Don't know whether to laugh, scream, or cry!

[lobeliaoverhill]

I haven't been to see my horse for two weeks cos I wrecked my back, I went to see him for 5 minutes yesterday and today I went up for a bit longer and gave him a groom and I noticed that in my absence someone has pulled his mane and clipped a poll piece in between his ears...

He'd had that done a few days before I bought him, and I haven't touch his mane in the last 6 months because I was letting it grow - I intend to plait if I take him to a show and a 3inch long mane isn't suitable, and his forelock has about 6 strands of hair and looks pathetic - so I was letting the poll piece grow to 'fill out' his forelock a bit.

Now just as his mane was long enough [for my liking] to plait and his forelock was starting to look a bit better, it's all gone again...

(in case you're wondering I didn't ask anyone to 'trim' his hair, no one said they would do it, and it wasn't included in the livery)

http://www.mazeguy.net/happy/rotfl.gif

http://www.mazeguy.net/angry/hissyfit.gif

http://www.mazeguy.net/sad/weepy.gif

WWYD??

[Stormin]

OMG :eek:
If it happened to me, there would probably be WWIII at the yard.
I got especially irate when one of the liveries, who used to supervise the weekends (whilst owners were competing), insisted on brushing my horse's mane despite my repeated requests to leave it be (he's a full-maned QH who was in a private livery yard full of SJers and eventers). She did manage to rip out alot of mane causing it to be straggly and thin.

On a more diplomatic note, you should go see your YM and get to the bottom of this. I don't know what livery arrangement you have but if you didn't ask for mane to be done, it shouldn't have been done. What if you didn't want the horse clipped and you arrived with it sporting a nice full clip ?
If I were you, for peace of mind, I'd get this sorted and make sure your wishes were known.

[shockblue]

oh no! I can't ever imagine a situation of someone being that 'personal' with my horse whilst I was away. It's almost as if they were acting like it was THEIR horse!

I would be mad

[kayjayhorses]

why would someone do that? I wouldn't dream of doing that to someone's horse unless I was asked.

[LauraGeeGee]

That's just mad! :eek:

Why would someone do that??!

Surely it must be a mistake and they've trimmed th wrong horse??

I can't think of any other explanation!
:confused:

[lobeliaoverhill]

phew, thanks guys, for a minute I thought I might have been overreacting...

The horse used to belong to the YO and the YM does all the clipping etc (they're siblings so I can't really 'report' anything to anyone) I was told yesterday that they'll probably give him a bib clip this week as he's getting very hairy, which is fine by me, but no one mentioned doing anything to his mane :(

I'm definitely going to say something about it, dunno how angry I'll get about it tho' ...

[Daisy_Roots]

OMG!! I'd be http://bestsmileys.com/angry2/6.gif

[laupip]

Deffo not over reacting! I would be really upset if someone did it to my horse. My Mum cut a bridle path on my mare and I was annoyed as I had said that I didn't want it and she didn't need it as she is a TB with a fine mane. It did grow back but it seemed to take ages and stuck up zebra style for a while. She hasn't done any other trimming since!!
Why would someone do that to someone elses horse especially without asking? Its worse as you have been unable to get there yourself and then when you finally manage to you find out what has been going on.
On a positive note I suppose it is only hair, it will grow and it doesn't actually do any harm but STILL....!!!!!

[learningcurve]

phew, thanks guys, for a minute I thought I might have been overreacting...

The horse used to belong to the YO and the YM does all the clipping etc (they're siblings so I can't really 'report' anything to anyone) I was told yesterday that they'll probably give him a bib clip this week as he's getting very hairy, which is fine by me, but no one mentioned doing anything to his mane :(

I'm definitely going to say something about it, dunno how angry I'll get about it tho' ...

Think the YO/previous owner is having trouble completely giving up ownership.

