Why is there always one person on a livery yard who is an 'expert' on everything!!!

asommerville

asommerville

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Is it only the yards that i've been on that have this? I have been busting a gut with my youngster (he's 3)- he was frightened of everything when i bought himm now he's lunging, gets his feet picked up taking everything in his stride and happy as can be (and LOVING his work) and this one person (who has never had a youngster in her life) starts mouthing off - his bit is wong - it's too severe, he's doing too much too soon, don't give him a row for biting!! Am i missing something or being unreasonable? Now am worried that I am scaring him for life because i am trying to teach him how to be a nice sociable horse that is easy to handle! Am i or should i just tell her to shut it!?
 
Theres usually one.

I'd ignore her. He needs to learn to pick his feet up (obv) and we have two youngsters at ours that are alot younger for 3, and both get told off for biting (usually a tap or yell) because they should not do it, and it's what another horse would do.

And as long as your not lunging excessively i don't see a problem with it, I know there is a lot of arguement surrounding their growth being affected and leg issues, but as long as you are only lightly working him and are planning on backing him soon there shouldn't be a problem.

What bit do you have him in?
 
There is always one! Usually with a submissive side kick that they can bitch about people to :rolleyes:
If you have a good relationship with your neddy then you will have a fairly good idea whether you are pushing his comfort zone.
Agree on taking it easy on the riding/lunging side tho as too much too young is not worth it. (not saying op is doing this tho, just to be clear!)
The more handling they get the more they seem to take life in there stride so keep up the good work.
 
Yes i know that feeling! Hence why i like my small, private yards these days. The thing is everyone has different opinions and -i've found in the horse world- that often people will offer their opinions when they have not been asked for them. Just ignore them, it's your horse and at 3 years from what you have put, you aren't doing anything shocking for his age.
 
Look, it is actually law that every yard must have a resident know all, a bit like they must have a fire extinguisher really. I think it is called the gobsh!te act 1977. It is also law that if one leaves or is extinguished/done in/hit over the head with hard thing by those other liveries who have just had enough, you must replace it with another. It doesn't matter what size of yard it is. Also, for those smart asses who think you have outwitted the authorities by having your own little private yard for you and your horses only, there is a new ammendment coming out which means that you have to make room for a gobsh!te, whether by getting shot (pardon the expression) of one of yours or build an extra stable to accommodate. So there you have it, and that's the truth!! :D
 
I haven't got one:( I want one.

We do have someone who does actually know his stuff but he only volunteers an opinion when cornered. :D He also isn't resident and tends to drive on by if he sees too many trucks in the parking lot.
 
Enfys, we can send you ours if you want!

We had one on our yard for a bit that was an "expert saddle fitter!" She actually said so in so many words! I had bought a second hand saddle on ebay - I knew it was a pretty safe gamble because a few months prior, my saddle fitter came and tried a brand new one of the same make/model and actually TOLD me what size I needed (between a Wide and Extra-Wide). When one came up (extra wide) for sale on ebay, I grabbed it for a bargain, knowing it could be adjusted. I brought it to the yard and tried it on the mare. Mrs Expert told me it looked far too small for my girlie because it was sitting too low on her wither and cantle high (which I pointed out). Erm...think that means it's a wee bit too WIDE! Anyway, I called my saddle fitter to come have a look, she thought it was brilliant, took it away to have it adjusted a bit and I had an absolute bargain. But after telling me MY extra wide saddle was too small for my Welsh D, Mrs Expert was then trying on all these TB saddles in Medium and Narrow! :O
 
I was on a very large yard at one point and hated it, I was always getting told " why are you feeding your horses it's summer you don't have to" they all get topspec lite for vits/mins that's all this time off year. Your horses feet don't need shoeing yet. I like to do mine every 6 weeks to keep them in good nick not like some who wait unless the shoes drop off. And so on. I now like my small private yard I rent with my friend. It means we have each other to fall back on if one off us is Ill but you can ask for advice if you so wish. No livery yards for me again
 
:rolleyes:"There is always one! Usually with a submissive side kick that they can bitch about people to "

wow you must be on my yard as well...................our pet two faced B****s love to have an opinion on everyone, have turned on a teenager because she does better than them (they pay someone to ride theirs and school, whilst the teenager has done everyting her self),
 
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Shay said:
Hey - you get them on forums too!
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:D So we do.

