stallion running amok in livery yard

horsimous

horsimous

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I keep my horse at a very large livery yard. One of the other liveries has brought in a colt of about 3 years which was initially not a problem. However now it is spring it has really stirred the other horses up with it's stallion screaming and there was a bit of an incident with a mare.

What I would like to know is who is liable if the stallion gets to any of the mares and either injures them or gets them in foal? The owner has no money so would it then pass to the livery owner? What steps would you expect the owner/livery owner to take to safeguard the other horses and does the yard have to have different insurance to cover stallions?

Thanks
 
I run a Boarding Yard, I also stand a stallion at stud.

I don't pay any additional insurance.

I consider it my responsibility (both as Owner and YO) to keep Zeus under control and in a suitably safe environment. He has his own separate,exclusive paddock and is situated away from the other paddocks, there are rules in place, such as "Don't be stupid and let your mare talk to him as you pass!" Everyone that Boards here, knows in advance he is here, their choice to be here.

YO's are responsible for providing suitable stabling and turnout/exercise areas for stallions/colts (as for any horse in my opinion) BUT the Owner is equally as responsible for maintaining these and/or notifying YO if damage is done.

As a YO I turn away stallions and colts over 2 years old. I would even if I didn't have Zeus, too much hassle and just not worth my time.
 
tbh if my mare was there - i would leave!
YO should be working with the owner to strengthen defences ect
good god what is going to happpen when the mares come into 'spring' season!?!

I would have a chat with the YO
 
I keep my stallion at a livery yard, however, he's managed properly. He's not a noisy stallion at all, and goes about his business like any other horse. He's in a paddock with my gelding away from the mares, and stabled at the 'all boys' end of the yard, the only mare near him is mine.

If anything happened (not that i'd let it in the first place!) I would pay for any damage he caused.
 
YO, if it is run as a licened livery yard, they are responsible for making sure all stables, fencing and turnout arrangements are safe and suitable for every horse on the yard, it's a duty of care as well as a health and safety issue.

Obviously you'd expect the owner to make sure that their horse kept on a livery yard that can accomdate colts and stallions but if they choose to keep it somewhere it's the YO's responsiblity to ensure other liverys horses are safe.

Speak to your YO.
 
I sort of agree with Kenzo on the fencing being suitable for any horse being down to the YO but we have 3 colts (3yo) at a livery yard, one who was a real problem because he wouldn't stay put. He was constantly changing fields because he wanted access to more grass, despite fencing upgrades done by YO, he would just climb through it. We put in a 'colt paddock' that has 4 strands of rope and a mains energiser and he is now contained safely TG! I do feel this was our responsibility, our YO has never worried about taking in colts and stallions and has had them there in the past and it was up to us to contain them safely. We were looking at having to geld them because of Timber escaping but that is no longer an issue so they are safe until they are fully mature, one will be staying entire so that Sami can show him under saddle, the other 2 will be cut when they have filled out (for LR/FR showing)

Our colts are very well mannered, they ran with our full herd up to last autumn and were taught manners by the older ones and the mares. They are a dream to handle, we bring our mares in past them and walk them past the mares with absolutely no problems, they turn out with any of the others in the herd. I would imagine that if a stallion is not well mannered then it would be a nightmare. I would also pay for any damage etc that they caused if anything happened as that would be the responsible thing to do.
 
Just FYI, if your mare gets covered you can get the vet to give an injection which will abort the foetus. Hardly ideal, but saves an unwanted pregnancy. For this I would expect the stallion owner to pay unless it was the mare that jumped into his field (I've known this to happen). Fencing should be upgraded from what YO provides for everyone to whatever is necessary by the stallion owner. Any mare owners leading their girls past should take responsibility for their girls & not allow them to stop, chat or stand next to the fence & squirt, for a young boy it's asking for trouble. Only takes a little consideration from both sides.
 
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