What to do about troublesome livery

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Evergreen

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Sorry this is long.

I have had a lovely welsh section D mare on livery with me now for six years. I get on well with the girl who owns her, and her Grandmother, but her mother's a nightmare. I love the pony as she is good with people and other horses and is a pleasure to do, including being easy to muck out.

I only do part and full livery but a couple of years ago when they were having money worries I agreed to allow the girl to muck out the pony in return for £27 off her weekly livery bill. Everything was fine at first as girl or grandmother mucked her out in the morning and did good job, being careful not to use too much bedding. Occasionally the mother would muck out and would throw everything out and use loads of bedding but it was only once in a while and so I said nothing.

Fast forward to the last few weeks and the mother and her BF have been mucking out every EVENING and using 5 sacks of wood pellets a week! For a 13.3hh pony!

I asked them about it and they denied it. But it kept happening. So I wrote to them saying that all horses would have 2 sacks put in a week by me and that all additional sacks will be charged at cost. But still they are coming after dark and using sacks of bedding. My emails have been ignored. I really like the girl and her GM and the pony, so what would you do?

Give them notice?

Say that the arrangement regarding muck out is finished (how much notice?

Try to work with them to teach them how to muck out correctly?

Thanks
 
what time of night are they coming up?? set a rule that they cant be up after x time without consulting you first..and lock the yard? also bill for the bedding they have used/wasted.
 
If they can't do as they are asked, I'd put the bedding somewhere that can be locked at night, even if that was in a lorry or horse trailer.

Would be a pity to make the girl forfeit when just being a bit devious even for a while, could put paid to the mother.
 
is it possible to lock away excess bedding and just leave out what they can use?charge them for the extra bedding, without a doubt. that's just ridiculous and rude if they have been told. Could you ask the grandmother or girl to show them the correct way?
 
Bill them and see what is said and then you can explain and go from there. If they do not agree, gave them a few weeks notice that the pony will be back on part livery rate and you will mucking out. If they are not happy it the there decision to leave
 
Luci07 said:
Can you lock away the bedding? or talk to the GM?
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LittleBlackMule said:
If they can't do as they are asked, I'd put the bedding somewhere that can be locked at night, even if that was in a lorry or horse trailer.

Would be a pity to make the girl forfeit when just being a bit devious even for a while, could put paid to the mother.
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Great idea! Thank you.
 
Lock up bedding immediately & put a letter in writing to them (hand to them at yard tomorrow) to say that as with immediate effect the temporary arrangement for mucking out has been terminated. The livery will now revert to that as in their contract (you do have one??).

Go - on, you know it makes sense :)
 
Unless you have too many of bales of bedding for this to be feasible numbers the bales and use them in number order write on them in big letters with black permanent marker .
Bill them for the bedding
Speak to the Grandma ASAP and explain that this needs to be sorted or you will have to serve them notice .
If its not sorted they will have to go, you will be losing money .
 
Tell them - verbally initially - that you're wondering where all your bedding is going!

Then work out exactly how much the pony in question would use over a week, and tell them that in the interests of economy you will mark/label "their" lot of bedding and that it is for their use and that they are to use that AND NO MORE for the week.

Lock the rest away. Tell them that unless they are more economic with the bedding you will have no option but to put up their livery fees (and do it!!!).

IF they come back after the week is up and/or go pinching other bedding; then work out how much £££ the extra bedding has cost you and put up their livery accordingly.

But personally I'd be inclined to do what others have suggested and tell them that sorry but in future from XXX date then the previous livery arrangement will revert.
 
I'd be doing as suggested by the Xmas furry. They can't argue with that!

Definitely lock it all away so they have to come and ask you for each bale. They're really taking the mickey here since they're getting so much knocked off the bill already just for mucking out. Think I'd be lucky to get 3 quid a day off on a similar arrangement! Good luck!
 
Lock it up definitely, even if its annoying for you it'll be worth it to stop them. I'd also be tempted to end the arrangement of them mucking out for a reduced fee, and I'd at least threaten them with that if they complain about you locking up the bedding!
Hope you get it sorted soon :)
 
The Xmas Furry said:
Lock up bedding immediately & put a letter in writing to them (hand to them at yard tomorrow) to say that as with immediate effect the temporary arrangement for mucking out has been terminated. The livery will now revert to that as in their contract (you do have one??).

Go - on, you know it makes sense :)
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This is the thing that would suit me best as the mare only takes me a couple of minutes to muck out. She's really tidy! But I know it will mean really bad feelings as it's going to cost them so much more.

putasocinit said:
Why turn the daughter, pony and gm away because of mother and bf, ban those two, not allowed on yard.
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It is the mother who I have the livery contract with unfortunately. :( But may be worth having a word. Yes.

Goldenstar said:
Unless you have too many of bales of bedding for this to be feasible numbers the bales and use them in number order write on them in big letters with black permanent marker .
Bill them for the bedding
Speak to the Grandma ASAP and explain that this needs to be sorted or you will have to serve them notice .
If its not sorted they will have to go, you will be losing money .
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I think as soon as I next see GM I will have a word. She's alovely lady. It would take me an age to go through all the sacks of bedding though as I order 100 at a time and have around 150 in stock. I will be moving them though prompto.
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
Tell them - verbally initially - that you're wondering where all your bedding is going!

Then work out exactly how much the pony in question would use over a week, and tell them that in the interests of economy you will mark/label "their" lot of bedding and that it is for their use and that they are to use that AND NO MORE for the week.

