Where do I stand with my livery yard and property damage?

P

PercyMum

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 June 2010
Messages
775
Visit site
I am selling my trailer as my horse won't load into it. Have it advertised as immaculate only to find when I showed somebody round it yesterday that the Yard Owners dogs have chewed all the plastic on the handbrake and it looks really awful. I feel I should say something but I get the impression that the YO will say its not her problem.

Although I know its left at owners risk, surely the dog chewing the handle isnt really on? Would I be unreasonable to expect her to pay for the damage?

I pay to keep my trailer there and my livery is £1000 per month (for 2) so I think that its a bit off that my trailer is damaged. And I wouldnt be so bothered if I wasnt trying to sell it!!
 
I expect the response will be exactly as you say - basically parked there at your own risk.

Actually, scrap that - if you are paying for it to be kept there, it should be covered by YO's insurance. Definitely speak to them about it.
 
I wouldn't be happy either.

Have a casual word with her if your 100% sure it was her dogs that chewed it. If it was just the plastic that was chewed, it shouldn't cost her too much to replace.

I get annoyed when peoples dogs ruin my things up the yard- especially when they pi$$ and sh**e on my new hay!
 
Does your contract say its parked at your risk ?
If it does I think although it would be nice if she replaces it I don't think there's anything you can do.
You will also have to be sure it was her dogs.
 
From another angle - are you 100% sure that its the dogs?

Two reasons -

1. Its a very strange thing for a dog to chew..

2. The rubber on my trailer perished, and came away, which, when I look back, looked like it had been chewed. (hubby is a mechanic and says it perished). Could the plastic be damaged in the same way?

We just wound insulation tape round it (black) and it looks fine again. However if i was buying a second hand trailer I would be wary of patched up wire. You'd probably get it replaced cheaply at a trailer outlet or garage. Would it look bad if you took the rest of the plastic off completely and left it metal?

If you were sure it was the dogs and it had happened on my yard I would definately sort it out for you.
 
If she has any sense at all she won't risk losing 1k a month in livery for the sake of replacing a bit of plastic and an apology.
 
Honey08 said:
From another angle - are you 100% sure that its the dogs?

Two reasons -

1. Its a very strange thing for a dog to chew..

2. The rubber on my trailer perished, and came away, which, when I look back, looked like it had been chewed. (hubby is a mechanic and says it perished). Could the plastic be damaged in the same way?

We just wound insulation tape round it (black) and it looks fine again. However if i was buying a second hand trailer I would be wary of patched up wire. You'd probably get it replaced cheaply at a trailer outlet or garage. Would it look bad if you took the rest of the plastic off completely and left it metal?

If you were sure it was the dogs and it had happened on my yard I would definately sort it out for you.
Click to expand...

Its not perished as the trailer is only 5 years old, and its definatelty teeth marks - suspiciously like her new puppy's teeth marks!! There are no other dogs up the yead so it can only be hers. Or could foxes have chewed it??

Its just its advertised as immaculate - and now it isnt!
 
PercyMum said:
Its not perished as the trailer is only 5 years old, and its definatelty teeth marks - suspiciously like her new puppy's teeth marks!! There are no other dogs up the yead so it can only be hers. Or could foxes have chewed it??

Its just its advertised as immaculate - and now it isnt!
Click to expand...

Mine was 5yrs old when it perished too.

Rats eat plastic - could it be them? Although a puppy would chew if left alone.

I'm not doubting you, just pondering.

I would play innocent - call her over to see it and ask her what she thinks did it..?
 
I have two giant dogs and the boy is only two and still acts like a puppy. He has chewed the plastc off all the wheelbarrow handles (all mine so not a problem, just annoying), and he would chew any hats, boots or brushes left out in the yard. For that reason I make it a rule that liveries do not leave the tack room open, or the stable block doors to the walk way. He has chewed up the inside of someones hat, and a set of travel boots. Both of these items I have replaced. But the chewing of the handbrake is a difficult one. One of my liveries horses decided to use the bonnet of our landrover as an arse scratching post and made a massive dent, ruining the appearance of the car, whilst we were in the field poo picking. The owner just laughed! :rolleyes:
I don't really think the YO should have to pay up for damaged goods, but it would be a nice gesture if they did. Perhaps though there should be a clause in the livery contract about the dogs. My previous livery yard owner had one for her yard. I may put one in for mine.
 
Rat chew marks are quite distinctive, as are dog chew marks. I'd investigate how much it would cost to replace the handle cover (if it's even possible!) and if it isn't a lot, mention it but don't make a big thing of it, asking if she can keep a closer eye on him, as he's chewing (depends how much you like the yard!). If you have to replace the handle, I'd make more of it. Trailers being left at their own risk tends to mean theft or criminal damage, not damage caused by YO or associates! Chances are she has no idea her dog is a chewer, although most pups do it at some stage.
 
Thanks all. I just wanted to know what peoples thoughts were. My personal feeling is that if one of my animals damaged somebody elses property, I would pay up and stop it happening again. I am also cross that the handle has been damaged but thats just me and i wanted to see if that was anyone elses thought. I don't want to make it a big deal but I don't think that it looks very good trying to sell a trailer with a chewed up handbrake handle.

Have tried googling to see if it can be replaced but no luck so far. Anybody else have experience of changing a handbrake cover?
 
