Livery Yard Etiquette

GeeUp&Go

GeeUp&Go

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This'll sound really stupid, but I'm going to a new livery yard with my horse for a few months whilst at college. He will be on grass livery.

I'm planning on getting him pumping fit in the 3 months hes down.

Are here any specific bits of etiquette I need to remember to try and not aggrevate people (I seem to hear that yards can be very cliquey)?! I like to have a very drama-free life!

Thanks, :D
 
amymay said:
Just be yourself. Say hello to people, and don't get involved in any yard 'politics'.
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I've found polite but 'in a world of my own' is my best approach.

I look after my horses and myself and I will smile and say hello....but I'm soooo not interested in standing in a huddle and bitching about people one minute - then chatting to them the next
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I see people spending more time pissing and moaning than they do with their horses
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Agree with the above posts.

I was at the brunt of cliques and bitching at my last yard and it was awful.

The advice I give is - keep yourself to yourself, don't get involved in bitching (if someone pees you off keep it to yourself or vent to someone outside said yard) and don't put too much trust in someone too fast (at least until you get to know them properly, that way you have a pretty rough idea what they are like and can judge what you can and can't say in confidence).
 
Never offer anyone any advice at all about anything. They can do what they like with their horses as you can with yours.

Accept any advice given to you with a smile and a thankyou and then get on with what you were doing anyway.

Caveat to this is of course that you are reasonably competent and we're not talking horse welfare issues here - but even then it's the YO job to deal with not yours.

If you can't say anything nice..........
 
Don't borrow or lend any of your stuff to people unless you know them well, it so often leads to problems...
 
Bedlam said:
Never offer anyone any advice at all about anything. They can do what they like with their horses as you can with yours.
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Yep this! And don't be fooled even if people seem to be specifically asking for your advice, e.g. "what do you think I should do about....?" as IME they will keep asking the same question of everybody, one answer will not be enough.

I always just say "oh, i don't know, have you asked YO, what does she say?" and then they tell me what she said and I say "yeah that sounds sensible" (fighting the temptation to say "well why are you continuing to ask then?", it's just like some of the threads on here ;)).
 
Our yard is lovely and no one just keeps their head down because no one has to! We all get along and help each other out. I will miss it when I move :(

ETS: Just be yourself. I think people like to play up how bad things are. I am sure you'll be fine and make some good friends. After all, you have a big common interest with everyone there :)
 
agree with all of the above, also, check out the arrangements for poo picking and make sure you do your share - that one often leads to arguments!

Also check out whether there is any policy about bringing your horse in and leaving only one turned out if that's relevant to the setup - people can get very funny about having their horse left out alone if it doesn't cope well.

Apart from that I find smiling and nodding goes a long way :)
 
Thanks a lot everyone!

Be polite, ***** shovel and get on with it seems to be the general motto!

Its helped a lot - I dont know the yard, or anyone there so these little nuggets are pretty good!
 
GeeUp&Go said:
Thanks a lot everyone!

Be polite, ***** shovel and get on with it seems to be the general motto!

Its helped a lot - I dont know the yard, or anyone there so these little nuggets are pretty good!
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Thats about it - and dont get hooked into swapping favours with others as this is a short term livery for you, better to pay each time for jobs that need doing when you cant be there & then nobody can moan :)
 
Always try to say something complimentary about other's horses. I always think that helps pave the way for good relationships. Do not comment on others horses/riding/stable mgmt, etc.

Ask YO very specifically for any yard rules and tell her to tell you right away if you have done something wrong.
 
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