Livery yard advice needed

[ss1978]

my horse is on full livery at the yard he has lived for the past 4 years. he was on DIY until I was made redundant and got a job miles away. my new job means that I often don't get to see him for a couple of weeks. When I went to see him mid August he had dropped quite a bit of weight so I asked for him to be monitored and fed accordingly. I went again a few times and he wasn't putting on weight as I would like so I again spoke to the yard owner whose daughter runs the livery. I was promised he would be bought in at lunch and fed and would have constant hay (the grass in the field wasn't good) long story short hes still very thin, have heard stories of him being left out all day, been given only hifi lite and fibre nuts. I want to remove him and am going to do so next weekend but I am supposed to give 4 weeks notice which im not and I think the yard owner will refuse to give me his passport and try and stop me from taking him. I have heard some horror stories about how the horses are treated and have seen some things I really don't like! the yard owners daughter doesn't care about the horses she rode one of the other livery horses in from the field in just a headcollar and cantered him up a hard track with no hat on, there have been horses not being fed because she forgot, I hate my horse being there and just want him moved. she also has my horse turned out with an injured horse keeping him company but the owner of the injured horse fetches mine in, feeds him and puts him to bed so I do worry what would happen if something happened as no yard staff are there. also the staff are not insured which worries me. any advice appreciated about what I am able to do if she says I cant take him or wont give me his passport.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

For ease, I would offer to pay a month's livery in lieu of notice. It might feel like condoning the way he has been kept but it will certainly save any arguments. I wouldn't bother to complain either, simply say that you have to move because of your work, pay the notice period, collect your stuff, including passport and go. The YO won't object because you will have freed up your space, which she will be able to possibly fill before the end of the month. And you presumably have signed a contract saying that you will give a month's notice, so you should do so.