Pucci, I'll pass on that offer, but many thanks anyway.
If I am stuck, usually with a western based question that someone asks, I phone up my Trainer/expert and he'll come over, but he always says "Who is down there?" one lady hits on him something awful, she called him one day to show her how to tie a cinch!:)
 
We've got two!! Mother and daughter!!
Daughter will watch you ride and put in her two pence and mother will REALLY put the pressure on you to feed certain supplements. They are infuriating!
One very hot afternoon, my OH and I brought my horse out of his box and down to the school. He gets puffy back legs if he's stood in on a hot day and she told me that he clearly had kidney damage and I should be feeding him some sh*te or other.
Bless my OH, who is a doctor - he turned round and gave her a very detailed and patronising lecture about the different types and causes of tissue swelling in the mammalian limb, in a very loud voice, in front of the whole yard. Then we walked off, leaving her standing with an open mouth like a guppy!
If anyone would like to borrow OH for similar, he can be hired out by the hour ;)
 
Maybe your friend is a bit more well read than you and is giving you the benefit of her experience because she has heard/read that lunging a three year old is not really that good a thing to do anymore due to the stress placed on the joints, especially in slow to mature types. Maybe she is just worried. It drives me mad that when you have had an experience about something and you try and tell someone else they just totally disregard what you are saying because in their eyes you are not 'as clever' as they are. I always try to help people with the benefit of experience (good or bad) behind me, but not everyone is receptive to this.
 
chestnuttymare said:
Look, it is actually law that every yard must have a resident know all, a bit like they must have a fire extinguisher really. I think it is called the gobsh!te act 1977. It is also law that if one leaves or is extinguished/done in/hit over the head with hard thing by those other liveries who have just had enough, you must replace it with another. It doesn't matter what size of yard it is. Also, for those smart asses who think you have outwitted the authorities by having your own little private yard for you and your horses only, there is a new ammendment coming out which means that you have to make room for a gobsh!te, whether by getting shot (pardon the expression) of one of yours or build an extra stable to accommodate. So there you have it, and that's the truth!! :D
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and to think, I havent moved in, yet!
Grumpy puss.
 
haha I don't mind people giving me advice and their opinions, because I can think about it, and chose to either ignore them or agree, and occasionally someone gives you a good idea you hadn't thought of before, but what I don't like is the pushy one who 'tells' you what to do and wants to see you do it there and then, or even worse asks to have a go on your horse to try something themselves arrgggghhhh :(. Usually it's the pushy one who has the worst, most ill informed ideas as well!
 
I now just smile and walk on by any one vlunteering an opinion - but last night I broke the rule as a fellow livery was telling one of the y/expts that she was having difficulties getting her bit in her horses mouth form some weeks and now cant get the bridle on, would y/expt help get the bridle on. I foolishly vounteered the suggestion that horse might just have a tooth or mouth problem - has the vet checked? They looked at me like I was demented and then turned away ...hay, maybe I am an annoying y/expt too?!
 
applecart14 said:
Maybe your friend is a bit more well read than you and is giving you the benefit of her experience because she has heard/read that lunging a three year old is not really that good a thing to do anymore due to the stress placed on the joints, especially in slow to mature types. Maybe she is just worried. It drives me mad that when you have had an experience about something and you try and tell someone else they just totally disregard what you are saying because in their eyes you are not 'as clever' as they are. I always try to help people with the benefit of experience (good or bad) behind me, but not everyone is receptive to this.
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I will happily take advice from people - this is why i am on this forum! but my point is that this bl**dy person has NO experience of baby horses one minute she is admitting that she has never had a youngster (she doesn't like them they are too hard work) the next she is trying to lecture me about giving him a row for biting!!! I have had so much help from people (who have had young horses and brought them on and have experience for 20 years) since i bought him and i honestly would not have had him so settled if it had not been for their help. But now i am stressed that one person is telling me i am doing too much and others are telling me i am not doing enough! If she had said 'i have had a youngster before and i did this that and the next thing, fair enough but her words were i don't like young horses - they're **** why do you have that bit in him btw. If she had said your doing too much work with him why don;t you do a b and c then fair enough but she just said you're doing too much too fast and disapreared to talk about me behind me back!!!!!

