Livery Yard Rules

But the reason behind this thread is that they are putting the onus on bringing someone else's horse in on whoever is one but last to bring their own horse in! Surely that's not right either.
Its not a situation I am ever likely to be in again, but I have had mine handled by other people in the past. On the whole they are fine, if they don't like a person they won't be able to catch them anyway so no problem. There have been people on yards I have been on in the past who I would have been very unhappy with touching my horses if I'm honest.
 
Blurr said:
quirky said:
Clueless!

How can you ensure your horse is never left alone when people do not have the common courtesy to tell you the routine they follow 99.9% of the time is changing?
Oh yes, never turn the horse out......just in case.

Don't know what makes you think I don't look after my own horse, her being led out to a field and back in again, does not make that groom a full time carer.

Yes, there are people on the yard who don't see their horse from one week to the next, that is their prerogative. Just as it is mine to see and ride mine everyday.[/QUOTE}

'Clueless' is not making arrangements and just leaving things to chance or, indeed, 'common courtesy'. If you hadn't made arrangements then there was no onus on the other person to phone you, was there? What makes you so special that other liveries have to check in out of courtesty to tell you what they're doing?

I've no idea about what you do with your horse, and care less. But thank goodness someone else has the responsibility of organising putting it out and back in, as you don't seem to have the gumption. Nice that you turn up to ride though, well done for that.
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Rather uncalled for . . .

P
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Blurr said:
'Clueless' is not making arrangements and just leaving things to chance or, indeed, 'common courtesy'. If you hadn't made arrangements then there was no onus on the other person to phone you, was there? What makes you so special that other liveries have to check in out of courtesty to tell you what they're doing?
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What this comes down to really is communication - on all sides. If you share a field with someone who routinely brings in at (say) 5.00 p.m. and you factor that into your own schedule, surely it is just common courtesy of the other livery to give you a heads up if they'll be changing their routinie and bringing in early so that you can make appropriate arrangements . . . and vice versa?

Since when did DIY mean "I'm alright Jack?"

P
 
PolarSkye said:
What this comes down to really is communication - on all sides. If you share a field with someone who routinely brings in at (say) 5.00 p.m. and you factor that into your own schedule, surely it is just common courtesy of the other livery to give you a heads up if they'll be changing their routinie and bringing in early so that you can make appropriate arrangements . . . and vice versa?

Since when did DIY mean "I'm alright Jack?"

P
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I think a lot of people think that if it's important that your horse is not left alone, then you make an effort with the arrangements. If this was a first occurrence, how was the other horse owner to know it was so imortant if they'd not been spoken to?

Since when did DIY mean "do it for myself and every other Tom, Dick or Harry whether they ask me to or not"? Of COURSE communication and cooperation is important, but if a horse is stressy on its own, the onus is on the owner to make arrangements, not for other liveries to guess (and potentially get it wrong). Aside from that, how was the other owner to contact the owner of the stressy horse? I rarely have a phone with me, perhaps they're the same?
 
Blurr said:
I think a lot of people think that if it's important that your horse is not left alone, then you make an effort with the arrangements. If this was a first occurrence, how was the other horse owner to know it was so imortant if they'd not been spoken to?

Since when did DIY mean "do it for myself and every other Tom, Dick or Harry whether they ask me to or not"? Of COURSE communication and cooperation is important, but if a horse is stressy on its own, the onus is on the owner to make arrangements, not for other liveries to guess (and potentially get it wrong). Aside from that, how was the other owner to contact the owner of the stressy horse? I rarely have a phone with me, perhaps they're the same?
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I get it - you're not a fan of the "rule" and you would feel hard done by having to take other people's horses into consideration.

However, I'm afraid I couldn't leave a distressed horse by itself in a field . . . and if I share a field (or even adjoining fields) with people, I make sure I have a rough idea of their comings and goings in case any of the horses need rescuing/bringing in - theirs and mine.

By way of example . . . Christmas Day a year or so ago, I went up to fetch mine in - fieldmate had blood on his face and his leg . . . I left mine out while I brought the other horse in, cleaned him up, cold hosed him and put him in his stable - and then went back and got mine and the remaining horse in the field. At the time, the owner of the injured horse wasn't speaking to me - and was routinely bringing the other two in and leaving mine out to run around in a panic without telling the person I had arranged to bring mine in (because I couldn't be there at half past two in the afternoon) that she was going up to the field (knowing that mine panics if left alone). Even though I couldn't stand the owner, I still had my own horse to sort out, and my family were waiting at home for me to finish cooking the Christmas dinner, I did the right thing by both of the other horses - because it was the right thing to do. I'm willing to bet that most people would do the same - including you. That's all this thread is about - putting the horses first.

