Livery Yard Contract - Clause that You must work with Horse 3 x a week

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It doesnt say ride, it said "activity"...therefore, horsewalker, a 40 grooming, a walk up the bridlepath in hand for a pick of grass, lunging, OR riding (heaven forbid!!) should all be included in that (thats how I read it anyway)

I think its fair enough really!!

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R2R you are correct the idea is that you the owner actually move your horse not just tie it outside the stall muck out fill the hay buckets and bugger off! All they are asking is you do this at least 3 times a week. No one is standing there with a note book jotting down L rode for 20 mins on Friday 4th....but obviously as everyone tends to be very active with their horses they want people who will fit in with that.

So R2R what do you think of the non poo picking fines then
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OK. I am saying this as someone who has had a horse for 20 years on DIY and Part livery, then took the plunge last year and now runs a (very successful, if I do say so myself) yard. We seem to have a really good atmosphere, everyone gets on, and is happy to help and see each other! There is no bitching, but my liveries do moan (to me) if they feel another livery is not pulling their weight, or looking after there horse...and the concerns are addressed if justified. However all liveries, at some point, are pains in the neck and take the mickey!!!

My main ethos on the yard is....

If you cant be bothered to do it for YOUR horse, why on earth should someone else be bothered to do it for YOUR horse for free?

Therefore, I think non poo picking fines are fair enough!!

My liveries all know this. It works for them too - if they bring your horse in one day, then everyone knows they are "owed" a favour, and lots of haggling etc goes on, for example "if you bring my horse in for a week, I will do your bed all weekend" or the kids muck out for me in return for a trip to do clear round at the weekend to the yard 5 mins up the road
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I am a very nice yard owner in my opinion, but I have learnt by my mistakes!! I supply all wheelbarrows and mucking out tools for my DIY liveries, as I am very nice like that
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One of my liveries kept leaving a full (extra full) wheelbarrow, and was a bit of a twit becasue she used to do it in fromt of me. I kept asking her to empty it, and she kept doing it, so one day, I emptied said full wheelbarrow in the front door of her stables.

Now none of my liveries leave full wheelbarrows
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My livery actually laughed and said fair enough, by the way, so it worked out quite well.

What I am trying to say is that I have learnt that if you are too 'nicey nicey' when you are running a yard, liveries, by their very nature, will walk all over you. They dont mean it, but they are prime examples of "give an inch and take a mile"...so therefore systems have to be implimented whereby it is fair for all, including the horses.

This is why, I think it is totally fair for a yard owner to put ina requirement to do an "activity" with horses on their yard, as as yard owners, our ultimate responsibility is for the horses. A happy yard, and all that.

I also think it is totally fair that if their is a requirement to skip fields, it is done by the livery, and if it isnt, or indeed anything else the livery is supposed to do but doesnt (like muck out, feed their horses etc) then there should be a charge.

I have a clause in my agreement which says:

Any other ‘extra’ service, such as skipping out, turnout, feeding, bringing in, without prior arrangement, will be charged as per charges displayed in tack room.



So my liveries know if they dont do it for their horse, I will, and charge them for it. After all, why should I get up and get a DIY livery in for the farrier at 8am on a Saturday (my day off, may I add) if the livery cant be bothered?



Saying that, next to my "items left at your own risk " bit, I also have a clause that states



THE YARD cannot be held responsible for any minors (under 16) and their actions whilst at the stables. Whilst guidance will be given, under 16’s are left at the stables entirely at the own risk of their parents.



Which makes me laugh a bit!!!
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I am not on a yeard (thankfully! lol) but if I was I wouldn't be happy being told how often i was to exercise my horse each day. I would assume my horse would be turned out every day and that, in my mind is perfectly adequate exercise and seeing as I would be paying to keep my horse on the yard on whatever basis I'd chosen then I am paying for certain care.

If it was DIY then that's down to me to ensure my horse is turned out. Doesn't mean I have to ride it or exercise it surely?!

Think it's silly! I can see the intention behind it but I don't think it's really workable.
 
