Policy on livery yard for in-foal pony - I'm not happy

[Venevidivici]

^^ I agree this can be the case. There is a specific market: well-off clients,don't come to see the horse v.often, (but want to know that it's well cared for all the time they're not there) and that they have good facilities to use when they do visit.

 

[Marydoll]

^^ I agree this can be the case. There is a specific market: well-off clients,don't come to see the horse v.often, (but want to know that it's well cared for all the time they're not there) and that they have good facilities to use when they do visit.

Well off clients if theyre interested will come to see their horses as often as anyone else whose interested

 

[Venevidivici]

^^^i'm sure plenty do. But there is a specific group that don't. They like nice facilities,nice surroundings,(usually expensive horses!) and like to be able to dip in and out,as their often busy work/time schedule allows. Doesn't mean they don't love their horse as much as someone on £15pw DIY grass livery in a field in the middle of nowhere. This is not a criticism-it's a factual observation.

 

[Polos Mum]

All you need is the right person to come along. I currently have an exceptionally good deal on a very smart yard because I am the perfect livery *inserts smug smilie*

(but have to admit that if it weren't for the lovely Aprilblossom I wouldn't be there )

You're probably right, but for now I'll just stick to boxing out to meet friends and not run the risk of the nutters !

If there were a database of perfect liveries I'd have a look but sadly it's often not till you get to really know someone that the problems arise.

 

[Coblover63]

Hmmm.... I'm thinking troll actually. OP hasn't been online since posting her second reply on Sunday. You would have thought she'd have been interested in the replies enough to at least be logged on in case there was something she needed to reply to....

Or she's got a double identity.....

 

[HBM1]

Or she may be busy

 

[Tnavas]

^^^i'm sure plenty do. But there is a specific group that don't. They like nice facilities,nice surroundings,(usually expensive horses!) and like to be able to dip in and out,as their often busy work/time schedule allows. Doesn't mean they don't love their horse as much as someone on £15pw DIY grass livery in a field in the middle of nowhere. This is not a criticism-it's a factual observation.

Very true - one of the yards I worked on had quite a few full liveries, some came out every day to enjoy their ride without having to do all the physical chores that go with owning a horse.

Another family had several at livery but had their breeding stock at home, they came most days to ride.

Some of the others came some evenings to ride when work permitted and usually at the weekend.

They loved their horses everybit as much as those of us that were in DIY just that their schedules didn't allow for all the additional work, they just wanted to ride their OWN horse.

 

[Marydoll]

Or she may be busy

Aye, clearing a field and trying to foal proof it

 

[MerrySherryRider]

^^ I agree this can be the case. There is a specific market: well-off clients,don't come to see the horse v.often, (but want to know that it's well cared for all the time they're not there) and that they have good facilities to use when they do visit.

That hasn't been my experience. Some wealthy clients can be incredibly demanding and downright unreasonable.

But for YO's who dislike having people around on the yard, they are better off just doing competition/full livery so owners don't get in their way.

I've noticed a trend in farms with a few liveries increasing their provision to take up to 60 horses and making it the main part of their business.

The best ones are where the owners are quite astute about the type of person they accept.

Unless, there are yards out there acting as a charity, I think most people pay the going rate for livery and services, so no one is doing anyone a favour as a few posters have implied.

 

[Venevidivici]

^^ I agree with that too-some wealthy ones are very demanding&often difficult. My point was just that there is a group who are happy to pay their money,know everything's all seen to and you hardly ever see them

 

[Venevidivici]

Horserider-Re-reading my post that you quoted,I can see it would have read more as I meant it if I'd put 'there's a specific market,who are often well-off etc etc...' or, 'some well-off clients'...etc etc

 

[MiniMilton]

I charge a very low rate to customers I know through the RC. I "selected" them (for want of a better word) as they were trustworthy etc. They know they are getting deal of the century so they bend over backwards to keep me happy.
I only take on liveries to help eat my grass and they help out ocassionally if I'm away etc. By the time you maintain the fencing, spray the fields, harrow the arena etc there is zero financial gain.

If one of them tried to take advantage as in the case of the OP they would be out on their ear

 

[marmalade76]

I charge a very low rate to customers I know through the RC. I "selected" them (for want of a better word) as they were trustworthy etc. They know they are getting deal of the century so they bend over backwards to keep me happy.
I only take on liveries to help eat my grass and they help out ocassionally if I'm away etc. By the time you maintain the fencing, spray the fields, harrow the arena etc there is zero financial gain.

If one of them tried to take advantage as in the case of the OP they would be out on their ear

Similar to my situation. I was offered the place at the yard I am at because I am a good livery. I cannot afford to pay much for livery (I've always liveried on farms rather than yards) and this yard could charge a premium as it is very smart with excellent facilities. The owners knew my finacial limitaions yet were still happy to have me there for a knock down rate. I had been there before when my horse need box rest so we had had a trial of sorts, they knew I look after my animals properly, they knew I keep the yard clean and tidy, they knew I would pay on the dot and they knew I wouldn't bother them with moans and demands. Some of us know how lucky we are and as you say, bend over backwards to keep things smooth.

 

[Tonks]

The best ones are where the owners are quite astute about the type of person they accept.

As a YO you just learn through experience - what works on your property/grazing and the market you can/should cater for, given your facilities. There is certainly a wide variety of clients who own horses and who need livery. However, I suppose its the old addage, 'only professional need apply'.

Your ideal livery client is one who has the income to pay your fees every month and to care for their horse adequately (there are many who can't!), is experienced in both horse care and uses common sense re land management, is respectful and knows what is appropriate and then lastly has good communication and interpersonal skills to avoid problems and then resolve them should they come up.

As a YO you should treat how you want to be treated yourself and somethings you simply have to let go and not take to heart too much (not horse welfare, of course.)

Generally you get a gut feeling pretty quickly whether they are the above or not!

However, generally over the years I have learnt that it's better to hold your tongue as it achieves much better results than getting angry - but I do like to empty Tesco's wine shelf every now and again, though!

 

[cornbrodolly]

Havent read all replies so apologies if this already said. OP - you are more than justified in being annoyed. You may well be lumbered with a foal...then a yearling....and so on. Youngsters need careful handling , which often isnt given by their owners , and you will find yourself doing much extra work.
My sister inlaw got into a similar situation , agreeing to take a foal 'rescued' by numpties pleading it would be PTS etc. Now the foal is 4 and still living in same fields , but a bumptious nuisance , as owners are clueless. It is therefore s-in-l s problem as she is only one regulary there , and no end in sight as to when the horse goes.
So OP - give notice on your livery person before horse foals , and save yourself much agro