surely this is common sense? *mild rant*

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blood_magik

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As usual, it's raining in Paisley. When I went up to the stables I figured that as it was raining heavily and had been since 8am, the muppet would be in his box - wrong. The muppet was out in his field, soaked to the skin and shivering in a no-fill rug with no neck :(

"it wasn't heavy when we put them out this morning".

Surely common sense would tell you that if it's raining heavily a veteran, who is not used to the scottish weather, going out in a no-fill rug is going to be absolutely soaked and cold? :eek:

Is it just me that would insist of him being brought in and stabled or changed into a more suitable rug (medium weight with a neck) and put back out?

The muppets fine now - He was put in the solarium for 20 minutes to get the worst of the wet off. It's really annoyed me because it's not cheap to keep him up there and I, wrongly, expected someone to bring them in early.

To top it off, I found 2 nails in one of my tyres so I'm having to sell some of my horsey stuff to pay for it (if anyone's interested in a show jacket (14-16), a dublin gillet (L) or a JW diamante browband PM me).

brownies and hot chocolate for everyone who's made it this far
 
I'm more concerned that you keep calling your horse a muppet! :eek::D

With regards to the T/O speak to them and tell them how you want to handle things in future. If you're paying then they should provide a service you want.

:)
 
it has no neck and he somehow managed to flip the tail flap over so had a wet backside?
its more the fact that he was cold and physically shaking when i went down to get him - he came from dubai so isn't used to the cold.
 
I don't know what the temp is like up there, but here (about 11 today) I would consider a lightweight (on my fully clipped mare) to be perfectly acceptable - different people have very different expectations of care and what they will ask their horses to deal with so I'd just mention any differences for future reference. I don't think the staff have been slack - I would have thought it quite acceptable! But then perhaps I'm a cruel mum as she won't have a lightweight on for brief light showers either. Horses can deal with lots more than we think!!
(must admit the idea of being caught in the rain then drying myself off under a solarium appeals very much though, lovely!!).
 
mabey im cruel... mine has either no rug or a no fill rainsheet (like today)....

but i do see your point about your shivering horse - is he on full livery???

for full livery id expect rugs changed to the appropriate weather but DIY - is just that.
 
maybe i'm too protective. he generally wears a rug at all times unless it's unseasonably warm ie 18+
he's used to 30+ degrees and constant sunshine - the last thing i want is for him to go out and get cold and wet when there's really no need for it and it's not going to benefit him (judging by the way he tried to trot back inside, i would also assume that he didn't enjoy being out)

ah i dont know.. i would have thought that they would have been brought in as there are no shelters but it would appear that i am too soft?
 
noodle_ said:
mabey im cruel... mine has either no rug or a no fill rainsheet (like today)....

but i do see your point about your shivering horse - is he on full livery???

for full livery id expect rugs changed to the appropriate weather but DIY - is just that.
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full livery - i pay £140/week which i think it quite expensive for the area.
The other thing is that the horses don't get checked between being put out and brought in - been said before, but mine and another livery injured themselves on fencing and could have been out in the mud for hours before injuries were discovered.

anyways, horse is fine now and snuggled up in his fleece. I just wasn't sure if i was being overprotective
 
blood_magik said:
full livery - i pay £140/week which i think it quite expensive for the area.
The other thing is that the horses don't get checked between being put out and brought in - been said before, but mine and another livery injured themselves on fencing and could have been out in the mud for hours before injuries were discovered.

anyways, horse is fine now and snuggled up in his fleece. I just wasn't sure if i was being overprotective
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well tbh then id expect them to look at the weather and rug change....

mabey its a simple mistake....id have a chat with them - but for 140 a week id expect rug changes! :)
 
i would expect his rain sheet would have kept him mainly dry. however at £140 a week i would also have expected someone to spot he was very cold and brought in early and made comfortable. when did he come from dubai? most of mine are still in mw. not hot and not cold. its that funny time of year. damned if you do damned if you dont. if you know your horse is thin skinned and feels the cold then ask for him to be to in a mw. til it gets hotter.
 
blood_magik said:
maybe i'm too protective. he generally wears a rug at all times unless it's unseasonably warm ie 18+
he's used to 30+ degrees and constant sunshine - the last thing i want is for him to go out and get cold and wet when there's really no need for it and it's not going to benefit him (judging by the way he tried to trot back inside, i would also assume that he didn't enjoy being out)

ah i dont know.. i would have thought that they would have been brought in as there are no shelters but it would appear that i am too soft?
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I don't think you are being too soft, you are suiting what you do to your lad. What is wrong with that? You don't have to do what everyone else does, do what suits your boy and keep him happy and healthy. My lad stays in 24/7 because that is what he like, Fany is out in all weather, unrugged, because she prefers it.

