putasocinit
Well-Known Member
Do speak to GM first and ask her to sort it out.
What to do about troublesome livery
- Thread starter Evergreen
- Start date
Evergreen
Well-Known Member
I have drafted a letter giving her (the mother) one month's notice on the arrangement. But if I can, I will speak to the GM first explaining my issues and see if she can sort it or I will be giving the notice.
The £27 includes mucking out my two horses at the weekends, so works out at £3 per muckout. It was done as a favour to them (and gives me some respite at the weekends), but the mother's attitude just stinks. I have been helping with vets etc for their pony which has kissing spines and was successfully treated with steroid injections a couple of years ago, but now is having a relapse. Everyone can see the poor pony is struggling and other liveries have told the girl so when she has asked. The mother has gone round them all telling them not to say anything about the pony to her daughter, and that I am just winding her up!
That there's nothing wrong with the mare, just intermittant lameness! So I have butted out. Her recent refusal to even acknowledge my texts or emails, just shows her contempt. Whilst I was happy to help her out in the past, this just kills any good will, and really I think that maybe I should just give the notice without talking to the GM first because of how resentful I now feel. I feel really sad though because the GM and daughter really are lovely people. I could not wish for better. 
The £27 includes mucking out my two horses at the weekends, so works out at £3 per muckout. It was done as a favour to them (and gives me some respite at the weekends), but the mother's attitude just stinks. I have been helping with vets etc for their pony which has kissing spines and was successfully treated with steroid injections a couple of years ago, but now is having a relapse. Everyone can see the poor pony is struggling and other liveries have told the girl so when she has asked. The mother has gone round them all telling them not to say anything about the pony to her daughter, and that I am just winding her up!
That there's nothing wrong with the mare, just intermittant lameness! So I have butted out. Her recent refusal to even acknowledge my texts or emails, just shows her contempt. Whilst I was happy to help her out in the past, this just kills any good will, and really I think that maybe I should just give the notice without talking to the GM first because of how resentful I now feel. I feel really sad though because the GM and daughter really are lovely people. I could not wish for better.
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Queenbee
Well-Known Member
I don't think that the thread was about how much op chooses to charge per week for mucking out. However, I don't think it is an excessive amount. I pay £10 per week just for turning out am... £4 a day (or just a little bit less) is not excessive, this includes bedding... They don't even have to pay for that separately!
Op I agree... Lock up the bedding, and if the mother gets narky... Suggest they get used to it, move, or you will stop allowing them to do the mucking out and revert back to your old system.
Sugar_and_Spice
Well-Known Member
You're all missing the point, which is that the OP isn't a DIY yard with muck out services. They're part/full livery only and have been doing these people a favour by allowing them to sort their own mucking out. To my mind its irrelevant which one of them is taking advantage, *someone* involved with that pony is taking advantage and OPs business is suffering a loss as a result. Time to stop the favours I say. Or give notice to leave, because if the mother is dishonest, how do you know the bedding won't continue to be taken anyway?
It's not about OP being responsible for the pony, the child or the grandmothers wellbeing if they have to move. OP is responsible for taking care of their own business interests. It's the mother who is causing a problem to the pony, child and grandmother if her behaviour causes them to have to leave. If OP wants to organize some way of minimizing their business losses whilst letting these people stay, that's their decision, but shouldn't feel they *have* to.
It's not about OP being responsible for the pony, the child or the grandmothers wellbeing if they have to move. OP is responsible for taking care of their own business interests. It's the mother who is causing a problem to the pony, child and grandmother if her behaviour causes them to have to leave. If OP wants to organize some way of minimizing their business losses whilst letting these people stay, that's their decision, but shouldn't feel they *have* to.
Tiffany
Well-Known Member
Could you store the bedding in a locked shed so they have to ask if they want any?
Queenbee
Well-Known Member
I didn't miss that... I think op has been pretty generous, and has gone out of her way to support this family and enable them to keep the pony at her yard. I think the mother is being ungrateful and rude. I really feel for you op x
Evergreen
Well-Known Member
Just to update, after a bad night, losing sleep over her mucking out for another month, I have emailed her today stating that I will take over the mare's mucking out with immediate effect. I can no longer stand them coming up at 8 pm and the poor horse standing in muck all day. What started out as a favour has just become a souce of stress for me. Her ignorance over replying, or should I say lack of replying to any text and email, and then getting her daughter to lie that she did reply, has lost any good will I ever had towards her. If she leaves now, so be it.
Spyda
Well-Known Member
Good for you OP. 
Enough is enough. You have been more tolerant that the majority of us on here would have been under the circumstances and the response you seem to have gotten from the GM is shameful since you were so concerned about upsetting her and were sparing her feelings. Shame on them. Poor horse too, stood in muck until 8pm most days; Few yards would find that acceptable on a regular basis, either. Chin up. You've done the right thing and don't let them get you down with any comments they're BOUND to make about how unfair it all is! We fully support you.
(((( Hugs ))))
Enough is enough. You have been more tolerant that the majority of us on here would have been under the circumstances and the response you seem to have gotten from the GM is shameful since you were so concerned about upsetting her and were sparing her feelings. Shame on them. Poor horse too, stood in muck until 8pm most days; Few yards would find that acceptable on a regular basis, either. Chin up. You've done the right thing and don't let them get you down with any comments they're BOUND to make about how unfair it all is! We fully support you.
(((( Hugs ))))
Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
You should not be made unhappy on your own yard it hard enough work as it is , I hope you can work it out in a stress free way as possible.
PandorasJar
Well-Known Member
That's good. If she carries on stressing you out then say goodbye. Short term you lose the livery, long term you'll gain someone who you and the other liveries are happy with and make the job enjoyable - as it should be.
Evergreen
Well-Known Member
Thanks everyone.
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Shysmum
Well-Known Member
Evergreen, just read through all this, and I have to say I think you've been very patient with this mother. It's great you have taken back the mucking out, but one thing I would say is this - this woman sounds like trouble, and could well make you feel uncomfortable on your own yard. She's taken the pee, and will really resent being caught out. And as for the pony having KS and no treatment, well she sounds like a right one.
Fwiw, in your situation, I would give them their notice, OR draw up a special contract that they have to sign, with wording in there about the pony's welfare/ ongoing KS treatment. Maybe even a week on week rolling contract. At the first sign of trouble, they get a week to leave.See where their loyalties lie then.
But tbh, i would get them off my yard - you cannot help someone who takes the pee out of you.
Good luck xx
Fwiw, in your situation, I would give them their notice, OR draw up a special contract that they have to sign, with wording in there about the pony's welfare/ ongoing KS treatment. Maybe even a week on week rolling contract. At the first sign of trouble, they get a week to leave.See where their loyalties lie then.
But tbh, i would get them off my yard - you cannot help someone who takes the pee out of you.
Good luck xx
Queenbee
Well-Known Member
This^^^Good for you OP.
Enough is enough. You have been more tolerant that the majority of us on here would have been under the circumstances and the response you seem to have gotten from the GM is shameful since you were so concerned about upsetting her and were sparing her feelings. Shame on them. Poor horse too, stood in muck until 8pm most days; Few yards would find that acceptable on a regular basis, either. Chin up. You've done the right thing and don't let them get you down with any comments they're BOUND to make about how unfair it all is! We fully support you.
(((( Hugs ))))
And this^^^