When I gave Fella time off because of snow, he was so worried about not having a job to do, he threatened to go down to the job centre! (Sorry - it was asking for a joke!)

A rule like this leaves no flexibility depending on the situation. With this rule, I couldn't choose to give my horse a holiday if I wanted to because I would be breaking yard rules. It is rules like this that take the fun out of horse ownership for some people, as it becomes a chore, rather than doing it because you want to.

I did choose to give my horse a holiday over the winter, and do you know what? He loved it. I spent just as much time with him as I would when I was riding, we had long grooming sessions and played fun games (Racing a horse is not fun - he won everytime!). It actually helped to increase our bond with each other, and we barely did any 'work' at all, just a poodle around the lanes in hand once or twice a week if the weather was okay.

If a horse is well cared for, is happy, and healthy, then I don't think it is up to a YM to say what I should be doing with my horse. Do you think happy hackers who go out once a week at the weekend are less happy than horses that are ridden daily? I don't think so. Some horses like to be worked everyday, others like to chill out in the field with the occasional wander around. Horses are individuals, and so a rule that applies to one, doesn't apply to all.

I understand the thought behind this rule, that YM's want people who look after their horses and spend time with them, but I think 'work' is too prescriptive. I could understand a rule that said horse owners must come up x days a week to see their horse, or even horse owners must interact with their horse x days a week, which could include riding, lunging, but also non-exercise such as grooming, so that the horses remained well mannered. Personally, I could never be on a yard that imposed rules like that, but if it suits you, then I'm glad.
 
I think if the horse is cared for, ie mucked out, fed and turn out and looked after with regards of basic health care (meaning regular farrier and flu/tet jabs), the rest should be up to the owner of the animal. If people want to have a pasture ornament that should be up to them, although I prefer to ride mine. Having saidthat I have pasture ornaments, too: a retired pony how only gets a fuss and sometimes an in hand walk and a brood mare who is a lady of leisure. We have some people on our yard which vitually never ride which is great as it means the school is usually free.

Yo must have to much time on her hand if she can police how much or little her liveries are riding.
 
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I will not be told by anyone how often I ride my horse. Absolutely none of there business IMO, as long as MY horse is happy and healthy.

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Normally I might agree, but what about the intelligent horse in the prime of life who starts chasing others, churning up the field in the process & jumping in with others simply because it has too much time on it's hooves? I had this scenario not long ago with a livery. I don't believe a stimulated horse would feel the need to do that.
 
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I will not be told by anyone how often I ride my horse. Absolutely none of there business IMO, as long as MY horse is happy and healthy.

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Ditto....and seeing as I have 2 kids, a full time job and a shift-working OH then I fit in what I can and can't do around...well, my life......

Sometimes I do more with them, sometimes less.....but either way they are mucked out properly every day, turned out for 12 hours and fed appropriately.
 
I'm really confused as to why a horse that is fed, turned out, mucked out etc has to be walked around 3 times a week for its well being? What a load of tosh! If the horse is in 24/7, I can see that a bit of walking in-hand is good, but do people seriously think the horse gives a d*mn if they are 'interacted' with in this way?

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"oh horse goes out every day they are ok I can just muck out and leave"

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What's wrong with that? They're fed, have turnout and are looked after. I'm not sure what the problem is with thinking 'I can just muck out and leave', tbh. The horse doesn't care if he has cuddles, just that he has feed, water and is turned out. Obviously, if the owner is neglecting stable duties, then that's a seperate problem, but if the standard of this is adequate or the YO is being paid to look after the horse, then where's the issue?

T's best mate (read boyfriend
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) used to jump BSJA tracks, do x-country and was ridden/competed every week. He's now in his mid-twenties, never ridden (recurring tendon injury and is a demon to ride, so can't risk him pulling it), is fed in the morning, chucked out, mucked out, brought in of an evening, fed, groomed, rugged etc then left. His owner never walks him out in-hand or any of the things listed as acceptable activity, unless, of course, they have to stay in due to snow, injury etc. Said horse is perfectly happy and I can't see how her pottering around 3 times a week (she doesn't have time due to work and travelling anyway) would make a difference.
 
