What's the strangest yard rule you've come across?

Yikes!! Some of these are absurd :eek:
We dont have any real rules on our yard, just the usual tidy up after yourself etc
I visited a yard my friend was working at once, and was pre warned that i needed to make sure i was wearing jods or i wouldnt be allowed on the yard :confused: just for visiting?? haha :rolleyes:
 
No wonder I stopped doing livery - I found half of these perfectly normal!


LaurenB said:
Not as weird as some of these but on top of livery having to pay 50p a time for school lights to be on
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How rude - everyone knows electric is free, and even if it weren't, it wouldn't take much to light up a school...

slightlyconfused said:
The other was raking the school by hand after we have ridden......that was fun :( We used to do this every day years ago - no quad bikes etc in those days...

Xx
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Niddlynoo said:
If hay is put out in the field, please rake any leftovers a the end of the day!
QUOTE]
Can't really see why this is bad - why should the fields get covered in old damp hay that stops future grass growing and that nothing eats?

loverly said:
"If horses have ripped up fields, put back down the turf"
"Every visitor must be taken to Yard Owner"
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These two don't sound that bad - everyone should do their bit to look after the fields, and if other liveries had loads of people wandering around the joint - and youor stuff - wouldn't you want someone to have a rough idea of who is who and who should/shouldn't be there. A yard is often someone's home too - you wouldn't just invite anyone and everyone to a B&B you were staying at without asking...

Some of the others are quite funny, but a lot of liveries on here are coming across as having no idea of what a YO goes through or has to do to keep yards and fields in good enough condition for their liveries.
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Hedwards said:
I took my horse to university with me, and liveried at the university livery yard, the rule was that all jobs had to be done by 8 am (and i mean had to be done, you couldnt leave your mucking out until the afternoon) - considering every single livery on the yard was a student i found this very strange... needless to say we were always late finishing mucking out - normally due to a raging hangover!
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Actually I think that is sensible, no way should a horse be stuck in its own sh##t till two in the afternoon so some lazy "student" can lie in bed all day.
 
rule 1] do not come up earlier than we do, otherwise you are "catching us out"
rule 2] do not mount in the barn
rule 3] do not ride in to the barn
rule 4] do not tell us the horse is on full livery, and then arrive at the yard to ride out
rule 5] do not presume we are running a business just because you are paying us
rule 6] do not annoy us by your presence
rule 7] do not pay anyone other than the YO
rule 8] pay the yard person if you do not see the YO
rule 9] we have only one rule, that is do not feed your horse treats.
rule 10] b#gger off
 
Miss L Toe said:
Actually I think that is sensible, no way should a horse be stuck in its own sh##t till two in the afternoon so some lazy "student" can lie in bed all day.
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I think it's unreasonable to expect them to be mucked out by 8am - when I was a hung over student, I tended to go up and stick them out early and come back and muck out in the afternoon.

Or rather, if it weren't a college yard, I would think that :cool: At a college yard, you're obliged to keep it tidy / presentable for visitors and if you choose to stable there, you should just suck it up and deal with it :p
 
In fairness, the yard I said had strange rules didn't really. It was just the fact the manager had got his non horsey wife to write up the rules he needed. So stuff like 'no loose horses on yard' became 'horses to wear a headcollar at all times' according to my friend, they weren't literally enforced.
Our yard has unwritten rules about only switching on lights when needed & not wasting water but think that's fair enough.
 
Ellemoo said:
Yikes!! Some of these are absurd :eek:
We dont have any real rules on our yard, just the usual tidy up after yourself etc
I visited a yard my friend was working at once, and was pre warned that i needed to make sure i was wearing jods or i wouldnt be allowed on the yard :confused: just for visiting?? haha :rolleyes:
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I only have breeches, would I be banned?
 
My friend was a livery at a big livery/RS yard, the rules were about 4 pages long, most of it patronising and common sense, but some jumped out to me:

- No bareback riding (screwed if you enjoy it or don't have fitting saddle!)
- No jumping unless someone with you
- Hats and gloves to bring in horses
- No deep litter allowed
- No more than 2 haynets a night

Best one:

- No solo hacking


Could NOT believe that one! I'd never bloody ride if I didn't go out alone!
 
charleysummer said:
Ive been known to ride at around 10.30 pm and later! don't think they'd like me very much lol
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LOL!! makes me glad I livery on a farm! And as for "no loitering just ride, muck out go home" OMG!! They would hate my yard! We are a very social lot and love having a cuppa and a natter while doing the neds - it's all part of the lifestyle...
 
