Schooling Question - Who's Responsible?

clevelandbay

clevelandbay

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If yard owners are aware that the school surface is poor (and horses regularly fall over in there), would they be legally responsible if a horse injured itself in the school?
 
I don't go in it, I daren't! Don't think it will get changed, but was just interested to know if there's any onus on the yard owners. They provide the school for schooling purposes, so presumably have some sort of obligation to make it fit for purpose.
 
What does your livery contract say about who manages the school?
If you choose to ride in a school that you know to be unsafe then presumably if the horse is injured you would be responsible ^_^
 
Jake10 said:
What does your livery contract say about who manages the school?
If you choose to ride in a school that you know to be unsafe then presumably if the horse is injured you would be responsible ^_^
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We don't have contracts, but yes I imagine from an insurance point of view, they'd say if you knew it was unsafe then you shouldn't have gone in. My instructor won't teach in it (as part of her insurance she has to make an assessement of the environment before teaching), so that's conclusive enough to me.
 
So if you don't have a contract do you know who is responsible for maintaining the school (liveries or YO etc)?
 
I'm relatively new there, but it seems that the liveries look after the school (i.e. raking it etc.). The owners haven't touched it since it was built as far as I know.
 
So have you talked to the other liveries about giving the school a good going over or are you thinking that the school needs a completely new surface?
 
Jake10 said:
So have you talked to the other liveries about giving the school a good going over or are you thinking that the school needs a completely new surface?
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I don't know if it needs a completeley new surface or if more of the same would make a difference? It's bark chippings and on the track it regularly gets worn down to the hard surface underneath (not sure what this is but it's something hard but not cement (water doesn't stand on it)). I get the feeling that the owners think "if you don't like it, you can **** off! It's a shame because it's lovely apart from that, but I've realised I definately do need a school to work in.
 
clevelandbay said:
on the track it regularly gets worn down to the hard surface underneath (not sure what this is but it's something hard but not cement (water doesn't stand on it)).
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It just needs grading - which can be done by hand. Will take a few of you half an hour a week to do.
 
I wouldn't use it if it was that bad.
And if you do you are aware that the surface is awful - If I rode on the surface and my horse was injured I would pay, especially since I knew the surface was bad.
Has anyone broached the subject with the YO's about having it re-surfaced?

ETA just read what you have put above.
If the track gets that bad then I agree with AmyMay. Do you have to pay for use of the arena?
 
jeeve said:
there is an obligation for it to be fit for purpose, unfortunately legal action is long, stressful and expensive, with no guarantee of sucess.

therefore unless you can get them to do something about it, I would be looking elsewhere.
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I agree. Health and safety, risk assessments and all that. but when push comes to shove then you wont get very far unless you spend alot of money legally.

Move or dont ride in there
 
Poor school surfaces are quite common. All credit to your RI for refusing to teach in it. My last yard had an awful surface and several horses were injured on it which required vet treatment. I saw several horses fall in it, including one of my own, so I rarely used it. Then after a vet said the surface was too dangerous to lunge my horse during an examination, I never went in there again.
People tended to leave because of the school, shame really, because it was a lovely yard otherwise. No one ever asked for vet bills to be paid for, they either put up or left.

Come to think of it, I've only ever been on one yard where the surface was up to standard. Unfortunately, that one was dangerous too because there wasn't a booking system and was there was often up to 5 teenagers in there bombing round over jumps.
 
Thanks to everyone who replied to this. I've now moved yards! I decided I cannot progress at all without a useable school so it was a no brainer in the end. The previous yard owners have now said they'll resurface the school (but only once the people who brought it to their attention have left!). I am happy to be gone and don't want to give my hard earned to people who think that way in any case.

I now have 2 (yes 2!) fantastic schools to ride in (and only share them with another 3 or 4 liveries!), so it's a good move for me. The yard is also health and safety checked and very safety conscious. So happy days ahead!!
 
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