Strangers on yard -people who get over- involved.....

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el_Snowflakes

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Hi all just a minor rant really!!!......

does anyone else have people who just hang around the yard getting over involved with you and your horses?

Now I didnt have a horse when i was a kid so i went to the local riding school and helped out there. Sweeping, grooming etc (v little riding as it was so expensive!) BUT i keep my horse on a private livery yard and its a FAB yard however.....a little girl of about 12 who gets dropped off by her mum every day at the yard. (when not at school of course) theres really not much for her to do as its a private yard and mostly adults so theres not even any kids for her to chum around with. When she first started coming I thought she was sweet but now she is turning out to be quite irritating! I do all my horsey chores myself because i enjoy them (hell, I waited 20 odd years to do it!) and the second i stepped on the yard the other day she was waiting for me to tell the exact time my horse ran out of hay (only an hour b4 my arrival) and how she had proceeded to feed her. (said horse is on strict diet- grazing muzzle etc) and she constantly asks to help with grooming/tack cleaning etc and expects to be paid also. Several others at the yard feel the same as me but we have a couple who have her turning horses in and out. The other day she asked if Xs owner was coming up today to which i replied 'yes he should be as hes up every day & its only early'. To which she responded 'i didnt know if he was coming so i just put his horse out in the field'. I politely told her that it would be better to leave other peoples horses in unless the owner has asked u to do something witrh them as their may be a reason for them being in such as laminitis/vet visit etc. Before being corrected by her saying he was not lame though.....(like, im sure she would know eh?!)I know some others have her turning horses in and out, doing muckouts etc which is great for her to earn a couple of £s im sure. But there is just no way i would have a little girl turning my rather powerful WB in and out! as good as my horse is u just never know...... She has been given the responibility of doing so (which involves leading horses over a fairly busy road and standing there while u unlock a heavy gate) with a few horses some of which are v hot expensive competition horses who are KNOWN for being a handful on the ground! I just think its crazy. Not to mention shes been telling folk shes an experienced rider so was allowed to take a horse which is on the mend having been lame for nearly a year which she proceeded to TROT along the road in a kick, kick , kick style fashion!! omg...sorry for the rant i just think the situation is crazy- i mean where the heck is her mother??!!! jeeeeeeeeez............jaffa cakes for everyone :D
 
Eek. Potential pitfalls every way you turn in that situation.

No idea what to suggest really...how does the YO/YM feel about it all?
 
Why is the mother just dropping her off? Because people are letting her ride/do jobs?

I would be very firm and tell her not to do anything with/to your horse, and if she does you will complain to the yard owner about it.

I would have a quiet word about her to the YO to let them know it is annoying you.

Other than that, it is up to everyone else to tell her what she can/can't do with their horses.

I do like a keen child though. You don't see many that work their way into riding/helping nowadays, just kids that are given the moon from the start! Can't you find her some jobs to do - tack cleaning etc. If not send her up here!
 
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Who is supervising this child? If she was to get hurt the YO/owners of the horses could get in a lot of trouble!

We have a no unsupervised under 16 yr old policy on our yard. That means the child is not allowed out of sight of parent. Thank goodness. I hate yards that are playgrounds with annoying kids!
 
pookie said:
Eek. Potential pitfalls every way you turn in that situation.

No idea what to suggest really...how does the YO/YM feel about it all?
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Glad its not just me who feels that way! Our YO is just lovely- far too nice. I reckin she thinks its lovely that a little girl ic coming up and helping out(she gats her to do her stables also!) which is very nice of her but unfortunalty being nice CAN come back to bite u on the a*se!!

I hate to sound like im being a rotten old codger as like u honey08 i do think its great that this girl wants to work and is being super helpful....i was the same at that age. But i was also kind of in awe of those who had horses and wouldnt have dreampt of stepping on their toes!! lol

theres a riding school and also a RDA nearby......i just think its a total cheek of her mother to expect us to babysit her when we are paying a couple on hundred quid a month for the privilage!!!!
 
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You're right - that is mental.

I'm all for encouraging the young entry but helping on a riding school is the place to do it, not this.

Sounds like free daycare to me.

And what if/when she gets hurt!!?

Crikey.
 
I think if it was me I'd have a word with the mum. The poor kid just sounds pony mad, & the type I would allow (& have in the past) to mess about with my 14.2 under my supervision. But its not on for her to be put in unsafe situations or for the mum to use the yard as childcare. Whose idea was it to start bringing her there originally? Could someone maybe find a rs or yard with other kids on that might have more suitable horses & some company her own age?
 
I did!

