Tarring everyone with the same brush! Not fair!!

benson21

benson21

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There is an equestrian centre about 200 yards down the road from where I keep donovan. It has just been taken over by new owners, and they are doing much needed repairs to the place.
A month ago i went down there and spoke to the new people, asking if they would be hiring out there big indoor school so I can go and practice our dressage which is in a big school. I was told yes, they would be hiring it out for events, and also by the hour for people to go and do what they wanted. they were having all of the surface redone, so leave it for a month, and then for me to go back to them
Which is what I done on Saturday, only to be told they wouldnt be hiring it out to individuals, only group events, because individuals dont take care of it.
So that has scuppered my plans, but I am abit peeved that they are tarring 'individuals' all with the same brush!! I know they need people to take care of it, I just cant see how someone can say because 1 person last week who came in on their own didnt take care of it (not too sure what happened!) it means anyone who wants to hire their school for an hour on their own will do the same!!
So, the hunt is on again to find a large size school to practice in!!!
 
Yeah, I'd be annoyed with that...I hate yard owners who are prescious about arenas. I was once at a livery where my lesson was an hour, and it took me another hour to make sure all the rubber was 'just right'...I'd be raking it whilst it was getting dark! If it rained he would take the key home, so I couldn't get in...look, it's just a bit of land with fencing! Get a grip...of course I wouldn't just leave a giant Brown pile of poo in there, but come on...hail to the prescious menage! Pah! Good luck with your hunt.x
 
Probably a financial decision - they can make more by hiring it out to a group rather than individuals!
 
I cn understand your frustration, OP but if they have had a bad experience with individual hirings early on, I'm not surprised that they have decided against doing that as a matter of policy. They won't have a member of staff available to supervise/monitor every single person who hires the arena for a short time and I would imagine that it would cost them more to employ someone to do that, than they could charge an individual for an hour's hire.
As for being 'precious', Cherrydan, wouldn't you expect someone whom you had allowed to use something of yours to look after it?
 
Dont get me wrong, I understand why they have done it, I just would of thought maybe they could charge some sort of deposit that you only get back if the school is left the way it was found, i.e clear of poo.
They keep saying to me, you can hire the small school, but we already have a small one at the yard, its the biggun I really need!
 
Maybe they would reconsider based on certain individuals, as they may not wish to advertise or encorage others to use it if certsin folk have not raked/poo picked/put poles away, might be worth going down in person and asking again explaining that you would and would only use it when it's free and convenient without upsetting fellow in house liveries etc, always worth asking again.
 
benson21 said:
Dont get me wrong, I understand why they have done it, I just would of thought maybe they could charge some sort of deposit that you only get back if the school is left the way it was found, i.e clear of poo.
They keep saying to me, you can hire the small school, but we already have a small one at the yard, its the biggun I really need!
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Yes I agree - the deposit is a good idea. Maybe you could suggest it to them? Say you are happy to leave a deposit? It will show just how keen you are to hire the school.
 
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Well, i have messaged her and asked if there was any compromise, i.e me leaving a deposit so if I damage the school, she keeps it. had a message back asking me to phone her. No too sure if it sounds promising, or she is gonna tell me where to go!!!
 
benson21 said:
Well, i have messaged her and asked if there was any compromise, i.e me leaving a deposit so if I damage the school, she keeps it. had a message back asking me to phone her. No too sure if it sounds promising, or she is gonna tell me where to go!!!
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I'd say it sounds promising, good luck :D
 
Cherrydan said:
Yeah, I'd be annoyed with that...I hate yard owners who are prescious about arenas. I was once at a livery where my lesson was an hour, and it took me another hour to make sure all the rubber was 'just right'...I'd be raking it whilst it was getting dark! If it rained he would take the key home, so I couldn't get in...look, it's just a bit of land with fencing! Get a grip...of course I wouldn't just leave a giant Brown pile of poo in there, but come on...hail to the prescious menage! Pah! Good luck with your hunt.x
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God damn these yard owners, trying to protect their 20K+ investment verses someone who'll slip them the occasional £20. You check out any thread on here about looking for new livery yards and see the criticism of arenas.

If you want to show them you are serious why not try to arrange a regular booking for a year or six months and pay half in advance. There's not many yard owners who wouldn't go for that. When people just drift in for an hour or so ever 6 weeks, usually late or after cancelling 3 times it can be more hassle than its worth.
 
Cherrydan said:
Yeah, I'd be annoyed with that...I hate yard owners who are prescious about arenas. I was once at a livery where my lesson was an hour, and it took me another hour to make sure all the rubber was 'just right'...I'd be raking it whilst it was getting dark! If it rained he would take the key home, so I couldn't get in...look, it's just a bit of land with fencing! Get a grip...of course I wouldn't just leave a giant Brown pile of poo in there, but come on...hail to the prescious menage! Pah! Good luck with your hunt.x
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Their arena, their choice to ensure their huge investment is kept in good condition, why do you feel you should have the definitive right to use their investment because you pay an occassional £20 ? There might possibly be another 20 folks all thinking the same as you who might not be as careful ? You might not leave it in poor condition but others might have, and the extra horse traffic means extra maintainance, theyre quite right to be precious about their arena it probably cost them a bleedin fortune to erect it and maintain it in good condition
 
In my defense, I was always careful, I left it spotless...I thought the whole thread was about tarring everyone with the same brush...I also was the only livery he had, so horse traffic was no biggy...did you not hear I'd be raking when it was getting dark...geez, I think that was enough looking after it, what did you want me to lick each piece of rubber? I left it as I found it, and I assume (especially if someone would even leave a deposit) the good in people, no, call it trust...oh thank god I keep my boy at home. To the poster, I really hope you can play in the arena (notice I don't tell you to clean it up after), because I trust you're a decent girl who would anyway.x
 
I can sympathise OP its a bit irritating that you cant use arena.
But re some other posts complaining about yard owners being precious. Do you know how much a decent surface costs????
Our 20x40 outdoor arena cost us in excess 25, 000 5 years ago! A decent indoor surface can cost over 30, 000 nevermind maintenence and cost of building etc.
If youd spent that much on something youd want it looked after.
Good maintenance can mean an arena will last 10 years instead of just a few!
 
