What are they thinking???

S

StormyGale

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 March 2012
Messages
463
Location
somerset on them ther hills!
Visit site
Sorry this is a rant! but i think well founded:

ive recently moved my horses to a yard (some of you may have read my other post) lovely lady kind hearted - bit deluded but sweet enough - treats ponies a little too much like pets - feeds titbits 24/7 for everything because its sweet and 'they like them' and lets them get away with murder dragging her around - headbutting her because they don't want to be bridled 'because he's upset at something - or her? ' - no his being bolshy (que me walking up to said pony presenting it the bridle - he puts his head in it perfect saint ( just knows it wont work with me!)
Anyway i get home from work the other day and to add to long list of stupid things i see her two (one horse one pony) walking around the yard? im thinking oh god they've got out?? run up to the yard to see her husband mucking out their stables - while her horse (15.3) is touching noses with my very well behaved and laid back three year old and proceeds to push his head through top of door and start eating his hay - i go over and push horse out and suggest its probably not safe to be lettign horses out on yard where (a) they could get out (b) (more politely than this) get their head kicked in from pushing into my horses stable and (c) the yard is on slope and with all the rain ive been careful to lead mine across it for fear they may slip yet they have two horses merrily freely trotting and walkign about - not to mention - i need to muck my horses out (tie up outside the stable) which i cannot do with two other horses out loose , and everytime i go through the small gate to hay store i'm followed and then ambushed by the horses which are hungry - i also cant fill up water buckets as her horse delights in tipping them over and since its loose i cna't even leave water bucket by tap. After id poitned out the dangers he simply said - ' ah i know what you mean but it is cute isn't it when they say hello to each other and they do the little squealy pleased thing' - uh no - no it is not because that is usually a que from my tb ex racer that hes about to knock your block off - more worryingly im worried that their horse will kick my young one - hes not the brightest and very laid back but their horse is fiesty and if he goes for food and doesn't get it im worried my lad will end up decapatated. sorry this is so long but am i over reacting??? sorry i just work my butt off for my horses and they have plenty of money to pay for vets bills if they make silly mistakes - plus my young horse is to compete on - i dont' think his brain will function well with a hoof size chunk missign from his head! sorry !! am i being over pedantic!
 
Last edited:
I've never done this myself (never been on a yard where I had responsibility for all the horses/people involved so wouldn't have been my call even if I wanted to) but I have seen it done with no apparent issues. e.g. a veteran (30ish) pony at a riding stable who would wander around the yard (better for old joints than stabling) when the others were brought in and 'beg' for treats by shaking a front leg.

In fact I have seen whole herds let out of stables onto a yard and then allowed to run themselves back out to their fields. which obviously means they are in the situation you describe for a short time.

If the horses are turned out together with out issue then having one loose on the yard might be OK under supervision? They do need to know to 'back' when asked to around gates etc though.

If not then I'd not even consider it.

And it doesn't seem 'normal' for a livery yard.

Are there many liveries or is it a small private place?
 
No I wouldn't be happy either

If it's her yard I don't think there is much you can do though. I guess stable door grills are an option but not a very satisfactory one
 
It's hard to say really. I feed one of mine treats 24/7, leave her loose a lot, & both wonder round the indoor barn & yard while I'm there. However both far from bad mannered & never do it when they would be in others way & don't go poking their head near other horses. And certainly not while others tied up. So while you have a point if they are affecting you or your horses, if hers are bad mannered & bolshy or she chooses to have them loose in principle, that's her business.
 
Its just me and her we both rent the stables half each so to speak - i know what your saying about letting them out for a walk about and i totally agree with that but we have an arena at the end of the yard literally where the yard stops is the gate to the areana so not sure why they don't put them there as they do 90% of the time.

i wouldn't mind if all the horses were used to each other but they aren't her horses go out and mine go out together but not all - if you understand what i mean. Her horse kicks out a lot and i would be worried about him kicking mine and also the fact that although my ex racer doesn't kick people or horses if her horse or pony put its head over the door of his stable which has weave bars on i think he would get protective and probably place a well placed warning in their direction which again - i don't want a vets bill for that if their pony is in teh wrong
 
Is it something they have done when there has only been their horses on the yard perhaps. I have my own place and I leave mine loose on the yard all the time but it doesn't affect any one else. Must confess as I live on a lane that only goes to the farm further up I have been known to leave my elderly mare (now gone, bless her) out on the lane to graze. She wouldn't wander off but I am sure some people who rode past weren't impressed by a loose horse! :D
 
Sorry OP I find your post almost impossible to read.

Paragraphs would help a lot, plus punctuation and a bit more attention to spelling. This isn't just me having a go, it's just that if people can't work out what you're trying to say, it's hard for them to respond properly to the content!
 
I think someone should only consider doing what this guy has done when they understand the risks of their actions and the characters of the horses involved. The quote ' ah i know what you mean but it is cute isn't it when they say hello to each other and they do the little squealy pleased thing' does rather imply that he doesn't actually have a scooby.
 