Sorry to hear about your tyres an expensive problem isn't it?
FDC
 
Makes perfect sense to me ..... If it was light rain in the morning and then turned really heavy I would check if everyone out was ok ... but then p'raps I worry too much as well??

As long as he's ok now I'd just have a chat to make sure they know what you expect for your livery and then hopefully it'll be fine next time.
 
Considering his age, his background and your preferences - I'd be a little miffed.....

However, I've turned mine out in HW full necks to then have 25 degrees+ weather....and vice versa turned them out in fly rugs to then have -5degrees rain sleet howling wind and snow!!

Weather can be unpredicatable, and people make mistakes.....

Don't think you're being too soft at all. Ours are still in 2 rugs at all times! Even the shetland.....
 
I'm more concerned about paying £140 per week in Scotland!!! I thought it was supposed to be cheaper up there!

Regarding the rugs, for £140 per week, I would want the rug changed or the horse brought in for sure, and it would annoy me if I turned up to find my horse wet and shivering as you did.
 
As a livery yard owner who provides full livery I know 1st hand how difficult it is at this time of year to judge what rugs to put on which would suit the horse best and also knowing what the horses owners preferances are in varying situations combined with such variable weather we get in Scotland. Also if I don't know the horse that well - how easily it gets cold etc

I would speak to the people dealing with your horse and give them as much information about your horses 'ins and outs', his history and your preferances so they can try and make an as informed choice as possible. The other thing is I really would speak to them about any problems as I know myself how annoying it would be if one of my liveries had a problem and went on to a forum to *mildy rant* about it without talking to me about it to try and sort it out.
 
Not sure that it was a lack of common sense, more perhaps a misunderstanding of how you like to keep your horse ? Hopefully now they are aware that you would like him more heavily rugged and brought in when it rains, they'll do so.
Mine are out in all weathers and unrugged at this time of year, but it suits them. Different strokes for different folks.
 
Ah
blood_magik said:
it has no neck and he somehow managed to flip the tail flap over so had a wet backside?
its more the fact that he was cold and physically shaking when i went down to get him - he came from dubai so isn't used to the cold.
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If he's on full livery then you need to leave clear instructions. Although to be fair we know how quickly the weather can change. And I'm sure that more than one of us have been caught out...

And if he's not on full livery then presumably you would normally do him yourself and this is just a one off.
 
QR yes it is common sense! Full livery is a big responsibility, that's why it costs so much. They had a shivering veteran in their care, as a result of their management. Not on.
 
summer03 said:
As a livery yard owner who provides full livery I know 1st hand how difficult it is at this time of year to judge what rugs to put on which would suit the horse best and also knowing what the horses owners preferances are in varying situations combined with such variable weather we get in Scotland. Also if I don't know the horse that well - how easily it gets cold etc

I would speak to the people dealing with your horse and give them as much information about your horses 'ins and outs', his history and your preferances so they can try and make an as informed choice as possible. The other thing is I really would speak to them about any problems as I know myself how annoying it would be if one of my liveries had a problem and went on to a forum to *mildy rant* about it without talking to me about it to try and sort it out.
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I have spoken to them about it. I said he was shivering when I went down and the reply was 'aww bless - it wasn't raining like that when he went out'.
I've also said that if it's bucketing down I'd rather he stays in so I'm not just venting without sorting the situation.
they all know his background - last 16-odd years in the UAE, moved to Scotland in July last year.
 
summer03 said:
As a livery yard owner who provides full livery I know 1st hand how difficult it is at this time of year to judge what rugs to put on which would suit the horse best and also knowing what the horses owners preferances are in varying situations combined with such variable weather we get in Scotland. Also if I don't know the horse that well - how easily it gets cold etc

I would speak to the people dealing with your horse and give them as much information about your horses 'ins and outs', his history and your preferances so they can try and make an as informed choice as possible. The other thing is I really would speak to them about any problems as I know myself how annoying it would be if one of my liveries had a problem and went on to a forum to *mildy rant* about it without talking to me about it to try and sort it out.
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I am very lucky with our YO and trust her explicitly to ensure our horses get what is right for them, especially as I have a bit of a tendency to over rug because my lad has thin skin and feels the cold. However, I would expect a veteran in a light weight to be brought in if the rain became extremely heavy. Not sure about Scotland but Cumbria, where I live the rain has been cold and driving. so I think the OP has a right to be cross.

