Livery yards being closed, banned from seeing our horses

Upthecreek said:
If you are already responsible for the daily care you have no choice but to go to the yard, although you could argue that DIY and part liveries should be made to go on full livery if the yard has sufficient staff to care for the horses adequately. Our country is currently officially in a state of emergency so I think in the current circumstances it would be unwise to put yourself and others at risk by going to the yard unless it is essential. Our yard has turned all horses out apart from a couple on box rest and nobody is allowed to go there except staff. There are no exceptions and this will be the case until restrictions are lifted.
Click to expand...

This situation is one I can cope with this as it is fair and across the board. What i cannot cope with is this two tier system depending on what provision you have normally made for your horse.
 
Shay said:
Its not about who has a "right" to something or not. Gingerwitch I really sympathise with your concerns and I don't want to be patronising - but perhaps thinking about it a bit differently would help? This is about who absolutely has to be outside the house. Not about who has a right to do this that or the other. Of course all horse owners have the same right to see thier animals. But is is about who absolutely has to be at the yard otherwise the welfare of an animal will suffer - and who does not.
Click to expand...

Hi Shay, all of our yard has the same access to pay for turn out, bring in, full livery on a daily basis, but the same ones have changed nothing as the weather has been nice they are even bathing on an afternoon without a care in the world. At the least hey could limit to being on the yard at one end of the day or the other.
 
be positive said:
Not every yard can offer full livery so there will not be a rule across the board because every situation is different, it is not as simple as paying for full care for 3 weeks if the YO isn't able to offer it.
Click to expand...

Sorry if yards are going to remain open then regardless of what livery you are on then how can you honestly expect certain folk to stay away but others can come and go as they please. If this lock down carries on over the 3 weeks are you really expecting us Full Livery folk to keep paying up without seeing our horses ? whilst those that are on DIY can carry on as normal ?
 
Gingerwitch said:
All i am making the point of is, where is the fairness ? .
Click to expand...

I am sorry for you Gingerwitch, because you are right, it is not fair. But we all have to accept restrictions now, and they will not be 'fair' in that they will not affect everyone equally. Is it 'fair' that I cannot go to the yard just because I live with a doctor? Not really, but it is also right that I don't go. Is it fair that someone living in a bedsit in the city has the same restrictions as someone living in a country house with a large garden? Not really. And it certainly is not fair that so many will die horrible deaths, completely alone, and if we do not restrict the rate of infection also without medical intervention which might have saved them if the curve had been flattened sufficiently. We all have to make sacrifices for this policy to work.

Right now we all need to do the right thing. Not look at others to justify doing what we want, because we must all think of each other, and of society as a whole. At present our only chance is if everyone avoids all unnecessary contact. Sure for some they will have contact through their work, do you really think that I like sending someone out to work in an emergency room day after day? I do not, but it is our duty, and it is also our duty to restrict our personal lives so that we do not spread this further.
 
Winters100 said:
I am sorry for you Gingerwitch, because you are right, it is not fair. But we all have to accept restrictions now, and they will not be 'fair' in that they will not affect everyone equally. Is it 'fair' that I cannot go to the yard just because I live with a doctor? Not really, but it is also right that I don't go. Is it fair that someone living in a bedsit in the city has the same restrictions as someone living in a country house with a large garden? Not really. And it certainly is not fair that so many will die horrible deaths, completely alone, and if we do not restrict the rate of infection also without medical intervention which might have saved them if the curve had been flattened sufficiently. We all have to make sacrifices for this policy to work.

Right now we all need to do the right thing. Not look at others to justify doing what we want, because we must all think of each other, and of society as a whole. At present our only chance is if everyone avoids all unnecessary contact. Sure for some they will have contact through their work, do you really think that I like sending someone out to work in an emergency room day after day? I do not, but it is our duty, and it is also our duty to restrict our personal lives so that we do not spread this further.
Click to expand...


