Smoking on the livery yard

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showjump2003

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Next week I am moving to a new area and putting my horse on a livery yard. Went to see the yard, liked it and put a deposit down. Went at the weekend to fit my matting and as I was leaving noticed two liveries smoking inside the american barn! I was gob smacked and now REALLY worried. Surely this is common sense. The yard owner herself smokes like a chimney so I'm not sure me approaching her about it will be much appreciated? But there is no way I will feel Bean is safe there if people are having a fag as they fill haynets! Tell me I'm not being unreasonable?! I really don't want to put Bean there now but it isn't that easy as my accomodation is also sorted and is onsite. What would you do?
 
Our YO smokes but never on the yard. The only place where smoking is allowed at our place is a small area of carpark & this is well away from stables/hay barn etc.
 
I think there actually rules about it- if it is a place of work you shouldn't be allowed to smoke on the yard- I know this is the case at our farm. But yes, common sense itself screams at you not to smoke near hay/straw- my friends used to do it when I was mucking out- I hate people smoking near my horses anyway. I don't think I would be able to sleep at night worrying whether the barn was alight!
 
I don't think you're being unreasonable at all - I'd be worried too. I think the only thing you can do though is to talk to the yard owner about your concerns. Maybe you could start with a general question about the smoking policy on the yard and then raise your concerns?
 
Are there not rules? I don't think it's fair to expect smokers not to smoke on the yard, but I think it's fair to expect common sense to be used.
 
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I would ask the owner if there are any rules regarding smoking areas etc. I don't think there's anything wrong in highlighting a fire hazard. I'm sure she'd wished you had mentioned it if the hole place went up in flames.
 
It drives me mad on yard. They all smoke in tack room around the hay and everything!!! Was shocked the other day to see a girl even having a fag whilst riding her horse!!!!!
 
Its definately a rule set by the Insurance companies that Yard Owners should take out for Public Liability/livery Insurance etc so I would be inclined to say 'doesn't your Yard Insurer insist your yard is non smoking' to see her reaction because if she hasn't any insurance cover then nor have you in theory!
 
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Are there not rules? I don't think it's fair to expect smokers not to smoke on the yard, but I think it's fair to expect common sense to be used.

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Why not? Yards are full of flamable materials - I think its perfectly reasonable to expect smokers not to smoke in a yard. Its no different to saying they can't smoke at work, in cinemas, restaurants, public transport etc.
 
Your horses safety is more important that putting your potential new livery owners nose out of joint (so to speak).

I'm a smoker myself but would not feel comfortable people smoking on a livery yard, you were allowed to on ours but you did it away from the stables or any built up area and disposed of it correctly. However a new person came on to our yard who was loaning a friends horse and lit up where she fancied and even smoked while tacking up! and the livery yard owner found a but end in the stable, same block as my horse. Everyone was horrified obviously! so since then its has been banned, if you smoke do it in the car park on in your car and quite rightly so.

Not only that but a few years ago one of the American Barns was burnt down (which stored straw) luckily all the horses were out during summer in the day time during the school holidays, nobody was at the yard apart from some kids trespassing in the fields (finger pointed at them)

It only a takes a friend to spark up in the wrong place or dispose of the tabend in the wrong place even if they don't have a horse at livery on your yard but because they see other people smoking they do the same.

I'd certainly broach the subject, any respectable livery yard owner (smoker or non smoker) should be pleased that you are keen in questioning your horses safety, otherwise there not worth their salt!
 
if a yard charging money for livery, then their insurers would have a fit. I smoke on my rented yard but thats my horses only, not other peoples. I also flick into a bucket of water and dispose of butts in bucket of water, take no chances.

It does only take a small bit of heat to start a fire with all the forage and bedding concerned with horses, I wouldnt think smoking in amercian style barn was too clever...I would speak to owner of yard but if a smoker dont expect much sympathy!

If you are uneasy, simple, move horsey to a non smoking yard.
 
Thanks. Just phoned the yard owner who said they should not be smoking in the yard and she will sort it. She lets people smoke on side just not in the stables which is better than nothing I guess. If I'm really still not happy after a week or so with these rules I will send my horse home.
 
I never get why so many horse riders/owners smoke to be honest, seems the most stupid thing to be doing on yard where there are so many flammable things.
 
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I never get why so many horse riders/owners smoke to be honest, seems the most stupid thing to be doing on yard where there are so many flammable things.

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I never get why anybody smokes. Seems a stupid thing to do full stop, but that's a different debate
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I don't mind people smoking around me or my horses and if they want to smoke whilst riding that's up to them but I hate to see them doing it on the yard especially around hay and straw. Bang out of order
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Because it's an addiction, what an ignorant thing to say.
And as someone who is an ex-smoker I know how difficult it is. And yes it is another debate.
 
Actually it was meant as slightly tongue in cheek (hence the
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But someone has to start smoking to become addicted and that's the bit I've never understood.
Both my parents smoked when I was a child and I hated it. Why anyone would want to do something so smelly, expensive and bad for their health I have never worked out. Just my opinion
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Someone has to start drinking to become addicted too. Believe me, you would much prefer living with a smoker to living with an alcoholic...
 
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Why anyone would want to do something so smelly, expensive and bad for their health I have never worked out. Just my opinion
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I ask myself that all the time about owning a horse;

Smelly - needs no explanation,
Expensive - as above!,
Damaging to health - after all the injuries my girl has had, the stress has got to have raised my blood pressure a bit! Plus the bites, kicks, treading on toes...!

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(PS- I'm very much an anti-smoker and don't allow folk to smoke around me, never mind my horse or the stables!)
 
The yard I keep my horse at is totally non smoking I think. At least the barn is definately but im pretty sure it all is. I havent seen anyone smoke and cuz im a non smoker I can tell who is a smoker but all the liveries so far are non smokers I reckon. but theres about 20 stables still to have horse move into so im sure there will be a few smokers at least.

I've always been used to a lot of people smoking around yards ive worked on and I find it nice spending my leisure time in a smoke free zone. Plus surely if passive smoking is damaging to our health then it is to horses too?
 
We smoke well away from the barn where we keep our horses. I never smoke whilst riding and no where near anything that could easily be set alight, such as hay, wooden barns etc. Surely thats just common sense?? Im trying to give up (again) at the moment but that's beside the point really!!
 
if anyone smoked on my yard their pony/horse would be tied up at the gate with all kit/rugs etc....END OF....it's in my contract..which they have previously signed.....

theirproblem..not mine.

find ypurself a new yard..PDQ
 
I've never been at a yeard where smoking is allowed (except inside the staff room/at the end of the car park etc) and all the smokers have been happy to follow this rule.

I'm actually quite shocked that they did this, I personally would not be happy keeping my horse somewhere that allowed smoking anywhere near the hay/straw (or even the horses themselves). It's a fire hazard anyway, why add to that???
 
I'd find somewhere else. You'll never have a moment's peace wondering if some idiot's setting fire to the place. If the YO won't enforce the rules, and is in fact setting a poor example, you'll be better off in another yard.
 
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