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

It's really hard these days I think. I always used to help out and was pretty much left to my own devices.

However I put my horse up for share -16.1 IDx 17yr old NOT novice ride, no under 18s due to H&s. Anyways 13 yr old was very persuasive had loaned on past etc, so I suggested we meet and c how she got on but I said would prob only b able to offer lessons as couldn't leave her unsupervised. She was ok, but needed work on her riding/schooling and no way would I leave her alone with my mare. Mum offered to supervise but she was not horsey so I didn't feel this was suitable.

Anyways another livery decided she would ride her horse instead (mum said they had found something else! ) unsupervised and she promptry fell off as horse reared.She didn't hurt herself but horse grazed legs. Girl was nothing but trouble. Walked around with ear phones in, was rude to other liveries and grooms and left tack room open even after been spoken too! She left stable doors open, half mucked out and brooms lying in .gang ways!

Horse and owner did a bunk and I had advertised my horse for share so mother contacted me again(didn't realise same horse advertised!). When I explained who I was and I would coinsider lessons but her attitude had to improve (which I put very politely) mother went mental insulted me called me a liar re h&s even tho I explained it was in the interest of her daughter and she was a H&s officer!!!

I just said well it's there liability insurance not mine and it's not a risk I am willing to take. Best wishes.....

There's no helping sum people!!!
 
Problem is, her helping with a pony on the yard is how this has all started. Someone then mentioned taking on the weekend help role to her and its grown since then. I'll have a word with the yo and voice my concerns.
She is nice but so young and just so keen i think she doesn't fully appreciate what could in wrong.
 
She knows an existing livery and came down with her to start with, she lives very close and is now very often on the yard off her own back.
 
sarahann1 said:
She knows an existing livery and came down with her to start with, she lives very close and is now very often on the yard off her own back.
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I think the YO should think a bit more seriously about the consequences of permitting an unsupervised youngster to be on her yard. It wouldn't be so bad if she was being supervised by an adult, but it sounds as if this isn't the case. It's plain crazy IMO. Worse still if she is taking it upon herself to do things to/for liveries horses without their prior consent. It's just too risky, for both the girl and the liveries horses.
 
Oh gosh, This is my worst nightmare. I am a total safety nut, I don't think i could keep my horse there. I left one yard because the YO would not let me put my horse in disused stables (Despite the fact that i was only doing so because his stepchildren were running around my horses legs and i didn't want them to get hurt while he was busy eating his girlfriends face in the next block!)

When my friend had her land we had a young girl who kept coming down and demanding me and our other friend let her on to see to the horses (Despite YO friendnot informing us). We politely told her that she couldn't come on the land until YO arrived, as we would be responsible for her safety (Shewas 12/13 and a complete novice) and accountable if anything happened to her, As the horses were all young.
 
Turned out a horse without asking? I'd flipping kill her.

There used to be a bunch of kids on the yard and they were dire. They graffitied their names everywhere, using hoof oil or black paint. One was a thief and took everyone's stuff then wrote on it, like we'd not notice it was ours! They had no clue about safely handling horses and regularly did things like have massive water balloon fights, screaming and chucking stuff everywhere, totally freaked out my horse one day. Drove me nuts. We all had severe words about not treating the place as free child care and it stopped.

I think you need to speak to the mum and the kid. I'd tell her not to go near my horse. As an adult who finally started riding and bought her own horse after decades of wanting one, I'd be furious that someone was trying to take over. Keen or not, the kid needs telling.
 
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Miss.Geek said:
We have the same rule. Although, sometimes children with their parents are just as bad! ;)
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I had a group of children cause me an extremely serious accident. Right in front of their parents. After being asked twice to stop it. They also knew exactly what the pony was like as half of them had decided i was 'mad' to ride him.

I was just about to give up because of the behaviour when they spooked him.

One of the cheeky cows had a cheek to accuse me of milking my injuries when 2 weeks later i said i physically couldn't poo pick and that i my mum would be doing it when she finished work.

Hmm. Sorry love, You get chuked off, Snap your arm clean in two places, rip the nerves to shreds, Fracture your collarbone, shoulder, ribs, backbones, rip the muscles in your back and sustain head trauma and we'll put you to work poo picking 2 weeks after!
 
Do you see the girls mother dropping her off? If so, I would write up some form of letter, explaining that you do not want her daughter handling, feeding or touching your horse, And that if she does and anything happens you will not be responsible, And tell her to sign it.