Having looked at about a dozen yards in the last 6 weeks or so, the weird rule that stuck out was one YO who said that she didn't allow broken fillet strings on turnout rugs to be replaced with baler twine :rolleyes:

I can see the logic behind some of the other rules ( i tread down big holes in the grass for example, always have done) but that just seemed bonkers :eek:
 
I had to deal with cuts yesterday due to a bailer twine fillet string :( it was at a college yard, so I had to wear black jods, a purple jumper and wear a hat when leading ;)
 
All the stupid rules are probably stemming from an insurance claim against the YO. If people took some responsibility for their actions yards wouldn't have to protect themselves so much

Health and safety gone mad :rolleyes:
 
Here are some:

- no riding in jeans, trackies or anything other than appropriate riding wear (jods/breeches, boots, chaps, etc.) not even those jean jods . . . this on a part/DIY yard
- no white electrical tape/posts - green or brown only - this on a solely DIY yard
- all clean straw bedding to be carried in large white bags around yard (to stop straw blowing everywhere) and all haynets to be carried in wheelbarrows (for same reason) - but yard never swept or leaf blower used - result? straw and hay everywhere!
- only one kettle in tack room (we need two in there for evenings when multiple folks are soaking feed and/or cleaning tack (we have no running hot water) otherwise things take forever)

P
 
Bills said:
... yard owner just leaves us to get on with it and it seems to work pretty well.
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Same here... Mr Farmer has only three rules...

Pay on time unless there's a prior arrangement...
Don't go mad with water (whole farm on a spring)...
I'm not a social worker - sort any disagreements out yourselves...

After reading some of the yard rules on here I think I might offer to do the remaining lambing or some such as a thank you for it all being so laid back...:D
 
Don't feed hay in the field unless neccassary.
Yes cos we all love wasting our money.
This particular yard had several rules, but they were ignored, as they only seemed to apply to some people, resulting in kids running round, and loose dogs everywhere.
Personally I think kids need to learn to be a bit careful round horses, and generally stay away from mine, as they aren't that quiet.
I would be happy with most of these, although some are a bit strange. I rake all loose hay in the field up when I have time in daylight, so generally once a week.
Would agree that being told you can't be there after 6 would be a no no, I'm with the riding till 10.30 lot there!
 
It's years since I was on a livery yard but the one I was on for years had few rules -

Before you bring horse out of the stable pick out its feet

When hacking out you must wear Hacking Jacket, hairnet if long hair and feet must be oiled (horses)

Yard opened at 8am - make arrangements if leaving earlier for shows

Yard closes at 8pm - close the gate behind you and remember we live on site so please leave quietly.

Unless an emergency don't visit YO after 7pm

I can well understand the yard that wants straw moved around in bags and haynets in wheelbarrows - to this efficient/lazy person that I am why make mess that you will need to clean up. I'm also the worlds tidiest mucker outer! Some of th eyards I've worked on in NZ have driven me near insane by the mess they make.

Had to laugh at the Full Livery details for Middleton Equestrian - do they not understand the term 'Full Livery'?
Full Livery should include absolutely everything, min 1hr exercise daily, all feed and bedding, all care, all vet nursing, wormer, farrier visit, grooming, tack cleaning show preparation. Otherwise - its just 'Half Full'!!!! :D
 
I left one because they wouldn't allow electric fencing of any colour - they just didn't like the look of it. Which wouldn't have been a problem if the fencing that I wasn't allowed to repair wasn't rotten & if they ever actually repaired it themselves. I was finally allowed to put some up for a short period to stop my horse with a leg infection getting in the pond, but after the arguments we had about that I was glad when I finally found a place with space for 3 a couple of weeks later.
I did an emergency fix tying a broken post to a tree with baling twine before I moved. I must have done a good job because 3 years later it's still the same!
 
Vicki_Krystal said:
A friend, who managed 3 weeks at this yard, had some very odd rules, however the barmiest rule ever -

You had to pick your horses feet out into a bucket.. then return the mud to the field the horse was turned out in..

