Livery yard advice - how to handle one of my liveries....

R2R

R2R

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I have a small yard (12 horses) and for the most part my liveries are good as gold. It is a proper DIY yard, as in, we do no 'extras' and everyone helps each other out. My liveries range from serious competitors to happy hackers and all get on well. As my livery puts it, "we do favours and get favours back, it works ..." and everyone is happy. If work needs doing on the yard (ragworting, fence fixing etc) I am really lucky that my liveries do volunteer to help out, and in return they get lessons, bbq's, wine, help and advice. I know I am lucky enough to have a really good bunch of people who muck in and get on.

I do have, however, one livery who does not share the same ethos as the rest of us. She does not even come up every day to check on her horse - we have 24/7 turn out and he is just in the field. He very rarely is brought up to the yard and brushed off/checked over. I have trapsed up to the field to get him twice now for various reasons, and she hasn't even sent me a text to say thank you or check how he was. She very rarely pays her livery on time, and never texts to say if she is away etc (I know she has been away a couple of weekends over the summer, and the horse has been left.)

My liveries are noticing that she is never up and pass comment on the 'poor horse' etc.

How much do I interfere? I am OK with him being out over the summer, but going in to winter, I know the horse drops off etc as she has told us he goes like a hat rack in winter - if that's the case, I want him in and fed - there are no rules on the yard, other than horses weight must be managed (that means too fat and too thin) and well shod. I could not care less if my liveries died their horses pink so long as they have those two basic things.

It is so annoying because I don't want to create bad feeling on the yard or be a 'pushy' yard owner as the yard is also at my house and I want everyone to keep enjoying it and for it to remain a nice place to be...please help!
 
Do all your liveries have a contract? If not, then perhaps you could make a contract up for everyone to sign that includes a clause saying that horses should be checked at least once a day by owners or someone appointed by the owner. And also maybe keep a diary in the tack room or tea room or whatever where it is made clear that if owners are going to be away then they must put their dates in the diary. Perhaps the owner doesn't realise they are in the wrong and just needs a friendly chat to clear the air. There's nothing worse than everyone having a problem with just one other person, but no-one actually says anything! Good luck.
 
If I were you, I would wait and see what Autumn brings. Do you still allow 24/7 turnout over winter? I know you say you would like to see him stabled, but perhaps he doesn't stable well? Maybe he has stable vices that cause him to drop weight more quickly in the stable. Or maybe he just doesn't like being stabled - my boy doesn't, he has broken down doors before he hates it so much. If it comes to winter and he starts loosing weight at more than the usual winter weight, loss look at if she is trying to keep weight on him or not. Is she feeding and rugging appropriately for example. If not, give her a warning saying you feel her horses health is being compromised, and she needs to do something about it. You can then go from there, depending on her reaction.
 
They all have a contract yes....but I am not that strict. Maybe I sould turn in to devil YO grrrrrrrrrrrrr

Diary is very good idea though
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[ QUOTE ]
there are no rules on the yard

[/ QUOTE ]

Do a set of rules, problem sorted. You actually have a duty of care yourself to these horses (as I'm sure you know), and so the rules on what the responsibilities of the owners are will help you enormously.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
there are no rules on the yard

[/ QUOTE ]

Do a set of rules, problem sorted. You actually have a duty of care yourself to these horses (as I'm sure you know), and so the rules on what the responsibilities of the owners are will help you enormously.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well there are understandings and a mutual respect, but maybe I should impliment some rules. I do have requests (like noone on yard past 9pm, be quiet in the hours of 5.30-7 and 6.30pm - 9, horses on worming programme, muck thrown up etc) but take it for granted that people will check their horses?!
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You can't take if for granted that people will do anything. And in my experience - people actually quite like rules. It means they know exactly where they stand and what is expected.
 
End of the day its your yard, therefore your rules.

There is nothing wrong with having a little chat and pointing out that you would appreciate that she checks on her horse daily and informs you and other liveries when she goes on her hols and the reasons why.

After all she should be grateful that her YO gives a dam which is more than some livery yards.
 
You may be worrying prematurely about nothing where the horses weight and condition is concerned. Maybe wait and see. Keep an eye on him and if you see him losing condition pull her aside for an informal chat. You say the weight maintenance is the only real rule you have, so you can legitimately mention it to her on that basis should the situation arise.
Since you are also worried about the other general issues of her horse care, perhaps you can suggest an informal sit down with all your liveries to chat about any issues/ new ideas anyone has about the yard (that way she is not singled out). Over a collective cuppa, you can say if anyone is going away etc they can put it in a book you'll leave in the tack room so u are updated on what needs looking after. By having all of them there you can address the issues you have with her, but direct it to the group so you cannot be accused of singling her out, and no-one can say 'I didn't know' about anything.
Good luck
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Thank you!