This. This all over.
 
be positive said:
Not every yard can offer full livery so there will not be a rule across the board because every situation is different, it is not as simple as paying for full care for 3 weeks if the YO isn't able to offer it.
Click to expand...
this
our yard is half full, half DIY. YO would be run ragged trying to do the whole lot by himself, it's not a bank of staff, it's one bloke. Just because a yard offers some full livery doesn't mean that the capacity is there to increase the provision.
If I couldn't go up because of symptoms or suspected contact with someone who had them, I'd have to ask another DIY to take my horses on.
 
ester said:
But if you don't have that you will have horses not getting any care at all?[/QUOTE

Full livery would cost approx £10 per day, so 3 weeks of 7 days is 21 = £210 quid and if you cannot put your hands on that amount what would you do if you were ill ?

Winters100 said:
I am sorry for you Gingerwitch, because you are right, it is not fair. But we all have to accept restrictions now, and they will not be 'fair' in that they will not affect everyone equally. Is it 'fair' that I cannot go to the yard just because I live with a doctor? Not really, but it is also right that I don't go. Is it fair that someone living in a bedsit in the city has the same restrictions as someone living in a country house with a large garden? Not really. And it certainly is not fair that so many will die horrible deaths, completely alone, and if we do not restrict the rate of infection also without medical intervention which might have saved them if the curve had been flattened sufficiently. We all have to make sacrifices for this policy to work.

Right now we all need to do the right thing. Not look at others to justify doing what we want, because we must all think of each other, and of society as a whole. At present our only chance is if everyone avoids all unnecessary contact. Sure for some they will have contact through their work, do you really think that I like sending someone out to work in an emergency room day after day? I do not, but it is our duty, and it is also our duty to restrict our personal lives so that we do not spread this further.
Click to expand...

Hi Winters100, both my and my partner are front line, he is in a worse of situation than me, but again one of the unseen hero's in all of this. All I am saying is that if a yard is banning folk then it banns all folk, not just the chosen few.
Click to expand...
 
It was not clear that you were referring to your yard set up only, rather than the nation as a whole - where it isn't often the cost but actually having people to do it that is the issue even on those with mixed livery types on the yard, staff numbers are usually what is needed for the normal amount of full livery.

If you have an issue with the specific situation on your yard perhaps you should tell your YO that everyone should be on full livery.
 
Gingerwitch said:
Sorry if yards are going to remain open then regardless of what livery you are on then how can you honestly expect certain folk to stay away but others can come and go as they please. If this lock down carries on over the 3 weeks are you really expecting us Full Livery folk to keep paying up without seeing our horses ? whilst those that are on DIY can carry on as normal ?
Click to expand...

It may not seem fair but nothing about this situation is fair, my liveries are part and I am now doing full basic care owners can come to exercise and do additional care once a day at a prearranged time, I have turned them out so there is no increase in livery and if any were on DIY I would have insisted they turned out and came once a day, it is down to YO to set the rules and liveries to abide by them not try to get round them.
If the owner was injured or otherwise unable to care for the horse for 3 weeks they would not expect to have livery reduced for the period unless it was a longer term injury when they may be able to arrange for the horse to be turned away or even sold but these are exceptional circumstances and we all have try out hardest to do what is right, not just for ourselves but for everyone else.
 
Full livery would cost approx £10 per day, so 3 weeks of 7 days is 21 = £210 quid and if you cannot put your hands on that amount what would you do if you were ill ?

Not many places will do full livery for £70, they may usually do a daily rate but if they have to supply hay and bedding and do 7 days a week the rate will probably be more in line with normal full livery rates and most will be double that at nearer £140 per week. It is all irrelevant if the YO cannot offer it anyway.
 
There are no staff on our yard not even a yard owner. All maintenance requests such fencing go to the estate office. Once a week the muck trailer is emptied, once a week the school is harrowed by estate staff who are blokes who drive tractors around and do not care for animals let alone horses. That’s it.

We as liveries keep any communal areas clean, buy cleaning products and toilet roll. I personally bought Virkon S and spray bottles to disinfect locks, door handles, toilet area. We no longer congregate in any communal area.

When I’m away working or if I’m ill I pay another livery to do my two horses. She is classed as a vulnerable person and is now coming up only once a day when no one is around. No one is staying on the yard any longer than to carry out chores. Yes most of us are still exercising as it’s not yet been banned by the government, I’m sure it will be and when it is I will stop.

I live alone and my nearest family is 130 miles away so I’m totally responsible and I am worried if I become ill but hope the other liveries will help out as I would help them.
 
