from them (their stables and paddocks are at the top of their land by the house, mine at the bottom with own entrance) and they go above and beyond the call of duty. I was out competing Saturday and we had discussed in the week moving paddocks which means moving all the fencing as it's a big field divided. I got back after a very long day to find them on the yard - they had poo picked the paddock the girls had been in (only 1 day's poo!), moved all the fencing, levelled the school, and chain harrowed the fields! They had also cut down a tree that had fallen blocking the drive partially, and checked the generator which had been hard to start in the week. Since I moved in last July they have added extra lights on the yard, moved the generator to a more convenient place on the yard, and done numerous things for me, all without me asking. They are AMAZING and I am incredibly lucky!!! I made sure they had a lovely bottle of Champagne at Christmas!
 
Such a good post!

Not all YO are bad, I'm a YO myself and would like to think my liveries think the same of me :D

I do love all my liveries though and very lucky to have such a nice bunch.

I was fixing fencing this weekend, do I get a pat on the back and awarded YO of the month?? :p:D
 
All my past and present YO's have been brilliant. Always the first on hand to help in a crisis and keep an eye out when owners aren't there.

They've organised yard social events at their own expense, been tactful when liveries are ranting about something or someone and looked after horses when their owners abandoned them, not knowing if they would ever return or pay the bill.

They've stepped in when owners think its ok not to check their horses for weeks when out at grass or left them in filthy stables without hay or water, always giving the benefit of the doubt until the truth was hitting them in the face.

Good yard owners are worth their weight in gold. As with everything, some must be lazy or uncaring, but not many people would stay on a yard like that.
 
Mine is fab. I think it's a bloomin' hard job trying to get the balance right. You have to try to please the customers as much as is reasonable, but you have to have boundaries somewhere. I think ours gets it right. And she's lovely with it.
 
My YM took us for lunch at the cafe on Saturday but i think it was mainly because he didn't want to go alone and it gave his street cred a major boost turning up with 5 women ;)
 
Greylegs said:
There's been a lot of talk on the forum lately about bad YOs and divided opinion on issues of care and responsibility! There's even been on one thread a post from someone who thinks that all owners of horses at livery yards think that YOs are little better than the stuff we all chuck on the muck heap every morning! (which is totally wrong, but a whole different discussion...)

So leaving aside for a moment the rights and wrongs of recent unfortunate events, I'd like to offer a shout out for good YO / YMs who are genuinely appreciated, starting with the folks who own/run the yard where my horse lives.

They are the most genuine and decent people I've ever had the pleasure to know. They work their socks off to keep the place tidy and well maintained and continually invest in improvements small and large to ensure everyone is happy. The YO somehow manages to work a delicate balancing act to ensure that 24 very different people with very different horses and needs all get as near as possible an "ideal" care plan for their horses within the resources available. And they are always available for a chat when things need tweaking or special needs arise.

Over the years they've laughed and cried with me and many others over the ups and downs of horse ownership. And on top of that the YO's hubby can reverse a trailer into a tight space in the blink of an eye - a skill he is happy to deploy when asked. Oh ... And the Christmas party for owners and OHs is the social event of the year.

So, if you're a YO or YM out there who thinks no one appreciates you, then think again. I for one say "hurray for good YOs and THANK YOU for all you do for us".

So, all you YOs out there who feel unloved and down trodden, there are those amongst us who truly appreciate what you do for us. Without you we wouldn't be able to keep and enjoy our horses and sleep easy in our beds secure in the knowledge that our precious ponies are safe and cared for.
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Wow you sound like you are on my yard. Its so nice to somewhere nice isnt it :)
 
I am at a great yard, and I see the Yard owner, and especially the yard manager as good friends. They are both there if you need them, but dont interfere if you dont. I am DIY, but if ever I am gonna be late, or away, then I know I only have to ask the Y/M and pony is looked after well.
Everyone is happy, very few squabbles now, I have been here for 10 years, and I think that says alot.
 
Our's is great too - they didn't really want liveries but said yes when we got evited with four horses and three days notice through no fault of our own. We've grown to like each other; Mrs YO sidled up to us after six months and said how pleased she was that she had decided to take us on :D
 
My YO & his wife are fantastic, she is very horsey & he knows which end eats & which end poops & that's about all, but as a team they are great. She's lovely, kind & genuine & will do anything to help. He manages the place really well. He tops & roles the paddocks, empties the much trailer, grades the arena, brings round large haylage bales as needed & keeps on top of all maintenance around the yard. He is always looking to improve the place & they are both very approachable. On top of this they both work full time so it isn'tt an easy thing to do, but they manage really well.

They are both genuinely very attached to our horses as well which is great. We help each other out looking after each others horses if one of us gets tied up or is out for an evening. We know that they will be treated as if they were their own.

Everytime we go to the yard we look upon it as a little piece of paradise. There is only one thing wrong with the yard...........it isn't ours! :)
 
One of my old YOs is still one of my best friends, 5 years after leaving her yard. She is old school horsewoman, salt of the earth and will take no crap from anyone. She scared the bejesus out of me when I first liveried with her but once you get through the spiky exterior there is a heart of gold and amazing knowledge of horses. She dropped everything one morning and drove to me when one of our ponies colicked. Fab lady.
 
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