Could you suggest that you could make a small 'play area' (putting it in her fluffy terms!) either just inside a field or by sectioning off the yard if it's big enough?
 
This does not sound like the yard for you. It's a shame but I honestly think that if you can't sort it amicably then, get looking again.
 
WelshD said:
Could you suggest that you could make a small 'play area' (putting it in her fluffy terms!) either just inside a field or by sectioning off the yard if it's big enough?
Click to expand...

Yeah i suggested them putting the horses in the 'all weather arena' and said they would be safer in there - but he said that its nice to give them a change! think i'll just have to bite my tougue and suggest a little firmer next time -
 
If it's thd husband that dies it could you have a word with the wife? Perhaps she actually wouldnt condone it
 
Advent Sparrow said:
I think someone should only consider doing what this guy has done when they understand the risks of their actions and the characters of the horses involved. The quote ' ah i know what you mean but it is cute isn't it when they say hello to each other and they do the little squealy pleased thing' does rather imply that he doesn't actually have a scooby.
Click to expand...

oh yes they are totally clueless and very airy fairy which is lovely, they are nice people just very laid back and think that nothing will every go wrong, and everyone and everything just floats along nicely and all animals get on and no one ever falls out etc.

I don't want to be horrible to them or nasty but at the same time they just have no clue and then end up asking me to do things for them - I guess you can't change some people - do love the scooby doo quote though ha ha
 
I always let my horses wander around the yard when I'm mucking out, it has never caused a problem. I have 14 horses and they don't all go out together but certainly they couldn't kick one another through the stables (that's how I read it - your horse is stabled, theirs is loose, right?).

I have to say though that if someone came down to the yard while horses were out and that person needed to tie a horse up outside, then I would catch the horses. Or if I have to have one tied up I don't then leave one loose.
 
If I were in your position, I would either grab a headcollar and call over to the owner that I'm just going to tie up the horses while sorting out my horse, as I wouldn't want any accidents or that I'm putting the horses in the school. Be nice and polite about it, and actively do it, rather than asking them if that's ok.

ETA: ordinarily I would ask the owner to tie up their horse rather than do it for them, but from what the OP has written, it sounds like they may just wave that suggestion away without any thought as to why they're being asked to do it.
 
Last edited:
Scrooge said:
I always let my horses wander around the yard when I'm mucking out, it has never caused a problem. I have 14 horses and they don't all go out together but certainly they couldn't kick one another through the stables (that's how I read it - your horse is stabled, theirs is loose, right?).

I have to say though that if someone came down to the yard while horses were out and that person needed to tie a horse up outside, then I would catch the horses. Or if I have to have one tied up I don't then leave one loose.[/QUOTE

i know what you mean scrooge its more the fact their horse sticks its head right inside my horses stable and their horse bucks and kicks out so although not in the stable my horse could have its head out of his stable and theirs could kick him. I think its more a curteousy thing like you say if they could tie theirs up when i need to do mine that would help
Click to expand...
 
Ruth_Cymru said:
If I were in your position, I would either grab a headcollar and call over to the owner that I'm just going to tie up the horses while sorting out my horse, as I wouldn't want any accidents or that I'm putting the horses in the school. Be nice and polite about it, and actively do it, rather than asking them if that's ok.

ETA: ordinarily I would ask the owner to tie up their horse rather than do it for them, but from what the OP has written, it sounds like they may just wave that suggestion away without any thought as to why they're being asked to do it.
Click to expand...

I can see the posts on here now! "My horses were having their usual gentle mooch round the yard I share, as they do everyday, when the other livery came up and caught them and put them out in the arena without so much as asking"! Cue major outrage at "Other livery" daring to touch someone else;s horses.

Anyway, as I type this a couple of my horses are mooching round my yard and it's really time to go and get them in and let another couple have a wander about. My yard, my choice:D
 
Sorry OP but I couldn't help but find your post quite amusing. If I was you, I would just 'go with the flow' and let mine out to have a wander too. I can't really seem any harm in it and as long as there is nothing for them to hurt themselves on or any way they could escape, your horse would probably quite enjoy it.

If this woman annoys you that much then I would just move yards.
 
*hic* said:
I can see the posts on here now! "My horses were having their usual gentle mooch round the yard I share, as they do everyday, when the other livery came up and caught them and put them out in the arena without so much as asking"! Cue major outrage at "Other livery" daring to touch someone else;s horses.
Click to expand...

:D I thought as I posted that someone might think I'm in the business of manhandling other peoples' horses (not suggesting you were :) ), but going on what the OP has posted about the owners' personalities, the above would be my most likely course of action. Had it been different owners but the same situation, my course of action may well have been different.
 
I am on a small 4 horse yard, one being mine. And all of ours wander loose on the yard, especially with the fields being so destroyed at the moment!

