Let’s talk about... Fellow liveries
Thousands of us stable our horses on a livery yard. We asked our Facebook followers what your views are on other liveries having an input in the management of your horse. Where do you draw the line between helpful advice and interfering?
STAY AWAY I’ve been on so many yards where people have an opinion on what others do. It’s infuriating. Unless s you know my horse’s history, care for him every day and have years of experience behind you, butt out. Verity Handle
IT’S OK I did get upset at one yard when the yard owner said I was feeding too little hard feed. “Quality, not quantity” was my reply. As for other people’s views, both good and bad have to be taken on their merits. Eileen Quale
STAY AWAY We all love our horses and have our own preferences in terms of care, but people wouldn’t try to parent someone else’s child, so I don’t think it’s right for people to interfere with the management of my horse. I once had people remove my horse’s sweet-itch rugs because they thought he was too hot and he ended up getting very badly bitten by midges. Peter Staple
STAY AWAY Probably the worst experience I’ve ever had of this is another livery actually exercising my horse without my consent because they “had some spare time” and “thought he could do with the exercise”. I arrived at my yard at 9am and stood, in complete disbelief, as I watched my Warmblood (who had only just come off box rest) cantering around the outdoor arena. Safe to say we didn’t stay at the yard. Lottie Thurst
IT’S OK It’s a difficult one. I’d intervene if I thought a horse was being mistreated, but when it comes to feeding and management, only offer advice when you get the feeling the other person wants a second opinion. Karly Lane
IT’S OK It’s fine if I ask for it, but otherwise it annoys me, especially when people with less experience start telling me how to deal with my horse. Jane Hall
IT’S OK I ask for advice from people who get good results from their horses and are kind, quiet horse people. No one else. Mychelle Symons
IT’S OK What’s wrong with people giving their opinions? It doesn’t mean you have to do exactly what they suggest, but at the end of the day they’re only trying to help make your life a bit easier — that’s not to be sniffed at. Becky Jones
STAY AWAY Other liveries have no business concerning themselves with the management of my horse. Maggie Macrae
STAY AWAY My Shetland is on a very strict diet and I always get other liveries telling me how hungry he looks and how I should give him a bit more food. It does upset me because I’m trying to do the best I can for my pony. The last thing I need is people telling me that he needs more feed, when both me and my vet know he doesn’t! Janice Taylor