Dealing w/ boarders VENT - Boarder won't stop using baby oil in her feed can lid...

[rhymeswithfizz]

I am a master of time saving and efficiency.

This is the most inefficient system I have ever heard of. Here is how I would solve this.

1. Get a big load of hay. Everyone buys in so it’s not your cash up front. Believe me, your boarders will like this much better than having to go find handfuls of bales every couple weeks. Plus it will be way cheaper for you all too. Get hay guy on a schedule, have boarders leave checks or pay in advance. If boarders want extra hay or a different type, then they have to arrange for it themselves.

2. Hay guys will deliver. And stack. You do not need to lift a finger. Agree to either pay more for stacking, or have an unloading party with your boarders.

3. No more baggies. What a pain for everyone! Use scoops with the quart markings. Write the feed amount on the scoop or bin lid. You are fighting a losing battle with this one and there’s no point.

4. If someone runs out of feed, make it a big fee. Big enough so they never, ever want to run out. Big enough so you don’t begrudge them.

5. Your barn, your rules. It’s up to you to define them and enforce them.

Good luck, it sounds like you have an awesome place!!!

[Jealoushe]

I don’t understand why everything has to be done by letters.

Call a barn meeting, when EVERYONE can attend. Say this is our yearly or bi annual barn meeting to go over some rules.

Then spell out the grain and hay problem. Maybe suggest that the boarders keep two week supply of hay and grain - as in two week surplus. That should be an easy enough thing to implement.

Talking in person goes over much better than passive aggressive letters. If you do it in a group session no one is feeling singled out.

[trubandloki]

[QUOTE=Jealoushe;7725584]

Call a barn meeting, when EVERYONE can attend. Say this is our yearly or bi annual barn meeting to go over some rules.[/QUOTE]
I would imagine it is next to impossible to find a day that EVERYONE is available to attend a meeting at the barn.

[mountainhorse]

You schedule the meeting far enough in advance and make it mandatory. Like a work meeting. If you want to board (work) here, you make this meeting. Or leave.
Schedule it for an evening, everyone is off work, possibly even a weekend. At least 2 weeks in advance, and make sure no one is off on vaca at that time. With only 4-5 boarders, it is very feasible to do.

[Jealoushe]

[QUOTE=trubandloki;7725706]
I would imagine it is next to impossible to find a day that EVERYONE is available to attend a meeting at the barn.[/QUOTE]

Really…give me a break. I’m sure if ONE (good boarder) can’t come it wouldn’t be the end of the world but that was not the point of my post.

[mountainhorse]

The only thing to add to having a meeting is to have them resign a contract agreeing to such rules. Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork. Legality will thank you.

[Roxyllsk]

I do think you need to have a barn meeting with everyone. If someone can’t make it, then set up a time to have a one on one meeting with that boarder. Or, they can call and you can put them on speaker phone so they can hear the whole thing.

Tell everyone very clearly what you are unhappy about. (ie, running out of feed). Don’t single anyone out, just state what a big problem this is and how in inconveniences you.

Most feed stores will set up an ‘autoship’ type thing. If most of the owners use one feed store, then they can set it up where the feed is delivered every other week and they are billed for it. I would insist on something like this rather than having everyone pick up their own feed.

As for the oily girl ? As others have suggested - if she does it again, you will not be feeding her horse.