Donated trophy lost by Swan Lake Stables

[fair_judy]

In 2014 a friend, Louise Steinfort. donated a lovely handmade trophy with an antique hood ornament of a lady jumping sidesaddle to the St. Christopher’s Horse Show. It was transferred from the care of Ryegate Show Services to Swan Lake Stables in 2017. As of May 2019 it is LOST, according to SLS staff. Neither MARY BAST nor any of her Associates has returned the donor’s multiple phone calls or written letter inquiring into the whereabouts of this irreplaceable trophy.
PS. THIS WAS NOT A TAKE-HOME TROPHY. SLS AND Mary Bast WERE SUPPOSED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CARE OF ALL TROPHIES. It was presented in 2018, so it was lost sometime between May 2018 and May 2019.

Anyone with knowledge of the whereabouts of this trophy? Thank you.

[Palm_Beach]

When you donate something, you give up control of what you donated. If all this is true, it’s sad that they did not take care of the trophy. Who won the trophy in 2018?

[fair_judy]

@Palm Beach

When you donate something, you give up control of what you donated. If all this is true, it’s sad that they did not take care of the trophy. Who won the trophy in 2018?

The trophy was well cared for by Ryegate. It was lost while in custody of Swan Lake. The trophy was solely for presentation and never to have been out of their custody.

[lcw579]

What a shame that they didn’t keep track of the trophy placed in their care. Makes you wonder what has happened to other trophies from shows moved to Swan Lake from venues long gone. Guess we all need to keep an eye on eBay.
It’s telling that no one from Swan Lake will call your friend back.

[Janet]

@fair judy

The trophy was well cared for by Ryegate. It was lost while in custody of Swan Lake. The trophy was solely for presentation and never to have been out of their custody.

As was stated, once you donate something it belongs to them. They have no legal obligation not to lose it.

Their loss, not your friend’s.

[Raincityrider]

If I were considering donating a trophy the fact that this one was lost/taken and the custodian is non responsive would influence that decision. True, the donor no longer owns the trophy but it’s not in the recipients best interest to handle the situation poorly.

[clanter]

@Raincityrider

If I were considering donating a trophy the fact that this one was lost/taken and the custodian is non responsive would influence that decision. True, the donor no longer owns the trophy but it’s not in the recipients best interest to handle the situation poorly.

might just want to provide a challenge trophy then it remains yours

[gottagrey]

@clanter

might just want to provide a challenge trophy then it remains yours

a challenge trophy is given if a person has won it 3 times, it doesn’t revert back to the donor.
As others have posted, once a trophy is donated it becomes the property of the organization. It’s a shame they lost it and if they weren’t going to use it, they should contact the donors of trophies to see if they would like them back.

[Janet]

@clanter

might just want to provide a challenge trophy then it remains yours

But that does not stop them from losing it.

[clanter]

@gottagrey

a challenge trophy is given if a person has won it 3 times, it doesn’t revert back to the donor.
As others have posted, once a trophy is donated it becomes the property of the organization. It’s a shame they lost it and if they weren’t going to use it, they should contact the donors of trophies to see if they would like them back.

it could be stated to be a perpetual …the limitations can be any thing the provider wishes

[mvp]

@Janet

But that does not stop them from losing it.

Well… I suppose you are right. Anyone can be stupid or ungrateful if they set their mind to it. But they might not be able to lose a donated trophy a second time.

“This is why we can’t have nice things.”

ETA: And another thing!

I don’t think the OP was posting so that y’all could school her in a donated item not belonging to the donor anymore. Rather, I read this post has a “Hey, has anyone seen it?” plea for help finding the lost trophy. I think that was a good use of COTH. I’ll be someone here has seen it or knows who has.

[SonnysMom]

While OP used the term donated we do not know the terms of the agreement. It may have been more of a long term loan rather than an actual donation. It sounds like it was donated/loaned to St Christopher’s Horse Show and not to Swan Lake Stables. I was just in SLS custody as that is currently where that show is held.

