Cross Posted Need Help!

[Anonymous]

I have a situation that I am not sure how to handle or what to think. My horse is free leased to a trainer several states away from me and has been for several months. For the first few months I was extremely happy with the situation - the trainer honestly gives first class care, and I thoroughly trusted this person. I recommended to a person in my current barn to ship their horse to the trainer in order to have it campaigned and sold. They didn’t follow advice at first and tried things their own way, but eventually the horse wound up in my trainer’s barn to be sold. This occurred in March. Since my March, I have called the trainer repeatedly for updates on my horse. I have received three e-mails, but have not actually spoken with the trainer since March. The people who are selling their horse leave the trainer messages on an almost daily basis with no response. They have not heard from the trainer for at least two months. I received my last e-mail at the end of May, wherein the trainer very kindly offered to keep their horse for another month at no charge to them. I asked the trainer to please call them within the next week to verify everything and relieve their mind. To date, we have heard nothing. I have left messages for a full week now with no response.

I am not quite sure what to think of this situation. I know that the trainer is very very busy but it concerns me that we leave messages with no response. Is this a normal situation? I don’t want to make the trainer angry, as I really like them, but it is embarrassing that I referred the sellers and they are being treated this way. What should I do??

[FatLilPony]

annonomuys, Why don’t you contact one of the people on the bopard who knows/trains there-and ask them to check on the horse for you?

“A horse can lend its rider the speed and strength he or she lacks-but the rider who is wise remembers it is no more than a loan.” Pam Brown

[Everythingbutwings]

I frequently get emails from people I know who have copied the email to their friends and acquaintances. I just don’t happen to know ALL their friends

Some people hit “reply to all” and the mail goes to every address on the original message.

[This message was edited by Everythingbutwings on Jul. 06, 2001 at 09:51 AM.]

[Posting_Trot]

For what it’s worth, and it’s not much, but here’s my opinion: Who cares if you ticked off the trainer? Good heavens, it’s your horse, and your money, and you hired the trainer to do stuff for you and keep you informed. Reverse the roles for a moment: what if you stopped sending the monthly board check for your horse, and your trainer tried to call you, left messages, etc., and you never got back to him/her for FOUR months. Would your trainer be saying to him/herself, “Oh gee, I’d really like to have my money, but I guess Anonymous must be really busy, so I’ll just not worry about it”? I DON’T THINK SO! Frankly, I wouldn’t care if your horse has a red shag carpet in its stall, and is currently drinking champagne out of an ice-bucket and eating oats off a silver platter; part of the point is that you want to be kept informed about the horse’s condition and status. Go get the horse; even if the horse is fine, you don’t want constantly to be worrying about why the trainer never seems to get back to you.

[Janet]

I am glad you finally seem to e getting some resolution. Hope you get your pony home soon.

[PMJ]

After loosing my mare to colic in which she was not attended although the people who were leasing her were only 10 min away and had all my numbers and after reading what you have been through, I want to urge all horse owners to jump right in as soon as you think something may be wrong with your horse if you are not caring for it. I too worry about hurting peoples’ feelings, but anymore, I am coming to believe that people who really care for the horses are not going to mind keeping the owner up to date.

Am so glad your story has a happy ending.

[Miniwelsh]

my Wisconsin trainer (who mostly does Quarter horses) asked me “Do hunter jumpers show with fuzzy ears on the east coast?” I had to laugh.

It is such a shame too - the horse is lovely, easy to ride and has a great temperment. He would have been a steal for someone.

Strangely enough, my pony’s muzzle had been recently clipped but her mane was long and her ears were also fuzzy. Pretty strange.

Behind every good woman lies a trail of men

[Anonymous]

I have a situation that I am not sure how to handle or what to think. My horse is free leased to a trainer several states away from me and has been for several months. For the first few months I was extremely happy with the situation - the trainer honestly gives first class care, and I thoroughly trusted this person. I recommended to a person in my current barn to ship their horse to the trainer in order to have it campaigned and sold. They didn’t follow advice at first and tried things their own way, but eventually the horse wound up in my trainer’s barn to be sold. This occurred in March. Since my March, I have called the trainer repeatedly for updates on my horse. I have received three e-mails, but have not actually spoken with the trainer since March. The people who are selling their horse leave the trainer messages on an almost daily basis with no response. They have not heard from the trainer for at least two months. I received my last e-mail at the end of May, wherein the trainer very kindly offered to keep their horse for another month at no charge to them. I asked the trainer to please call them within the next week to verify everything and relieve their mind. To date, we have heard nothing. I have left messages for a full week now with no response.

I am not quite sure what to think of this situation. I know that the trainer is very very busy but it concerns me that we leave messages with no response. Is this a normal situation? I don’t want to make the trainer angry, as I really like them, but it is embarrassing that I referred the sellers and they are being treated this way. What should I do??

[Anonymous]

I am a bit afraid that if I say anything, than the trainer will get ticked off. I don’t want to cause trouble for the trainer, but you’re right, maybe I need to contact some of the people and see if they can help in some way.

[Anonymous]

As you can see I am starting to get pretty desperate to find someone who can help me

I’ll keep everyone posted as to what happens. Thanks again for your support and concern.

[Anonymous]

In all fairness, my pony is there on a free lease wherein I don’t pay anything for board, training, showing etc., and she pays all expenses. Were I in the owner’s of the sale horse’s shoes, wherein they were paying training board, I would be REALLY ticked. They seem to be taking the whole thing better than I am at this point.