Sussexbythesea said:
There are no staff on our yard not even a yard owner. All maintenance requests such fencing go to the estate office. Once a week the muck trailer is emptied, once a week the school is harrowed by estate staff who are blokes who drive tractors around and do not care for animals let alone horses. That’s it.

We as liveries keep any communal areas clean, buy cleaning products and toilet roll. I personally bought Virkon S and spray bottles to disinfect locks, door handles, toilet area. We no longer congregate in any communal area.

When I’m away working or if I’m ill I pay another livery to do my two horses. She is classed as a vulnerable person and is now coming up only once a day when no one is around. No one is staying on the yard any longer than to carry out chores. Yes most of us are still exercising as it’s not yet been banned by the government, I’m sure it will be and when it is I will stop.

I live alone and my nearest family is 130 miles away so I’m totally responsible and I am worried if I become ill but hope the other liveries will help out as I would help them.
Click to expand...
I'm in a similar situation. If I don't do mine no one will. I have arranged back up emergency care if I'm ill but otherwise I need to go myself at the moment twice a day. If things get stricter they are going to be turned out and I will go once a day. It's not ideal but it's the best I can do.
 
Actually on yards that I've been on where the basic stable rent includes hay an bedding, £10 ia day s about right for weekdays. Weekends are usually more though. However this sort of deal is fairly basic

It's the sort of deal I'm on Mon - Fri so I'm fine not to go up for a few days but does need some attendance. It does not include holding for vets and farriers or much in the way of extras.. At the moment turnout is still very limited and muddy so I need to exercise a couple of days in the week to avoid filled legs and apply mud fever treatments. I am expected to organise my own feed and put it in bins and make up supplements ready to tipped in each day. These are all little things but need to be done and I am expected to do it.

So I tend to agree that while you may get a day rate for that, you won't get the sort of comprehensive cover where you don't have to turn up at all.
 
Gingerwitch said:
Sorry but why should full livery folk be penalised for paying more ? why is it that someone that cannot afford full livery have more right to see their horse/pony than those that pay for full livery as they work long hours or are out and around the country. I am classed as a key worker, so I am going out to work, but as i work long hours my horses are on full livery. So the opinion appears to be that I can risk my life to contact CV because i work in the transport industry, but must stay away from my horses because i ensure they have daily care. ie. full livery. When someone whom is not exposing themselves to this through work can carry on, as they pay less and still get to see their horses?
Click to expand...
Hear hear!!!
 
Hi Winters100, both my and my partner are front line, he is in a worse of situation than me, but again one of the unseen hero's in all of this. All I am saying is that if a yard is banning folk then it banns all folk, not just the chosen few.


I get it - I know that it is hard. But really those of us who have a higher chance of getting this have to restrict our lives even more. I would say stop even thinking about what anyone else is doing. You don't want to spread this anywhere, let alone to the people who care for your horse, so it is anyway better that you stay away right now. This will go on for a while, but not forever.
 
Frumpoon said:
Why?

How does any of the above affect you in the slightest?

I agree it puts the people concerned at a higher risk and probably isn't in the spirit of the government guidelines but if they stay 2m apart then so what?

How adults conduct themselves when they are renting a space from you/buying a service is really beyond the limits of what you can reasonably influence
Click to expand...

Are you serious if people still have the luxury of being able to do there own horse they could at least abide by the yard rules, while people have this attitude about it the longer we will be on lockdown, if they were on my yard they would be banned.
 
This is not aimed at anyone in particular but when are people going to wake up and realise how serious this is? To be honest I am shocked at how many people are pretty much carrying on as normal under the illusion that what they are doing doesn’t affect anyone else. I’m beginning to think that I am watching different TV and seeing different information than a lot of people. Over 200 people have died from Coronavirus since yesterday and thousands more will die. We are in national crisis and at the highest level of emergency yet people still think missing their horses or not wanting to stop riding is a reason to go to the yard. If your horses are or can be looked after by someone else you shouldn’t be going to the yard.

It’s hard for everyone and I especially feel for those whose horses are important for their mental health, but we have to slow the spread of this virus down so the NHS can cope with the volume of patients requiring treatment.