I agree that whoever put up the sign could have chosen a better way to communicate the change in the rules, however I can't agree that the rule that all liveries on a DIY yard should be mindful and considerate of horses being left alone is a bad one . . . and I wouldn't be wanting to keep my horse on a yard where people weren't prepared to look after each other and their horses.

P
 
PolarSkye said:
Sort of tangential, but are there really THAT many unhandleable horses about these days? This thread is making me a little sad thinking about how many people are cagey about handling other people's horses in case they kick off - or have had experience with dangerous horses on the ground . . . or perhaps I've just been either really lucky or really naive when handling other people's horses.

I've turned out three very fresh, bouncy OTTBs at once before now - yes, they were lively but nothing too awful. I used to routinely bring in/turn out mine and my dressage trainer's nutjob TB together - without incident. In fact, the only horse I've met so far (and I've met/handled hundreds) that I wouldn't lead with mine is a mare at our current yard who is extremely unpredictable with her back legs - but I have no issues dealing with her on her own.

My comment isn't an indictment on the handlers - I'm asking a genuine question about the number of "dangerous" horses mentioned on this thread as reasons for not wanting to handle other people's horses.

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I suspect there are more rude horses these days simply because there seem to be so many ignorant owners who haven't a clue how to train and discipline their animal, or treat it like my little pony which can do no wrong.

A friend of mine had a big young horse. She is an intelligent person, has a good job which requires use of her management skills and brain power generally, but that horse literally ran circles around her. I led it down to the field once and it was a total nightmare. Mind you after I'd read it the riot act very loudly it remembered its manners. My horse was a bit impetuous when I first got her and we spent the first month establishing ground rules and what behaviour I expected of her. It paid off as the little grandson of the next door livery adored her and I could trust her entirely to be led about by him around the yard. He wasn't even 3 at the time and she took tiny steps so that she didn't get ahead of him - I trained her to walk by my shoulder unless I sent her up ahead.
 
HGA-12 said:
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Its not down to Yard owner, its a diy yard - do it yourself. Its up to the owner to arrange the horse to come in if they can not be there

If this yard owner has the options of extra catch in 's then the owner can use this facility and pay for the horse to come in on days the owner cannot.

Or arrange with a fellow livery to do each others on alternate days which can help both so owners can have a day off from going to yard. This system is the cheaper option and can benefit both parties.

My DIY have the options of extra catch in- they do use it and I get a text to bring her mare in, If I don't then she remains out till owner gets there which is never long after the 4pm catch in time.

I fail to see how a Yard Owner has to be responsible for bring a horse in when there is no system set up in place.
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I know of one local DIY yard that absolutely forbids the swapping of duties as you describe. If you can't come up you HAVE to pay the YO to do whatever is required. A nice little earner...
 
At the end of the day, as a DIY livery, you are responsible for your horse and your horse only. If you have an arrangement with another livery to help each other that's different.
I wouldn't expect to have to bring another horse in all because I'm there before the other livery....likewise I wouldn't expect another livery to bring my boy in because I work shifts and sometimes don't get to the yard until 8pm. If my horse stressed when left out alone I would arrange for him to be brought in prior to my arrival (there are people on the yard that offer that service).

I can understand OP not wanting to bring other horses in, 100%. Do you have a contract OP?
 
PolarSkye said:
I get it - you're not a fan of the "rule" and you would feel hard done by having to take other people's horses into consideration.

However, I'm afraid I couldn't leave a distressed horse by itself in a field . . . and if I share a field (or even adjoining fields) with people, I make sure I have a rough idea of their comings and goings in case any of the horses need rescuing/bringing in - theirs and mine.

By way of example . . . Christmas Day a year or so ago, I went up to fetch mine in - fieldmate had blood on his face and his leg . . . I left mine out while I brought the other horse in, cleaned him up, cold hosed him and put him in his stable - and then went back and got mine and the remaining horse in the field. At the time, the owner of the injured horse wasn't speaking to me - and was routinely bringing the other two in and leaving mine out to run around in a panic without telling the person I had arranged to bring mine in (because I couldn't be there at half past two in the afternoon) that she was going up to the field (knowing that mine panics if left alone). Even though I couldn't stand the owner, I still had my own horse to sort out, and my family were waiting at home for me to finish cooking the Christmas dinner, I did the right thing by both of the other horses - because it was the right thing to do. I'm willing to bet that most people would do the same - including you. That's all this thread is about - putting the horses first.

I agree that whoever put up the sign could have chosen a better way to communicate the change in the rules, however I can't agree that the rule that all liveries on a DIY yard should be mindful and considerate of horses being left alone is a bad one . . . and I wouldn't be wanting to keep my horse on a yard where people weren't prepared to look after each other and their horses.

