[QUOTE=HungarianHippo;7878349]
I’d recommend investing $10 in a couple of these fake security cameras placed in clear line of sight in the tack room and feed area. The thought that she’s being recorded would go a long way to deterring her from stealing your stuff or taking other retaliatory action. (Or get a real hunting camera, they’re only about $50)
You’re a very nice person! (But you can be nice without being a doormat. Live and learn. 
)[/QUOTE]
I like this idea.
[QUOTE=TBROCKS;7878356]
Bingo. Got a text this morning:
“I don’t understand how you could do this to us. You know how guilty I felt every time I came out to ride, knowing I hadn’t paid you.”
Are ya freaking kidding me?[/QUOTE]
That is BRILLIANT! She paid you in guilt! Ya know, not actual money but she felt so guilty, it was like she paid you! Why did you not appreciate that more?
Forget locking up stuff (except your things that you don’t want to grow legs) and small claims court in this situation. Just be glad to be rid of her. Next time (if there is one), get a contract and CYA with the proper insurance.
I agree that there would be many people (such as myself) who would be grateful to have the kind of boarding arrangement you offered. There is a lovely private barn in my area which has a few boarders under similar terms–the place is fancy and immaculate with lots of bells and whistles, but the board cost is very low + food. Other places with scary looking fencing and crappy arenas offer board at a much more expensive rate. I would love, LOVE to get on the boarding list for the private facility. As can be expected, they have a reputation for (1) boarders rarely leaving, and (2) you have to have references up to your eyeballs to even be considered for the wait list. Good model to learn from. There are scammers and professional “victims” everywhere, but please don’t think all potential boarders are these bad apples.
I know IPEsq. She had a nice matted stall, lots of space in my tack room, a lighted nice dressage arena, a large private turnout, feeding twice a day, turnout and bring in, and blanketing.
All for free, in her mind. You would think, though, in light of that she would have maybe scrubbed her horses water trough? Just once? Came out after crap weather and cleaned her own horses’ stall? Came out when it was cold and windy and gave us a hand blanketing or throwing hay? Or even just blanket her own damn horse?
At this point, I’d turn her horse out and leave it out.
Take her stuff out of your tackroom and lock it, and leave her gear in the empty stall. Feed and water the horse, and that’s it.
And put a bottle of champagne on ice for when she pulls out of your driveway with the horse.
[QUOTE=TBROCKS;7878356]
Bingo. Got a text this morning:
“I don’t understand how you could do this to us. You know how guilty I felt every time I came out to ride, knowing I hadn’t paid you.”
Are ya freaking kidding me?[/QUOTE]
Didnt make her feel guilty enough to keep coming for 6 effing months now, did it? Or start demanding special services like feed soaking and blanketing when she really got behind in board.
You know, if it was 6 weeks it might be different. But it’s not and its past time for this to stop.
Shes not BSFLC either (Bat Sh!T Fruit Loop Crazy) either but a deliberate manipulator to get what she wants. It would be easier if she was just nuts. But you need her out of there sooner then later. I fear it might take just denying the stall and all services to get her to go…I’d put the horse out in pasture now and tell her it’s staying there. It’ll be fine with just food water you can throw and refill… and that several hundred dollar blanket she can take on or off and you don’t touch.
[QUOTE=TBROCKS;7878356]
Bingo. Got a text this morning:
“I don’t understand how you could do this to us. You know how guilty I felt every time I came out to ride, knowing I hadn’t paid you.”
Are ya freaking kidding me?[/QUOTE]
I think you ought to text her back: “Do you know how BROKE I felt every time you came out to ride without paying me??”
Re: holding her tack for ransom until she pays what she owes…I would think that the lack of a written agreement works both ways. Since neither of you has anything in writing about your arrangement, how is she going to prove that she is the owner of the tack which you currently have possession of in your barn?
I’m all but positive that it’s not legal hold her property for any reason in this type of situation… Though locking the tack room and allowing her entry “by appointment” most likely is. Personally, I’d stack her stuff in the aisle to make it easier, not harder, for her to get it. THEN I’d lock the tack room with my stuff in it.
The horse would be in the field waiting for her (I’d text her that)
I’d also text her that you have had HIDDEN security cameras installed. She will be paranoid, and not take the chance that you are bluffing. I got a "warning " sign from my local feed store for $10.
I’d love to know what you texted back!!
OP, you’re a kind and generous person, and it sounds like you have a lovely place and take great care of horses in your charge. Of course she wants to keep boarding with you 
Not only do you need to lock the tack room, and feed room, but you need to tell her that she is the only one allowed on your property, and no one tries a horse on your property without a signed waiver.
If you don’t have insurance covering her or other riders, then she can move the horse now, and they can try the horse off your property. Maybe that will ‘encourage’ her to leave now.
You did a great thing, and are a very nice person, but she’s just a very experienced blood sucking leach, and as you found out, she probably does this all of the time to others. She’s a pro at ripping off people.