He is on a full cheek french link bit and get's work 4 days a week for no more than about 20-30 mins. and by work i mean either a wee bit lunging, loose schooling, walking out in hand and hopefully over the next few week long reining and he is loving it, he puts his head down to get his bridle on and marches out to the school and has his ears up the whole time so if anyone thinks that i am doing too much then please tell me and i will change what i am doing? Am stressed by these people lol
 
We have a few on our yard!!
Had one the other day very shocked that someone had said something that se didnt know. I found it quite amusing when she said "I cant believe i didnt know this, I know everything to do with horses, im so shocked" I find that really funny lol
 
I am in heaven, I am the only livery on my yard so nobody to give me the benefit of their experience. However I do know that I don't know everything and frequently ask for other opinions - I then make a judgement on whether it is possible or practical to take the advice given.
 
applecart14 said:
It drives me mad that when you have had an experience about something and you try and tell someone else they just totally disregard what you are saying because in their eyes you are not 'as clever' as they are. I always try to help people with the benefit of experience (good or bad) behind me, but not everyone is receptive to this.
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Do you not find that there are ways and means of offering well meaning advice? Being asked and giving an opinion is one thing, stating flat out tends to make one feel patronised, or stupid, and always puts backs up. Being more 'clever' than the next person has zip to do with it, I can read a recipe, therefore I can cook, but it doesn't mean I am good at it, or understand what the heck I am doing.

I'll always consider advice, it doesn't matter who it comes from, whether they have 50 years experience or are a total novice and come out with something earth shatteringly logical, but if someone says "You should/shouldn't do that" without knowing in the first place why I am doing it, or the horse I am doing it to, really hack me off big style, it doesn't mean that I don't listen though.

Nobody knows it all, and it is a wise person that realises that don't you feel?
 
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im not even on a livery yard but the local riding school liverys still manage to give their opinion. so far aprently ive fallen of in a wood i havnt even ridden to yet and ive been asked why i am not riding my new horse till winter. i had only just got of the horse and i am riding her 6 days a week all year round i didnt spend 5000 for the fun of it. and ive been told i should have a field shelter when she has high thick hedges all round the field and rugs for every occation and she is going to be stabled for winter, i do wish people would mind there own buisness. i have numerous qualifications and wouldnt dream of giving advice unless it was asked for.
 
i am glad it's not just me but i think i am a bit paranoid and obsess about things and worry that i am doing it wrong - even though both my beasties are immaculate - woudln;t dream of sticking my head over someone's door adn sticking my nose in. Surely people are there to enjoy their own horses without worrying about everyone else's, i'm stressed enough with my own lol!
 
I generally don't stick my nose in unless I think that not doing so would be dangerous. There's a livery next door to my lad who is a tad forgetful and has, on occasion, gone home with the horse still tied up and no rug (in December) and I've had to untie the poor thing and stick a rug on. I've simply asked 'you not planning on rugging Blacky from now on then?' to elicit a guilty 'oh god, I forgot again'.
Said livery also left said horse tied by the reins to a gate in the school while they put jumps up, which I casually suggested to them wasn't the most brilliant idea unless they wanted:
1. Snapped reins;
2. A horse galloping around in abject terror with half a gate crashing about its front legs

Most of the time though, I keep my opinions to myself unless asked.
 
Don't get me started on this! I could go on and on.

I just smile and ignore everything they say, they soon stop telling you there opinions.
 
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