WWYD - livery hitting my horse when not around

C

Calla

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 February 2012
Messages
77
Visit site
People on my yard had told me another livery had been hitting my horse when passing. I hadn't seen it happen though, but made note.

This livery then hit my horse in the face whilst I was doing another duty nearby - didn't speak to the horse, just whacked it. Horse at time had been minding its own business. I pulled the livery up on this and she turned in to a screaming banshee where her story changed about 6 times. Eventually she blamed it on another person, who wasn't even in the vicinity at the time. YO aware of this incident.

Fast forward a few months and it appears she's still hitting my horse, but only when others are not around. I arrived the other day just as she was driving out and my horse jumped out of its skin when I tried to stroke its face. Other livery had been only person on yard before this. ��

Where do I go from here? I don't want to put bars on my horses stable as it feels like that would be punishing the horse who isn't in the wrong. Currently investigating a camera setup so I have hard evidence. Speaking to the other livery clearly doesn't work.

WWYD?
 
Get one of those clever little cameras if you can .
Speak to the YOer they must take this seriously .
If the person doing this she's a bad'un she might up to all sorts of other bad stuff and would have notice served and her off any yard I was running pronto .
In mean time try to get your friends on the yard to watch your horse as much as they can when your not there .
 
Sorry OP but why are you still stabled there? No way would I be stabled on a yard with somebody like this. if I found out somebody had been hitting my horse all hell would break lose, lets just say I would've hit her in the face too.....
 
I would be fuming.

In your situation, where the YO is aware of what is hapenning, that would send me into the stratosphere further. I would be questioning if the other livery is hitting other peoples horses for starters. If not, why target your horse? Is it something personal towards you?

Secondly, I would be asking permission from the YO to set up a camera in my stable to monitor the situation as it involves the welfare of my horse. If the YO disagrees I would be finding another yard.

If I was the YO, I would be taking these allegations very seriously and having words with other livery that if the behaviour is reported once more she would be asked to leave.
 
If had been the YOer I would have been hanging around ever since the first incident came to my attention .
The quality of management on livery yards seems to leave a lot to be desired in lots of places .
 
I'd catch her in the act on camera and then kick up an absolute ***** storm. I wouldn't stop until she'd been forced to leave the yard, or I would leave and encourage others to do the same because you never know what other horrific things she might have been doing to other horses. The YO should really take action and evict her if you have evidence of this abuse, it's an animal welfare issue.

So sorry for your horse.
 
I had a similar situation only it was the YO hitting my horse on the head. That was a much easier decision as I had a very strong word with her and moved immediately with the agreement that due to her behaviour I wouldn't be held to any notice.

It is harder for the OP though as it is a fellow livery and not the YO. I would certainly have a word with the YO, it is their job to stop this type of behaviour. I would also go with the camera so that you have evidence. With evidence I would be hoping the YO would be giving the other livery their marching order, if not, I would be leaving.
 
Thanks everyone for your replies so far.

I'll try to answer as many questions as I can here.
At the time of the first incident kicking off between us, I believe the YO thought it was one word against the other. I thought me having words with her at the time would've been enough to nip it in the bud, but clearly not.

Since I pulled her up against that incident though, she absolutely falls over herself with my horses when other people are around. So no eye witnesses since.

Why don't I move yards? Because I've been there for an extremely long time, I like the people and I love the yard. Plus it's the only one within a 10 mile radius to me that has an indoor arena.

It's only started recently and only with one of my horses (though she did used to do it with one of the others of mine, people pulled her about that though and the horse got wise and pulls its head in when she's passing. The horse she hits on the sly, goes the opposite way and becomes defensive - trying to bite other horses now when passing which it never did before. All that's needed though is to talk to the horse and it behaves). This horse was previously in a different stable though so she never had reason before to come near it.
AFAIK she doesn't touch the other horses in the stable block.

I'm currently looking in to camera setups as short of losing my sh** with her (& even then I don't think that would have an effect) I think hard evidence is the only way.