Cant say I really see it as a problem, nor have any of them kicked one another through a door? ;) they all have a look in eachother stables (say when two are out and two are in) have a few squeels but thats as far as it goes! They all live together 24/7 though.

If it does concern you though I would sit down and speak to the owner, explain your issues and see what you can come up with between you to solve the issue!
 
CobsGalore said:
Sorry OP but I couldn't help but find your post quite amusing. If I was you, I would just 'go with the flow' and let mine out to have a wander too. I can't really seem any harm in it and as long as there is nothing for them to hurt themselves on or any way they could escape, your horse would probably quite enjoy it.

If this woman annoys you that much then I would just move yards.
Click to expand...

I can see that quite a few people do it so maybe im just worrying too much - i think its their lack of knowledge i worry about and therefore what they do sends me into a spiral worrying about what they will do next lol thats true maybe just let them all out for a party lol - like other people say maybe keep an eye out and if need be gently guide them into said arena and 'accidently' shut the gate for the time im mucking out. thanks everyone - sorry probably came accross as a right cow but im not honest just probably overly concerned and worrying about their inexperience too much at the end of the day my horses are ok - so i guess just go with the flow
 
Last edited:
My YO (I'm moving this weekend) stables her horse 24/7 when its wet. So when she mucks out she lets them all out on the car park. there are 6 of them and it means not being able to come through the gate with my car as the gate opens straight onto the road. Also means when I take my horse onto the yard (hes out 24/7) he's ambushed by the others who are bored and hungry. Really annoys me to be honest. But I'm off to pastures new so hopefully be different at the new place :)
 
Is the yard big enough to just put electric tape or something across & divide it in two? Then you can both do whatever you like in your own halves?
 
Haven't experienced a problem with loose horses on the yard, not much different from being loose in the field really.
However, as you're new on the yard it might save you stress to move elsewhere before their approach becomes a source of irritation.
 
horserider said:
Haven't experienced a problem with loose horses on the yard, not much different from being loose in the field really.
However, as you're new on the yard it might save you stress to move elsewhere before their approach becomes a source of irritation.
Click to expand...

Not the same at all.
In the field they are all free to move in and out of each others space. Hay is normally out in enough piles/grass that they don't have to be on top of each other and would normally have a fair acreage.
Half in a yard, half in stables and they don't have that option and have a small space to all be in. I know plenty of horses who are out together who would take a horse head off if it shoved it's face in their stable and nicked their hay.

All out in a yard is one thing, but half in and half out I wouldn't be too happy about, and if dangerous surface I would not be happy at all.
I'm not a fan of letting horses run back to stables all together either.
 
This used to happen a lot at my previous yard. Started off by a girl letting her oldie wander around the yard which was ok - he never wandered far or got in anyones way.

Then everyone wanted a piece of it and turned their horses out onto yard and watched while they trotted round winding up all the stabled horses. Really irritated me to get to the yard in the morning, struggle to turn out because of all the horses AND have a trashed bed because my horse has been stressed by others looking into her stable.

Done occasionally and with consideration to others, it's acceptable but usually this won't be the case and can be an accident waiting to happen.

OP I ended up putting metal sheep rails around my stable door to keep other horses away - bit of a pain to have to keep opening and shutting them just to get to my stable but, it did keep the horses away.
 
well it seems alot of people have or do do it - so for now ill let it be probably over -reacting a little by the sounds of things so will wait and see - maybe i could always let my boys out in the arena for a run about if their using the yard and then mine are out the way while i muck out too - thanks everyone will remember to breathe and take it easy for now see how they get on before i go doign anything drastic - they are lovely people just not horsey so don't want to majorly fall out etc ill just leave them to theirs and ignore what they do.
 
I actually get where you're coming from OP. One winter here 2 liveries decided their horses couldn't go out in the snow or would die. So the better alternative was to let them roam the barn aisle. When I came out sparks were flying from their shoes in the 12ft by 60 aisle. Really don't care except for the actual crap in my part of the aisle, my hay pulled everywhere, and my brush bag tossed about. Oh and eating my hay. They could not for the life of me understand why I was beyond annoyed. Even said our horses have a right to exercise. WTF? But ok to pull my crap asunder, eat my hay? Then about a month ago I come out for 9pm checks and see 2 stables tossed and I said to hubby, well this isn't normal. Thinking the worst. Actual owner says, well we let so and so for a wander. I said why wasn't my board up(my end is divided by me). I took it down for a sec. I just was like why?

Squealy and kicky is great fun when you're the one paying the vet bill for kicked walls. And you weren't the one letting horses go for a wander. I also don't like other horses eating stuff I pay for. Wow, how rude of me.

Find a new yard. It's not worth the vet bills you most definitely will end up paying. Because that's how these things work. Nobody cares what anyone does on a private yard but when you share it's nice to be considerate.

Terri
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top