breeder/trainer posting clients horses on facebook

[Marydell]

Well said Kareen!!!
I have actually had to chase people out of my fields along the road( so actually tresspasing) because they wanted the “cute” photo of my horses.

I agree that the trainer should respect the owner’s request not to share photos of the horse they own. From the OP, I think that the photo was shared with the breeder and the breeder posted them??? If so, telling the trainer not to share may have been only part of the issue if the breeder was not also asked to not share.

But on the other hand, as a breeder, I love getting updates about my horses. I do not share photos unless I have permission.

To those who say that once the horse leaves your ownership and you have no input— you are absolutley correct. Breeders are in the business of selling or they would not exsist. Then no one would have any horses to ride. However, we do put the blood, sweat, tears and money into these youngsters until they leave. We think of them as our children/grandchildren and are always interested in hearing how they are doing.

[NoDQhere]

In reading through this and other threads it seems the consensus is this: Once you sell a horse you have NO right to post photos or really even brag about the horse YOU bred. YOU no longer have any say in this horse. BUT, by God you better be ready to take the horse back once it is “retired/broken/used up” or YOU are the scum of the earth. Have I got this right?

My disclaimer is this. We ask permission before we share things and we will do our best to provide “a horse that we bred but no longer have any right to” a soft landing.

[Fourbeats]

I don’t think anyone is saying a breeder can’t brag about horses they bred, just that a bit of discretion should be used. It doesn’t hurt to ask the owner if they mind if you post updates etc, about the horse. Some people really don’t want the world knowing their business.

I also don’t think a breeder is some type of horrible person if they don’t take back every horse they ever bred. If they want to and are in a position to, then fine but I don’t think it should be mandatory.

I actually have a big problem with people using a horse for years, enjoying their successes or what ever, and then once it’s lame or old, wanting some one else to finance its retirement. However, I realize there are many different situations to consider there and that’s a different thread.

[Megaladon]

[QUOTE=pasturepal;7854323]
Have young horse in board and training care out of state. Have asked trainer to keep us updated with photos and videos. The first time we received the photos/videos she also shared them with the breeder we purchased the horse from as a foal. Next thing we find that the photos are on both their facebook pages. Many positive comments etc - all nice. But we are private people who don’t have facebook etc ourselves (my sister found it) and asked the trainer not to post the information in the future or share with breeder before asking us. Long story short - she did it again. Are we that out of touch to expect privacy and control over our own horse that we have paid for and are paying for board and training or is it common for people to distribute clients photos and information? Maybe we are too old school - but I just don’t think it’s right for the trainer or breeder to post our horse etc without asking us first and especially for the trainer that we asked not to do this at all. Isn’t it up to us as the owners to update the breeder and shouldn’t the breeder think twice before posting information not given by the owner but by a trainer out of state?[/QUOTE]

I don’t think you’re out of touch at all. I, like you, am a very private person as well (no FB here). I think it is a bit unprofessional for the trainer to not discuss photo sharing with you before the photos were posted across the internet sphere.

[Cindyg]

As a person who has a FB page dedicated to posting cute pictures of my horse and all my friend’s horses, I have to say, it would never occur to me that if your horse lived at my house it would bother you for me to post his picture. It would never occur to me.

And if I did post his pictures, I would credit you as the owner so as not to act like the horse is my own. I would consider that a courtesy, not an invasion of privacy.

However, if you asked me not to do it again, I would not. Though, if your horse were standing in the background of one of my horse’s cute pictures, I would not photoshop him out.

[mvp]

[QUOTE=BeeHoney;7856379]
Posting children’s photos on the internet is a potential safety issue for the children involved as it could make them the target of a predator. IMO doing something that could put a child (or an animal) at risk is unethical.

Posting photos/videos of someone’s horse doesn’t put anyone in danger, it’s more a question of preferences. Not respecting the reasonable preferences of clients is unprofessional. /QUOTE]

Not true!

An animal who has an economic value and a reputation does, in fact, exist in a world of risk. Imagine the horse who gets videotaped rearing during a loading lesson as a three year old. That gets posted and, seven years later, the horse is marketed as a kid-friendly packer. The buyer’s trainer does “due diligence,” scours the web for video of the horse and finds that earlier clip. Deal may be over. Horse gets a bad rap and can’t be sold to what would have been a great home.

Don’t think this happens? I just listened to a pro friend of mine telling me that it’s SOP for her to look for old video of horses she’s checking out now.

Bottom line is that the person who owns the horse (or the kid) should get to determine how pictures and video are used.

[rebecca_yount]

The trainer works for you and I would think he/she would be intelligent enough to not do something with photos of your horse that you have expressly asked him/her not to do. If the breeder didn’t get the initial message (your request not to put up photos on FB), you can contact him/her directly and ask that it not be done. I would wonder about the ethics or sensibility of a trainer who went against your stated wishes even if it is just photos on FB.

[arapaloosa_lady]

I expect any buyers these days to google-stalk any potential purchases.

I would also expect any professional to get a signed media release from the client before publishing any photos/videos on social media. I understand the trainer and breeder wanting to post their successes, but that should not be done without the written permission of the owner. I think this is another example of the horse world being behind the times on professionalism.

If I was in the OP’s shoes, I would just send a message reiterating my wishes not to have anything posted on social media.

[Blume_Farm]

[QUOTE=arapaloosa_lady;7861701]
I expect any buyers these days to google-stalk any potential purchases.

I would also expect any professional to get a signed media release from the client before publishing any photos/videos on social media. I understand the trainer and breeder wanting to post their successes, but that should not be done without the written permission of the owner. I think this is another example of the horse world being behind the times on professionalism.

If I was in the OP’s shoes, I would just send a message reiterating my wishes not to have anything posted on social media.[/QUOTE]

I agree, mostly. However, as a breeder I feel like I am allowed to discuss the accomplishments of any horse I bred. Photos should only be published with approval, but I should be allowed to post on my website/FB page “So-and-so, a 2004 horse out of my Mare X by Stallion X is competing successfully at Second Level, getting scores with his AA rider/ owner in the high 60s-low 70s”.

Any breeder, be it small or large, is going to discuss their breeding program. Successes of their offspring are part of their breeding program.

In another world example, if someone was the early trainer for a successful athlete, say a gymnast, they are going to discuss that “When I was training Nadia Comaneci we did X,Y and Z in our training program”.

The success of that horse is not just that of the current owner, but also that of the breeder. Yes, the breeder has no say in the training, care, etc of the horse, but they do get to say I bred so-and-so and look at what he has accomplished.