Would you stay or go?

[BBC234]

Hello, I'm a regular reader but first time poster.

My current yard used to be fantastic, awesome facilities, good turnout, decent hacking, friendly people. DIY yard but with a number of freelance grooms meaning you could be anything from full DIY to full livery with a lot of flexibility.

The situation changed for the yard owner and he brought all the services in house and took on a yard manager and staff. The diy side of the yard is still OK, but the services are really going down hill. You are also not allowed to help with other liveries horses unless you are riding them (except emergencies). During the summer I don't really need services as they are out 24/7 but coming into winter I need services due to holidays and work travel. I don't trust the YM to do a good job, the other main groom I do. On Sundays they have teenagers doing the services, no adult working.

All the yards that would be doable for me locally to be on assisted DIY are not suitable for one reason or another. Mostly lack of turnout or facilities. I don't have transport so I need a decent surface, floodlit school, hacking and daily turnout for her.

So I'm potentially looking at Mon-Fri full livery further away (30mins drive). But I'm worried if the services aren't up to scratch at the new places I'll be in a worse predicament. At my current yard I've got loads of good friends who will check on my horse while I'm away. E.g. Check she's got enough hay and water in the evening after the staff have gone. At a new yard this won't be possible and you never know what goes on when you're not there. At my current yard I've got a very good idea what goes on and it's close enough I can go twice a day when I'm home.

I don't know what to do for the best. The current yard has its issues but they are known and can be managed to some extent. A new yard might be loads better but it could be a lot worse too :-(

 

[Fred66]

Speak to the yard manager, express your concerns. Extol the positives, be constructive and be objective.
Do others have the same issues with the YM ?
Are you being picky ?
Is the YM way just not your way ?
Are the YM actions putting your horse at genuine risk?

For example some yards insist that all horses should come in at the same time (or at least that no horse should be left out alone) and be fed at the same time whereas others are a lot more relaxed about it. Neither way is right or wrong although some horses may be better suited to a particular method.

If your horse is the latter then ask that when they are looking after your horse would they mind ensuring that blah de blah. Say you know it might not be the norm but that you like to maintain a routine, joke about it say you know you might come across obsessive. See what their reaction is if they give valid reasons why it can't be done your way then learn to live with it or look at leaving. If they can't / don't give valid reasons then be a little more insistent, try and reach a compromise. If you can't agree then speak to the YO.

Also maybe bring a big box of choccies for the yard staff every now and then, its amazing how much being appreciated makes people more co-operative

 

[Annagain]

Some very good advice from Fred66. If it's a case of mucking out not being to your standard etc, while annoying when you're paying for it, it wouldn't be enough to make me move as long as she's safe, healthy and happy and the location, turn out, hacking and facilities are good. If her safety or health is at risk, it would be a different matter.

I think in this situation it might be a case of better the devil you know, especially if you have friends looking out for her. It's not ideal when you're paying good money for her to be cared for but at least you'll know she'll be ok. If you go somewhere new, 30 minutes away and it doesn't work out, how far will you have to go for the next decent yard?

Could you ask for the other main groom to be your horse's primary carer? Say you feel they have a good relationship so you'd like him/her to deal with her. I'm assuming as you'd be having 5 day full at the other yard, that's mostly what you'd need at your current yard so I wouldn't be too worried about the teenagers at the weekend as you'll be doing the vast majority of them anyway - again your friends could keep an eye if you are away. I'd maybe see how this winter goes and make a decision for next winter over the summer?

 

[AFB]

Leave on good terms so you can go back if it doesn't work out?

 

[Loubees]

I feel your pain!

Ive just moved to a livery yard and I was pooping myself!
I made sure I went up to my new yard a couple of times at different points and the YM was happy for you too turn up announced so I could see how it was run etc.

I left because the services lady wasn't up to dealing with my horse, but if it was a case of the mucking out not being to standard then I wouldn't of left.

I did leave the yard on good terms so I could go back if it didn't work out. I was quite honest and so were they that my horse was too big and intimidated them and they did then allow an external groom if I required but I had already set my mind on moving to be honest.

If your horses welfare is not at risk then I think id stay put, you seem to have a lot at your finger tips. x