Lock the rest away. Tell them that unless they are more economic with the bedding you will have no option but to put up their livery fees (and do it!!!).

IF they come back after the week is up and/or go pinching other bedding; then work out how much £££ the extra bedding has cost you and put up their livery accordingly.

But personally I'd be inclined to do what others have suggested and tell them that sorry but in future from XXX date then the previous livery arrangement will revert.
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When I tackled them about it they said someone must be putting the bedding in! I AM going to lock it away in the first instance though. Trouble is, she is so bad at mucking out that I know the pony will NEED more bedding. That is the problem. She has a tiny bed. Just that all of it is brand new and she is having nearly a bag a night. When I put a sack in on monday, they made it look like she hardly had any bedding and added more on Tuesday! Then more today. :mad: Yes, it would suit me best to just take over the mmucking out myself.
 
Agree with the others keep bales under lock and key,if that doesn't work give the girl a months notice and state why and let the girl and grandmother take it from there if they disagree with you,you will be well shot or they will sort the mother out,but to honest I'd give notice as the mother will always be about and no doubt bad mouthing you.
 
Echo Bravo said:
Agree with the others keep bales under lock and key,if that doesn't work give the girl a months notice and state why and let the girl and grandmother take it from there if they disagree with you,you will be well shot or they will sort the mother out,but to honest I'd give notice as the mother will always be about and no doubt bad mouthing you.
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Yes she's a problem. She even sold a trailer with a rotten floor (as recently serviced and in excellent condition). :mad: So she has no problem at all lying to me. I am really torn to be honest. It will be a heafty increase in the livery. I should probably give them a month's notice on it and say that the arrangement will cease in one month's time.
 
Evergreen said:
Yes she's a problem. She even sold a trailer with a rotten floor (as recently serviced and in excellent condition). :mad: So she has no problem at all lying to me. I am really torn to be honest. It will be a heafty increase in the livery. I should probably give them a month's notice on it and say that the arrangement will cease in one month's time.
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That sounds more than fair .
 
Could you have a quiet word with the GM and explain what has changed in the bedding usage since the mother has started mucking out? Tell her you think you're going to have to put them back onto part livery again unless there is anyway they can quietly sort it out so that GM or daughter muck out again, otherwise in a months time it will be switching back..
 
number the sacks of bedding, big black marker pen, then you know which ones you use and more missing you can account for them. The bill them for it. Or you speak to the GM and say that the previous arrangement isnt working out
 
Put your bedding under lock and key, then leave 2 bags (or whatever is the amount per week) outside the stable every Monday.

I would target the whole yard though, rather than the pony owners, so that it's a blanket policy. It probably is the mother sticking new bedding in every day, but it might be someone else plumping up their horse's bed as well.
 
Evergreen said:
....It will be a heafty increase in the livery. I should probably give them a month's notice on it and say that the arrangement will cease in one month's time.
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This! Speak to the Grandmother and explain the reasoning if you need to, but you are running a business and you are being taken advatange of.

And definitely put all bedding/feed/forage under lock and key.
 
OP stop being so soft. If they want DIY livery let them move to a DIY yard. Their financial worries are not your problem. Imagine not being able to pay your rent and asking your landlord if you can go round their house and do a bit of cleaning instead! If the pony is easy to muck out and that's all they're doing, then I doubt they are doing 27 pounds worth of work for you each week. You've been very generous and kind and they are taking advantage.
 
Sugar_and_Spice said:
OP stop being so soft. If they want DIY livery let them move to a DIY yard. Their financial worries are not your problem. Imagine not being able to pay your rent and asking your landlord if you can go round their house and do a bit of cleaning instead! If the pony is easy to muck out and that's all they're doing, then I doubt they are doing 27 pounds worth of work for you each week. You've been very generous and kind and they are taking advantage.
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Yes BUT.. OP is thinking of the GM and daughter. Neither of whom are at fault. I prefer OP's solution now, which is to speak to GM, and give a months notice of the livery increase or no mucking out from the mother. Just because the mother is behaving badly doesn't mean that the OP needs to fall to her level!
 
Sugar_and_Spice said:
OP stop being so soft. If they want DIY livery let them move to a DIY yard. Their financial worries are not your problem. Imagine not being able to pay your rent and asking your landlord if you can go round their house and do a bit of cleaning instead! If the pony is easy to muck out and that's all they're doing, then I doubt they are doing 27 pounds worth of work for you each week. You've been very generous and kind and they are taking advantage.
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Err my YO charges £7 each muck out so you'd save £35 a week if you mucked out instead of her.

I'm on DIY there so don't have the issue, but just saying £27 isn't an exorbitant amount.
 
zandp said:
Err my YO charges £7 each muck out so you'd save £35 a week if you mucked out instead of her.
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Rather you mean that OP should be charging them £35 per week for mucking out the pony during the week! As it is, OP is not mucking out, has reduced their bill by £27 per week and is now getting through 5 bags of pellets per week, instead of the 2 when she does the pony for them. It's a no brainer to me.
 
I'm afraid I too think £27 is a lot of money off each week for just doing their own mucking out. Yes a one off muck out might cost £5 or more on a yard offering services, but several yards I've been on offer a complete week of mucking out at £3 a day. Most yard staff can muck out upwards of 4 stables an hour and are only on minimum wage so the discount is more than fair and shouldn't be taken advantage of.

Speak to grandmother first and explain your worries, then provide them with notice that the arrangement is coming to an end in 4 weeks due to unexpected rising costs.
 
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