moving yards after only a month?

hairyhorseyfan said:
I'm just talking about basic care, as I said earlier, not anything out of the ordinary. They shouldn't have to make a 'special effort' just to do the basics :(
Think I'm within my rights to let them know what I expect, especially if they sell themselves as '5* livery who treats every horse as an individual'.
Click to expand...

Fair enough, but it does seem like doing the basics is a special effort for them! All I'm saying is that if they have started responding to your requests in a positive way, then maybe it would be worth acknowledging that for the time being....and save your new complaints until the relationship is back on track. Of course its only worth doing if there is any chance you might decide to stay, if not then it doesn't really matter anyway.
 
WandaMare said:
Fair enough, but it does seem like doing the basics is a special effort for them! All I'm saying is that if they have started responding to your requests in a positive way, then maybe it would be worth acknowledging that for the time being....and save your new complaints until the relationship is back on track. Of course its only worth doing if there is any chance you might decide to stay, if not then it doesn't really matter anyway.
Click to expand...

very wise words, Wanda! I plan to arrange a meeting with everyone concerned over coffee (if poss) and try and get things ironed out. I suppose I'm stressed because I want it to work out, but I just feel as if we are on different planets.
Many thanks to everyone's imput
I'm off to lie down in a dark room........;)
 
WandaMare said:
Fair enough, but it does seem like doing the basics is a special effort for them! All I'm saying is that if they have started responding to your requests in a positive way, then maybe it would be worth acknowledging that for the time being....and save your new complaints until the relationship is back on track. Of course its only worth doing if there is any chance you might decide to stay, if not then it doesn't really matter anyway.
Click to expand...

Completely agree with this! OP, whilst I understand your concerns, you do come over as rather high maintenance.
 
Wagtail said:
Completely agree with this! OP, whilst I understand your concerns, you do come over as rather high maintenance.
Click to expand...

:rolleyes: Funny how I spent 4 very happy years on my old yard, no misunderstandings and excellent communication. As I keep saying, I just want the basics done. How can that be high mainteinence ?
 
hairyhorseyfan said:
:rolleyes: Funny how I spent 4 very happy years on my old yard, no misunderstandings and excellent communication. As I keep saying, I just want the basics done. How can that be high mainteinence ?
Click to expand...

Not what you want or expect, just the way you are coming over. But that is the problem with online forums. How someone comes over, can be very far from the truth.

It's just that most people would have been delighted with the efforts made to rectify your concerns. So would probably wait a few days and see if the ragwort is removed, or remove it themselves, just so as not to complain again so close to when they had rectified your other complaints. Unless the grazing is awful, horses will not touch ragwort. Yes, it should be removed, but you could afford to wait a few days to give them chance to see it and deal with it.
 
I don't think it's high maintenance either OP. I think you are wasting your time asking for advice though, just move if you aren't happy.
 
If I was paying full livery I would expect all my horses basic needs to be cared for, including ragwort pulling. Surely this is just basic horse management. When I worked in horses our full liveries were treated like royalty, nothing was ever too much trouble. This is how it should be IMO. OP I suggest you have a quiet coffee or something with the YM so you can discuss your concerns in a neutral environment.
 
Bexx said:
If I was paying full livery I would expect all my horses basic needs to be cared for, including ragwort pulling. Surely this is just basic horse management. When I worked in horses our full liveries were treated like royalty, nothing was ever too much trouble. This is how it should be IMO. OP I suggest you have a quiet coffee or something with the YM so you can discuss your concerns in a neutral environment.
Click to expand...

meeting arranged for tomorrow - got both YO and YM together. :)
 
hairyhorseyfan said:
....update went down late this morning to find my boy munching happily on a decent sized net and a largish one soaking for pm. Feet immaculately picked out and turnout rug changed for fleece whilst in stable (as requested a month ago and only happening now). Smiles from the staff :)

Went to look for his fly mask in field (they always come off!) and discovered a nice crop of ragwort, growing merrily by the side of the water tank! Came back, told the YM who told me 'there's a rag-fork over there, go and dig it out'. :(
Back to square one......
Click to expand...

Maxi cob, good doer, turn out rug, fleece, JUNE!!
 
MrsJingle said:
This! :O
Click to expand...

Blimey! I'm going to dob myself in to WHW right now! My 18 yr old retiree, and 'broken' skinny TB (usually - he has a belly now! :) ) are out 24/7, completely rugless. Have been for weeks. I did see them on one of the recent vile days - they had their arses backed into the hedge, very wet, but warm in all the 'right' places, and certainly not shivering. Last time I looked they were both still 16.3, so haven't shrunk, either ;)
 
hairyhorseyfan said:
.....er, been pretty windy and chilly last few days.....
Click to expand...

They do have their own coats you know and nature has provided them with a fantastic method of temperature regulation. Rugs in summer interfere with this. Winter is different I admit when they are clipped etc. My 27yr old Connie x mare and my 5yr old pink papered Hanoverian (not showing off here just stressing the point that he is not a tough native ;-) )are both out 24/7 and have been rugless since April. Connie since February as retired and unclipped. Oh and we are up North. Admittedly not above the arctic circle but if you are I apologise for my rant, it's just that over rugging is IMO bordering on abuse.
 
burge said:
They do have their own coats you know and nature has provided them with a fantastic method of temperature regulation. Rugs in summer interfere with this. Winter is different I admit when they are clipped etc. My 27yr old Connie x mare and my 5yr old pink papered Hanoverian (not showing off here just stressing the point that he is not a tough native ;-) )are both out 24/7 and have been rugless since April. Connie since February as retired and unclipped. Oh and we are up North. Admittedly not above the arctic circle but if you are I apologise for my rant, it's just that over rugging is IMO bordering on abuse.
Click to expand...

