Leaving a barn

[cu.at.x]

[QUOTE=ako;6727797]
I do with I hadn’t given notice once and I’m still mad about it so I’ll share…

Medium-sized private barn on Long Island where the BM likes to say she “burps” the horses to show she takes such great care of them. Yeah, right. There are 3 grades of hay - the lower barn where I was (crap hay), the upper barn (pretty good), then her hay (the finest, most gorgeous hay you’ll find anywhere!!).

Anyway, my horse started getting skinny. I started showing up just after lunch time on the weekends. All the horses had hay except mine. Another boarder pulled me aside and told me they were skipping his lunch hay. And we had no issues that I was aware of, the only difference being that my guy was supposed to get wet hay.

I foolishly gave notice, paid for the full month, and left a few days in.

I should NOT have paid psycho BM/dementia-rattled BO for ANY extra days. And there was no contract. I was too worried about not burning bridges.

In cases where the horse is abused or under-fed, all bets are off IMHO. Contract or not.[/QUOTE]

Who would down-rate this comment? Seriously? I guess there must be some BO’s/managers that don’t care of there horses here. Scary.

[Bigbutt]

What I can’t understand is why BO take leaving so personally. I’ve been a BO in the past and for the last 10 years been a boarder. Provided your not leaving and burning that bridge by screaming, swearing, or leaving without notice or payment - and yet BO still get extremely upset.

I understand that they are losing income, but if your only source of income is so badly affected by a boarder leaving, then perhaps they should look for other sources of income.

I have left places and been ultra respectful, always give notice and pay for my 30 days - although most often notice is given at 40 days. (Which I was told by one person, who I considered a very close friend that 45 days was enough notice, and how dare I) I may pull my horse early - but I will still pay for that month.

Sometimes its not even the bo is doing anything wrong, its just some better or more convenient or something comes along.

Its a business and should be treated like a business, when I have quit my job before - yes my employer was disappointed, but they were happy for me that I was moving to something better for me. Why can’t BO and boarders look at this as a business, and something that emotion needs to be removed from - act professional on both sides!

[trubandloki]

[QUOTE=Bigbutt;6729506]

Its a business and should be treated like a business, when I have quit my job before - yes my employer was disappointed, but they were happy for me that I was moving to something better for me. Why can’t BO and boarders look at this as a business, and something that emotion needs to be removed from - act professional on both sides![/QUOTE]

It is catch 22 for barn owners.
Horse owners want Dobbin treated like he is special and important and loved even when they are not there, but then they get upset when the BO starts to have a relationship with them and their horse.

[meupatdoes]

On the spectrum BO behavior, you have at one end

“barn owners who horrendously neglect/don’t feed/don’t water/don’t turn out/don’t muck”

and at the other end

“boarders who feel that a horse getting moved from a window stall to an interior stall is a material breach of their board contract.”

Not everything is a material breach of a written or verbal board contract. It is best for HOs to attempt in some manner to match their response to where the BO’s behavior falls on the spectrum.

In this case, BO’s behavior falls somewhere in the middle to mild end of the spectrum, but OP’s reaction to leave on one day’s notice and stiff her on the 30 days is all the way at the douchey end of the “HO response spectrum.”

[czgm7r]

I want what I am promised when I first get there trubandloki. I also want everyone and every horse treated the same(I recognize that being we are all human this isn’t 100% possible). Not special treatment for some and not others. In other words a professional environment. If you say your going to do something and I’m paying for it, then I expect you to do it. There are extenuating circumstances where something can’t be done, like an illness etc. and in those circumstances, if I can, I pitch in and help. As for the barn owner going over board ‘liking’ my horse, I’ve never really experienced that so I can’t comment. For me as long as your providing good care for my horse and you want to talk to,scratch or otherwise pay attention to my horse go for it. Riding without permission, that is a whole 'nother matter.

[Pennywell_Bay]

Note to all BO’s

This is a perfect example of why you need a contract. Trying to be lenient and “nice” will bite you in the ass. No exceptions.

A contract does not keep people from stiffing you, but at least it makes them think 2ce.

[Koniucha]

[QUOTE=Pennywell Bay;6729752]
This is a perfect example of why you need a contract. Trying to be lenient and “nice” will bite you in the ass. No exceptions.

A contract does not keep people from stiffing you, but at least it makes them think 2ce.[/QUOTE]

The same thing can be said to HO’s. I know I will never go to another boarding facility without a contract.

[Jack16]

I have left a barn on both terms. I was in a place that I loved and had to move my horse closer to me. That was not a hit on the BO. I pay a lot of money for my horse and I wanted it closer to me. I did give her thirty days notice and she was still pissed that I left. I left another barn due to a difference of opinion on care and gave two weeks notice. There was no contract. The BO was fine that I left and gave the notice I did because there was no contract. I don’t understand why BO’s get so bent out of shape. BO one was butt hurt for a ridiculous reason and BO two totally understood that I didn’t agree with the care or the way the barn was being run and she was fine with me leaving. I wasn’t difficult or rude in either instance but why would a BO want you to stay if you aren’t happy? Why would they get all bent out of shape? At the end of the day it’s a business deal. I don’t think you did anything wrong.