For those of you not from the area: St. Christopher’s Horse Show used to be held at the Radnor Hunt show grounds and at Quentin Show Grounds and is now at Swan Lake. Therefore Swan Lake likely does not own the show, they just host the show. I am guessing they were provided the trophy so that during the presentation it was available for pictures.

OP I hope somebody knows where it is and is able to get it back to its rightful place.

[Raincityrider]

MVP is right, OP probably would prefer help locating the darn thing as opposed to a bunch of hair splitting. OP, do you have a photo of the trophy? It might be in someone’s house getting a clean or it might pop upon eBay. You never know, a COTHer could cross paths with it at some point.

[gottagrey]

@Raincityrider

MVP is right, OP probably would prefer help locating the darn thing as opposed to a bunch of hair splitting. OP, do you have a photo of the trophy? It might be in someone’s house getting a clean or it might pop upon eBay. You never know, a COTHer could cross paths with it at some point.

Those of us who responded weren’t schooling the OP as much as letting them know that sadly the donor, having donated the trophy, no longer has any claim to it. It would be like my donating a sofa to Habitat for Humanity and asking them 4 years later what happened to it. It’s incredibly disappointing to have given something so cherished to an organization only to have them lose it or misplace it, and further frustrating that the supposed “safekeepers” seem to place little or no value on the item. I hope it turns up and may Ms. Steinfort get it back and donate it to an organization who will value it as much as she does.

[candyappy]

Someone has it somewhere. Post pictures of it on something like facebook and see what happens?

[SonnysMom]

@gottagrey

Those of us who responded weren’t schooling the OP as much as letting them know that sadly the donor, having donated the trophy, no longer has any claim to it. It would be like my donating a sofa to Habitat for Humanity and asking them 4 years later what happened to it. It’s incredibly disappointing to have given something so cherished to an organization only to have them lose it or misplace it, and further frustrating that the supposed “safekeepers” seem to place little or no value on the item. I hope it turns up and may Ms. Steinfort get it back and donate it to an organization who will value it as much as she does.

Except it sound like the organization that they donated the trophy to did not lose it. Swan Lake Stables lost it. It was donated to St Christopher’s Show which is held at Swan Lake Stables and has previously been held at other facilities. I doubt that it was given to them by St. Christopher’s Show. It was in SLS custody to be used for presentations at the St Christopher Show that is held at SLS.

And once again while the OP used the term donated it may be a loan or it may be donated but have conditions such as it must be returned to donor if no longer being presented.

It is not the same as donating something to Habitat for Humanity where it is expected to be sold. It may be more like donating a horse to a riding school with one of the conditions is that when the horse no longer meets their needs the prior owner gets offered the horse back first. Horse can only be sold/given away if the former owner does not take him back.

[fair_judy]

@mvp

Well… I suppose you are right. Anyone can be stupid or ungrateful if they set their mind to it. But they might not be able to lose a donated trophy a second time.

“This is why we can’t have nice things.”

ETA: And another thing!

I don’t think the OP was posting so that y’all could school her in a donated item not belonging to the donor anymore. Rather, I read this post has a “Hey, has anyone seen it?” plea for help finding the lost trophy. I think that was a good use of COTH. I’ll be someone here has seen it or knows who has.

MVP, yes, I did worry over the wording of this post. I am looking for information, not to out the show or management. . In fact, someone at Swan Lake did PM me on Fbook to say that they did not know where this trophy is. I hope they locate it. I’m betting that sweet little antique hood ornament with the side saddle rider is embelishing someone’s hood now. I am an old fart who remembers that one NEVER lost a Perpetual or Challenge trophy. ( and yes, I do know that difference). Let’s keep hoping !!!

[furlong47]

Is it a trophy that gets engraved every year? Is it possible that it was sent for engraving and then never retrieved?

[fair_judy]

@furlong47

Is it a trophy that gets engraved every year? Is it possible that it was sent for engraving and then never retrieved?

That’s a great question, Furlong!! I’ll make sure Lou has considered that avenue… thanks !!!

[Chall]

What’s it made of? Bronze, silver, metal, on wood base, black coat painted?