I am actually angry at the mother and fuming for you. The stupidity of some people defies belief.
 
In fact, So much does it anger me, That i would also tell the mother that if my horse was fed without my explicit, written permission again, that i would take her to court in the event of any consequences of deviating from her strict diet.
 
I'd have a word with the yard manager/ owner and her mother. For one thing if she has an accident whilst handling other people's horses would she be insured? The yard owner could also be liable if anything happens.
Put an end to it now!!
 
Spyda said:
I think the YO should think a bit more seriously about the consequences of permitting an unsupervised youngster to be on her yard. It wouldn't be so bad if she was being supervised by an adult, but it sounds as if this isn't the case. It's plain crazy IMO. Worse still if she is taking it upon herself to do things to/for liveries horses without their prior consent. It's just too risky, for both the girl and the liveries horses.
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exactly this, perhaps a little conversation with the YO just asking innocently who would be liable if this child hurts herself or one of the horses;) Maybe Yo hasn't thought it through properly and you bringing up some pertinent points may do the trick. If YO insists that it's all fine then make it very clear you want the girl to have nothing to do with your horse, no feeding, turning out or anything. I would also put it in writing to the girls mother making it clear that you will hold them liable for any costs incurred if your wishes are ignored.
 
For those saying ask who would be responsible;

As far as health and safety on a livery yard goes, Anyone spending time around their own or other peoples horses accepts that there is a general risk. In the event of a one off situation/horse steps on foot for example, I don't think much would be able to be done about it - The mother is dropping her child off, therefore accepts this is a potential consequence.

However, If the horse is known to be dangerous, Or known to have a habit of being difficult, the owner of the horse, and the land owner, have a responsibility to ensure that the horse is not in direct, uncontrolled contact with other people. (Crap wording on that last line but hopefully you get the gist)

The yard owner NEEDS to sort this, You say they are known for being difficult - Therefore it could come back on the yard owner and horse owner if one injured her.
 
When I was a horse mad kid I would have died for such an opportunity and probably been a lot more of a PITA than she is being because I had no idea how to be around horses or horse people and any opportunity I did get I guarantee I was worse than useless. I always thought that when I grew up I would definitely have horses and I would be encouraging to some poor kid like me that really wanted to be involved.

So I was lucky enough to get the horses and I tried with my partner's nephew but he was just so thick and irritating and so demanding of lifts and riding lessons, and not willing to even walk to the end of the road to meet me, and his mum had an appalling attitude that I had to knock that on the head before I literally knocked someone on the head :D

I think encouraging her to get involved in RDA or at a riding school is probably the way to go
 
Tickles said:
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.)
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This is a child - being put into an impossible and potentially dangerous situation... With some liveries happy to make use of her... The youngster has already interfered unasked with the OP's horse (possibly trying to be helpful)... If someone's horse leaves her trampled in the mud should the OP just step over her with the attitude it's not her horse that's involved? :confused:

sarahann1 said:
Problem is, her helping with a pony on the yard is how this has all started. Someone then mentioned taking on the weekend help role to her and its grown since then. I'll have a word with the yo and voice my concerns.
She is nice but so young and just so keen i think she doesn't fully appreciate what could in wrong.
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She's an eager kid - she won't and can't be expected to make her own risk analysis... That's the job of the adults who are supposed to be caring for/supervising her... I'm still gobsmacked that the YO allows it - the decent liveries who try and give a little guidance but understandably don't want her do to anything unsupervised with their horses are being put in a difficult situation of being concerned for the safety, well being and behaviour of a child they have no responsibility for...
 
I was an eager kid (11up) without any supportive parents on hand. I didn't even get dropped off - I ruddy walked! I'd like to say I never did anything without permission, but there was one late evening when i slipped onto a pony or two bareback in the field. No more horrendous than umpteen pics of kids who adore ponies giving a cuddle, but I snucked it! It was one evening, I remember it sweetly and naughtily.

Apart from the above 'fession I gathered mountains of poo, cleaned tack - anything for rides, was taken advantage of but don't care because it was the first steps of what I wanted more than air.

I would be an utter git if I didn't side with the kid, a hypocritical twallop!

Get strict with her, horses is strict and if she wants to be paid to be with them she'd better learn to love rules. If she isn't really that keen she'll go when folk toughen up, if she is that keen she'll thrive on it and you could have yourselves an asset. Win win.
 