Thing is, she has the most vicious horse that goes for people as well as other animals... People always put it down to the horse being a grump OAP but it's No surprise if this is how she treats them.
 
It's one thing reprimanding him when he is doing something wrong kicking the door, pawing, lunging to bite scraping etc. For no reason then that is bang out of order, have words and get a small camera as suggested.
 
Calla said:
Thanks everyone for your replies so far.

I'll try to answer as many questions as I can here.
At the time of the first incident kicking off between us, I believe the YO thought it was one word against the other. I thought me having words with her at the time would've been enough to nip it in the bud, but clearly not.

Since I pulled her up against that incident though, she absolutely falls over herself with my horses when other people are around. So no eye witnesses since.

Why don't I move yards? Because I've been there for an extremely long time, I like the people and I love the yard. Plus it's the only one within a 10 mile radius to me that has an indoor arena.

It's only started recently and only with one of my horses (though she did used to do it with one of the others of mine, people pulled her about that though and the horse got wise and pulls its head in when she's passing. The horse she hits on the sly, goes the opposite way and becomes defensive - trying to bite other horses now when passing which it never did before. All that's needed though is to talk to the horse and it behaves). This horse was previously in a different stable though so she never had reason before to come near it.
AFAIK she doesn't touch the other horses in the stable block.

I'm currently looking in to camera setups as short of losing my sh** with her (& even then I don't think that would have an effect) I think hard evidence is the only way.

Thing is, she has the most vicious horse that goes for people as well as other animals... People always put it down to the horse being a grump OAP but it's No surprise if this is how she treats them.
Click to expand...

I *think* you could get a small camera that hooks up to an app on your phone?

And I am sorry, what a pants YO. I understand that it is a difficult situation to be in, but regardless she should have approached the other livery, informed her that a complaint has been made and if it is proved true she will be booted off the yard with 1 weeks notice.

You are a long standing livery who I presume doesn't cry wolf constantly, she should have intervened.

Do you know why this person would be targetting your horses? As it seems she has something against you?

I would be loosing my **** in your shoes.
 
You are all so calm in giving advice...not so sure I would be..culprit would be watched, caught and I'm afraid would have the same treatment from me.. A bloody good whack across her face!!! Makes me so angry!
 
Sorry but had I caught anyone smacking my horse in the face I'd have completely lost the plot!

In the situation you are in I would put up a camera - I'd also have a word with YO and tell them that you are doing that, why you are doing it and what you expect of the YO when they are presented with the evidence.

As soon as you have your evidence then my expectation would be that the other livery is kicked off and counts herself lucky that you don't do to her what she has been doing to your horse. I think I'd also report her on welfare issues - you will have the evidence to prove it.
 
Speak to the YO about your concerns calmly and in private, ask for their permission to put up a cctv camera covering only the stable door of your own stable.

I imagine getting hold of a suitable camera may take a few days, in the interim make/get a notice that states "Smile youre on cctv" and pin it to your stable door. Tell everyone that you meet at the yard that you have set up a pin hole camera as you are concerned about your horses change of behaviour, DONT BLAME THE PERSON YOU SUSPECT TO OTHERS because at the moment you have no proof and so that lays you open to being in the wrong.That should stop any shenanigans until you can actually manage to have the camera installed which will then sort the issue long term allowing you to remain on the yard of your choice and preventing you ending up with a criminal conviction for smacking anyone in the face. If the YO isn't prepared to allow cctv then I'm afraid your only solution will probably be to move yards.

Yes I would be livid if it was happening to my horse. No I wouldn't risk my future employment prospects by smacking the culprits face.
 
Last edited:
I am a bad person. If it were my Bess being hit, I would go for her with both barrels, pin her against a wall, scream in her face and tell her if my pony flinches again, I'm coming for her. I wouldn't let her say a word over my insane ranting. I wouldn't allow this livery to hit my horse one more time. Forget being reasonable, I'd give her a reason to leave your horse alone.
 
I would just like to point out, that even just threatening to smack another livery is a crimminal offence and you could be charged with assault.