That's the biggest load of crap I have ever heard. I would never join a yard who dictates rubbish like that. Is this for real!? Its my horse, my money, my rules. I am actually a bit angry about the fact some people think that this is 'fab' what planet are you on?! I must go and have a G&T to calm down. Seriously though, in the words of SallySmith - I'd tell them to jog on!
 
I think it's an unworkable rule, can't see how it can be implemented fairly. Personally I agree that horses benefit from attention and need rding regularly but thats just my personal opinion. However I would not like to be told what to do and being checked on. Its a hobby after all. Its not always possible to fit it riding or whatever 3 tmes a week. If you want to give your horsea holiday or its bad weather like we've just had, are you going to have to negotate with your YO for time off! After all liveries are paying customers and ts down to their individual conscience whats right for their horse, as long as the horse is not neglected.
 
whilst I can understand ( I didnt use to like the horses who never got any fuss or attention as owners never there when i was on livery) but i think its a bit of a mick 'enforcing' it.
I've got my horses at home and work full time. the 2 yr old only gets walked in hand at weekends in the light, and not always groomed everyday ... guess i wouldnt fit in at your yard then !! My older horse is worked 2-4 times a week but when i go on holiday she has a well deserved break, tbh she'd be really p'd off if i arranged 'cover' to faff around with her, she wants to eat drink sleep and graze not be worked!
 
Whilst I don't think insisting you do something 3 times a week with your horse is up to YO,I can understand where your YO comes from.We have at least 4 horses that owners rarely come near them.I ususlly get 'mugged' by at least 2 of them when I go see my boys.Wish YO would make a contract that horses be checked/seen to by themselves or they have to arrange somebody do it .As it is it all the other liveries that keep an eye out just to make sure nothing too bad wrong then you tell YO who phones owners.Wouldn't mind but its a totally diy yard! Really pees me off!!
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I am actually a bit angry about the fact some people think that this is 'fab' what planet are you on?!

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I dont disagree with the rule because it is for the benefit of the horse, implemented because the YO was fed up with owners not taking responsibility. Horses left with no food, dirty water, sh1tty stables, minimal exercise, etc happens ALL the time. It is so common these days with too many people that shouldnt own, owning a horse. I see it all the time, hence i dont object to a rule that is trying to help the horse.

I agree it may not work for everyone but with novice or lazy owners (of which there are many), i do indeed think its a 'fab' rule.
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Horse ownership is more than a hurried 1/2 hr fitted in when it suits the owner

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But life isn't is simple as that!! My horse is well cared for in every respect, and gets plenty of turn out. But I cannot spend hours with him every day, as much as I would like to. What with working full time and a 500 mile commute each week (necessary to afford said horse), current house refurbishment and keeping peace with other half, its just not possible! Perhaps I should do as other livieries I've known then....have a few random sprogs, live off the state and buy another couple of horses
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QR absolutely ridiculous (IMHO).

We are on a riding school come livery yard. Some horses are retired, and spend their life munching grass in the huge fields, only to come in and munch hay in their big stables. All are happy, healthy and well-mannered.

I have a lot of uni work and assignments atm, so horse gets turned out on a morning, mucked & feed put in, and I pay for someone else to bring him in. On a weekend he gets a groom. He is sweet, wellbehaved and very content.

I don't see how they would care they are being fed on a lead, or in a big field running round with their friends.
 
There's no way I'd stay on a yard with that rule, my 2 are on grass livery & are perfectly happy to not do any work.
I tend to only ride at weekends anyway & it's none of anybody's buisiness how often I ride.
What a control freak!
 
How bizarre! I can understand that the owner has the right to put whatever rules they want into the contract, and I do agree that rules are normally a good thing on a livery yard, but I do disagree that all horses needs some type of 'activity' to be happy and healthy. As long as they have plenty of turnout time with other horses then they are getting plenty of exercise and interaction in the field! I have a retired horse who is happy as Larry being a paddock ornament and taking her for a walk three times a week would not enhance her life one iota!
 
