Yep and I don’t board, I rent the property that my horses are on 
3 Likes
Oh, the owner could absolutely just leave and go on a trail ride and not come back. I would have to go to small claims to recover.
In 40 years of boarding 30+ head, I have called the police twice. Never been ghosted.
My barns were pretty much full with a wait list and the horse world is small.
3 Likes
Yikes.
And padlocking horses in stalls and padlocking gates… that’s so dangerous. What about emergencies or fires?
So bad on multiple levels.
3 Likes
It was a wonderful experience as a first time horse owner. I was there when the police showed up. I was lucky enough to slip out (after giving notice and paying) in the morning when someone unlocked a gate to feed horses. That person said my horse likely hadn’t gotten hay in at least a month.
I will say that telling people the horse world is small is true, but that works both ways. If you leave suddenly without paying everyone already knows it’s because the barn was out of hay and grain and had quit feeding horses. It’s not a coincidence when barns in the area get an influx of boarders from one barn all at once.
Unfortunately I have told my story and people don’t believe me, even though I was there!
7 Likes
That might be true IF the written contract stated that no oral modifications are allowed. If the contract didn’t say that, then in most cases the contract can be modified either by a subsequent oral agreement or by conduct of the parties.
I’m just focusing on the fact that the boarder said she was giving 30 days’ notice, which sounds like she was acquiescing to the requirement of paying board for 30 days more once you state your intent to leave. But you’re right–it’s a complicated situation, especially since the original contract was with a different person (the barn owner). It’s so complicated that the FB might conclude it’s not worth pursuing.
1 Like
I have a similar experience where I packed up that very second and left a barn, along with a slew of other people who had learned what I had learned from a very reputable first-hand source. The people who elected to stay still will not speak to me, even though we were pretty close friends at the time.
Not related to why I left, but the walls of their indoor arena were spraypainted with the words “HOME WRECKER” due to the trainer’s behavior about a month later. Ain’t nobody got time for that drama.
5 Likes
Ha! That’s exactly what one client I had (long time ago) mentioned. I heard from other boarders that the horse I sold them and which THEY HAD NOT PAID FOR was being taken home to their barn. They were waiting until night so I wouldn’t be there. You bet your a$$ I put a lock on that stall door. Interesting: they paid for the horse the next day and I said enjoy your new horse and took the lock off the door. No fires or emergencies.
As for the OPs situation - you do not have a contract - verbal or otherwise - with FB. You kindly gave 30 days notice. Pay for that 30 days, no more, no less, and move your horse TODAY.
I was the resident trainer at a barn (again, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth). I saw first hand, that the BO (they raised and showed main ring Arabs), injected some of her horses with painkiller or alcohol or something to make them go sound before she put them on the trailer for the show. I called her on it and she said, “Oh, everybody does it!” I said, “No, I’m somebody, and I don’t do it.” I loaded up my horses and removed them as soon as the BO left for her show. I had zero interest in being associated with her or her facility. Her husband was to follow her in the motorhome and he saw me leaving. He said, “you have to give notice!” I said, “Here’s a check for next month’s board. That’s your notice.”
I did that because since it was my idea to move and I hadn’t given notice. In your circumstance, OP, I’d pay for this month, load up my horse(s), get out of Dodge, and let FB decide if they want to pursue you for any perceived “monies owed.” I’d bet a week’s wages they won’t bother.
7 Likes
Until that horse was paid for, it was yours.
3 Likes
In some states if you fill the stall, apartment with a paying tenants they have to pro-rate back to the tenant/boarder. They cannot double dip.
I have read about people putting “stuff” in their stall until the end of their paid thru period so the BO/BM does not double dip.
1 Like
Actually, that’s pretty common in my experience. My last 2 contracts were written exactly that way.
It’s not really giving the BO any power, it’s protecting them from people skipping out. I’m OK with it, other that it gets sticky when you want to leave and the place you’re going to isn’t motivated to holding a stall for you for 30 days so sometimes you get stuck with board at one place and dry stall at another.
The one time it was a bit dicey for me, the BO was in violation of the contract so I pointed that out and asked if they would waive the notice clause in return for me not making a fuss which they did.
3 Likes
It’s probably over 10 years ago — somewhere in the distance of history there is an epic COTH thread advising a horse owner, and her friend, on ways to rescue their horses from an increasingly terrible barn. I don’t remember the details, but horses were no longer being fed properly. Stalls, water and property were no longer maintained.
Where the board money went, no one but the BO/M knew. But it wasn’t to horse & farm upkeep and care. But BO/M was frantic to keep the horses in place and boarders paying board. She was locking horses in at night. Guarding all ways out of the property (as best she could). Forbidding any trailers to come on the property. Threatening everyone with mayhem if they tried to move their horse. Threatening to seize their horse if they didn’t pay.
Literally, apparently a truck & trailer came to pick up a horse, and BO/M came out raging with a baseball bat. The driver ended up driving out without even trying to get out of the truck.
LE did not want to get involved. “Civil matter.”
HO was trying to figure out how to get her horse out. And her stuff. Without triggering the BO/M.
So many suggestions! So many anecdotes! Last I remember, it was clear that at least she was going to have to secretly walk the horse out and meet the getaway trailer on the road. I thought of some creative (I thought 
) suggestions for diverting the owner while this occurred.
Wherever that thread is now, it belongs in an Epic Thread section, if there is one. 
I think the lady did eventually rescue her horse and her friend’s horse – or maybe she stopped updating, don’t remember.
