RANT:I'm angry and upset,honest opinions please [a bit long]

A

__Annie__

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First of all, hello guys
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I've not been on here for agesssss, well a week but it feels longer
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Big probs logging on and the blummin service temp. unavailable
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AND I put my back out OUCH

To my dilemma. I've had the ups and downs that you get at a yard but one of the lazy peeps left last month and things looked brighter, I got stuck in with a complete overhaul of the stables, pressure washing,painting,the works etc and in doing so the YM also got motivated and started chipping in.

Then about 3 weeks ago a new livery arrived and as she works and her horse will jump out of the field if left alone our routine has had to change. I kept my smile and carried on doing my jobs.
I knew she had a 2 week holiday booked and the YM said someone was coming to look after her horse whilst she was away BUT the day before she was due to go she asked me if I could look after her horse, I said yes and asked her what she'd like doing (I only see her for a few minutes once a week ) .
She was vague but I managed to get out of her
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that I only needed to check he was standing with 4 legs and to otherwise carry on as we were.
I asked her to leave me a more detailed note , which she did and it said that he didn't need bringing in, not to rug him or feed him and that she didn't pick his feet out everyday. She didn't want him grooming either.
The YM has always turned the new liveries horse out with her own and I just take mine so I presumed
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that this was part of the 'carry on as we are' situation .
I took my duties as checking the horse for injury etc and treating as necessary and doing her poo picking days.
Today the YM asked what I was going to charge the newbie, I said X amount for poo picking and nothing for giving the horse a once over unless there was an injury that needed treating.
The YM said that the new girl would be shocked if I didn't charge her for looking after her horse as it meant that I hadn't done anything, she also asked why I wasn't picking his feet out (I did them yesterday).
I retorted that I see myself as a babysitter and will look after the horse as the owner requested, I agree I'd like to do more AND would prefer a detailed itinary BUT I also think I should respect the owners wishes.
What 's really rich is that the YM leaves her horse for weeks at a time whilst she goes on holiday and only pays someone to muck out her stable, she expects other liveries to turn out for free and hasn't paid anyone to actually take responsibility for her's at all.
I was hoping to earn a few pennies and hopefully find someone who genuinely likes a 'you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours' relationship but I think this may be my last time
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So do you think I'm doing what I was asked or am I being a bad person
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Thanks for listening xxx
 
That's how I see it too

I know it's sensitive of me to get upset but the way the YM was going on about ' she's paying you to look after her horse' really got to me
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Can someone define what constitutes looking after a horse for me
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The horse in question lives out ATM , the owner doesn't want me to bring him in, groom him, feed him or rug him

So apart from running an eye over him and pick his feet out now and again( I will do this EOD though, for my peace of mind )what else should I be doing
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Am I missing something vital
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Well ,well and well.....your YO beggers belief,what you do in helping another owner is your business,from what I can gather your yard is a D.I.Y one! I would think the only time your YO would notice is if a horse was lying on it's back with four legs in the air....or maybe not!
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You are right I work on the same policy of 'Sratch my back and I'll sratch yours!',I would do as the owner has requested,as this is what she has asked for.....and tell your YO to butt out,and the reason I say this is she does not make anything else her business that happens on her yard and has to be motivated by you to tidy the yard......quite sad,glad she ain't my YO!
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if the owner just wanted you to check he still had 4 legs etc, and you've done that then I dont see what you've done wrong?! I think you are right not charging for it, I do the same for others on my yard and it is nice having someone that you know will keep an eye on them for you. Just ignore the silly YM she seems to be making something out of nothing
 
No I would still pay you for doing what your doing for peace of mind,looking after a horse is doing what the owner requested....me thinks YO is miffed as the pennies should be in her pocket instead!
 
Hey, you havent done anything wrong but exactly what the owner wanted.
This arrangement was between you and the other owner, I wouldnt take any notice of what the YO thinks.
 
Have you got a contact number for the owner? You could just call her and just calmly tell her what has been said, you didn't want to call but would hate for her to come home and be unhappy with what you have or haven't done. That way you can be confident in what you are doing and you can tell YM that all has been confirmed with owner. (I expect YM may be worried about anything going wrong).

I am in charge of Rema's horses for a few days. My instructions are just to check they are still standing and are in good health. Put rugs on if the weather turns poo and chuck a handful of feed to them if I want to.

That is exactly the kind of instructions I tend to leave. Just check em and feed em.
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They are horses, they'll live!
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i think you're right in doing what you were asked to do. if it makes you feel better, pick its feet out every day. if not, don't!
i would expect the owner to bring you a little something as a thankyou anyway, tbh, but if she doesn't, maybe ask for something for your time, OR say that you trust that she'll be happy to return the favour when you need it.
 
Nah you've done the right thing. I leave detailed instructions if someone else is doing my horse but expect them to be followed. As I want my horse groomed/mucked out/turned out etc then I expect to have to pay. Although if you're just checking on the horse and poo picking the field then just charging for the poo picking is perfectly reasonable.

It's nothing to do with the YO as it's an arrangement between two DIY liveries.

If I left instructions that weren't followed (either things not done that I'd asked to be done, or things done that I hadn't asked to be done) I'd be very annoyed. So you've done the right thing.
 
I would carry on as you are.

I often look after other peoples horses for them and dont expect anything in return. Sometimes I just check them in the field if that is what they have asked, other times I bring them in, ride, feed etc and look after them exactly as the owner would. In return I get to ride them, which is good as I part loan my horse out to my mate so we can both hack out together when I have a 'spare' horse to ride.

I will always look after the horse exactly as they have asked. If they do not want me to bring it in or feed it then I wont. And if they ask it to be stabled every night then i wouldnt dream of leaving it out.


I like to know that people owe me favours and will help me out because I have helped them out, so far its worked out well. If its for a week or two they tend to bring me a small present back from their hols but I would not expect anything or dream of charging them.

However if you are not good friends with the person, and dont benefit from looking after their horse then you are entitled to charge. But like you said, you perfer the 'I owe you one' approach. Thats fine as long as they dont take advantage.

Its none of the YM business really.
 
I would have thought feet picking would be done daily as a matter of course to see if there is any injury to the sole of the foot/have the opportunity to run your hands down limbs to check for injury?
 
Thanks for the support
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I'm feeling more rational now
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I'm going to carry on doing as his owner requested, if YM gets all uppity again I will chuck a bucket of water over her LOL
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