When I was sharing a horse with a girl (who turned out to be incredibly babyish!) and all the smaller kids there would keep coming over - and i mean NON STOP! I couldnt get on and do anything without her and this bunch actually standing INSIDE the stable. Id tack up and go to the school to ride and they would all trapse around after me and come into the indoor school and make noise. When it clearly stated on the door that if you werent riding then you keep out and keep quiet. Wasnt really my place to tell them all to 'politely' go away. In the end I got sick and tired of the girl and this little group (i say little but there was about 7 of them!) and left.

Now I help a lady out on here with exercising her horse and its great! So laid back and we have a good laugh!
 
That would pee me right off! I had a few like that whilst on a livery yard but none since having my own place. I don't make eye contact with anyone who stops at the gate to see the horses! Might be rude but it saves the hassle as above! You deserve a medal.
 
elsazzo said:
Glad its not just me who feels that way! Our YO is just lovely- far too nice. I reckin she thinks its lovely that a little girl ic coming up and helping out(she gats her to do her stables also!) which is very nice of her but unfortunalty being nice CAN come back to bite u on the a*se!!
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The YO needs to look into liability if something happens to the girl. It's one thing to fill haynets or clean tack etc, in a safe part of the yard, and a whole different thing to be crossing busy roads with big powerful horses.

I'm all for kids putting the graft into horses as well as getting to ride but no yard I helped out on would've allowed me to do half the things she's doing...and those were the days before we went litigation mad.
 
patterdale said:
You're right - that is mental.

I'm all for encouraging the young entry but helping on a riding school is the place to do it, not this.

Sounds like free daycare to me.

And what if/when she gets hurt!!?

Crikey.
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haha mental! couldnt have said it better myself!.........

We used to have an adult helper at the yard (who is also a good friend and keeps a horse at the yard) and I was happy to pay her to turnout/ in if i was on nightshift etc but the difference there was she is an adult and she knows our horses/has the experience to deal with them if they monkey about...........even she had a bit of an incident when one naughty/strong horse got away from her on the main road and she handled it v well considering she got the fright of her life...I can only imagine what would happen if this happened to the little girl....apparently she had to be corrected last week as she had this same horses stallion chain on wrong....crikey!! :(:(
 
In a few of the yards I have ran there was no children under the age of 18 allowed and if kids where allowed on the yard their mum or dad had to be present at all times its not a creshe. They were not allowed for health and safety reason to turnout anyone elses horse nor to feed or interfer with their owners routine so I would be inclined to have a quiet word with YO and say that if she gets hurts it could come back to bit the YO on the backside if she doesnt put a stop to it its an accident waiting to happen.
 
galaxy said:
Who is supervising this child? If she was to get hurt the YO/owners of the horses could get in a lot of trouble!

We have a no unsupervised under 16 yr old policy on our yard. That means the child is not allowed out of sight of parent. Thank goodness. I hate yards that are playgrounds with annoying kids!
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We have the same rule. Although, sometimes children with their parents are just as bad! ;)
 
Poor kid... She'll be cheerfully 'made use of' by individuals who are happy to cut a few corners or pay a pittance (anything?) to a horse mad kiddie to do some chores for them because she's desperate to be involved in some way...

At the same time, it's barking mad to just do a drive by and drop a young child off at a business premise with no agreement of supervision or health and safety concerns...

That the YO allows this is mind boggling - unless s/he has some agreement with the parent...

:-/
 
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I can totaly understand why the situation is annoying you, I too like to be left alone to care for my horse and not be bothered by interfering people. I would definetatly explain to YO how you feel and make it quite clear to the girl that she is not to interfere with your horse. I do feel sorry for the girl but it should be up to her mother to get permision from someone for her to be there and to be responsable for her.
 
If I came down in the morning and found someone had turned out my horse without me asking them they would generally be told in no uncertain terms not to touch her again. What happens if horse is on box rest and some little know it all decides to turn horse out.
I had a problem earlier this year everytime I came down to do my horse there were kids standing on a box outside her stable trying to get her to come to them so they could stroke her. I very politely told parents to please keep kids away just incase my horse who doesnt like young children screaming bites one of them.
sometimes you have to be harsh to get your message across this is your hobby.
 
The YO may be allowing her to help but there is no way she should be handling any liveries, I dont think at that age the other owners should let her do anything unsupervised either, it is an accident waiting to happen as she sounds rather too confident in herself.

That said it is a shame as she is obviously desperate to be involved with horses and in the right environment she could really be learning and eventually become an asset not the liability she is at the moment.
 
I'm on the same yard, waves at elsazzo!

The girl is being paid by some liveries directly to handle their horses on the weekends when its meant to be DIY only. Personally I let her handle one of mine only when I'm on the yard, I'd never let her handle them if I wasn't there. She is massively enthusiatic but very young with it. It honestly scares me that some folk let her handle there horses without them being around, she's trusted to ride some too.

