WHY do people have horses if they find them such a chore ?

I work full time and I love my horses and they have everything they need,. However, sometimes I don't have time that I would like to spend with them, sometimes I am very tired and under great pressure from a variety of sources and feeling I am failing at everything and letting everyone down so yes, sometimes I am very miserable and sometimes I don't say much and sometimes I even have a little whinge, sometimes I don't sweep the yard perfectly and sometimes my horses are muddy too, and sometimes other people turn out and bring in for me, as I do for them, because we all are in the same boat and just want to survive the winter doing the best we can for our horses so they are bought in and out at reasonable times of the day.

People who have all day to spend on the horses and do everything to a high standard all the time and never need help are very lucky and they shouldn't be so judgmental and assume that those who can't meet those standards are lazy or don't care about their horses.

Yes, I could have written this!
 
People experiencing difficulties are not the same as people who can't be bothered. Most of us are sympathetic and offer help when they see someone struggling due to circumstances.

Those who can't be bothered shouldn't bother. Get a bicycle instead.
 
It's reading posts like this that reminds me again why I am not on a livery yard and would poke my own eyes with pins before I went back to such a place! There are days when I have had a tough day at work (I work full time in a demanding job) when filling bags with haylage, in the rain, does not see me at my happy smiley best. To think that some twonk would then deem that I should not have a horse, because I am not a little ray of sunshine, would absolutely put the tin lid on the day for me. I really do think that if more people at livery yards spent more time thinking about their own motivations, rather than those of others, livery yards might be better places.

Having read lots of your posts and agreed very much I'm surprised by this post, not really like you.

I too have a youngster suddenly and unexpectedly in with an abcess so can sympathise with grumpiness.

I can assure you that she has no time for fools or those who don't mind their own business and leave others to get on with theirs.:smile3:
 
People experiencing difficulties are not the same as people who can't be bothered. Most of us are sympathetic and offer help when they see someone struggling due to circumstances.

Those who can't be bothered shouldn't bother. Get a bicycle instead.

But how do you know their circumstances?

Not everyone goes around giving the intimate details of their life to people, nor should you expect them to.
 
It's reading posts like this that reminds me again why I am not on a livery yard and would poke my own eyes with pins before I went back to such a place! There are days when I have had a tough day at work (I work full time in a demanding job) when filling bags with haylage, in the rain, does not see me at my happy smiley best. To think that some twonk would then deem that I should not have a horse, because I am not a little ray of sunshine, would absolutely put the tin lid on the day for me. I really do think that if more people at livery yards spent more time thinking about their own motivations, rather than those of others, livery yards might be better places.

Spot on, excellent advice, OP

SM you know if you think about the yard you are on and what's been going on it does not suprise me that is not all sweetness and light on your yard ATM .
The other two liverys where never going to be thrilled that you declined to join their nice little job share rota.
And considering the lack of control that was shown by one when you said no I think it's a given tha she's moaning on now.
It up to the individual if they ride or not I personally would not keep a horse as a pet but people do and as long as its needs are met I don't see the issue .
It's also not an issue if she moans 99.9 % of the time she doing her horse as long as its getting what it needs .
You do your horse and your thing and learn to ignore them you were never going to be best friends after rota thing.
 
We had one woman who obviously hadn't been up to see her horse for at least 2 weeks as they had changed paddocks and she went to the old one to see her horse!
 
I know what you mean OP. When I ran a yard years ago we had a horse on full livery (so all basic needs were met, turned out every day but not ridden) and the girl who who owned him asked me if she could pay me for 2 or 3 months at a time, I said that was fine and asked why, she said "well then I dont have to come up every month to pay"!!!!!!!! The horse was happy enough but I did wonder why she had him and she did have plenty of spare time and only lived up the road!
 
the people who spend all day with their neds are lucky but does make me wonder how they afford them if they dont work or have a day job?? *runsandhides*
 
the people who spend all day with their neds are lucky but does make me wonder how they afford them if they dont work or have a day job?? *runsandhides*

Can't speak for others but my job means I work from 4 o'clock onwards so I am lucky enought to be able to spend the day time with my horse. But I understand where you are coming from
 
