bea
trinity stables
Posted:
2/25/2010 | proper footwear
How do you guys deal with people who show up in sandles or crocks.. in the summer.. and are around the horses.. these people have been around horses for awhile yet everytime you say anything you get the yeah i know wrong shoes...this is a pet peeve of mine... hate to be a drill sargent but.. it is not good if those toes are steped on... anythoughts.. |
Dee
PCFS
Posted:
2/26/2010 | Re: proper footwear
I do a barn rules and code of conduct/dress code along with the barn rules. We adhere to it. Myself and family included. Afterall we need to set the example. These people are not taking you seriously. Uncomfortable as it may be - you need to kindly pull them aside and have a private conversation about proper footwear and why its required. If they are just handling horses it may not be AS big of a deal to me - I think a couple of stepped on feet and inconveniences to them usually fixes it...not to mention the awkwardness of being the only one dressed like a rookie. Usually its parents. I do actually keep a couple of pair of extra muck boots around to "lend" out. An idea once given to me by the elementary schools....in my day if you didn't have appropriate attire for something they would have extra in the office and you'd have to wear it and take the walk of shame. You remembered the next time to bring your own stuff from home!!! LOL. And Bea - its OK to be a drill sargent - you have to be with some people or they won't respect you. |
Emily
FBF
Posted:
2/26/2010 | Re: proper footwear
Rules are in place for everyone's safety, so stick to them. They wouldn't go swimming in their boots and breeches/jeans, so why is it difficult to remember the boots at the barn? An extra pair of boots to loan is a nice touch. I'd say it's fine for a walk through the barn/paddocks to say hi to the horse behind a gate/fence, but no getting the horse out at all in inappropriate footwear, and probably say "too bad you forgot, but at least you didn't get hurt! See you tomorrow/next time with your boots." |
CC
Private
Posted:
3/1/2010 | Re: proper footwear
Good Luck! It is in our dress code/barn rules and a pet peeve of mine. However one boarder always wears flip flops in the summer. I've stopped saying anything. She signed the rules, is over 21 and it is her foot not mine! Pick your battles. |
SEH
My barn
Posted:
3/3/2010 | Re: proper footwear
You simply cannot be near horses or around a barn barefoot or in unsafe footwear. A horse weighs as much as a small car and doesn't watch where he puts his feet, & tetanus risk is something like 5 times greater because of horse manure in the environment. This is a high priority safety rule, along with No Smoking, no running & scaring horses, mandatory helmet use while mounted, and no unsupervised children. We post signs, go over barn safety rules with all clients and visitors, and have a few pairs of loaner boots. We enforce this with parents, boarders and visitors, too, unless they're only in the parking lot. Our insurance costs would be a lot higher if we didn't.
Anybody so clueless that they insist on being around horses in flip-flops--or smoking in the barn--after being told not to, is not a client we want to keep. |
Suzy
Flying High
Posted:
6/22/2010 | Re: proper footwear
so how far do you go? Proper riding gear also includes long sleeves but how many of us follow that rule? I say that having rules or reminding them of footware is overreaching. More effective might be your own testimony about a bad experience. Anyone around a horse for any length of time has a "foot" story.
Let them wear what they want and one misstep they will figure it out pretty quick. |
