looking for others thoughts

[ILuvCowparsely]

What would you expect in the way of discount off your livery per day, would you expect for running the yard and such 1 day a week, small yard and when owner has emergencies and holiday(chores below)

feed horses (7) remake feeds up for next day
turnout (half already in turnouts full time) to the field less 33 meters a minute Fields very close divided in 2 so only walking (71 meters) to close the middle gate dividing the groups,
muck out 8 all easys to do

do haynets


evening
bring horses in 3 bring themselves in and go into their own stables
dee poo fields tractor or barrow, total
put haynets in change rugs, about 2
and the odd diy extra catch in all of which are easy to catch in





I ask this as I have a liveries doing this, recently they are failing in my requests, as well as other issues, there are two of them one younger one older they have horses here same family both do yard younger is more horsey

1. forgetting to close my horses door at night leaving just slip rails on, then denying they did
2. Been asked to keep the hay bath lid on when removing a wet hay section out to feed horse, when owners horse on box rest and I don't want oak leaves or any leaves getting in with the hay and they ignored/forgotten it
3. Been asked to skip my horse out while on box rest, ( they would be picking her poo up from field if she was out anyway, and they get £ money off their rent (over and above the reduction)
4. Last night I found some really green hay in the hay barrow alongside my hay. other liveries agreed it was not my hay. Livery in question found her pony not eating the hay she bought and swapped it, she said * don't ask me I can't see difference*, when I mentioned it to the old one later she asked young one who then was full of apologies saying she was sorry and don't know why she did it. (lies to get her self out of trouble when caught out)
5. moaned when I asked them to skip my mare out, and today they have not done it again.

and upsetting some of the liveries with bitchy comments, snide remarks etc.

Please no slatting, I am really down.
MY mother is elderly and I cannot visit her as car been out of action 6 weeks, and mare on box rest, 5 weeks so far walking her twice a day as per vet even on day off, and find my mare knee deep in sh1t during the day, which they would leave till next day.

just looking for views really.

Do I keep them on and feel my yard not run the way and things done how I want or tell them to stop doing my days off, then they would be in financial problems.
PM me if you want


Feel really low

 

[AmyMay]

Why can’t you just do the horse yourself?

 

[ihatework]

I think you keep liveries and staffing separate.

Pay a freelancer to come in and do it as you want done

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Why can’t you just do the horse yourself?

Amy I do my yard single handed 6 days a week every week I am entitled to one day off and trust yard would be done as per my request. I have worked right through Covid, even not having my 2 weeks off due to covid, my mum lives 2 hours away and she is 95. I want to visit without issues or worry yard being left, and not done how I want.

 

[dogatemysalad]

Quite honestly, regardless of the jobs, I wouldn't have them on the yard at all. Bitchy liveries destroy yards.
They are not reliable or honest. It's really not worth the hassle for them to take over in your absence.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I think you keep liveries and staffing separate.

Pay a freelancer to come in and do it as you want done

We like to keep it all in house, so no strangers coming in. It has always worked until this last few months when they making other liveries uncomfortable and moaning when i ask them something.

To add another livery has offered to do my day off

 

[eggs]

I would get a reliable freelancer in to do your day off and holiday/emergency cover. I have one who charges me £10 per hour.

 

[ihatework]

We like to keep it all in house, so no strangers coming in. It has always worked until this last few months when they making other liveries uncomfortable and moaning when i ask them something.

Then you need to put your big pants on and manage them! They are essentially staff on that day.
Work out how long the jobs take, deduct the equivalent of at least £10/h off their livery bill and give them a kick up the jacksey if they aren’t pulling their weight.

 

[rabatsa]

I would take the other livery up on their offer and have the current ones pay full rate. If they cannot afford to keep the horses then they will have to cut their cloth so to speak.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

You are indeed entitled to have a day off but equally your liveries are entitled to have the same level of care for their horses every day of the week - and to not have bitchiness on the yard. Your liveries are equally entitled to take their business elsewhere. I would say to the mother and daughter 'sorry, this isn't really working any more' and get a freelancer in. Of course that will mean that you need to ensure that you are compliant with employment law, which I assume hasn't been the case while your liveries have been covering

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would employ someone else to do it and just pay them sack the liveries and ask them to leave if they are making your life difficult.

 

[Winters100]

Poor you. What a horrid situation for you.

I think you must take action immediately, because it probably won't get better if left. You also risk your other liveries moving if you are not careful, I know that for me the horses being well looked after 6 days a week would not be enough.

I think your best bet will be, as others suggested, get in a freelancer. If you want to give them one last chance prior to this then you have to sit down with them and list everything that you are dissatisfied with and be very clear that unless there is a major change in both their performance and their attitude then the arrangement cannot continue. Just be polite and firm. It seems that they are treating this as if they are doing you a favour, when what you need is reliable staff.

Good luck.

 

[Jellymoon]

This sounds harsh and we all should be helping each other out in times of need, but their financial situation is not your problem. If they were nice people and pulled their weight, then that’s great, but they sound like the are taking advantage and being difficult. As often happens in these situations.
I think you have to woman up, be business like and deal with it. You must have your days off, of course you are entitled to them, and it’s your yard which I assume also has to make some money. Look after yourself and your own well-being.
Also, I would refrain from bitching about them to the other liveries, be professional and dignified.
I really feel for you, good luck.

 

[Trouper]

I am afraid that when some people do not do the work to your standards and are unreliable, it is an uphill battle getting them to change. It is also exhausting for you worrying about what is happening and having to check . Your days off will not be doing you any good.
As others have said, get a good freelancer in. If you can give them regular work it will be an attractive prospect for them and give you peace of mind. When you are happy with them, it will also give you peace of mind to take a longer break to see your Mum. The increased income from the incompetent liveries will also help offset the costs. Make sure the freelancer has good insurance cover to work with others' horses - something your difficult liveries probably don't have??
To avoid making it too personal, I would make a general announcement to the whole yard about the change and then have a private word with the other two about their particular financial position. They will then have to choose - but that is their problem, not yours.

 

[Polos Mum]

I agree, while it might be a bit of a change having a 'stranger' coming in - the longer term benefits for you are clear. Having someone who is only staff, paid a sensible (£10/h - unless your in central London) rate, you can ask to do what every and how every you want, with insurance will really take the pressure off you.
You might find you end up with a friend in the long run.
The if you need to have a bit more time off with your mum, or you need a break etc. you have someone in place.

I would ask local riding schools/ bigger yards if they have any good staff that are looking for more hours - that's how I found some help for mine at home. Rather than having to wade though people relying to an advert.

Hopefully whatever you are giving the current people as a discount won't be too far off what you'd pay a freelancer - so the cost difference will be minimal.

 

[GG13]

If you don’t like the idea of getting someone else in is there another livery that would be willing to takeover? Or a friend that you trust?
In regards to discount I’d say £10/h, or you could work out daily livery rate and take off the equivalent of one day a week.

 

[Micropony]

Why would you not want to pay a freelancer? It's often (not always, I know) the case that when you mix up the employee relationship with a different kind of relationship (livery, friend, whatever) that it doesn't really work. As that's exactly what seems to be happening here, having someone you pay to do what you've asked to the standard you've asked seems so much simpler.