Very interesting replies, thanks guys. Many have misunderstood what i was trying to say, but then perhaps I didn't say it right. Tis just like being on a livery yard ! Oh well. :)
 
l understand where you're coming across shysmum, I've been on four yards over the 20 years l've owned horses. Had a horse at full livery with everything l needed until l had responsibilities & cost too much so have seen it all so to speak over the years. Since last year l've rented my own field & its really opened my eyes as two other fields are rented at the side of mine. One person went twice a day just to check on them & never rode any of her four horses & as soon as bad snow came she abandoned them without water or hay etc. These horses were rehomed & two new people have rented the field in which in the summer they spend time with the horses but hardly ride they have only had the farrier up once & only rode an handful of time one is a tb which they can never catch & the other is a cob that is so fat that its a walking heart attack now winter is here they only pop up once a day or every other day but l leave them to it. I know they said they left their old yard due to peope interfering so can't imagine why!!!
Then theres a girl who shares a field with a horse who does her share but the other sharer won't poo pick & wishes her horse dead as shes old & an extra expense again she doesn't have a farrier come & never worms etc & she was on the yard l was on full livery & she cared for her horse then. I have mine & my daughters pony to look after, as well as a youngster. I ride them three times a week in winter poo pick on these days because in the week l go up in the dark before & after work l've a demanding job, four children & like everyone else a home to run. In winter naturally l fon't spend the time l want to with them but most of us are in the same boat. I find it hard work & have to juggle at times but l wanted my horses & wouldn't swap anything even when l'm cold wet & muddy. l'm grateful to have horses as its a privilege but some people do take them for granted & don't care less & this saddens me as theres lots of people who want horses but can't for whatever reason or have had to sell their horse too which is heartbreaking. But if l didn't go up as much to my horses l'd be on a yard where they would be able to provide for my horse as everyones circumstances are different. Horses like any animal they relie on us & are a responsibility & if you don't want them don't have them rant over!!!
 
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Very interesting replies, thanks guys. Many have misunderstood what i was trying to say, but then perhaps I didn't say it right. Tis just like being on a livery yard ! Oh well. :)

I understand what you are saying and think people have misinterpreted. I don't faff with my horses, work a demanding full time job and have a retired mare and green youngster. Have had my share of **** luck and grumpy times when it gets a bit gutty but I always still love having them and get a lot of pleasure and sanity renewed by them.

However now on a yard that perplexs me, we have several parties who own horses they don't/can't ride (healthy horses), not a problem per se, but they whinge and whine and moan about everything, hate the yard owners (move), hate this, moan about that, do absolutely nothing with the horses (fair enough they don't care), but I just don't get it! Why bother, it's an expensive time consuming pastime, so why do it if all you do is moan and get nothing back.

Plus really don't get me started on the one that finds it all so stressful having a pet horse that doesn't get ridden that she constantly sits on the edge of a nervous breakdown and thinks everyone should do things to suit her and gets nasty and paranoid if life doesn't run how she wants.

Plus the ones that have babies without working out prior to baby arriving how to handle horse and baby and then expect the yard owners to let them have closest fields or other liveries to sit said kid whilst they do horses.

Plan people, plan! !! Sell, loan, livery, field keep. ....whatever, just don't whinge and make it every other liveries problem.
 
I think I'd probably fall into that category if I was on a yard. I had an horrific accident and fractured my spine, made a miraculous recovery, got another horse and then hurt my back again :( I dont ride him because I cant due to pain and fatness due to meds, pain and lack of exercise. Looking after him, even though he lives out cripples me, so if I can get my OH to poo pick etc I do. I love my horse, I love seeing him, but quite often when I go up I do my jobs and leave because physically I cant take much more. I keep him because I AM going to recover from this, again! And some days the thought of going for a hack and cantering along in the sunshine is all that gets me out of bed and into work! I do try and make it so that one day a week I can go up and brush him off and fuss over him a lot, but generally I just cant. I know he has all his needs met and really couldnt care less if I brush him or walk him out etc so I know hes ok, but its not nice for me as I'm so frustrated and angry about it. No doubt my face is like a smacked arse the whole time I'm there, apart from a few mins of nose kissing before I leave!
 
I have a mad black lab too ! Known as Percy. He's currently eating his new roast chicken ring chew. And being a pain - he won't settle, and I think he may be love sick :eek: It might be time for the knackers to come off :(

What is your lab called ?
 
haha, and neither does Percy - we have had to put strategic runners on the floor to help him ! He is my pony's best friend, and when percy has a stick, my pony has to have one too. They share notes ! Becks looks like a chunky guy - fab.
 
Wow, he is a big lad ! You just cannot beat a chunky black lab. Unfortunately for Percy, we are "as I type" in discussion about the chop. I am so protective of him, as we lost our last two black labs before they were five...... long story, both still much loved. But I think the sexual frustration is just too much for the poor boy.
 
But how do you know their circumstances?

Not everyone goes around giving the intimate details of their life to people, nor should you expect them to.

Surely you'd notice a change in the person ? It's times like this when people appreciate a little help and on a nice yard, people rally round in an unobtrustive way.

I don't think anyone seriously believes you have to all day free to play ponies to be a responsible owner. Often, its the busiest people who are the most committed, while some people with lots of time prefer to stay at home in the warm and watch Jeremy Kyle.
 
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