P
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i dont think there are many more truly dangerous horses, but i see an awful lot of ignorant horses......out of all those i see on yards whilst teaching, i can think of a mere handful (excl clients horses) that would walk at my shoulder, back away from the gate, stand and wait, then walk away...........most do some variation of hanging back, pulling ahead, barging and snatching, pulling to grass, refusing to back up, then farting off kicking out................and you know what, i can think of better ways to spend my time than being a free bring in/turn out/manners installing service to any of those horses!

whilst i doubt i would get seriously injured, i dont want bruises, pulled muscles, squashed toes,scrapes cuts etc and neither do i want to get **** up to the eyeballs being dragged through mud and undergrowth by a bargey pig of a horse.

so thanks but no thanks. if it was on 3 legs or bleeding/colicking of course i would 100% drop everything to sort it. But on an average day, no way am i wasting time or effort dealing with other peoples ignorant horses (which is why i wouldnt be on a yard without some sort of staff to do it).

i suppose i wouldnt have a problem if it was an easy horse and i could bring our 2 plus 1 in together..................but then where do you draw the line, can you say to someone "i left your horse out because its got no manners and i CBA to deal with it"?! probably best to not do it full stop for any horse i guess!!!! although it might make the owner wise up and sort it out!

this is all hypothetical thankfully as mine are at home and only livery pony is a gem to handle!
 
After sitting and reading this thread for a decent hour (in between watching I Wanna Marry Harry) I find it absolutely ridiculous. If I was perhaps more confident with other horses then sure, once in a blue moon I'd be like okay, brave pants on, deep breath, think positive, off we go.. though I'd be more inclined to scrap my plans of bringing my horse in to avoid handling some horses at my yard.
My horse is an absolute saint. Rarely silly though will occasionally walk very quickly back to the stable (keep in mind I'm 5'0 worth of short legs!) I still wouldn't want other people handling him in case something really did scare him and he freaked out. He does sometimes flick his left hind out in the field if a horse gets up his bum although he wouldn't dream of doing this to someone. There are some young girls at my yard that have little experience in handling horses who I really wouldn't want touching my horse as he is very sensitive and can be headshy if you move quickly or make sudden loud noises.
I do see how this could work but certainly wouldn't be a happy bunny if this was to be enforced at my yard.
 
Last DIY I was at had this issue. They started putting another mare in our field of 3, who was huge, rude, aggressive, would box, owner scared of it (wouldn't even ride it). You went to catch your horse and it was being aggressive trying to dominate you at the gate to get in, ruddy dangerous tbh. Friend had her quiet welsh cob on walker which bordered field (with 6' post and rail around walker), this mare took exception to it and doubled barrelled fence and kept lash out until it has wrecked fence. Horse genuinely dangerous. Owner only worked part time, didn't come down at regular times. I refused to ever handle this horse, for which yo & owner gave me massive grief. I told them it was dangerous and they didn't believe me. I heard after I left it went to box someone else who went in field. Can't help thinking 'told you so'. My life more important than staying on yard.
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I work, always came down at same time every day. Would have been easy for other owner to be there when I was, but she didn't care as long as she wasn't inconvenienced. Yo seemed to run yard around her for some reason I've never understood, rest of us were absolutely fine leaving ours out. We knew when people would be down and worked with it.
 
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quirky said:
Clueless!

How can you ensure your horse is never left alone when people do not have the common courtesy to tell you the routine they follow 99.9% of the time is changing?
Oh yes, never turn the horse out......just in case.

Don't know what makes you think I don't look after my own horse, her being led out to a field and back in again, does not make that groom a full time carer.

Yes, there are people on the yard who don't see their horse from one week to the next, that is their prerogative. Just as it is mine to see and ride mine everyday.
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Buy a companion for it.
My horse has learnt to be out on her own, if she didn't I'd make arrangements so she always had company, that didn't rely on other people.

My horse gets a bit possessive around me & will kick out at other horses who don't listen to her warnings to move away. I wouldn't be able to lead two at a time so scenario: I take mine up & then go back to the field mate who is running round like a idiot, who then drags me out the field & disappears up the road to get to the yard, slips as he's galloping in & breaks a leg is it still my fault that he's injured?

Also I wouldn't want every Tom, Dick & Harry bringing my horse in. I can lead her like a dog on the end of the rope even after not being out of the field for 2 months! My Dad who handles her on rare occasions also has no problem. My Aunt however always has a problem the Mare barges/tried to get away/was trampling everything on the yard/had to be controlled with food (just a few examples!) ... My aunt is experienced with horses & has 4 of my cousins to handle.
 
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