Livery Yard Rant

[maxicob]

Why is it so difficult to find a livery yard that will just do what you ask them to do?

These are the latest three gripes:

My horse always gets 2 sections of hay left out for me to give him when I am down in the evening - they get hayed at 5.00pm, so he's usually finished his haylage around 6.30pm - if I am not there and I ask them to give him his extra hay - they don't bother! It's not like this is a new thing - he's been having the extra hay for nearly 18 months

He is dropping weight, so I asked the Yard Owner if his feed could be increased - no problem she said. One of the girls mentioned that she thought he was looking a little light, and I said that his feed should have been increased - they knew nothing about it

And finally, he apparently got out of his stable last week and ate 7 breakfasts, one had a bute in it, the other had 4 acp tablets. Nobody bothered to ring me to tell me what had happened. I found out from someone else who thought it was quite funny that he'd had been asleep in his box all morning (at least they kept him in and didn't turn him out) because of the acp! I didn't think it was funny.

These are just the last three incidents, and this is supposed to be one of the better yards in the area. I am away over Christmas so am now worried that he's not going to get what he's supposed to without me checking every day.

I shouldn't have to check up every day. Is it too much to ask for your horse to get fed properly and for you to be told if something has happened to him?

Rant over!!!

[maislow]

I'd be pretty miffed too

[cbc]

Sounds like maybe you need to have a bit of a rant at the yard manager even if politely. You are paying for them to care for you horse after all.

[maxicob]

Already done it - all done very reasonably, and things get better for a while and then just slip.

[cbc]

That is very frustrating Maxicob.

[maxicob]

If only I could win the lottery and have my own yard *sigh*.

I can usually cope with the little foibles at the yard, but these three things have come in rapid succession and a bugging me.

It's so difficult to find a good yard in this area - they are all very expensive and the good ones are full!

[chloe]

Nightmare! I'd be inclined to write up a list of rules and pin them to the stable door with instructions that you are to be contacted in case of problems (with your telephone number on there).

I'd also be inclined to ask a few friends/family members to pop in and check on him while you're away - not to do anything with him necessarily but just to make sure things are being done as you've asked and if nothing else, knowing that they're being checked on will help keep the YO and staff on their toes.

[ba]

Yes I think that you have every right to be concerned. How long is he going without hay overnight? If he has enough put in to begin with then he wouldn't need a top up at all surely??

[maxicob]

Chloe - all my numbers are written up and they should know the routine by now. The person on duty just didn't bother ringing me as she didn't think it was serious enough - I did!

The problem is everyone else is away over Christmas - we have never all been away together before, as we usually keep an eye out on each other's horses. Luckily one of my friends will be up Christmas Day/Boxing Day to check him and give him a quick lunge as they don't get turn out on these days.

Don't get me started on hay/haylage - they don't feed ad lib, so you have to pester for every bit! He gets a large haylage net at 5pm, so he is out of haylage by 7pm - although to be fair he does hoover it rather than eat it! Then he has his two soaked sections at about 7/7.30 after being worked - which then last him a couple of hours, then nothing until breakfast at 8pm. His two sections of hay are the YOs concession to me wanting him to be eating further into the night - I'm lucky I don't get charged for it.

[Casper]

I'd be out of there like a shot, even if it meant moving somewhere temporary until you can get into somewhere you really want to be.

To many no no's there for me. Sorry for the negative post.

[julz]

If your horse is getting hayed at 5, and he's finished by 6.30.. then he's not getting enough to last him the night... no wonder he's dropping weight!!

as for the escaping, scoffing other's food, and treatments, and not telling the owner.. then time to move i reckon.

But, he IS your horse, and yes you should check. No matter how much you trust your YO/the staff, he is still your responsibilty and it's in your and his best interest to check him, no matter what. there are very few people I'd trust with mine, no matter how good they, as they do not have the bond with my horse like I do.... a subtle change in their behaviour is all that's needed for the owner to pick up that something isnt right. Very few YO's can recognise subtle changes..

However, I greatly appreciate the time when oldie had colic (not the more recent bad one) she was standing in the feed area, and had heard him getting up and down a few times over a 30 mins, and knew enough to know it wasnt right. Thankfully she looked in at him, and found him in a terrible way. And she hadnt known him long, so it could have been his normal night behaviour...

[maxicob]

Julz - I know! But why does it fall on deaf ears, no matter how many times I have the "discussion"? He is a big boy and to be honest has always carried weight very well in fact sometimes too well (like his Mum), but he's never been quite this slim. You can't see his ribs, and he is actually quite fit at the moment. But I know he needs to be a bit bigger, as you say, you just know.

I think I am going to have to look around in the new year for somewhere else - most of the time things are OK - he has a big box, nearly all year turnout and excellent hacking - it's just these last three things have followed in rapid succession.

Anyone know if a good livery yard in Berkshire (Maidenhead/Windsor/Bracknell)

[sara]

Thats crazy. Are you paying for full livery? Don't think I'd be too happy either

[maxicob]

No, just part livery. I would love to do DIY, but unfortunately can't due to my job.

[julz]

Dec 22, 2008 17:37:33 GMT 1 maxicob said:

Julz - I know! But why does it fall on deaf ears

Cant answer that for you, may as well be talking to a brick wall....
and I know what you mean about being "over slim".. we succeeded in slimming seamus down, but went a bit far.. yes he looked good, but for his breeding, needed a bit extra back on... atm, he's gone too far and now needs to get it off again, but with it being winter, and him having arthriticky joints, find it hard to excersize him sufficiently.. to much he goes pottery, too little he gets "lively" , cant win, LOL!!

Good luck livery hunting in the new year....

Can you buy in your own hay, and supplement the livery hay with your own?? I know it's against the grain, and why should you pay twice, but at the end of the day, he's going to lose more if you dont.