Someone I know was in a similiar situation, she wanted her mares tail longer, was happily grooming away one day and YO/previous owner just walked up and gave it a trim.:eek:

[Kis Vihar]

I would be livid if someone had done something to my horse without my permission. :mad:

I have a Welsh D, who I used to show in the UK. I had a lady who used to come and help me in return for rides.

One day I went to the yard and noticed Fella was out on a hack with this lady, but I also noticed a huge pile of long hair by his tie-up place. :eek:

When she arrived back from her hack, I was horrified! She had pulled his beautiful very long mane to about 4 inches long! She asked me if I liked his new look now she had 'tidied him up'!!

I couldn't speak to her....! I was just seething! :mad:

[Ceiron]

thats bang out of order, i would be livid

[Happy Hacker 01]

You're def not over reacting at all!!! :eek:

I would be absolutely FURIOUS if anyone did that!! I'm sure anyone else on my yard would feel the same!!!

How dare they?!! :mad:

[cinammontoast]

I sincerely hope you find out for def if it was the YM and gve them hell! How dare they!:mad:

[Mary Poppins]

I would go bonkers if someone touched my horses mane. I am very particular about how I like my horses to look and would feel almost violated if someone touched the mane. You don't want to come acorss as neurotic as me, but you need to make your feelings known.

[lobeliaoverhill]

Thanks for the support guys :)




When she arrived back from her hack, I was horrified! She had pulled his beautiful very long mane to about 4 inches long! She asked me if I liked his new look now she had 'tidied him up'!!

Jays Kis, it's a wonder you didn't strangle her with the remains of his mane!

[LauraGeeGee]

Has anyone offered an explaination??

It just seeems too odd!!

You're certainly not overreacting!

[Cortrasna]

Jeeeez! I'd go nuts - have been doing the same, trying to grow JJ's mane to more of a 'traditional' length since I got him. Would have a fit if anybody so much as brushed it let alone shortened it!!!:eek:

Did yu get any explanation as to why this had been done????

[Kit&Holly]

Do you know what I would actually kill someone if they done that to my horses mane! Holly has the most perfect mane and I have spent several hours making is as perfect as it is with careful pulling and trimming... But yeah if anyone ever considers touching my horses mane for anything other than to feel how silky soft it is I will actually kill them :)

[fairlady]

Don't think you are overreacting....OMG I would be LIVID but I guess its
been done so to a certain point what the hell can you do?

I would let it be known though, to ALL and SUNDRY, that NOBODY touches
it in the future;)

[mindymoo]

That happened to me, i have a highland who's mane and tail was cut with a pair of scissors. A highland with a short straight mane = not a good look.
Sharer went.

[lynnemh]

i would be mad- what a cheek!

[Native Lover]

OMG, how angry i would be if that were m y horse i think i would totally lose the plot!! I know some cobs are hogged for showing etc but my own personal preference is the longer,thicker the better.I am not into horses and ponies that need pulling or plaiting at all, they do look good but for me its natural manes and tails anyday :)

I loved the fact my shetland colts tail used to drag on the floor and his mum had a lovely thick mane :D:D:D

[lobeliaoverhill]

Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to visit the yard today ...

[Stormin]

phew, thanks guys, for a minute I thought I might have been overreacting...

The horse used to belong to the YO and the YM does all the clipping etc (they're siblings so I can't really 'report' anything to anyone) I was told yesterday that they'll probably give him a bib clip this week as he's getting very hairy, which is fine by me, but no one mentioned doing anything to his mane :(

I'm definitely going to say something about it, dunno how angry I'll get about it tho' ...

Hold on a sec. What kind of livery arrangement do you have ?
Sounds a bit like a working livery or they possibly use your horse for lessons ?

IMO from the moment you're footing the bill (livery, vet, farrier etc) then they should be suggesting a bib clip rather than probably give him a bib clip. Surely you're supposed to be making the decisions as you're the owner ?
It does sound like a very strange arrangement at your yard !