...hardly over-rugging in a lightweight t/o when all the other horses on the yard are also turned out in them in a chilly/rainy snap like we've had lately? come on....
 
Oh dear OP - maybe give up now! :p FWIW, I think ragwort is a fairly basic issue that should have been dealt with, and when I have worked on yards I wouldn't have dreamed of telling a livery to deal with it themselves. But then, my horse is still in a t/o during the day and a cotton sheet at night, so I obviously can't be trusted.
 
hhf...I know nothing about the yard you are on but your horse sounds incredibly pampered so he is a hairy cob and he has ad lib hay all day and wears a rug 24/7!? I work on a yard and did rug 2 horses today when I turned them out, as per livery's requests, but the poor things! And one is an 18 year old showjumper and the other a high powered dressage horse. They have to be rugged as owners don't like mud, would that be your reasoning as well?
Also, no hay on what I assume is a fat horse won't do any harm for 2 or 3 hours.
 
It certainly sounds as though you are never going to be happy on this yard so you should move.

Like many of the others that have already replied, I don't agree with all your requirements but if I was your YM I would discuss my concerns with you to see if we could reach agreement on future management.
 
Clodagh said:
hhf...I know nothing about the yard you are on but your horse sounds incredibly pampered so he is a hairy cob and he has ad lib hay all day and wears a rug 24/7!? I work on a yard and did rug 2 horses today when I turned them out, as per livery's requests, but the poor things! And one is an 18 year old showjumper and the other a high powered dressage horse. They have to be rugged as owners don't like mud, would that be your reasoning as well?
Also, no hay on what I assume is a fat horse won't do any harm for 2 or 3 hours.
Click to expand...

1. he's not pampered, but he's a grey and I do showing.....
2. not ad lib hay, 2 decent nets over 8 hours when in during day
3. doesn't wear a rug 24/7 only when weather warrants it
4. not much mud where I am, sandy soil
5. not FAT, a good do-oer. there's a slight difference there......
 
Holding said:
Oh dear OP - maybe give up now! :p FWIW, I think ragwort is a fairly basic issue that should have been dealt with, and when I have worked on yards I wouldn't have dreamed of telling a livery to deal with it themselves. But then, my horse is still in a t/o during the day and a cotton sheet at night, so I obviously can't be trusted.
Click to expand...

:p quick, call the RSPCA.....
 
It is entirely up to you anyway, if you aren't happy then move. If you ask for him to have his hooves painted pink on Sundays - well, you are paying and whatever the customer wants works for me, as long as it isn't causing actual harm. so, look around, are there many other yards near you?
 
You are obviously not happy so just move...........I am in a similar position but its harder because they don't actually do anything wrong and its their change of policy that makes me all wound up!!

I am actually paying livery at two yards just so I can fully decide what I want to do ( horse consideration too )but without making a rash decision, although I have to say doubts very rarely go away.
 
eggs said:
It certainly sounds as though you are never going to be happy on this yard so you should move.

Like many of the others that have already replied, I don't agree with all your requirements but if I was your YM I would discuss my concerns with you to see if we could reach agreement on future management.
Click to expand...

what don't you agree with?
* 2 nets when in for 8 hours
* feet picked out
* injuries attended to
* feed according to work rather than blanket feed
* rug (or not) according to weather
* spend time in the field hunting for ragwort

... on full livery. Yes, I suppose I'm very demanding when you look at it..:rolleyes:
 
Well your expectations of the yard obviously don't match up with their usual levels of care (presuming that they treat all the other horses the same) so moving seems like the best plan.

I would never have moved on the feed issue in the first place.
 
No you aren't, just a sensible horse owner looking for somewhere for you and your horse to be happy and for the YM/YO to listen to your horse's requirements as is what they should do, as that is what you pay for and as for digging up ragwort, that's a NO as they should be looking after the grazing not you. Starting looking until you find a good place as they are about.
 
hairyhorseyfan said:
what don't you agree with?
* 2 nets when in for 8 hours
* feet picked out
* injuries attended to
* feed according to work rather than blanket feed
* rug (or not) according to weather
* spend time in the field hunting for ragwort

... on full livery. Yes, I suppose I'm very demanding when you look at it..:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

I wasn't looking to pick a fight with you and would certainly expect minor wounds to be dealt with but 2 large haynets and rugs? It's not that cold where I am and my warmbloods are surviving without rugs but then I don't show so keeping my horses clean isn't top of my needs.

My horse's are out at night, come in during the day to a small handful of pony nuts and then get a smallish amount of hay at lunchtime. They get their main feed late afternoon before they go back out. One is pushing 30 and retired the others are in medium work (schooling at advanced medium or competing BE90). I have certainly found over the years that unless the horse has ulcers then it isn't essential for them to have a constant supply of hay.

Years ago when I had horses in livery it wasn't the norm that they would have their feet routinely picked out.

I stand by my initial comment - if you're not happy then move.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top