I am trying to figure out what weekend I can make the trip out there at the moment. I hate to have someone else go out to check on my horses - feels like having them do the dirty work, I guess. If anyone in the Virginia area likes doing that kind of stuff, please post and I can send you my e-mail address, but I’m thinking most sane people wouldn’t want to get involved.

[Miniwelsh]

Thanks Janet. I probably should have done a lot of things at the first sign of trouble, but unfortunately I try to think the best of people. This situation has cured me of that trait.

Behind every good woman lies a trail of men

[Miniwelsh]

it was stories like the one you posted that really scared me into taking action on this. It is too easy to sit back and be complacent in a situation like this because you don’t want to ruffle any feathers or tick anyone off in the horse world but after this, I would recommend that anyone in a similar situation take immediate action and contact an attorney sooner rather than later. It may cost more, but when the safety of your horse is at stake, isn’t it worth it?

I am sorry that you story had such a sad ending. Life isn’t fair

Behind every good woman lies a trail of men

[Dementia_13]

Ugh - what an ordeal, miniwelsh. I’m so glad its over for you.

[Coreene]

If it was my horse, I’d get a trailer and go pick the horse up. Screw 'em, who needs that kind of treatment?!

[Kryswyn]

Hello, reality check.

It’s your horse. The trainer is getting a FREE LEASE of said horse. You send trainer money in the form of a new client. The trainer is too [B]busy [/B]to take your phone call or take a moment to call you.

I don’t think so!!!

The person getting mad here should be YOU!!! I would almost guarantee something is not right. Your horse is probably injured and the other horse has been sold, but the trainer has “needed” the funds for an emergency truck repair (or perhaps your horse’s colic surgery ) and that is why s/he has offered an extra month. They’re hoping to earn back the sale price.

You should definitely ask someone to go look at the horses. Whether it is a BBer or someone else. Suggestion. Check yellow pages in that state for a personal service company. You know, someone who’ll p/u your dry cleaning, stand on line for you at DMV. Hire them to pay a visit. You will need to send them photos of course, but they can say anything, “We’re Nony’s cousins” whatever, but they can certainly ask to see the horses. Failing that, there is always the police. You should be able to call and have them verify that the horse is in situ, otherwise it’s grand theft. You might have to persevere w/ them, but grand theft is a valid reason for them to check out. This is true only for YOUR horse. The owners of the sale horse will have to make the inquiry for their horse themselves.

ANYTIME a trainer stops returning calls, it’s a bad thing that sets my bells off. Why, because it’s happened to me! My horse was sold for more than 6 MONTHS before I knew about it. I was told “he’s doing well, we’re showing him locally.” Well perhaps locally IN HIS NEW HOME STATE!!! Finally when I announced blythly, unsuspectingly, that I was passing through in a week or so I heard, “…Oh… well, don’t expect to see your horse, he’s with So&so this week for trial” When I arrived I was told, “They made an offer of $1500 (we’d been asking $3500 for over a year)” A quick call to Daddy (“Take it”) and DA#MMED if the trainer didn’t walk into his office and give me CASH. I always wondered what would’ve happened if Daddy had said, Oh honey, just bring the damn horse home. Because later someone at the barn unknowingly told me that my horse had shipped out two months after I’d left it,eight months before I came to visit. I hope this is not your experience, too.

~Kryswyn~
“Always look on the bright side of life, de doo, de doo de doo de doo”

[Kennett_Square]

I believe I saw your horse last weekend at her barn. I was down for a party. He looked in good shape and from what I understand one of my boss’ clients is supposed to be looking at him this week. I did mention that she might want to call you and reassure you of his condition and status. Hope this helps. My problem with not getting back to you sooner was the fact my home computer is down and I haven’t been able to get on.

[Posting_Trot]

OK, even so, (and I don’t mean to sound harsh here, but if I were in your position, I’d be terrified), reverse your positions: You have one of your trainer’s horses on a free lease (I know, it wouldn’t happen, but let’s pretend). Your trainer calls, wants to know how the horse is doing, have you been showing, etc. You don’t get back to him or her for four months. Trainer calls back, do you want to buy horse? You don’t answer. Trainer calls again, is horse still alive? No answer. Would your trainer just accept the situation?

I’m sure the trainer has a great reputation, but even people with great reputations screw up sometimes, and the screw-ups can have just as bad an outcome as when people with lousy reputations screw up.

[Lisamarie8]

I’m so sorry Mini-Welsh! I like you try to think the best of people…I am however, as I’m sure you were, routinely disappointed.

Keep us posted, and I surely hope your little pony-love is safe and sound…

If you would like I could make a voo-doo doll for ya…very few things are more therapeutic than jamming pins in the one you DON’T love

–If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down? We might, if they screamed all the time, for no good reason.

[Miniwelsh]

The horses arrived today at about 5:30 p.m. Although a tad underweight and off the muscle, they both really look good all things considered(they’re feet look like they were just done). Minnie whinnied like a crazy horse when she heard my voice.

The shipper we used was Blue Chip Horse Transporters and I have to say they did an absolutely incredible job. Both horses came off the trailer after about 36 hours looking fresh.

I am so happy to have my girl back home. Can’t wait to get on her over the next few days and see what she remembers!

Behind every good woman lies a trail of men