[QUOTE=lockedoutalter;8505365]
This is too funny now after her rant she posted on Facebook! She took it upon herself to publicly shame two people that dropped out of her clinic.
sorry, I don’t see other “professionals” belly aching online when people don’t fill their clinics.[/QUOTE]
Why do people feel the need to air their dirty laundry on Facebook?
Social media is so out there, and a professional doing that, well they just shoot themselves in the foot.
I’m not a Laine fan at all, but as someone who has organized a number of clinics, in this instance I am taking her side. Stopping payment on checks only because they decided they didn’t want to ride? They deserve to be publicly outed, and perhaps blackballed from future clinics. They had the option of cancelling and hoping the organizer could sell their slots, otherwise they should be prepared to forfeit their money.
I have learned the hard way not to hold a spot until payment is made, in advance, and the check clears.
[QUOTE=BAC;8506259]
Stopping payment on checks only because they decided they didn’t want to ride? [/QUOTE]
That is a level of chutzpah I almost can’t believe. Why would anyone want to do any kind of business with them ever again?
[QUOTE=GutsNGlory;8506185]
Not defending her calling the people out by name at all (as I agree - that was not the most professional and the post could have been made without those details), but just pointing out that this situation was dirty on both sides. It wasn’t like the clinic just didn’t fill - as I understand from other posts from FB friends involved, the two people decided last minute they just didn’t want to make the drive and then put stop-payments on their non-refundable checks.[/QUOTE]
This is exactly what happened. There was blizzard, I get that, but the snow is long gone! This was the clinic I was thinking of riding in. The organizer emailed me to let me know spots has been made available.
They were able to fill the spots, luckily.
Yeah, stopping payment is just screwing the clinic organizer. Once you write that check, it is gone.
Genuine question, no snark intended. Do not clinic organizers deposit the checks to have the funds in hand and then if needed they could issue a refund?
Haven’t organized a clinic but would think that having the money ‘in hand’ and knowing if a check bounced before the services were provided would make a bit more sense.
Organizers, what is the standard operating procedure?
Emily
[QUOTE=BAC;8506259]
I’m not a Laine fan at all, but as someone who has organized a number of clinics, in this instance I am taking her side. Stopping payment on checks only because they decided they didn’t want to ride? They deserve to be publicly outed, and perhaps blackballed from future clinics. They had the option of cancelling and hoping the organizer could sell their slots, otherwise they should be prepared to forfeit their money.
I have learned the hard way not to hold a spot until payment is made, in advance, and the check clears.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, as a clinic organizer myself it has taught me that I’ll be cashing checks immediately upon receipt in the future. In the past, I’d held checks until the clinic was full and schedule released (as was done in this situation) as a courtesy because I offer refunds if the spot can be filled from a waitlist or by the rider who is cancelling. It just made it a cleaner way to “refund” by tearing up the check. As a rider who often clinics myself I would have never even thought to put a stop-payment on a check - that is just rude. And several well known people in the area (including a USEA organizer) posted about this situation trying to find replacements for the organizer (which they did thankfully)… so not too smart on these girls’ behalf. 
I can understand this from a clinic organizer’s perspective, however, there are much more tactful ways to handle the situation.
People need to step away from the keyboard sometimes.
Idk, if I were running a clinic in the area these people would not be welcome even if I could cash their checks in advance. So maybe it’s good they were outed.
[QUOTE=Xctrygirl;8506312]
Genuine question, no snark intended. Do not clinic organizers deposit the checks to have the funds in hand and then if needed they could issue a refund?
Haven’t organized a clinic but would think that having the money ‘in hand’ and knowing if a check bounced before the services were provided would make a bit more sense.
Organizers, what is the standard operating procedure?
Emily[/QUOTE]
In my situation, the checks are made payable to the clinician (who then pays the facility their fee), so unless its cash, I can’t cash the check myself. No one has actually stopped payment fortunately, but if they change their minds about riding for no good reason, I keep their check. It is up to the clinician to then decide if he wants to refund their money. If we can fill the spot, we do.
In general I think cashing the checks immediately is the only way to protect the organizer.
Well if anyone wants a private lesson with this clinician on her farm, she very kindly donated one to the CDCTA Online Auction. The auction is about 16 days from closing and the leading bid is $35 at the moment. There are a number of lessons donated by BNRs that will sell for under their value. Every bid you make supports eventing.