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....it is for the benefit of the horse, implemented because the YO was fed up with owners not taking responsibility. Horses left with no food, dirty water, sh1tty stables

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This isn't an accurate interpretation or what the clause states. It dictates to the owner that they have to ride 3 times per week. I completely agree with taking responsibility for your horse regarding general maintenance and care i.e feeding, mucking out (if on DIY) but I completely and utterly contend with a rule that states I have to ride 3 times per week. No. No. No.
 
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I am actually a bit angry about the fact some people think that this is 'fab' what planet are you on?!

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I dont disagree with the rule because it is for the benefit of the horse, implemented because the YO was fed up with owners not taking responsibility. Horses left with no food, dirty water, sh1tty stables, minimal exercise, etc happens ALL the time. It is so common these days with too many people that shouldnt own, owning a horse. I see it all the time, hence i dont object to a rule that is trying to help the horse.

I agree it may not work for everyone but with novice or lazy owners (of which there are many), i do indeed think its a 'fab' rule.
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I agree that a contract saying horses need to be seen everyday, so that leaving a horse without water and/or food, horrible stables and no exercise doesn't happen. However, what the YO says is that horses have to be physically worked 3 times a week. As long as horses can get exercise via daily turnout, then it's not a problem IMO.
 
I read the title with horror, but actually having read the details I think it's brilliant. The facilities sound great, very varied and there's a lot of scope to just play with your horse,everyone knows the deal and if they don't like it they can always move. I think it must make for a lovely yard, as you say, no sniping between liveries regarding who does what with their horses...it's a great leveller. Thumbs up to the YO.
 
I pay for the use of facilities ie: school, stable, grazing etc....
I expect there to be REASONABLE rules in place so that yards run harmoniously and safely.
However, after owning horses for over 25 years, I am NOT paying my hard earned cash to be told how and when to perform an 'activity' with my horse or how to feed it, how to ride it etc etc etc....

I stand by my statement that is a completely ridiculous and unreasonable rule. If horses are not being looked after properly in terms of their basic needs (according to wether they are turned out or stabled), I agree that any YO would have the right to insist on certain things to be done and if necessary report or evict the livery, however this has to be according to the individual. You cannot tar everyone with the same brush.

This all slaps of YO's who think that they are above everyone else ( sadly a common occurence these days) and have god-given rights to lay down the law in aspects that are frankly non of their business.
By the way - I am not accusing any of the YO's on HH of this as I do not know any of them. I merely stating that in my experience, this behaviour is becoming prevalent.
I'm really sorry if that comes across harsh, but I've seriously never heard anything like it and find it incredulous that people actually think this is a good idea!
 
Not a bad rule - I can't do it where I am though as too dark to be leading around in the week for any more than a walk around the yard which doesn't really change his scenery.
 
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....it is for the benefit of the horse, implemented because the YO was fed up with owners not taking responsibility. Horses left with no food, dirty water, sh1tty stables

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This isn't an accurate interpretation or what the clause states. It dictates to the owner that they have to ride 3 times per week. I completely agree with taking responsibility for your horse regarding general maintenance and care i.e feeding, mucking out (if on DIY) but I completely and utterly contend with a rule that states I have to ride 3 times per week. No. No. No.

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Youve not interpreted what i said quite right
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I'll clarify (hopefully). Whilst i see that the rule isnt about mucking out, etc i see that its about the general culture of keeping a horse and doing the minimum. Not due to genuine reasons but because the owner isnt taking responsibility. The rule is trying to address this. the example of not mucking out, etc was mine as i see/hear about it all the time. And any rule that trys to raise standards and insist on a certain level of horsemanship is fine by me.

If a horse has access to lots of turnout on a large field, everyday then its not such an issue. Or in other cases such as old horses, etc But i took it from the op that the YO was trying to stop owners that were doing less than the necessary. i.e it was a rule that tried to make sure that horses were not left to their own devices as much as she had previously experienced, along wih the corresponding issues.