[Pennywell_Bay]

[QUOTE=Koniucha;6729771]
The same thing can be said to HO’s. I know I will never go to another boarding facility without a contract.[/QUOTE]

Yes, but it worked to your benefit. Lucky you. Good luck finding a farm who will put it in writing what field you go in. Maybe they’ll read here first.

[Koniucha]

[QUOTE=Pennywell Bay;6730041]
Yes, but it worked to your benefit. Lucky you. Good luck finding a farm who will put it in writing what field you go in. Maybe they’ll read here first.[/QUOTE]

Now it’s a problem because I said I want a contract.

[Pennywell_Bay]

[QUOTE=ParadoxFarm;6726437]
We boarded at a farm years ago because we didn’t have another option open at the time. We had an ottb that we were training to jump and this farm was a western QH farm. They knew we were jumpers are that we were not going to be there forever. They also had no turnout at all. (I know, I don’t get it). So it was not a good long-term solution. We put ourselves on a waiting list at another barn. In the mean time, we were good boarders and had a good relationship with the barn owners. We would even take their grandson out for ice cream on occasion. Well, when a spot opened up in the new barn, we put in our notice. It was not good. The owner, known for being a tough ***,had teary eyes, and she refused to speak to us till the day we left. I felt bad, but it just wasn’t where we needed to be. So, sometimes it just doesn’t go well no matter how well it’s done.[/QUOTE]

@Koniucha;6730051

Now it’s a problem because I said I want a contract.

No. You left with little notice because your horse was not turned out in field X though the BO expressed concern over the welfare of the animal. I merely said it will be a rare BO who will let you dictate in writing where the horse will be turned out, especially if she is running the fence line.

[Zenyatta]

[QUOTE=Forthright Farm;6727395]
Oh, I don’t think you owe them a 30 days notice. I am very hesitant to sign a contract that requires me to give 30 days notice. You’re putting your horse at risk by having them at a place that knows you are leaving (and are often pissed about it). People like to think that their trainers and barn owners are good people but I’m sure each and every one of us could come up with some names of ‘good people’ that have done terrible things to horses.[/QUOTE]

I never sign a contract that includes thirty days notice. I usually leave a barn due to poor care, I’m not leaving my horse in a bad situation for thirty days.
I won’t pay for thirty days when my horse isn’t there either. If the barn had done their job, they wouldn’t be losing a boarder! I’m certainly not going to reward them for doing so.

[SCMSL]

You left with little notice because your horse was not turned out in field X though the BO expressed concern over the welfare of the animal.

The only one who has to be concerned with the welfare of an animal is the person who pays the bill. If the OP said she wasn’t concerned about him running the fence line and wanted the horse turned out nevertheless, the BO either has a talk with her and tells her why she doesn’t feel it can be done (because it would be harming her business, somehow) or she does as told. Period.

[Pennywell_Bay]

[QUOTE=SCMSL;6730080]
The only one who has to be concerned with the welfare of an animal is the person who pays the bill. If the OP said she wasn’t concerned about him running the fence line and wanted the horse turned out nevertheless, the BO either has a talk with her and tells her why she doesn’t feel it can be done (because it would be harming her business, somehow) or she does as told. Period.[/QUOTE]

Unless it upsets OTHER horses. If your horse freaked and got hurt bc horse Y was running the fence and BO did nothing about it, perhaps you’d be upset. Perhaps not. Shrug. Period.

[Koniucha]

[QUOTE=Pennywell Bay;6730087]
Unless it upsets OTHER horses. If your horse freaked and got hurt bc horse Y was running the fence and BO did nothing about it, perhaps you’d be upset. Perhaps not. Shrug. Period.[/QUOTE]

My mare does not run the fence line. She may run around once, and usually if I go chase her around.

[Koniucha]

I also did ask her (recently) if she could turn my mare out in the arena on the days that I work because I work tens and twelves (and have a 5 year old) so it is hard for me to make it out there on those days. She just threw up her hands and said no because she does not want to be responsible.

[Atlas_Shrugged]

From the barn’s standpoint, if a difficult customer wants to leave, let them.

[Pennywell_Bay]

[QUOTE=Atlas Shrugged;6730142]
From the barn’s standpoint, if a difficult customer wants to leave, let them.[/QUOTE]

Amen

[SCMSL]

From the barn’s standpoint, if a difficult customer wants to leave, let them.

From a costumer’s standpoint, if a service isn’t being provided, leave. And don’t pay for 30 days extra.

In the end of the day you can see this both ways. What amazes me is how everyone immediately jumped to assume the OP was just a tough customer.

In my book, if the BO thought turning her horse out was bad for her pasture, could endanger other horses or anything else, she should’ve just come clear and told it to the OP. I don’t think its right for the BO to just say “oh, its not good for me, so I’ll just do things my own way and screw the costumer”.

[enjoytheride]

The only time I have EVER seen a horse run around crazily in a pasture is when it has been cooped up in a stall or very small paddock.

I am not sure how that is the owner’s fault especially if they are asking for more turnout (which would prevent the running around).

I once called a barn and asked them if they turned out "yes, we turn out for 30 minutes a day to an hour and if they start running around we bring them in right away.

Ummm, no thanks?