[QUOTE=IronwoodFarm;8506433]
Well if anyone wants a private lesson with this clinician on her farm, she very kindly donated one to the CDCTA Online Auction. The auction is about 16 days from closing and the leading bid is $35 at the moment. There are a number of lessons donated by BNRs that will sell for under their value. Every bid you make supports eventing.[/QUOTE]
Side note, if you’re not a registered bidder on that site, here’s the direct link to register. Took me a few tries to find it.
https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/user/b4gregister.action
Emily
[QUOTE=Xctrygirl;8506312]
Genuine question, no snark intended. Do not clinic organizers deposit the checks to have the funds in hand and then if needed they could issue a refund?
Haven’t organized a clinic but would think that having the money ‘in hand’ and knowing if a check bounced before the services were provided would make a bit more sense.
Organizers, what is the standard operating procedure?
Emily[/QUOTE]
I typically do not deposit ahead for most of the ones that I organize. Some of the higher priced ones that I’ve ridden in DO require full payment well in advance and do deposit ahead. But cancelling is just rude.
When I’ve entered an event late and then had to cancel because my horse was lame…I still paid my entry fee. The horse world is small. And whether outted on Facebook (which honestly, I would not do)…trust me…people will find out and good luck getting an entry accepted at a clinic or event.
I probably wouldn’t have publicly posted the check-stopping offenders’ names (I don’t post my grievances on social media) but to stop checks on a non-refundable fee? Not acceptable, whether you don’t feel like going, you don’t have a ride there, your horse goes lame, etc. Non-refundable is non-refundable and don’t sign up and send a check if you have issue with that! You call the clinic organizer, cancel your spot, and hope they fill it. If not, oh well! It works that way for horse shows too! I can understand why Laine was upset and perhaps she can prevent those individuals from doing it with another clinic. Who would want to deal with people like that?
I’m surprised Laine is the one upset, she technically would not be out of pocket, no? It would be the organizer who would be out of pocket. Most Clinicians would just show up, do the job and leave, not knowing who exactly paid or did not pay. So I’m quite surprised she took it into her own hands to publicly post the names.
I can understand the upset and definitely agree it was wrong, but also unprofessional on her end to publicly post their names.
On another hand, who the heck still accepts cheques for clinics? I would want an e-transer, credit card, cash or certified cheque. If not paid, the spot is considered open until paid. With the reputation of horse people over the years, there are quite a few shady ones and many who bounce their cheques. With this day and age I would hope people would be better, but not much has changed, but there are more money options for this to not happen.
Very shady of these two people, shame on them. I like Laine, but I’m disappointed in her actions.
[QUOTE=LadyB;8506689]
On another hand, who the heck still accepts cheques for clinics? I would want an e-transer, credit card, cash or certified cheque. If not paid, the spot is considered open until paid. With the reputation of horse people over the years, there are quite a few shady ones and many who bounce their cheques. With this day and age I would hope people would be better, but not much has changed, but there are more money options for this to not happen.[/QUOTE]
FWIW, every clinic I’ve done in the past 3 years have been paid for with a check to the clinic organizer. I don’t stop my checks and haven’t canceled so no issue there anyway. I noticed my check was not cashed/deposited until several days AFTER I had already ridden in my last clinic, too.
[QUOTE=Crown Royal;8506760]
FWIW, every clinic I’ve done in the past 3 years have been paid for with a check to the clinic organizer. I don’t stop my checks and haven’t canceled so no issue there anyway. I noticed my check was not cashed/deposited until several days AFTER I had already ridden in my last clinic, too.[/QUOTE]
This is what I’ve always found to be true. I’m always shocked that they don’t cash the checks immediately. If I were putting on a clinic or anything, I would.
OP, aren’t you very new to eventing? I seem to recall you posting about planning on doing Intro/grasshopper level unrecognized stuff this season and only recently ‘converting’ a few months ago. If I’m wrong, my apologies.
At that level especially, I would not pay $375 to clinic with anyone. Keep the money for 6+ regular lessons with someone who can get you solid basics. No big names needed. I’ve discovered that for a LOT of people I have known, especially lower level riders and small time trainers, the point of doing clinics with big names is simply so they can say ‘I ride/clinic with BNT’. The lessons are the same, the exercises are the same, but the bragging rights come with a hefty price tag.
Heniz 57,
No I’ve been eventing for years (something like 10 or so) just never recognized. My horse and I have had a couple years off and we are just getting back into the game. We have our first recognized event planned for May (my birthday!).
If you do that sort of thing to USEF, they certainly make your name public!
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