keepcalmanddriveon
Well-Known Member
Before I start I will apologise as this is a Monday rant.
I moved livery yards earlier in the year to get away from the constant bitching and sniping at the old yard, this seemed to work I found the current yard, a little rundown maybe but homely nevertheless, all was decided the move happened on the horses had been living there happily since.
Just recently things have started to go wrong, firstly I ended up moving 30 miles away from the yard not a choice but by being forced as my landlord was selling up and there was a complete lack of anything else suitable in the area. Ordinarily during summer this would not pose a problem at any yard that I've been on as out means out and unless the entire place is 6 feet under water the horses stay exactly where they are. I resolved I'd have to move them for winter & carried on.
Things really started to go wrong when every time there was a slight shower the yard owner would text everyone to bring horses in. Bearing in mind this yard is located in Northern Ireland on top of the hill therefore it's quite well-drained as being in Northern Ireland it is quite prone to rain too. Of course, working 12 hour days and living 30 miles away from the yard, makes it somewhat impossible to respond his instantaneous demands of vanishing horses, especially as these text messages usually come at six or seven o'clock at night just as you got in the door.
Despite this I persevered, rotating the horses between two fields on downhill slope every two weeks as I have always done both at home and on livery yards. There have been many times I have arrived there to find the horses have moved fields without my knowledge of permission in the past, usually just after I've put them in a fresh field. The week before last the yard owner decided it would be a great idea if you could use back in the field to mow down the bridle path and, I said yes of course why not, so the owner put a gate into to the bridle path out of their top field so that they grazed the overgrown grass on the path down.
Due to a busy week I didnt get up there to check out what had happened, however when I got there on Saturday I found out that this bridal path had been strewn with all manner of debris including broken jump poles with sharp splintered ends sticking out, construction rubble, and fence wire offcuts and ragwort. This is before we mention there is a complete lack of access to water for the animals in the track.
The yard owner was not about, and so I put my animals back in the field and closed his gate onto the bridle path. Imagine my surprise the very next day when I found the gate open again and the horses back in danger. Once again I returned them to where they belong in the field, closed the gate & fixed a sign to it saying my horses were not to be put in the track due to the dangers outlined above & that anyone moving them into a dangerous position would be responsible for the vet bill.
Today I received a text from the yard owner saying that my fields were trampled (they most certainly are not!) & it would be better if I left, as my notice on the gate was "stupid". He also stated that the horses would be turned out in the track permenantly regardless of my notice. For the record, the fields are covered in plenty of grass for another few months if rotated properly & only cut up as you'd expect around the gate, with the odd hoofprint where they've had a mad half hour! Trampled my bum!
I'm totally flabbergasted by the total lack of care or understanding for the horses which he has demonstrated (he is not horsey, he is a farmer who diversified!) & the complete lack of respect for me as a knowledgable owner.
Of course, I am now going to move them early but I've no idea where to, or how as I dont have a box yet! I cant afford for them to be in the care of such a complete idiot for a moment longer than essentially necessary. I plan to pay him until the end of August & move them before then, serving him with a letter which states that I have paid until X date & they will be removed before then once arrangements have been made & that meantime, should anything happen as a result of his negligence he will be held fully liable for it!
How do these idiots get to own a yard, let alone be allowed near horses? Urgh, they should all be shot!
Sorry...rant over. Just had to tell people who actually "get it" ...thanks fellow HHOers! Any words of support appreciated!!
I moved livery yards earlier in the year to get away from the constant bitching and sniping at the old yard, this seemed to work I found the current yard, a little rundown maybe but homely nevertheless, all was decided the move happened on the horses had been living there happily since.
Just recently things have started to go wrong, firstly I ended up moving 30 miles away from the yard not a choice but by being forced as my landlord was selling up and there was a complete lack of anything else suitable in the area. Ordinarily during summer this would not pose a problem at any yard that I've been on as out means out and unless the entire place is 6 feet under water the horses stay exactly where they are. I resolved I'd have to move them for winter & carried on.
Things really started to go wrong when every time there was a slight shower the yard owner would text everyone to bring horses in. Bearing in mind this yard is located in Northern Ireland on top of the hill therefore it's quite well-drained as being in Northern Ireland it is quite prone to rain too. Of course, working 12 hour days and living 30 miles away from the yard, makes it somewhat impossible to respond his instantaneous demands of vanishing horses, especially as these text messages usually come at six or seven o'clock at night just as you got in the door.
Despite this I persevered, rotating the horses between two fields on downhill slope every two weeks as I have always done both at home and on livery yards. There have been many times I have arrived there to find the horses have moved fields without my knowledge of permission in the past, usually just after I've put them in a fresh field. The week before last the yard owner decided it would be a great idea if you could use back in the field to mow down the bridle path and, I said yes of course why not, so the owner put a gate into to the bridle path out of their top field so that they grazed the overgrown grass on the path down.
Due to a busy week I didnt get up there to check out what had happened, however when I got there on Saturday I found out that this bridal path had been strewn with all manner of debris including broken jump poles with sharp splintered ends sticking out, construction rubble, and fence wire offcuts and ragwort. This is before we mention there is a complete lack of access to water for the animals in the track.
The yard owner was not about, and so I put my animals back in the field and closed his gate onto the bridle path. Imagine my surprise the very next day when I found the gate open again and the horses back in danger. Once again I returned them to where they belong in the field, closed the gate & fixed a sign to it saying my horses were not to be put in the track due to the dangers outlined above & that anyone moving them into a dangerous position would be responsible for the vet bill.
Today I received a text from the yard owner saying that my fields were trampled (they most certainly are not!) & it would be better if I left, as my notice on the gate was "stupid". He also stated that the horses would be turned out in the track permenantly regardless of my notice. For the record, the fields are covered in plenty of grass for another few months if rotated properly & only cut up as you'd expect around the gate, with the odd hoofprint where they've had a mad half hour! Trampled my bum!
I'm totally flabbergasted by the total lack of care or understanding for the horses which he has demonstrated (he is not horsey, he is a farmer who diversified!) & the complete lack of respect for me as a knowledgable owner.
Of course, I am now going to move them early but I've no idea where to, or how as I dont have a box yet! I cant afford for them to be in the care of such a complete idiot for a moment longer than essentially necessary. I plan to pay him until the end of August & move them before then, serving him with a letter which states that I have paid until X date & they will be removed before then once arrangements have been made & that meantime, should anything happen as a result of his negligence he will be held fully liable for it!
How do these idiots get to own a yard, let alone be allowed near horses? Urgh, they should all be shot!
Sorry...rant over. Just had to tell people who actually "get it" ...thanks fellow HHOers! Any words of support appreciated!!
Sounds like a numpty: why does he want them in when it rains?!
