UPDATE #2..."2 Days at new livery and already miserable"

claudiacox14 said:
amymay - yep we have a tackroom but it is just basically a huge room with shelves, one shelf per horse. Even more worryingly I have just discovered that "nobody really knows whos rug is whos, we just use whichever" (runs out to buy tin of neon paint to clearly mark up rugs). No lockable boxes sadly. Student house means the only space I get which is mine is my room, and its very boxy. There is literally nowhere to put anything horsey...we have a small kitchen, a small living room, and that is it.
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Neon paint is a god send :D Definitely keep them in your stable if you can, or in vacuum packed bags at home - under your bed or somewhere? I went through a phase of "using stockholm tar on my horse's hooves" and "accidentally" getting it on rug buckles etc, when I was on a yard like this. It's very helpful at preventing unused rugs from wandering, but a bit unpleasant if you forget before you use them yourself :D I used to put it on whip handles too after loosing 2 lunge whips in a month. Just keep a cloth handy to wipe it off before you use it ;)
 
I have a 3 bed house and I don't really keep anything at home, at my place head collors are kept hung up outside their stables, are used to put out/bring in horse and are hung back up after each time, even the lead rope is wrapping back up after each time. Out tack room is one long narrowish room, which is sectioned off into bays, that we are each allocated, everything I have is kept in this bay, tack, rugs, grooming bag, horse boots, my boots ect nothing is locked away and nothing ever goes missing. We have a rug room for larger bulkier rugs that are not cleaned. I'm lucky that there are only 9 liveries on my yard and the YO does all the work. But it is really not asking much for your stuiff not to go missing and not have to store everything away at home either.
 
Oh bless you, it's horrid when your somewhere bitchy. I had the same problem with my stuff being used at the last yard I was at, I don't mind but it was never put back or ended up broken or damaged in some way. It's a shame your so far away as I have a field all to myself now and you could come and share with me! I hate to see people upset, hugs xxx
 
The whole situation is awful but the thing about the rugs is so bad! I'm a student too and I would not want to keep replacing things I can't afford to! Imagine if they used a rug of yours and it came back ripped, I'm betting no open would own up to doing it therefore you'd be the one sending it off to get repaired. I get the odd borrowing of brooms to do a quick sweep and using the shovel to clear up the odd poo as long as they're replaced, but rugs, head collars etc I just do not understand the need!

Clean rugs, keep at home (in your boxy room, packed up).

Rugs that you are using you keep on a pole in your stable.
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That is exactly what I'd do, if you're really skint, you could use bailing twine at the back of the stable stretching from either end to hand rugs on. Make sure it's low enough so that you can reach but high enough so that horse doesn't have a chance of getting any limbs caught in it. Also make sure it's tight to the wall to reduce that risk. That really would be a temporary measure.

You could also get tags for rugs, or those white bands they use at hospitals with your horses name on and put it around the buckles at the front :)

It all seems very cliquey but I hope it gets better for you, tbh you shouldn't have to be locking your stuff away it's ridiculous!
 
I hope that things start to get better for you x

Regarding the walking equipment...
Buy some coloured cable ties and thread them through everything and anything you can - also a permenant marker and some gloss paint, mark as many things as possible :)

Also look on Freecycle, loot, freeads etc.. for a filing cabinet, there are a few of us on our yard who have one outside our stables... great for storing grooming kits in and anything else we want to keep handy, plus you can buy a replacement lock if it hasn't already got one!

Bike chains work well with wheelbarrows and tools too if it gets that bad ???
 
Right let me try and clear up the storage issue.

At the yard there is one room for tack and other bits and bobs that you need. I have his bridle, 2 saddles and passoa on one saddle rack. I then have one shelf which has his grooming stuff, bandages, medical stuff, high vis blah blah. Said shelf is about 3ft long and is two shelves high. Feed is kept in feed room, and I will soon be on assisted livery where feed is included so feed wont be an issue. I currently have his rugs in a pile in the corner but new rug shelves are currently being put up and rugs being moved to another storage space where anyone can help themselves I guess, so I am considering taking rugs which he doesnt need at the moment home. My room really has not got one inch of storage space left in it, not even if I used the worlds best vacuum packer. I have a diddly 3 door hatchback which is currently full of riding jackets, hats, footwear, his headcollar etc. As my car is parked on a road overnight, I would not consider leaving anything else in there really.

