Livery's Pony - What to do??

[silverbullet]

:(We have 2 liveries at home a 14.2 gelding and a 12.1hh aged mare. Both belong to the same person and they're for her daughter.

Now without going into loads of detail basically the daughter is very lazy and will do the bare minimum for the horses. Her mum does come down but doesn't monitor what she is doing basically.

The old mare has terrible sweetitch which they don't keep on top of (I know its difficult - Oscar has it as well!).

She has been getting steadily worse with it and all they do is ocasionally put some cream onto some of the sores - they don't wash them off or anything.

My mum has told them they need to wash them, dry them and then put cream on twice daily for them to heal - also that they need to control the sweet itch with something - she has a fly rug but they never put it on her!

They are DIY livery so we interfere as little as possible.

So do I

a) Just see to her myself when she is bad - this is what I do at the moment but I do feel they're taking advantage of this - also sometimes I have to use my own cream when they don't have any.

b) Any other suggestions?????

Or am I just been over fussy washing Oscars sweet itch with hibiscrub and caking him in itchgon??

I don't like to feel like i'm nagging at them because it is their pony but I just feel so bad for the poor mare!

Here are some pics from today - before I saw to her - the gunky yellow stuff is the cream from 2 days ago which hasn't been cleaned off or re-applied!!

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m22/basil112233/London109.jpg
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m22/basil112233/London107.jpg
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m22/basil112233/London102.jpg
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m22/basil112233/London099.jpg

:(

[black crow]

That poor little mare :(

Personally, i'd confront them about it. I'd tell them that they need to look after the mare properly and they shouldnt rely on you just doing it for free [not sure if you'd go down the road of charging them for how much you do with her]

Sweet itch does need to be controlled, so you are very much in your right to be worried about her

[Savvy]

I would talk to the girls mum and stress that you don't want to interfere and your only saying it with the horses best intentions in mind etc...

If it was me I wouldn't have any liveries that I don't think are looking after their horses properly - I know its not like an RSPCA case but I'd still only have people who looked after their horses to what I'd seem as an acceptable standard.

Perhaps they don't understand quite how bad the SI is or know how to deal with it properly? Do they know that yours has it to? Maybe you could tell them how yours manages better because he has this cream or this rug etc?

[nic]

Oh ****, Poor girly:mad:

You know what I think!!

[bimba]

I think you should interfeer because a horses welfare is at stake, I would have a word with the girls mum as if she doesn't monitor her much maybe she isn't aware of the situation/how bad the mare has become - you could maybe offer to help them with it (for a small charge??) if they don't have the time. Tricking situation as I see what you're saying about leaving them alone when they're DIY but when it's something like this I think you'd be perfectly justified saying something.

[silverbullet]

I have said something but I do feel like i'm nagging them constantly about it. I hate that feeling. The mum knows perfectly well how to deal with it I just think they can't be bothered!

I also worry if I get to the point of asking them to leave what will happen to the pony if it goes elsewhere, will she just get worse.

I'm far too soft!!

[Lucy B]

oh poor pony. Not sure what to suggest for the best but it's just obvious that someone needs to look after the pony than it is already. Maybe offer to do it for a fee?? Point out the sores etc and say it's not on. It must be a real pain in the backside having to get on at them...i wouldn't like it either!

[My Crazy Clan]

Looking at the photos that is ****** bad! I would have to say somehting, really is not fair on the horse.

[beks the artist]

Oh I really feel for you. I am going through something VERY similar as well and I just don't know what to do about it.

You can be hard and ignore it - if you looks after the mare and manage the sweet itch yourself - will you get your money back? Sounds like they won't reimburse you. You could also ask them to leave if they don't keep on top of the situation (however, like you said they will only move the mare to another location where she will still not be looked after properly)

Or, this is what I would do because I am too soft, is to tell the liveries that you will be looking after the sweet itch, saving all your receipts and billing them for your work.

It's so hard. I was until today feeding a horse who has cancer. I don't want to say anything else because its so heartbreaking to watch and I don't want to up-set anyone.

xx

[fairyfeet]

The yard owner can be found liable for any horse on their premises that is not looked after properly.
I'd tell them straight that they have 2 choices!
They do it or you do and they WILL be charged!
Explain that you cannot afford to be shut down by the RSPCA etc! It won't come to that but they won't know that!

[Loony]

Poor horse, I definately think its gone too far now, I would talk to her mum about it. Try not to lay any blame, but state that the horse's condition is very poor and something needs to be done.

[Sasca]

Well....As its a paying customer...obviously some discretion is needed as word of mouth is so important for local businesses.

I would let her know your concerns (in concerned friend tone) and offer the pony care as one of your DIY extra. Extra £2 to apply cream or somthing in morning so that they are getting it dealt with, your getting a little bit for it and the pony is being seen to.

Tell them it doesn't look good for the yard to have a pony that is getting cream applied everyday (people may gossip etc etc). You may not care but then at least you are saying that its not just you that is worried and you come across as the person trying to help not nag. Stay the friend but dont give them an option to just leave it. Give her a few options that all lead to some form of care (all in the concerned friend tone of course hehe)

Good luck!