If you retaliate with violence it is stooping to her level and you end up detracting from the issue at hand, which is you are the victim (Well, your horse) and she is the perpetrator. If you even threaten to smack her, you loose that upper hand and leverage. The threat will have come from you and your YO may then ask you to leave. Not the outcome you want.

Far better to play victim to get what you want in this instance tbh.
 
Is yours the only horse she is picking on, if so why not others horse's, not that it would be the horse's fault, but is there more to this than you are telling us ? def get a camera to get hard evidence, then decide how you want to handle it, I know how I would.
 
I had a problem at a livery but there were no witnesses to what happened. I found my little horse in the field with what looked like whip marks all over him. He was very nervous and upset so I bought him down in to the yard. The YO thought he'd just got himself caught in a brush. He was upset for a few days, then it happened again, just after I had words with the YO daughter, she had been mishandling a horse that would not go into a stable (not its own) I stopped her hurting the horse (her own) and then calmed him down and put him in the stable. She stomped off and the next day Moses was again covered in marks, nervous and upset.My instructor who was there that day was convinced he'd been beaten. At that point I moved him home. The horse has been affected by his experience in that he still shows a lose of confidence and is "shy" around new people.

I understand why you don't want to move, get a camera up, I would tell no one and see if I could catch her in the act. I would then hand the footage to the rspca and the police. It needs to be sorted , issues like this can be long term. My horse is still paying for it two years on.
 
Hepsibah said:
I am a bad person. If it were my Bess being hit, I would go for her with both barrels, pin her against a wall, scream in her face and tell her if my pony flinches again, I'm coming for her. I wouldn't let her say a word over my insane ranting. I wouldn't allow this livery to hit my horse one more time. Forget being reasonable, I'd give her a reason to leave your horse alone.
Click to expand...

And you would in all likelyhood end up arrested and that would do no good at all .
OP needs to get smart to get even indulging in a hissy fit will do no good what so ever .
 
This is an extremely difficult situation and I understand why you don't want to move yards. However I am clear on how I would handle it. Most people are scared of the law and the potential for prosecution, however remote.

I would calmly and in a non-threatening manner say to her that you believe that she is committing a criminal offence under Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, and that you are going to take measures to prove it. If it is proved you will be pursuing a prosecution.

Then leave it at that, don't embellish it or add more detail, just let her stew on it. This is also just about the only type of threat you can make that won't cause you a problem with the law.

In reality, as the 'harm' in this case is not severe (as in a dog fight or animals being bought to the point of death, which is what that Act was intended for), the actual chances of a prosecution are almost non existent, but most people get very concerned if someone can point out the exact piece of legislation that they are breaching. However as the law allows it if they do check up it does look like it can happen.
 
Is there another stable on the yard that is less accessible to the girl, ie she has no reason to go to that part of the yard as it's not on the way to anywhere she'd need to go, that you could swap with another livery for a short while? Or just for now I'd put up bars so she can't touch your horse without going IN the stable.
 
I would absolutely hit the roof.

If YO not willing to deal with this complete scrote of an individual I would be moving yards asap. What a tool!!!!!
 
Now hang on - you say your horse is lungeing to bite other horses? Can you not move stables so it can't do this? That is not on - is it when your horse lunges that she goes to hit it or just randomly as obviously if random that's not on. I thnk you need a camera tbh
 
I would go ******ing mental.

The child in me would probably give her a firm 'tap' around the back of the head, or arm, or leg or anything you can reach everytime you go past her, and increase the power. When challenged just reply that if doing this is not acceptable behaviour, then why do you deem it ok to do it to my horse.

However, in the real world I think a camera is your best bet.
 
SusieT said:
Now hang on - you say your horse is lungeing to bite other horses? Can you not move stables so it can't do this? That is not on - is it when your horse lunges that she goes to hit it or just randomly as obviously if random that's not on. I thnk you need a camera tbh
Click to expand...

OP said that the horse the livery is hitting is "trying to bite other horses now when passing which it never did before", implying that this behaviour has started since the livery started hitting it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top