Rant alert: some people!!!

Casey76

Casey76

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I think I may have just lost some friends... oh well.

This could be a bit epic, so bear with me.

I have my two horses on a medium sized yard. The YO is/was a cattle farmer. Until August we had a YM whose relationship with the YO was pretty explosive, and screaming matches between the pair of them were not uncommon. In Aug the YM left with no notice, leaving the YO up the spout, so he's gone from being pretty much hands off to taking on all of the equestrian side of things - something he's not had experience with.

Over the course of the next 6 months we've had a couple of people leave, and a couple of new arrivals, one of which is - putting it mildly - high maintenance. The YO, who, til now, didn't really have that much contact with the liveries, is now facing demands left, right and centre from many of the liveries who are complaining - continuously - about every small thing under the sun.

OK, the yard isn't perfect, what yard is? Some small things could improve which would make everything clearer to everyone, like more communication, especially about t/o etc. People are harping on about the mucking out not being adequate, conveniently forgetting that it was no better than when the old YM was doing it. it's got to the stage where the YO removed all of the pitchforks from the yard as people were removing *all* of the straw from their boxes and putting down a new bed, without any attempt to muck out (also because, generally, the liveries have no idea how to muck out as they have always been on livery). The YO has stated that he is now going through 3x the amount of straw than he factored for, hence the removal of the forks (which makes life more difficult for the couple of us who maintain our own beds because we want to, on a daily basis).

The very last straw, for me, was I received an email this morning from the High Maintenance lady, inviting me to a "owners meeting" - which was forwarded to only a subset of owners - to sit down and work out exactly what list of demands "we" are going to present to the YO for the running of the yard. When I received this, I admit I sent back a very short, sharp email saying that "I think this is disgusting. It is [YO] yard and he can run it how he feels. If you don't like it you are free to leave and find another yard"

I'm now waiting for my email to ping with the outrage I'll probably get back.

I'm usually such an easy going person, and will avoid conflict at all costs, but this has really got my blood boiling.

Large mug of glühwein and Weihnachtskuchen if you got this far.
 
What a nightmare!
Maybe she needs that sort of a response from someone tho as it sounds as if she is getting a bit carried away! Like you said unhappy people can always move to somewhere better suited to them.
I think I'd just keep my head down and let it all blow over... Good luck
 
If I were the YO, I think I'd be sorely tempted to give everyone their notice! Which would be awful for the decent liveries. In your position I'm not sure what I'd do. Either keep my head down and hope I didn't get dragged down or (more likely, knowing me) have a normal, decent (preemptive) conversation with the YO about my own position, stating my happiness there/ showing support (but that I'd be bringing a fork along!) and ignoring completely the shenanigans of others.
 
Hope this gets sorted out soon. Some people are so stupid and unreasonable, and if I was the YO I'm not sure I'd think it was worth the bother of continuing. Hope he does continue but maybe only for the fair-minded, sensible people like you, OP. Well done for sticking up, and good luck.
 
I would suggest that the yard owned needs to get a business plan together taking in to account the new and current animal welfare legislation as he is ultimately responsible for the horses on the yard. Running a yard these days is for professionals that understand horses and have sufficient qualifications and experience.
 
I don't think it's unreasonable to ask things of a YO/groom, it's just about the way it's done.

To have a meeting to discuss what you're going to demand is quite comical - if you're that unhappy just leave! I do get the other side of this though. My old yard had some pretty rubbish grooms. I asked them probably more than ten times to please make sure that they soak my horse's hay (RAO horse was on demi-p so I wasn't asking anything extra) and also had it written on the notice board on his box. The best it got was them chucking a bucket of water over the hay in the stable so the bedding was also getting wet, despite the fact I'd bought a big bin for it to be soaked it and put it in front of his stable. :rolleyes3:

I'd just ignore them if I were you and raise any issues directly with the YO.
 
If they are having a meeting go along and be the voice of reason - you can influence stuff much more from the inside than on the outside. That's what I would do - oh, and ask if they are going to invite the YO, only fair after all.
 
We were a lovely yard not so long ago, everyone rubbed along really well, everyone was willing to pitch in and help if needed. Now it just seems to be snipe, snipe, snipe.

Our boxes are done every day. OK they may not be perfect, but they are done. Some places in my area will only do boxes once or twice a week. We get some turn out every day, even if it is for an hour or two on hardstanding in the wettest of weathers - again, most other places around me have no turnout at all over winter.

Although we are on "livery" compared to the UK we only get basic care: boxes done every day, feed and hay twice a day plus t/o and b/I. If you want "extras" you generally have to do them yourself; so I hang my own haynets, I generally maintain my beds myself so they look pretty(ier), I would give any supplements myself etc... so I see it as more of an assisted DIY than "full" livery. There are some very nice, very posh places who do "full livery" places not too far away, and you won't get change of 1000€ per month; but even there, the boxes aren't so big, and t/o is severely restricted in winter.

I would understand the whole thing more, if a notice had been posted on the yard board saying we could do with a meeting for everyone. Instead this email has been sent to a few people, and it's all being done in a very underhand manner.
 
OWLIE185 said:
I would suggest that the yard owned needs to get a business plan together taking in to account the new and current animal welfare legislation as he is ultimately responsible for the horses on the yard. Running a yard these days is for professionals that understand horses and have sufficient qualifications and experience.
Click to expand...

Not sure where everybody who relies on livery will keep their horses. If you came to me with that attitude you would be shown the gate with no notice.

If I was the OP and they think the others are being unfair I think I would forewarn the yard owner so they know whats going down. It gives them a chance to think about it. By the sounds of it there's one real problem that is stirring up the others to back them up to get what they want. I think the others need making aware they may be cutting off their nose to spite their face. They may end up without a yard!
Perhaps its time you spoke to the others that are not invited and maybe organise a meeting for you all with the YO and leave the others out!
 
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Maybe some of the other liveries don't want to stir things up either. Maybe you could suggest that the YO calls a meeting to let liveries know how he wants the yard to run and then they can put in their three pennyworth.
 
With you on this one. The YO sounds like he is trying his best. Even if there are points that can be improved, hitting him with a "list of demands" is not the way to go. It's his place and up to him to lay down the ground rules. If he is not horsey, I am sure it is possible for a sensible livery to work with him and find an arrangement that works for both parties. If anyone has a problem with how it is run, and is unwilling to tackle that in a helpful manner by actually speaking politely to the YO, they are free to move.

I don't really understand what the "high maintenance lady" thinks she is going to achieve by demanding this and that. Whatever happened to communication..
 
Oh dear! Sounds like a bloomin nghtmare! They want to be a bit careful - my place used to be a livery yard, and the owner got so fed up with liveries trying to rule the roost that he gave everyone notice, and closed the yard!
 
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