We should not be leaving our homes, except for certain essential purposes, and even then we should be keeping this to a minimum. It doesn’t matter if we won’t see anyone else at the yard or if we think we’re there anyway so may as well ride so end up being there two hours instead of one. The government has issued these restrictions to EVERYONE. It is not for individuals to decide if they apply to them or not. And no it’s not fair if people are still doing x,y and z and we aren’t, but we are in a desperate situation and desperate times call for desperate measures. We all have to accept that personal sacrifice and changing the way we live is necessary at the moment.
 
I am now feeling increasing depressed about the whole situation - there is talk of the lockdown going on for 6 months, 3 weeks I can cope with 6 months I expect lots of people would start to struggle emotionally and perhaps financially. My concern is this problem will not be resolved until we get a vaccine. I do feel sorry for those in the NHS and key workers who have more risk than those of us who just stay at home.

I am part livery so everything expect grooming and exercise. I am not banned from the yard but use public transport to get there so I am doing the responsible thing and YO is doing the extras. I can't just give my pony a 6 month holiday in a nice field with lots of grass as he gets obese easily. Somewhat luckily he is on box rest for an injury and so is not getting turnout so no grass so don't need to worry quite so much about laminitis risk. He is on controlled walking and we have access to a horse walker so he is on that at the moment and I will pay extra so he can get a decent groom once a week. His leg is meant to be scanned in 3 weeks time with a view to starting some turnout but if we remain on lockdown the vets doing emergency only his leg won't get scanned and he will remain on box rest with controlled walking. He certainly cannot go in the field with decent grass unless he can have enough exercise to keep his weight under control. If neither I nor the staff member can ride him due to the restrictions then we will have look at other forms of exercise, if I can't go the yard for 6 months my bill for exercise and services will probably be more than £3,000. Luckily I am still on full pay and working full time from home.

It would be nice even if I could just see my pony once a fortnight, public transport is still running so I could get to the yard and probably less people on public transport than there is in Tesco - I saw the queue in Tesco was going out the car park. Luckily I do not need to go to Tesco for shopping as plenty of other less busy options. However I am trying to do the responsible thing as people are dying and even with frantic handwashing and social distancing for nearly two weeks there is no guarantee that I do not have the virus.

People in the countryside may be thinking they won't get it because they see less people but this might a be false sense of security as I am sure most people have had colds and if you have enough interaction with people or touch enough surfaces to get a cold you could have enough interaction to get this virus. In most yards the gates are going to be the issue very difficult to avoid touching the gates if you are coming on the premises and or turning out and catching in your horse, or perhaps opening the gate to the school.
 
I know SO1. 3 weeks is tough but am very blue about the idea of it going on for months. it’s a fine balance for the govt to achieve. Long enough to make a difference but not so long that it impacts too much on everything else, and that people will start to ignore the lock down or try to find more ways around it. The glimmer of hope is that wuhan is back up (albeit with a possible 2nd wave) and this will end. Just don’t know exactly when ?
 
91391312_10158658853894739_8882345929835806720_n.jpg


This wee lad is enjoying his holiday & not bothered that Mam can't visit.
 
SWE said:
I bloody hope not, I'll be in bits before much longer!
Click to expand...

Well this isn’t going away any time soon. Certainly we can expect the current restrictions for at least 2 months I would have thought before they are relaxed a bit.

I do think yard owners will need to apply a degree of practicality, this is not a short term problem.
 
People complaining about fairness: You're right. There's absolutely nothing fair about this.

It's not fair that my 6yo niece can't understand why she's coughing so hard she vomits, and why it hurts to breathe. It's not fair that my sister's starting to come down with it. It's not fair that my blind brother-in-law is going to be the sole carer for a 6yo, a 11yo, and his wife, while still trying to work from home because they need the money.

This ISN'T ABOUT FAIRNESS. This is about doing every little thing you can to STOP THIS THING SPREADING.

It's not fair that some people get to spend time in their garden, while I'm in a town centre flat. It's not fair that my income is secure while some people have no money coming in and don't know how they'll pay their rent.

This isn't about, "Oh, well, the rules say that I can go out for one exercise session, so I'll go for a six-hour walk!" Stop looking at the letter of the law and how you can work around it. Look at the spirit. Look at what YOU can do.

Yes, it sucks. Yes, it's horrible. God, I miss my horse. But do I miss her enough to make my YO's 6yo daughter go through what my niece is going through? No. No, I don't.

Stay. Home.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top