I am in agreement with you though, I would speak to staff or YO first. But she did not name anyone so it is not as if she is affecting anyone's reputation.

FDC
 
the acting yard managers were approached when he was brought in but didn't seem very interested in what I had to say tbh.
I don't want to cause issues for them but as horrible as it is to have to go collect horses when it's raining, they are getting paid to do it - I would be suspended for refusing to go outside in the rain.

hopefully this was just a one-off and jerry will have the appropriate attire on in the future otherwise I'll just do it myself as I have done previously
 
If he moved in July he should be acclimatised by now. Horses don't melt in the rain..If he's shivering mind yes, put a thicker rug on but keeping him in is just being a bit too soft!
 
this is just why no matter how rich i was i would never do full livery - no matter how good the yos are they wont look after your horse like you would. You love your horse, to them its a bussness, ie money x
 
SusieT said:
Horses don't melt in the rain..[\QUOTE]
but I do, bloody horrible stuff :rolleyes: why I moved to scotland when I could have moved to the US, I don't know :p

obviously a little bit of rain won't hurt him and I'm overprotective but he's my baby and I only want the best for him.

narkymare - if it were that simple and money wasnt an issue I'd buy a house with land and keep him at home but unfortunately I have to work so that's not an option.
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My oldie came from California and he lives out 24/7 without a rug, all year round (he had one on in the snow, but got over-excited and got a bit toastie!) and he's never had a problem. So what if he gets soggy, he dries!!

They're horses, they're outdoors animals, getting a bit wet isn't going to do him any harm! Especially as he was coming in in the evening anyway, and it's not exactly cold at this time of year!! I hate to say it but I feel you are over-reacting a little :p However, seeing as you have a solarium, I imagine that you are paying through the nose for livery, and so would expect your horse to be pampered to your money's worth! (though trust me, my dressage beastie, who is spoilt rotten, always fully clipped and rugged up to the nines, top quality feed with supplements etc etc, would be happier scrubbing in the mud and eating weeds, they're not really built to appreciate luxury!)
 
id say for 140 id expect an appology for the lapse/mistake at least.
why cant people appologise for mistakes?!?!
ok so they put the LW rug on- as they have been in charge of his care for months over the winter they know the horse and how you want it looked after!
it then poured down- why didnt the person who put the rug on/horse out then think-hmmm its gone cold and wet- maybe i should check that horse who is usually rugged to the eyeballs as i only put a LW on?!?!
it doesnt matter what THEY think about rugging heavily- its not their horse!
so i would be annoyed it happened and more annoyed about the attititude afterwards too.
 
I had this happen to my horse. When I mentioned to the staff that my horse was shivering they apologised and were very good from then on about bringing him in if the weather turned nasty unexpectedly and he looked miserable in the field. The price you pay should ensure a top class service. Whether your horse "should be able to cope" is not relevant. If he is uncomfortable you have every right to be annoyed. The staff at your livery seem to have the wrong attitude to their customers.
 
It is hard to judge at this time of year - I am DIY and work full time so whatever I decide at 7am my poor old boy is stuck with for the day, hence today, he is in a light fill (100g) full neck turnout and will be quite warm. It was chilly and wet this morning and is really rather sunny and warm now. However, this better than him being cold and wet in no rug. Which is what happened a few days ago - nice a.m. chucking it down all afternoon - I know he would have been shivering, luckily just as I was about to leave work early the rain stopped and the sun came out and a coupe of hours later when I got there he was dry and warm.

I would expect a livery yard though to know your wishes and to get him in and pop a nice thermatex on if he is cold and wet.

Re the rain sheet - if it really chucks it down and there is no neck, the rain often gets in at the neck and soaks the horse almost to his girth.
 
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