hairyhorseyfan
Member
So, I have decided to leave this yard after being on for only a month. I'm on a full livery package. Looks great on the face of it, good facilities, turnout to die for. The problem is I have found it difficult to accept the yard's blanket approach to care - they are all fed the same compound hard feed (no matter what work they are doing) one small haynet per day while they are in (despite my requesting 2 large ones). My boy is a chunky maxi cob- a good doer- but still needs to munch during the day. He doesn't like the new hard feed so I have had to buy the old stuff myself and get the staff to feed this. I have had snide comments made from the staff that he is too fat and greedy which I feel is totally out of order, and innacurate. I was at my other yard for 4 years, and was able to agree a feeding plan with the YM acceptable to myself and my horse's weight plan. (I left my first yard after it was sold and new owners changed the livery package to a more expensive inflexible option). It's like the staff feel as if they know my horse better than me and decide what's good for him despite my requests!
The new yard I am on are also very slap-dash to general care; basics like feet not being picked out, mud not being brushed off and cuts not being noticed. I feel as if I am complaining every time I come down, but this should be basic stuff, and should be done at the very least as full livery. After speaking to the YO and YM explaining how I feel, they both got very defensive and said I had 'different' standards and that everyone else on their yard was happy. Don't think that is quite the case as I think there is apathy - most people grumble but don't want to move as they are settled. I don't think I or my horse are any better than anyone else, but I am used to individual requests being taken seriously. Now I feel my horse is just a number. I think the writing is on the wall - I may as well move now
The new yard I am on are also very slap-dash to general care; basics like feet not being picked out, mud not being brushed off and cuts not being noticed. I feel as if I am complaining every time I come down, but this should be basic stuff, and should be done at the very least as full livery. After speaking to the YO and YM explaining how I feel, they both got very defensive and said I had 'different' standards and that everyone else on their yard was happy. Don't think that is quite the case as I think there is apathy - most people grumble but don't want to move as they are settled. I don't think I or my horse are any better than anyone else, but I am used to individual requests being taken seriously. Now I feel my horse is just a number. I think the writing is on the wall - I may as well move now