I very nearly bit her head of for asking for the umpteenth time if me very lame very broken horse was still lame yesterday..YES, he is!! I've told her more than once its very unlikely he'll come sound again, grr. Must wind my neck in, she is only young and is very keen to learn, but I'll not be paying her to do my horses at anypoint.

I like the suggestion about the RDA, one is very close to us...ponders persuasive tactics...
 
......just re read your post....think I may have guessed who u are! We could have a game on HHO guess who?! Haha! I'm glad I'm not alone then ;)
 
When my daughter was younger she was very keen, but only was on the yard without me if another adult took responsbility for her. Common sense really, as you can that if she gets hurt in any way, the mother will be the first to kick off!! and now my daughter is older and doing other things i dont want to spend my time with my horse dealing with other peoples kids unless i choose to, it must be driving you nuts. Have a word with the yo and the mum
 
sarahann1 said:
I'm on the same yard, waves at elsazzo!

The girl is being paid by some liveries directly to handle their horses on the weekends when its meant to be DIY only. Personally I let her handle one of mine only when I'm on the yard, I'd never let her handle them if I wasn't there. She is massively enthusiatic but very young with it. It honestly scares me that some folk let her handle there horses without them being around, she's trusted to ride some too.
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There's a big difference in helping a kiddie spend a little time with a horse whilst you're around as you do and taking advantage of her existence to palm off some duties...

I wonder if those same liveries will be so keen to acknowledge any responsibility if she gets thrown/trampled/injured in some way...and if the thought has even crossed her mother's brain... :(

One reason I never employed under 16's on a PT basis is that the implications with the council, education authority and H&S are just too burdensome... I can't see any of those being cheerfully excited at this situation...
 
Not quite as bad as this but I had two children going into my colts field even through the gate was locked and there was a second line of electric fine so they could not get near the fence. I also had a note to say my ponies feet needed trimming.
I wrote their parents a letter and put through the door explaining the risks and left my phone number and the Mum rang me and we sorted it out.
None horsey parents have no idea of the risks and I think the Mum must see this as free baby sitting. I would write a polite but firm letter and tell her that she is responsible for her childs actions and you are not resposible for any injuries to her daughter if she choses to to handle your horse when asked not to.
Please do not feel mean, if the girl gets injured the paremts will be the first to moan. I think the YO needs to look at there duty of care as well.
 
I may be being daft here but can't you just *not* ask her to do anything with your horse and tell her that you come to the yard to be by yourself and don't want to talk (assuming this is also true)?

Other people may not be doing things the way you would be, well, so what? (Yes, there are potentially serious consequences but not for your horse, which, at the end of the day, is what you really care about on a yard.)
 
Your right tickles but she has fed my horse & also turned someone else's out (which of course is not my concern) but I wouldn't like her to take it upon herself to do so with mine! I hate to sound harsh as she does seem a nice young girl
 
Does YO know the girl's mother and have her emergency contact details? I'm just wondering what would happen if this girl was involved in an accident or something else happened which required the mother. Maybe the YO has been approached by the mother and has okay'ed the girl coming down. Have you asked the YO what the situation is in that regard? I'd be worried incase something happened whilst the girl was handling someone's horse - who'd be liable if the horse was injured or got away and caused 3rd party damage? Or what if the girl herself was injured - would her mother expect to claim? You know what it's like with all these compensation claims these days. Nothing like it used to be! I remember helping out down the local riding stables when I was a kid of 10-11. I don't suppose it even crossed the YM's mind back then that any of the parents of of the kids helping out would ever pursue a claim if one of us fell off and hurt ourselves whilst riding the ponies back out to their field at the end of the day in nowt but a headcollar and leadrope, and rarely a riding hat in sight.
 
Feel a bit sorry for the kid obviously completely horse mad and clearly has a mother who is trying to find a cheap way of her enjoying horses and/or free baby sitting but like everyone has said, this is probably not the right environment for her to learn in.

I would have a meeting with the yard owner and explain your concerns. Could you not all then get your thinking caps on, is there someone local that has a pony they would be willing to share in exchange for help, or the local riding school and then maybe point her and her mother in that direction?
 
I'd tell her firmly not to handle, feed or other involve herself with my horse. If she continues talk to mum. My elderly mare is on very strict diet. She's stiff behind and through her back which at low weight is fine. She's fat though and the extra weight tips her from stiff to in pain. I'm getting the weight off but nice lady keeps giving her more hay when i'm due up. I pointed out if she doesn't lose weight fast she'll have to be pts. Seems to have worked for now!
 
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