PercyMum said:
Thanks all. I just wanted to know what peoples thoughts were. My personal feeling is that if one of my animals damaged somebody elses property, I would pay up and stop it happening again. I am also cross that the handle has been damaged but thats just me and i wanted to see if that was anyone elses thought. I don't want to make it a big deal but I don't think that it looks very good trying to sell a trailer with a chewed up handbrake handle.

Have tried googling to see if it can be replaced but no luck so far. Anybody else have experience of changing a handbrake cover?
Click to expand...

If I where the YOer and it looked like it was the puppy I would get another but as for stopping it happening again I would expect you to protect it somehow after that ,I would not be keeping the dog in over it.
If you wherent happy with that I would suggest nicely you found the trailer another home .
I don't understand why your first port of call was not discussing it with the person involved .
 
wench said:
Do you pay to keep your trailer there, or is it free.

If you pay complain; if its free, keep quiet.
Click to expand...

I pay to keep the trailer there.

Goldenstar said:
If I where the YOer and it looked like it was the puppy I would get another but as for stopping it happening again I would expect you to protect it somehow after that ,I would not be keeping the dog in over it.
If you wherent happy with that I would suggest nicely you found the trailer another home .
I don't understand why your first port of call was not discussing it with the person involved .
Click to expand...

I havent raised it with the YO as yet because I am trying to decide (hence this thread) if I am being unreasonable in stating that I am unhappy that her dog has chewed my trailer. And to be honest, I never would have thought a dog would chew my trailer so I never thought about keeping every bit of it under cover!!! Clealry once it is repaired, I will keep it protected. And I don't expect the dogs to be kept in, and a pre-requisite of any yard I go to is that I can keep my trailer there. If I couldnt keep it there, I would not be at the yard.
 
PercyMum said:
I pay to keep the trailer there.



I havent raised it with the YO as yet because I am trying to decide (hence this thread) if I am being unreasonable in stating that I am unhappy that her dog has chewed my trailer. And to be honest, I never would have thought a dog would chew my trailer so I never thought about keeping every bit of it under cover!!! Clealry once it is repaired, I will keep it protected. And I don't expect the dogs to be kept in, and a pre-requisite of any yard I go to is that I can keep my trailer there. If I couldnt keep it there, I would not be at the yard.
Click to expand...

What I was meaning was be careful I have heard of people round here getting their marching orders over less.
 
Goldenstar said:
What I was meaning was be careful I have heard of people round here getting their marching orders over less.
Click to expand...

Exactly!! Hence my asking for peoples opinions. Had i known the dogs chewed, I'd have perhaps thought about covering it but I didnt. Secondly, I don't want to rock the boat. Then again, I'm thinking of leaving but not until Jan next year. I personally would be mortified if it were me and my animals but we arent all the same!

Like I said, I wouldnt be so bothered about a chewed handle but I am trying to sell the trailer and it will need replacing for it to be sold.
 
I would just politely ask them if they think the dogs chewed it and go from there.. Not shouting or being rude. If they think it is their dog, they ought to help you..

As a quick easy fix, could you wrap a sticky tape round it to flatten it down and hide/repair the damage? Just so it looks smart again.. My husband did that with ours. He is a mechanic, so used a heavy duty tape from the garage - perhaps ask at your local garage if they have anything..
 
Honey08 said:
I would just politely ask them if they think the dogs chewed it and go from there.. Not shouting or being rude. If they think it is their dog, they ought to help you..

As a quick easy fix, could you wrap a sticky tape round it to flatten it down and hide/repair the damage? Just so it looks smart again.. My husband did that with ours. He is a mechanic, so used a heavy duty tape from the garage - perhaps ask at your local garage if they have anything..
Click to expand...

Yes, I agree with you and other posters - I think I should just very politely ask if she thinks her dogs may have chewed my trailer and go from there. Perhaps I could go down the route of 'Has there been any new dogs on the yard? Only something has chewed my trailer handbrake?'.
 
Agree with poster above re. the diplomatic route.

But IF OP you are paying for the privilege of keeping your trailer on the yard, then basically the YO assumes responsibility for the safety of it. I'm a YO and don't charge my livery to park her lorry here, on the basis that she does so at her own risk. Taking a fee for storing someone's trailer or lorry does imply a duty of care and therefore you would be entitled to claim for damage under the YO's insurance.
 
At first when I read this I thought that no it's your risk to leave it there-then I read that you were paying to keep it there so IMO the YO has a responsibility plus you're paying an awful lot. Surely it would be in YO best interests to be reasonable. At a yard I was in once, my YO Kept a guard dog running loose around the property at nights. This dog bit my horse. The YO let me off 2 weeks rent which more than covered my vet bill for the bite. Had he not I would have considered leaving. The same dog also chewed up a new feed bucket belonging to someone else, even though she had left it in the dogs area. He also replaced that!
 
Not a good yard dog if hes biting the horses :eek:

I'd go with the chatty 'hey is your pup still hungry?' sort of line. Anything too serious might be taken the wrong way. All pups chew if mine did it I'd be mortified and cough up.
 
Maybe have a chat about foxes? This time of year the cubs chew anything left around on our yard, that way its not too accusatory. But if yo says no sign of foxes, she's halfway to admitting it could have been the dogs.
 
Is it like this?
MySetup31.jpg


If so you should probably be able to buy a replacement rubber grip for it. Much like a Bicycle handlebar cover. You could call the manufacturer and ask?

As for the damage......if it is just the grip bit like that that is chewed, fin dout how much its going to cost ot replace.....if its under £20 say, I would just leave it - and cover the new handle in crib stop! That should put the puppy off.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top