I think I am just going to have an informal chat with her, and maybe suggest, that if she has lost interest/is too busy etc she considers getting a sharer a few times a week, which will help her out financially as well as making sure the pony is at least brought in and groomed etc 3 or 4 times a week.

When I brought him up he was jig jogging and really excited, then stood on the yard being brushed and loving it, he is a really nice pony
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just a bit unloved
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[ QUOTE ]
You may be worrying prematurely about nothing where the horses weight and condition is concerned. Maybe wait and see.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't agree. If the owner has already admitted the horse [ QUOTE ]
....... goes like a hat rack in winter

[/ QUOTE ] then something is definitely wrong with its management. Unless it is elderly or ill, no horse should routinely be expected to resemble a toast-rack during winter.

Nah, I'd bite the bullet and have a private chat. Keep it friendly, but convey that things have got to change both for the welfare of her horse, and if she wishes to remain a livery on your yard this coming winter. She does sound the type of owner that would benefit from part-livery, but if she's unaware she's doing anything wrong she won't want to pay the extra for the service I suppose. Good luck. Hope she turns over a new leaf before winter comes.
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
You may be worrying prematurely about nothing where the horses weight and condition is concerned. Maybe wait and see.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't agree. If the owner has already admitted the horse [ QUOTE ]
....... goes like a hat rack in winter

[/ QUOTE ] then something is definitely wrong with its management. Unless it is elderly or ill, no horse should routinely be expected to resemble a toast-rack during winter.





Nah, I'd bite the bullet and have a private chat. Keep it friendly, but convey that things have got to change both for the welfare of her horse, and if she wishes to remain a livery on your yard this coming winter. She does sound the type of owner that would benefit from part-livery, but if she's unaware she's doing anything wrong she won't want to pay the extra for the service I suppose. Good luck. Hope she turns over a new leaf before winter comes.
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[/ QUOTE ]

This is something I have thought about. As a rule, I dont do assisted as I work full time and do not want people relying on me to look after their horses....however I may suggest to her that I take over looking after her horse, make sure he is fed/rugged correctly and charge accordingly, he could live out all winter with correct management so it wouldnt take that much.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
there are no rules on the yard

[/ QUOTE ]

Do a set of rules, problem sorted. You actually have a duty of care yourself to these horses (as I'm sure you know), and so the rules on what the responsibilities of the owners are will help you enormously.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well there are understandings and a mutual respect, but maybe I should impliment some rules. I do have requests (like noone on yard past 9pm, be quiet in the hours of 5.30-7 and 6.30pm - 9, horses on worming programme, muck thrown up etc) but take it for granted that people will check their horses?!
confused.gif


[/ QUOTE ]
You sound like an excellent YO and your yard sounds very much like where I keep my horse. There's no need for rules for the most part because things run smoothly just because everyone's considerate and sensible. The YM is very careful who she lets on in the first place, but I think the fact that everyone is trusted without a list of rules is what gives the yard such a pleasant atmosphere.

With this one problem livery, I'd do what my YM does with anyone she's got issues with. Leave them a letter if they're not down a lot stating what you expect them to do if they want to continue keeping their horse with you. Then see how they respond to it. If they don't start meeting your requirements for horse care and making payments, chuck 'em off.
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Ps. Its never had to go that far at our yard, a warning usually does the trick.
 
Your yard sounds lovely!
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I don't think it's unreasonable to expect each owner to turn up at least once a day to check on their horse - or make arrangements for someone else to do it. I think most of us would want to see our beloved neds every day! This owner sounds like more trouble than she's worth, really. If you like her and the pony, then I guess you could have a word, but if you're not that keen you could give her a warning and see what happens? If no improvement, then at least you've given her every opportunity to fit in and you can ask her to leave with a clear conscience. I'm sure you'd have no problems filling the space left!
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Offering to help her with her horse could be an excellent way around the problem, but just ensure you are recompensed appropriately. And be prepared for a few of the other liveries to ask for your help, now and then, once they see you're helping this livery out.

If you plan to implement helping her, consider putting up a detailed pricing chart somewhere on the yard. Then everyone will be clear on what they will be expected to pay if you do any 'extras' for them. This should counter any feelings of favoritism towards this particular (rather lazy and unconscientious IMO) livery!
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