[QUOTE=poltroon;7296788]
No other profession takes for granted that you can apply the lessons you learned in kindergarten to what can be complicated business situations with other people’s money accurately and correctly. In the horse industry, the situation is complicated by the fact that many of our young professionals have only had a single mentor, someone who may not have particularly upstanding ethics. When your mentor teaches you that this is how things are done, you may not even realize it is lying or cheating.
To be a realtor, for example, you must not only take a class on agency ethics; you must retake it every few years as a refresher. The same is true in many other professions.[/QUOTE]
Very true, but that’s why I don’t think the issue is moral-based. The problem isn’t KNOWING right from wrong. The issue, to me, is people getting in way over their heads and trying to figure out a way to maintain appearances and pay bills. The pressure to bring in income has to be immense, particularly to those on the edge.
It’s tough enough for the average small business owner (which is what these people are) to have the newest and flashiest store front (trucks, riding clothes, feed, matching stable “stuff”, trailers, travel money) without factoring in show horses and staff. Even if they had seed money, maintaining that level year over year requires significant money. Add to that a lack of business sense or education, then it’s not hard to understand how these situation crop up. My guess is many justify it by the awards they win or the boasting rights they offer clients. “Comes with the territory” or other such nonsense.
I have the cliche image of a desperate gambler owing money who’ll do almost anything to keep the balls in the air…
A while back I suggested a BBB tracking system for trainers that could help the clueless or poorly connected find an honest trainer who takes care of clients AND horses (specifically drugging). I still think it’s a good idea.