Not sure if thats explained what i meant?!
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Good job our yard doesnt have that rule, i would be asked to leave! Our horses live out 24/7 appart from the yearling weve just bought who is in very poor condition and is in for a while as we think he needs the extra protection a stable offers. Im affraid we dont do much with the others in the dark in the winter so if we had to do something with them we would be stuffed! We have no lights in the school so thats a no no, i wouldnt go on the road in the dark, no way never, what else is there? Thats partly why ours are out, they have company, food, fresh water but not much of US in winter! On the other hand in summer we almost live there!!
 
Ok Devils Advocate here.

There are so many posts on here saying things like

"I feel so sory for a horse on my yard as the owner never sees it"

"There is a horse on my yard that never gets ridden"

"My yard is so bitchy I heard people bitching about the fact that i only want to ride at weekends"

"The horse next to mine gets so little attention that it mugs me whenever i go to see my horse"

"Why am I the only mug that poo picks the paddock"

Etc etc etc

And yet when a YO rightly or wrongly puts a rule in place that says "ok folks you want to keep your horses here and use our facilities here are the basics that we expect from you as horse owners" a lot of people get all uptight about Big Brother and feeling angry that someone should tell them how often they have to ride.

Actually as I have said already you are not forced to ride 3 times a week just take responsibility for moving your horse i.e. lunging, free schooling, go for a walk around the terrain, a really good long groom, hand grazing, ground work whatever you like to do.

Surely the YO should get some Kudos for actually giving a damn and not just ignoring problems and keep taking the money which is another common moan.

It seems from the responses on here that the majority in favour are actually YO's which is interesting.

From my point of view the reason I was happy to go to this yard was because I knew if I wanted to stay I would have to commit to investing some real time with my horse.

I am also more than capable after a full day at work, kids, husband and general life to either want to rush in and out or when on full livery not go down at all.
 
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A bit off topic sorry! but you're on part livery but still have to muck out and do haynets? Isn't that just assisted DIY?

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Technically in the UK this would be known as Assisted DIY.

In Holland you have full livery i.e. you just turn up and ride your horse or Part Livery YO Feeds, turns out and brings in and you muck out and do the hay......My yard only does one package and charges one price as they did not want to get into having to work out charges for turning out, bringing in, feeding, mucking out, grooming. And keeping lists of who wants what. If you are away you go onto a full livery package for that period which includes excercise but that is only offered for short periods of time.

You pay 290 euro a month and for that they feed 5 times a day, turn out, bring in, and all straw and feed is included. They take a maximum of 10 liveries (there is a waiting list) and we are all on the same package.
 
If that rule was enforced on yards round here they would all be empty.. they all sit chatting in tea rooms..

Ours are worked anyway, but I wouldn't want anyone else working them if I was away.
 
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Good job our yard doesnt have that rule, i would be asked to leave! Our horses live out 24/7 appart from the yearling weve just bought who is in very poor condition and is in for a while as we think he needs the extra protection a stable offers. Im affraid we dont do much with the others in the dark in the winter so if we had to do something with them we would be stuffed! We have no lights in the school so thats a no no, i wouldnt go on the road in the dark, no way never, what else is there? Thats partly why ours are out, they have company, food, fresh water but not much of US in winter! On the other hand in summer we almost live there!!

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Luckily they have installed the facilities to allow us to do this even in winter i.e. Floodlit all weather school, Covered lit round pen, floodlit all weather round pen, lunging arena and a floodlit paddock which is set up with hills and bridges for riding in if you want it. Even the winter paddocks are floodlit(no excuse for not poo picking) and they have sand tracks running all around the terrain the whole place is lit. So We have excellent facilities.

We even have a mess room with sofa's jukebox, beer fridge, coffee machine, and microwave. And a Bathroom with shower.

Of course in the situation where the facilities and lighting were not there then it would be totally unworkable and any YO would be taking the mick trying to put this in place.
 
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