Basically, there is nowhere which is just mine and secure where I can leave all his stuff.

Think EBS hit the nail on the head, I should not feel like I have to lock things away really.

Fairy - will PM you. Fancy building a stable this eve? :D
 
Sorry to harp on, but of course you should expect to lock things away. You wouldn't keep thousands of pounds worth of valuables at home and leave your front door open, surely.

Anyway good luck, and I hope you find a resolution.
 
right well get a lockable storage box for up there, make sure its locked adn then your stuff will not go missing. How is hsi 'defect' that you never told us what it was?
 
Tell them your horse has a skin complaint which can be caught from sharing rugs ;) No one will touch mine since the pony got ringworm...they don't know they've all been washed and treated properly :) Same goes with all my numnahs and boots. They also all have tags or are named clearly. I'm not fussed about lead ropes, as long as I've got one hung up outside my stable it can be any. Everything else very clearly has my name on it and is left in a particular place. Also, I wouldn't worry about the YO. Most people on my yard have something to say about how I keep my horses, they simply don't realise I choose to have the dentist/physio when its quiet and most of them don't like the way I ride/produce my horses because they're either jealous I'm out competing and have two very smart ponies or they don't realise how fit, competition horses are meant to be kept. Everyone will have an opinion, just choose who's to take on board and who's to ignore :)
 
claudiacox14 said:
Thankyou everyone.

Im reluctant to leave because B really has settled...this morning he was fast asleep in his field lying down completely chilled, gave a little whinney and a roll when I went over to him. I worry that moving him again in such a short space of time could stress him out a fair bit. I also spent so long trying to find a livery yard that was affordable but offered everything I needed I doubt I would have much luck again, given I live in concrete city! :(
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Don't be using that as an excuse! Having a horse should be a pleasure... LEAVE. It's doubtful with a YO treating you like that already and other liveries and staff not respecting you, your horse and your belongings, that you'll ever be truly happy there. Who wants to be undermined like that all of the time and be paying for the privilege. Sure, your horse may find it unsettling briefly to move again but he'll settle soon enough. And it's often worth finding a yard with a nice atmosphere, over a yard with 'facilities'. Providing you can find somewhere where your boy can get the daily turnout time he needs, a decent stable and you have pleasant and helpful people around you to share chores with and ride out with - I'd move in a heartbeat.

I really feel for you as I know how horrible it is to feel undermined in a new place [HUGS]
 
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If your horse is settled then I would stick with it as possible. Too many people up sticks and change livery yards at the drop of a hat not even considering their horse. At least you do. It is his home, after all, and the most important thin IMO is that the horse is happy.

On the bright side, you have made a new friend, so not all of them are horrible. I agree, the YO sounds a bit of a control freak and the liveries seem to have a bit of a relaxed attitude to 'sharing', but it could be worse. I have known of quite terrifying YOs, alcoholics, violent, abusive, cruel, or just plain dishonest, you name it. There is nearly always at least one disagreeable person on a yard. Goes with the territory I'm afraid. There ARE some near perfect yards out there too, but most will have some drawback, be it turnout, hacking, lack of school or people. I hope you settle better soon.
 
I'm so sorry to say this but please leave this yard!!! If the yard owner is like that, then the problem will never solve. Which is a shame! Your horse sounds lovely and you sound lovely, please don't let other people spoil your fun x x x
 
JFTD said:
Neon paint is a god send :D Definitely keep them in your stable if you can, or in vacuum packed bags at home - under your bed or somewhere? I went through a phase of "using stockholm tar on my horse's hooves" and "accidentally" getting it on rug buckles etc, when I was on a yard like this. It's very helpful at preventing unused rugs from wandering, but a bit unpleasant if you forget before you use them yourself :D I used to put it on whip handles too after loosing 2 lunge whips in a month. Just keep a cloth handy to wipe it off before you use it ;)
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Love the Stockholm Tar bit!!

Stick it out, label everything, I used to thread ribbon through the twist in my lead ropes so that they didn't get confused with others, labelled everything and had a wooden trunk with a padlock on it for stuff that wasn't required by the livery yard to care for my horse.

YO was rather unprofessional to questioin the dental care of your horse, but at least she cared enough to ask.
 
