Ok, glad that you explained this better, thank you.
Some boarders add to your barn, some cost you.
That one seems to be one that will cost you all kinds of resources, time, energy, supplies, aggravation, maybe more than her money may contribute, once you weigh it all.
Also consider, sounds like she has at least one horse that can be a problem, already injured on wire, may show little self preservation.
This is what I did with a similar crazy who showed up for the initial visit and stayed four hours:
I told her she could build a small wood paddock within an existing paddock that met both of our specifications. She would supply materials and labour.
She would supply her own feed, as she wanted something I didn’t offer and had no interest in carrying.
I would charge for every weird incidental need, pony was being rehabbed from…Munchausen by Proxy.
The base board rate I literally just doubled my standard rate. She was really annoying and crazy, but also both she and the PONY were very high maintenance and had been asked to leave the barn they were currently at that could “no longer meet her needs”.
I sent her an email laying all of this out.
She responded that such and such farm was only going to charge her x. I said, that’s fantastic, you should definitely go there, and I never heard from her again.
I figured if she came, I would get a new paddock out of it, at least, and money. But I knew it had to be enough money to make up for the crazy OR deter her completely.
Just say no. If she’s annoying you this much before she has horses at your place, then imagine how much more annoying she’ll be after she does. Personally I am not a fan of high tensile wire fencing either but I would have thanked you for your time and left, not stayed for so long and start making demands.
Speaking from experience, NO! You have a lot of good advice and crazy stories so I won’t add much except to say you have several months before winter truly sets in and you could spend that time low-key advertising through friends in the industry to find a not-so-crazy boarder. We’re all nuts, comes with the territory, but she sounds like a special kind of batsh!t. She is the kind of boarder who will end up costing you more than just the fencing!
First response:
Not an owner but a boarder. I would say “run, dont walk away”. If the demands are starting before she’s there, they will only continue. She will make you crazy or your other boarders crazy.
Second response: 6 months? she’s gone for a while? Hmmm. I might be inclined to say “here’s the pasture and the price, no fencing will be changed at our cost but if you want to pay…” You dont mention location, or winter weather, so guessing that’s not a significant problem. But be VERY CLEAR as to what you provide - in writing.
Last question: Where would she go w/ them in May? what if she’s a handful and doesnt want to leave?
We had new boarder move in two months ago - even before coming she said she was looking for all night turnout. This barn doesn’t do that. Told her upfront. She’s done nothing but try and get a different answer, first with barn manager, then other staff (??) then most recently with BO. That got ugly and she’s dangling by a thread. Nothing is satisfactory. Sometimes its just not worth it.
If you need the money, consider carefully that the first thing this woman is asking of you is to lay out a bundle on fences. I price V-wire at $365 for a 165’ roll. I don’t know how big your pasture is and who would do the labor but I don’t see it being much less than a thousand dollars for an initial layout. I also don’t see her coughing up the sum up front is she is already negotiating a lower monthly rate. Also, there is no guarantee she will stay the full six months, so if you do make those fence changes, you may not recoup the costs. Is it worth the gamble?
That was just the financial aspect. If you are seriously considering this, I would sleuth the internet and call all of her references. Are you sure she is leaving for the purpose she stated or is she being kicked out? Does she have a history of frivolous law suits? What is her credit rating and does she pay her barn bills? The biggest potential problem is that you already have drama, just in the process of evaluating her. Think of how that might magnify once she moves in.
Tell your husband not to be swayed by the (prospective) money.
She’s probably left or been asked to leave many other barns, and she will leave yours when she discovers that your world does not revolve around her. Or she will so disrupt your training business with her wacky requests and habits that you’ll ask her to go.
This will happen AFTER you’ve spent more money on her than she’s paid you.
Please, for the sake of your sanity, say no.
Fair point as well.
When I was a boarder, this exact thing happened.
30-horse facility.
Woman shows up at like 7pm on a week night. Never called the BO or anything before hand. Bugs me riding my horse in the arena until I call the BO multiple times until she picks up. BO comes outside to meet lady, shows her around barn. Lady needed two pasture boarded at 9am the next morning, horses she just bought and her other farm fell through. BO lets her move in, after having previously told me she had no pasture board space available.
Lady was an absolute nightmare. Hogged the arenas, talked non-stop to you while you were riding (well, not me after I snapped on her within the first week), asked questions for help then argued on the answers, rode with her driving whip in her back pocket rocketing around, etc. Her young child, maybe 7-8 years, one day was sweeping the barn aisle to help out/she was bored. Kept sweeping RIGHT up behind my sassy mare. I kept telling her to stay several feet away, she kicks. Kid keeps doing it. Finally my mare flips out and breaks out of the cross ties, almost running this child over. I think about 6-8 other boarders left, myself included.
Is it full moon?
If hubby only sees the money, tell him it only looks good until one of her horses gets hurt and she sues you because of your “dangerous fencing”. You do not need her as a boarder.
here is what will happen.
You will put the fence up in one paddock for her. She will start to tell other clients how horrid they are for allowing their horse to be in wire. They will also want the mesh. The new boarder will find something to fault and not pay full board. You will either have to accept a smaller fee or evict her. Likely she will be so much stress you evict her. So now you have the expense of the new fence, no new boarder, and the cost of ulcer medication (for you).
I am sure you can find a better fit.
Why not just advertise for boarders and take one who isn’t crazy?
Now what fun would that be? LOL!
Ahh but how do you tell? Some seem quite normal until the full moon shines, then they go crazy.
No, no, no, no, no, a thousand times no! There are other boarders out there. There are boarders who will be satisfied with your facilities. I would tell this woman that my farm was clearly not a fit for her and wish her luck. If I were feeling magnanimous, I might recommend a farm or two that might meet her needs. The few times I accepted a boarder who I knew had different expectations/demands than I provided, I regretted it and ended up serving them their notice in very short time.
Well this one is nuts coming out of the gate!
True 'dat,
Not yet, full moon is on August 7. Variably called the Sturgeon Moon, Grain Moon, Corn Moon and (the best), Fruit Moon. (I’m serious!)
http://www.moongiant.com/moonphases/August/2017
Anticipate more craziness during that total solar eclipse thing on the 21st.
Friends who aren’t horse people fuss at me that I’m missing out on all this money by not boarding horses at my farm. People like this lady are exactly why I don’t want to board horses. She’ll cost you tenfold what she might pay.
Another vote for - if you need boarders then advertise for boarders. Do not take in someone who is a pain before they even move in.
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