[Cortrasna]

lobeliaoverhill - wonder could you pm me this yard?? Had a filly at a yard over here about 18 months ago and the exact same thing happened:eek: Just noticed you are in Eire and may be the same place??? Was very cross and they seemed sort of bewildered that I had a problem with her new baldy look:D

[Portia]

One day I went to the yard and noticed Fella was out on a hack with this lady, but I also noticed a huge pile of long hair by his tie-up place. :eek:

When she arrived back from her hack, I was horrified! She had pulled his beautiful very long mane to about 4 inches long!

This happened to friend's pony - but mane was cut with scissors. Beyond belief, plus the pony was regularly shown. Took over a year for the mane to come close to it's former length. Ignorance. Sheer ignorance.

And I'd be fuming if someone did that to mine. I deliberately grew out her bridle path - I wondered if the bridle rubbing on the short bristles bothered her, have to say she had less head tossing when it had grown out.

[lobeliaoverhill]

Hold on a sec. What kind of livery arrangement do you have ?
Sounds a bit like a working livery or they possibly use your horse for lessons ?

IMO from the moment you're footing the bill (livery, vet, farrier etc) then they should be suggesting a bib clip rather than probably give him a bib clip. Surely you're supposed to be making the decisions as you're the owner ?
It does sound like a very strange arrangement at your yard !

I bought the horse from the YO, and because they'd paid to register him for this year with the SJI I let them take him to a few shows in May and June.

He's on full private livery, which includes him being exercised when I'm not able to go ride (which happens occasionally either due to my Bad Back playing up or because there's a problem with one or other of my parents [I'm their Carer]), there doesn't seem to be a lot of turnout at the mo due to the bad weather, so he was ridden every day when I couldn't go riding the last fortnight.

I don't like to say it "out loud" as I don't want it biting me in the face, but I've been spoken to inappropriately as if the horse doesn't belong to me, and I'm just riding him for someone else, more than once ... I bit my tongue and didn't say anything as I've got one hell of a temper and once I get started I'll say something the other person will regret! and my options of going elsewhere are severely limited, although I've now had a couple of people tell me there are other places in the area

I was going to say yesterday (but couldn't get to the yard) about not bothering to clip him as he won't be working hard enough for the next few weeks [until I get my back strengthened up] to be working up a sweat and I'd never put him away wet anyway...




lobeliaoverhill - wonder could you pm me this yard?? Had a filly at a yard over here about 18 months ago and the exact same thing happened:eek: Just noticed you are in Eire and may be the same place??? Was very cross and they seemed sort of bewildered that I had a problem with her new baldy look:D

Okay, as long as it doesn't get used against me in a court of law! LOL




I wondered if the bridle rubbing on the short bristles bothered her, have to say she had less head tossing when it had grown out.


I'm wondering about that too as my lad was a terrible head tosser, and the bridle would slip forward onto his ears (pretty sure it fits him fine!)



I'll try to get up to the yard today...

[Stormin]

Ah ok, thanks for that - I understand your situation a bit better.
Purely based on what I read here in your thread, and from my own personal experience, I would be inclined to suggest that you look elsewhere to keep your horse. I'm sure the yard that you're at is not the only one offering full livery and to be honest, sounds like you're being taken advantage of. It's all too easy to rely on the "sometimes absent" owner to foot ALL of the bills leaving you with a freebie to ride.

I do suggest changing yards, not because the people aren't looking after your horse but because I've already lived through a situation whereas the seller was also the trainer of the horse and kinda forgot that he was no longer the owner.
Unless you manage to communicate your wishes and that the sellers manage to "cut the umbilical cord" they have with your horse, you'll always be taken advantage of.

Problem with alot of yards is that they rarely advertise - you get to know about them and eventually get a place by word of mouth. Maybe someone here might be able to point you in the direction of another similar establishment.

Then again, if you're just a bit unhappy about things being done without your consent but appreciate that they might react in their opinion of the horse's welfare, and that you're happy with this then don't change something that seems to be working.

Good luck whichever way you go.

[Trewsers]

I would be sooooo upset if somebody did that to either of ours! You are def not over-reacting!!!