Thanks everyone :)

Suzie T - I did reply to you in a previous post about it. Its a conformational difference, not a "defect" so to speak, it will not get worse it will not get better, that is how he is made and it doesnt bother either of us :)

Persephone - I have made it clear all along that I know everyone is probably just trying to be honest and helpful, I have just personally found the way some things have been said to be quite hurtful and probs taken them a bit to heart. My horse is happy, the facilities are great, it is just me and my expectations thats the problem having never been at a livery yard!

Amymay - things are locked away from outsiders, but not from others within the yard. Of course at home I keep stuff secure from outside intruders, but I do not feel like I need to lock things away from my family and friends! Just as all his equipment is locked in a secure area, but can be accessed by people within the yard.

lilaclomax - absolutely not to the extreme of bikelocks! Just little things that probs arent a big deal, think things are just building up a bit :)
 
Well hopefully YO will have a bit more respect for you following the dentist saga. I’m on a yard of 50 and tbh there’s never an issue with others lifting your stuff, YM just wouldn’t tolerate it. How big is your stable, could you not have a locker or cupboard in there so it’s more private? Personally if your horse is happy I would stick with it and do whatever you can to make it bearable for you.
 
I think you've hot the mail on the head op - you've never been on a livery yard. And it's a learning curve. Even on the best, most honest and secure one I would still expect to have a lovable box for my stuff - and in all cases have been provided with one, or had provision for me to bring my own.

Remember, and without casting aspertions, these are not friends or family.

It would also be interesting to know what the insurance cover would be in the case of a tack room break in. The YO's liability will only cover so much. And again yards I have been at have actively discouraged, and in some cases forbidden, the overnight storage of tack and and an excesses of rugs.
 
amymay said:
I think you've hot the mail on the head op - you've never been on a livery yard. And it's a learning curve. Even on the best, most honest and secure one I would still expect to have a lovable box for my stuff - and in all cases have been provided with one, or had provision for me to bring my own.

Remember, and without casting aspertions, these are not friends or family.

It would also be interesting to know what the insurance cover would be in the case of a tack room break in. The YO's liability will only cover so much. And again yards I have been at have actively discouraged, and in some cases forbidden, the overnight storage of tack and and an excesses of rugs.
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I havent been offered one and I havent seen anyone else with one so I would feel a bit awkward asking to be honest, besides there isnt really room for anything like that to go, every last inch of space is taken up!

Interesting about the insurance. I do have his tack insured, but his rugs and general grooming stuff etc is not covered...might be one to look into. Everyone stores everything at the yard, I havent seen anyone who takes things home. Unfortunately for me taking things home at night as I have said just is not practical, I need to be able to store stuff there.

Anyways, a tad off track! But thankyou anyway
 
Totally shocked, if this is what livery yards are like I'm glade I share a yard with friends, sod that I would be leaving and not putting up with the way you have been treated.
 
I do remeber your first post and im sorry its still not resolved...

Ive just invested in 2 of these, one for my rugs in the feedroom and one in my tack room for my expensive bits or my nice stuff i dont want to go missing .... my other half has drilled a hole through the lid and front and ive put a combination padlock through both!! Works a treat...:D

http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wc...ay?langId=110&storeId=10151&partNumber=990358

i appreciate your a student but they are the cost of a night out as someone else said you could always ask for Christmas

Also if space is tight you could maybe put outside your stable....???

K x
 
So sorry to hear you are having a bit of a hard time - sounds like you may get on at a smaller yard but I know they are hard to find in right area etc. I have only been on 2 yards - one with locking tack room each and one with shared tack room - nothing was ever borrowed or went missing !!

AND I certainly wouldnt want anyone using my rugs !! could you hang a rail in the back of the stable and hang your rugs in there ? alot of people used to do this at one yard - one horse even lived with all his wordly posessions at the back of the stable ! tack/rugs/grooming kit etc ! bless him he never touched it ! mine would have destroyed it !

Hope it all improves - give yourself a timescale - say a month - and if it hasnt then move !

May also be worth asking in a subtle way the person you hacked out with how they cope with the rug/borrowing issue !
 