Urgh, this will end in tears....I was that horse mad child, at a riding school doing things that would now make me very nervous and wary of the consequences but the problem is, children believe they are infalliable, and this was pre-litigation culture!

Could you have a word with the livery who brought her down in the first place, aside from the child annoying her, you're worried about her safety. Perhaps she would speak to the mother and explain that, at 12, the child is too young and phyisically small to be hanling large, difficult horses and so the mother will have to stay down with her? Bet she won't be keen then....sounds cruel, but even crueler to have to ring said parent and explain, God forbid, that child is injured....
 
Queenofdiamonds said:
The yard owner NEEDS to sort this, You say they are known for being difficult - Therefore it could come back on the yard owner and horse owner if one injured her.
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As an owner, I'd be more concerned as to who would recompense me if things went boobies skywards after a 12yo had taken it upon herself to 'take care' of my horse by feeding it/turning it out without my permission. It's not just about what damage a horse could do to a child, but also about what damage a child could unwittingly do to a horse.
 
Fidgety said:
As an owner, I'd be more concerned as to who would recompense me if things went boobies skywards after a 12yo had taken it upon herself to 'take care' of my horse by feeding it/turning it out without my permission. It's not just about what damage a horse could do to a child, but also about what damage a child could unwittingly do to a horse.
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Yep, I doubt those liveries who are paying her to do jobs when they are not there would be so happy to pay out for her mistakes either
 
horsesatemymoney said:
Could you have a word with the livery who brought her down in the first place, aside from the child annoying her, you're worried about her safety. Perhaps she would speak to the mother and explain that, at 12, the child is too young and phyisically small to be hanling large, difficult horses and so the mother will have to stay down with her? Bet she won't be keen then....sounds cruel, but even crueler to have to ring said parent and explain, God forbid, that child is injured....
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I understand the logic behind speaking to the mother but it appears some liveries are happily letting the kiddie do some yard chores and even ride their horse(s)... Other than telling the mother that the child isn't allowed anywhere near your own horse, to suggest the idea of her 'helping out' could be dangerous would be contradicted by the attitude of the liveries who find her convenient...

The YO (in my opinion) is the one who can 'tell' mum what kiddie should and shouldn't be able to do - and then take responsibility for said child whilst she has free access to their business premise - and indemnify the liveries against any damage to the child/their horses... I'm sure they'd love that suggestion...

:)
 
Not so much a mini-rant you have there! Have had experience of this myself - youngsters on the yard who may be perfectly capable of handling the steadier steeds but think because they can manage to turn out a couple of these types they can suddenly start interfering with any horse on the yard! One particularly springs to mind who was incapable of controlling the urge to go into the stable and try and put headcollar on and lead my 16.2hh 7 year old ex-racehorse who'd been gelded less than 12 months before and last raced around 4 months prior - needless to say I wasn't too thrilled about the prospect (especially since I was nursing a hairline fracture of the collarbone thanks to said horse having a "special moment" as we then referred to them!). Final straw (pardon the pun) was when she gave half a bale of hay to my mare who was recovering from colic. Had a polite word with her and also the yard owner and explained that if she were to be injured she would not be insured because I had not given permission for her to handle my horses and if my horse were to suffer any injury I would be seeking recompense for any vets bills. Also mentioned the cost of vet bill for colic my mare was recovering from in front of mother - seemed to work quite well! You need to have a word with her, tell her clearly NOT to touch your horse under ANY circumstances, let the yard owner know you're not happy and have had a word and stick to your guns. Good luck!!
 
Fidgety said:
As an owner, I'd be more concerned as to who would recompense me if things went boobies skywards after a 12yo had taken it upon herself to 'take care' of my horse by feeding it/turning it out without my permission. It's not just about what damage a horse could do to a child, but also about what damage a child could unwittingly do to a horse.
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Well, In that case i'm not sure, But as i said in my previous post i'd be writing something up stating that;

The girl is not to enter my stable,
Touch my horse,
Feed my horse,
Or do anything else without my explicit written permission

And that should she do anything that results in the need for veterinary treatment, Or loss of use for any period, The mother accepts that she will be fully responsible for costs incurred.

Make her sign it and if she won't tell the yard owner i'd leave if she didn't sign it or something wasn't done. If she signed and something happened take her to court.

Might seem harsh but its a pirvate yard. I have no time for people who want free daycare risking their child and other peoples animals.
 
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