The yard was always empty - not surprising really.
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This wins! Crazy!
 
one yard we had to poo pick the field with our hands to make sure we got every last scrap of poo up. if we didn't then we got a *******ing, the YO would stand over everyone to make sure it was done properly. if not then she would get on her hands and knees and scrape it up with her bare hands and you could see all the poo going under her finger nails!
another yard we weren't allowed to discuss anything about the horses (even our own) with anyone other than the YO.
 
Paint Me Proud said:
someone I know used to be on a yard where you werent allowed to tie your horse up outside the stable. I just dont understand that one!

But if you fancy making yourself feel happy about your yard read this livery contract for a local equestrian centre, it is a brilliant place but very strict - http://www.middletonequestrian.co.uk/downloads/liverycontract2009.pdf
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Actually this is a very good rule for obvious safety reasons! I was at a yard where one woman insisted on feeding her horse tied up outside her stable, there were several near misses and the stupid woman would never ever learn.
 
thank goodness i rent my own field and stables form a farmer!

the only rule is pay on the 1st of every month.... but if your going to pay late, ring and tell me.

thats it!
 
People are complaining about paying 50p for arena lights? Really!! Get a grip. That is fairly common around here but its normally £1 not 50p.

There's a large local yard that has a whole list of rules, some are rather absurd and I would never livery there.
 
Paint Me Proud said:
someone I know used to be on a yard where you werent allowed to tie your horse up outside the stable. I just dont understand that one!

But if you fancy making yourself feel happy about your yard read this livery contract for a local equestrian centre, it is a brilliant place but very strict - http://www.middletonequestrian.co.uk/downloads/liverycontract2009.pdf
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Either I'm reading that wrong or winter turnout is only on an all weather turnout area and in the summer 1/4 of an acre per horse?!
 
Back when I was showing, one of the most aggravating parts of the whole ordeal was wrestling my hair into a hairnet, as it's really thick and goes all the way down by back and didn't want to cooperate. To do that before every hack? Yech!

Does anyone else find that sometimes liveries make up rules?

My current yard has very few rules, which is fantastic. But one time shortly after I moved to the yard, I was going to ride in the outdoor school, which is of a reasonable size, and this lady was lunging her horse. I asked if it was okay to come in and she launches into this tirade about how it is a RULE that no horses are allowed to be ridden in the school while a horse is being lunged and how dare I even think I can do so. Had she said something like, "My horse is a bit silly and I'm not comfortable with someone else riding while I'm lunging her," I would have been cool with that. However, what I actually said was, "I don't think that's a rule." I had signed the boarding contract about three days beforehand and would have remembered that. She insisted it was. Then she admitted, "It was a rule at my last yard."
 
1. No lunging in the arena - ever!!!! (must use lunge pen, made of rotted woodchip - though unsuitable builders sand surface about a a foot deep, which made it unusable unless you wanted vet bills)
2. After you've taken your horse out, shut gate - hinges will drop!
3. No liveries on Yard after 7pm or your car WILL be locked in - no exceptions!!!
4. Hat for leading in and taking out to field!!!
5. Move hay in nets in barrows!!! Any one who disobeys will be asked to leave
6. Any pooh found outside field (and we know who you are) you will be asked to leave!!!
7. NO children under 16 to lead a horse - under any circumstances or you will be asked to leave
8. You must purchase hay from the livery owner
9. No bedding other than shavings
10. £50 deposit for tack locker key
11. No turnout in rain for liveries but those on full livery, turnout will be decided by YO
12. All horses in at 1.30pm every day
13. Pick out feet before leaving arena
14. £1 for use of lights
15. No use of coffee facilities on show days
16. No outside instructors
17. No dogs (though I loved that one!)
18. Farrier will be decided by Yard owner
19. Worming programme to be administered by YO and bill sent to clients

Any violations of above got huge red capital letters notes on their windscreens full of the same exclamation marks (!):D
 
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Ive been contemplating moving from my yard, but after reading this threadm think Ill stay put! Agree with moving hay etc in net or covered wheelbarrows as our yard is covered in loose stuff. Also a yard closing time, as we live on site and have had people coming up at 9.30 in the winter shouting and putting lights on disturbing the kids when they are in bed
 
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