Yard Problems, Please Help!

[happyhorses103]

So, I have my horse just a 2 min walk (most convienient!) from my house at your average livery yard, however, im the only person there under 18, the other ladies are 35-70, so of course that comes with a few challenges! I always say hello to everyone and say the usual 'how are you's' and it pretty much just gets to that point, occasionally I'll have a longer chat with someone but I prefer to get my headphones in (most of the time they aren't playing anything, just stops people from constantly coming up to me for a chat when im trying to spend quality time with my special girl!) however im just not really happy there and sometimes dread going up! My mare has a few health complications which are monitored with my vet but somethings we do (rigging up a little less, or feeding not as much forage as we would like) tends to interest other people, usually with unhelpful remarks and public messages on the yard messaging group. I don't see why they cant just send me a private message instead of singing it loud and clear to everyone else on the yard.
Another thing, liveries come and go, pretty normal but its changed drastically since I first arrive, new people and combinations has just made the yard quite unpleasant! Gossip is the norm and sometimes people try to involve me. I would love love love to move however parents aren't keen on that at all as the current yard is only a 2 min walk and DIY meaning I can do all the jobs which I love to do also! YO likes to bury his head in the sand when problems come up and its just frustrating at this point.
I am desperately trying to make things work but im just not enjoying it and its such a shame. Any advice and kind words would be hugely appreciated.

Hope everyone is having a good day and my thoughts are out to everyone and all the animals and horses in Ukraine.

 

[happyhorses103]

Also feel free to ask questions if I haven't explained myself properly x

 

[Bob notacob]

Welcome to the real world, just try to live with it

 

[PurBee]

Yard politics seem to often be an issue, and many on here say their policy of arriving, remaining focused on their jobs and horse, and keeping well out of gossip etc works best.
You seem to have the right attitude with keeping earphones in and getting on with it. Try to ignore the gossip, and dont react and be bothered by online yard group chat. Any issues you personally have with the yard, address to YO directly.

Its kind of like being blinkered…but its for the best, on a gossipy drama yard. People soon learn youre not there to add fuel to the gossip fire, so to speak, so will likely ignore you allowing you to get on with your stuff.

 

[asmp]

I’ve never enjoyed large yards. Is there no one else locally with a smaller yard who you could ask? I’m thinking of home owners who may have a spare stable. I’ve found places in the past by asking local riding clubs or in local tack shops. Farriers often know places too.

 

[Lurfy]

I think the convenience of being 2 minutes walk from home is so handy. I used to keep mine 5 minutes walk from home and it was DIY and also had a couple of really annoying people. They gossiped about anything and everything. I used to go very early to avoid them. Is it possible for you to avoid these people by going out of popular hours? I ended up moving, for other reasons, and it was a relief to be away from those people. The place I keep my horse at now is really friendly and has a supportive atmosphere. Good luck OP, it's a challenge dealing with this situation.

 

[GoodBoyNice]

I would take those headphones out of your ears and go to the yard as normal and do what you have to do with your horse.People have got worse now and this seems like the syndrome of school bullies etc.Stand up to them !!!!! do not let them spoil the time with your horse.These people are adults not kids and sadly do not know any better so do not let them spoil things for you.

 

[TheSubwayDino]

I feel you honestly, I'm the youngest one down at my yard and there's over 80 horses! I just help down there tho just because boredom I don't get paid or ride yet it's my little happy place. There's a lot of gossip here but honestly it's between the staff and staff talking about others because of x y and z. Usually given the owners criticise because they did an honest mistake or a fall happened. I was also and still am pushed around by their longest groom and she questions everything I do. She told me I must be a brat because I had a curry pot noodle and she didn't like that flavour ? people confuse me haha just stick to your horse you can always see if you can move so you can have your own hacking or schooling buddies or just see if there's a group in the sea of gossip there ?