I would text that since she has not paid you board for the entire 6 months that her horse has been boarded at your property that you are no longer willing to feed and care for her horse as you have not been compensated for it. I would let her know that her horse has turned out in a pasture with access to water and it is HER RESPONSIBILITY to come get it. I would also present her with a bill for 6 months of back board.
I seem to remember seeing the fake cameras at Walmart in the Photo department. The office stores or big box stores will have signs too.
I love that text. She is so ridiculous, and such a thief.
I agree with Arlo, and would put the horse outside, and if she wants a blanket on or off, then she can do it. Put any feed from her in the barn aisle, or the emptied stall, and her tack too. I agree she’ll move out suddenly, and acting like you are persecuting her.
What a MESS ! Just get through it and onto “happy” at 'HOME ALONE"
I’m sorry you are going through this PITA nightmare ~
Just focus on securing your belongings and getting this fruitfly OUT !
this is [B]black and white now ~ no discussion or justification for her ! she’s gone Dec 8 !!!
[/B][B]Glad you will be Happy and “Home Alone” for the December Holidays ~
[/B]
[QUOTE=TBROCKS;7877901]
Am I within my rights to lock my tack room where she keeps her stuff? This is all new for me :([/QUOTE]
Set her stuff outside the door and lock up your stuff. You need a lean to just keep her stuff for back board. Not worth the effort unless she has tack worth all the back board she owes you. Just send her and her stuff on their way. And remember there are a lot of good people out there who will be wonderful boarders!
[QUOTE=JBD;7877960]
Just curious- has anyone helped out someone who professes to be on a tight spot and it turned out OK?[/QUOTE]
Yes, I have. I knew up front that I would be 5-6 months out on receiving board payment. This person had a very good reputation and came to me with excellent references. All references said the same thing when contacted. That person would pay as soon as the unhappy incident in their lives was resolved and that incident was actively being worked out. I took two horses for her and at the end of 5 months she delivered me a nice fat check.
[QUOTE=Ghazzu;7878549]
At this point, I’d turn her horse out and leave it out.
Take her stuff out of your tackroom and lock it, and leave her gear in the empty stall. Feed and water the horse, and that’s it.
And put a bottle of champagne on ice for when she pulls out of your driveway with the horse.[/QUOTE]
Holy crappamoly TBROCKS, yes do this. ^^^
What a huge PITA! She deserves NOTHING from you at this point. Her horse deserves basic care. That’s it.
This kind of behaviour is too common in the horse world. It cheeses me off because people who are actually good boarders may not be given the opportunity to board at private places because people get snake bitten.
Good luck!
You know, since you have her responding to her via text. Why not respond to her with… “I am sorry that this arrangement had to end this way but, as you know, you are behind in 6 months in boarding fees owing $XXX.XX. I need this money as much as you do. How are you going to pay this back, do you have tack, etc. that could be given to me in lieu of payment?”
Then, if she does return your text and if she does agree with what she owes you maybe you would have a case to hold her tack until she pays you???
[QUOTE=JBD;7877960]
Just curious- has anyone helped out someone who professes to be on a tight spot and it turned out OK?[/QUOTE]
Me. There have been some quite normal (as in, not crazy or conniving) misunderstandings but it’s gone well and she has gotten on her feet in a beautiful way.
“You would think, though, in light of that she would have maybe scrubbed her horses water trough? Just once? Came out after crap weather and cleaned her own horses’ stall? Came out when it was cold and windy and gave us a hand blanketing or throwing hay? Or even just blanket her own damn horse?”
No! No, no, no, no, no! You are being too nice again. This must stop at once! Her cleaning her horse’s trough, stall, or helping throw hay is not enough. The deal was that she would pay you board and take care of her own horse, AS WELL AS help out around the farm on a regular basis equivalent to $200 per month in labor. Her helping out occasionally is not enough. Do not even stray to the mindset of sacrificing your needs to accommodate her manipulation. No, no, no! (Where is my longe whip?)
I wouldn’t get into any arguments with her; just, as others have said, be professional and civil, and state that she owes x board and has not kept to your arrangement for working off board, and I would cc my lawyer (or maybe pretend to, if you I didn’t have a lawyer) on the email and state, “As you will note, I have cc’d my attorney on this correspondence.”
Turn that horse out (sans blanket). And put her tack and feed in the stall and then lock everything. Unless her horse is severely special needs, she is not going to die from being out for a few days. You’ve not been paid for a stall, pony does not get a stall. Horse didn’t cause this problem and still deserves basic care, but nothing above and beyond.
In the future, if you have boarders, any wonk request should be met with “I’m sorry, we can’t accommodate that”. If your horses stay out all day, so do boarders (barring something like anhydrosis). Your husband should not have to cut into his life for boarders (especially non-paying ones!). You do not need to be lugging sloshing buckets of alfalfa out. If their horse needs that, they need to find a place better equipped to do that.
Re: blanketing. Do not blanket a horse that kicks. If a horse can’t handle a blanket coming on and off but the owner still wants it on, then the owner needs to put it on. I work off part of my board and the BO has one mare that’s a little funny about blankets. I won’t blanket her, as it’s not worth me getting hurt and the BO never expects me to.
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