Buy a large toy box and lock all your stuff away, head collars and all. Put your name on everything and make sure you keep it tidy so nobody can complain (not saying that you don't already). Leave a note saying that you'd rather people ask for your permission before using your stuff, leave it to the whole yard so you're not accused of pointing fingers and make sure you tell the YO the situation. Take the head collar off the horse, the owner should have asked you and you need to use it so don't even tell them, its their problem if they don't have a head collar. Keep looking for a different yard if you hate this one so much, something will come up, I found my yard through word of mouth and I love it :)
 
RANT STARTS HERE:
The yard I am on is a bit weird, no one buys yard brushes, there was only one huge one until I donated one, but it used to keep disappearing, there are numerous barrows, and they are often left outside my stable, sometimes with poo stuff in them, I have bought a bale of shavings and leave it where people put the barrows, and have stuck said barrows outside or in to a spare stable. The YO is as guilty as all the rest, I just don't understand why things are abandoned any place, it must be easier to keep things in one place rather than all over the place, apart from anything there are H&S issues!......... my goodness I am becoming an officious old bat!
It must be obvious, that I like things to be reasonably clean and tidy [and I assure you I am not obsessive], I sweep and wash down every day, I never see anyone else doing it, my two good haynets were in regular use [by the YO], I got one back, but the other, I had to remove from another stable [it was empty at the time!] YO completely unfazed when I told him why I removed it.
I have lent stuff, and have had it a) stolen [had to go to someone's house to get it back, and b) just not got it back: I understand my spare numnah is being used by someone else in the yard who has two horses!!!!!
There is no malice in the yard, but really, who behaves like this, it is a small yard, [quite a big turnover], and I know from past experience in livery yards things never improve, and you have to live with it.
RANT OVER: I feel a bit better.
OP, you will need to make a stand, as otherwise you are going to leave, if you say nothing, things could even get worse, and you will leave anyway.
 
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Sorry to hear you're having these problems.

I think the thing to determine is whether the YO is being b*tchy and spiteful, or is actually well meaning but just pushy and interfering.

If its the former, then it will probably get worse and worse and I'd advise you to leave as soon as you can - those types of places make you miserable.

If its the latter, then as irritating as it is, you're probably best developing a thick skin and getting on with it. I've been on numerous yards, and most YOs has been like this to a varying degree - they think they know best and shove their oar in to the way you look after your horse - but most of the time its harmless and you can nod and smile and pretend to agree and then just carry on doing things the way you want. Its only if it gets to the point that they are physically interfering with your horse, or becoming downright obnoxious about it that its a real problem.

As for the stealing - unfortunately that's just how things go at livery yards, but it is incredibly irritating. I suggest writing your name on everything - and if you see anyone using something, make a point of asking them directly (politely of course) if they can ask before using, and return afterwards.
 
It sound like a real clique. YO interfering, all the time and gossiping with other liveries causes people to develop bad feeling and isolate and bully, no rules so noone knows where they are - the place sounds like its unprofessional and developing itself a reputation. Btw, by careful what you are posting, it's surprising who reads the forum.
 
KerryDevon said:
I do remeber your first post and im sorry its still not resolved...

Ive just invested in 2 of these, one for my rugs in the feedroom and one in my tack room for my expensive bits or my nice stuff i dont want to go missing .... my other half has drilled a hole through the lid and front and ive put a combination padlock through both!! Works a treat...:D

http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wc...ay?langId=110&storeId=10151&partNumber=990358

K x
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Great boxes - Have just ordered the mini shed and storage box for the tack room - Thanks !!
 
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Buying some lockable boxes is def the way to go. TBH when it comes to borrowing I have learnt over the years to say NO no matter what. Not because im mean, but ive found - 'yes you can borrow my mucking out tools' quickly turns into 'where are my tool when I need them!!!! At 6am I dont have time to mess about. DIY yards are just that - buy your own stuff. Not returning is unacceptable, theyll see you as a soft touch coz you're new. Be polite, and say stop it!

My advise would be, keep a cheery disposition so people dont think you're arsey. Negative comments about you or your horse - use sarcasm as a response, many dont dont understand;). I have an ancient dippy backed Arab that got all sorts of comments, my response - 'you'd have a dippy back if you'd had my fat bum sitting on you for 20 years'! Mostly the comment was in fun, occasionally not, but once folks know you dont care or listen to them, they shut up! If they comment on your riding, say something like ' what!!! you mean i'm no Anky? I'd never have know:) ) Yards throw together a whole range of people from different backgrounds and it there are always going to be those that you dont get on with etc. The problem comes when that person is the YO. Then its time to move, coz they make the rules and in some cases cause the trouble and there is nothing you can do about it.
 
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