Marydoll, if there were 20 people who 'thought the same as me' I'd be happy to let them use it. I'd find it as I left it...I'd just be annoyed about getting benson21's hopes up as they did in my opinion, to let her down because of some idiot who didn't care for it, spoiling it for everyone else who would. My opinion, my choice, but then I'm a laid back person who respects and trusts what people say, I don't feel the need to have a go...live and let live, but should a horse plop in the arena or a jump is left, THEN say no to that individual...simple
 
I am very aware how much arenas cost, he used to tell me every day, it was prescious...but if you don't want people to use it, don't get their hopes up or even hire it out, keep it all to yourself, that way nobody can come and ruin it. Not even the kids who used to trespass and use it to party on a night, they'd leave bottles, rizla and little plastic bags...you'd have thought they'd have raked and cleaned it wouldn't you? The worst is they never left a penny for the hiring, the gates were always left closed though, as they would scale the fence...
 
jenz87 said:
I can sympathise OP its a bit irritating that you cant use arena.
But re some other posts complaining about yard owners being precious. Do you know how much a decent surface costs????
Our 20x40 outdoor arena cost us in excess 25, 000 5 years ago! A decent indoor surface can cost over 30, 000 nevermind maintenence and cost of building etc.
If youd spent that much on something youd want it looked after.
Good maintenance can mean an arena will last 10 years instead of just
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Cherrydan said:
In my defense, I was always careful, I left it spotless...I thought the whole thread was about tarring everyone with the same brush...I also was the only livery he had, so horse traffic was no biggy...did you not hear I'd be raking when it was getting dark...geez, I think that was enough looking after it, what did you want me to lick each piece of rubber? I left it as I found it, and I assume (especially if someone would even leave a deposit) the good in people, no, call it trust...oh thank god I keep my boy at home. To the poster, I really hope you can play in the arena (notice I don't tell you to clean it up after), because I trust you're a decent girl who would anyway.x
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Your whole attitude to this stinks, if you slag off the hirer in the same way as youre doing on here, im not surprised they wont let you use it
 
Certainly wasnt expecting this to turn into a slanging match!! I understand why she doesnt want to hire it out, I am just hopeful we can come to some compromise. Unfortunately we kept missing each other last night, so will try again today.
 
Well, actually I cry every night about it...my pillow is always soaked with tears...sobs uncontrollably...truth is he begged me to stay, but I had got sick of hearing about his weird nature, can't only have been me, considering he couldn't keep hold of a livery due to his whingey nature...I'm now on my own land and my horse lives in a backyard of 8 acres, guess who won? Benson, sorry for your thread to turn into this, I was just empathic towards you and being let down, I hope you and your horse get the arena you want. Keep us posted, and Marydoll keep slateing, it makes me feel important. hugs.x
 
GOOD NEWS!!! She has taken my suggestion on board, and has agreed to me paying a deposit so that if I damage it, she keeps the deposit. So everyone is happy!!
 
Sounds sensible. Can totally understand YO's point of view ... and also yours as a serious rider. Compromise is always the way to go ;)
 
Cherrydan I'm with you on this. If you're on a livery yard with use of the arena, then you should be able to use it! Maintenance isn't hard, people poo pick after riding and YO harrows arena once a week. I leave yards with rules like: no lungeing in the arena, no using arena in the rain, no riding on an outside track etc etc. WTF am I paying livery for if I can't use the facilities?! Nobody should be having to spend an hour raking the arena after use (or licking the rubber pieces clean :p :D :D :D ). YOs should build the cost of their time for maintenance into the livery cost, or if not on livery the arena hire charge.
 
Sugar! Lol, thank you! Obviously you are an intelligent lil thing! Sometimes you get shot on here eh? Nevermind though, I'm a big girl :) Benson, I'm well chuffed for you, I bet ya can't wait! Have loads of fun.x
 
Cherrydan said:
Well, actually I cry every night about it...my pillow is always soaked with tears...sobs uncontrollably...truth is he begged me to stay, but I had got sick of hearing about his weird nature, can't only have been me, considering he couldn't keep hold of a livery due to his whingey nature...I'm now on my own land and my horse lives in a backyard of 8 acres, guess who won? Benson, sorry for your thread to turn into this, I was just empathic towards you and being let down, I hope you and your horse get the arena you want. Keep us posted, and Marydoll keep slateing, it makes me feel important. hugs.x
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If it keeps you happy :D
 
Kenzo said:
Maybe they would reconsider based on certain individuals, as they may not wish to advertise or encorage others to use it if certsin folk have not raked/poo picked/put poles away, might be worth going down in person and asking again explaining that you would and would only use it when it's free and convenient without upsetting fellow in house liveries etc, always worth asking again.
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This. Surely they can just make it clear that if any individual doesn't clear up after themselves then they're not allowed back, pretty simple. Put a big sign up at the door to remind them, I would expect pretty much everyone would support it.
 
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