Do not continue to text. Send her a registered letter (so she has to sign for it) stating what the problem is and that she needs to move her horse by December 8. You need written proof of what is happening and texting does not cut it. Be professional, and leave out your feelings. Just state the facts.
[QUOTE=TBROCKS;7880417]
It’s not my fault that you let me stay without paying, I thought it was OK".[/QUOTE]
I would write:
You knew it wasn’t o-kay to not pay because you have already said you felt guilty coming out knowing that you hadn’t paid. So, you did indeed know that you owed me money. You owe $$$. I expect a certified cheque.
Invite her to this thread. We’ll get rid of her for you. 
I just can’t believe the gall, the shamelessness that this woman has.
I really really want you to take her to small claims and get a judgment on her credit record!
And OP please know that someday if you need the extra hand and some riding company that there really are those nice people out there are respectful and can be a pleasure to interact with.
Ask for cash only, checks of any kind can be canceled once given, I wouldn’t trust her to give you a good check, certified or not.
I would only accept cash from this person, but don’t hold your breath waiting for that either. You’ll be lucky if she takes the horse, takes her stuff, and you never hear from her again. Probably someday she’ll call you in a panic, and want to come back-say “No!”, and hang up. She’ll also trash your name all over, but that’s what she’s probably done to everyone else that helped her over the years, and no one will listen to her.
[QUOTE=js;7880940]
Ask for cash only, checks of any kind can be canceled once given, I wouldn’t trust her to give you a good check, certified or not.[/QUOTE]
If you give her a proper receipt for the cheque, then I am pretty sure if she cancels it you can have her arrested for fraud. Or false pretense? I forget the actual term. It won’t get you your money, but might feel really satisfying.
I’m curious as to whether the OP has heard from her today, in person or text.
Doesn’t seem like the type of freeloader that is just going to go quietly; she needs to convince herself that she is not to blame for anything so will take it out on the OP, trying to get her to “admit” she is in the wrong.
It won’t hurt the horse to stay outside and get a faded coat from the sun. I would be doing that and no longer rugging the horse as that is dangerous to you.
Also only feed hay, she doesn’t need grain etc if she is not being ridden.
I would say text is better than speaking to her as you have proof of what has been said.
In the future you get them to sign that they have to pay 2 weeks in advance r you can sell the horse to recoup you money. Also it should have that the horse can be taken off the property for training so as you can recoup what is owed to you and then you can remove the horse without telling them where it has gone. Otherwise you cannot remove the horse.
My saddle is from someone who ran up a bill without paying. If they aren’t going to pay they don’t care how big a bill they run up. A gorgeous saddle and Mum was getting $20.00 here and there from them, but only after phone calls and letters. In the end she didn’t owe very much on the saddle, much less than it was worth and Mum finally asked herself why she was spending money on phone calls and Invoices.
So she stopped paying for them and I still have the saddle 
30 years later.
Save your breath. I wouldn’t respond to her texts except with a “Be that as it may, your horse needs to be gone by December 8th. Your finally invoice is ______. Please bring cash when you pick her up”
Love me a good “barn drama” thread. Thanks, OP!
I do love a good barn drama thread, but this one makes me a little sad.
Don’t let this turn you off from doing a good deed, OP, just add in an awareness for how to protect yourself from perpetual victims. And the importance of getting everything in writing to clarify the expectations from both parties.
[QUOTE=Lady Counselor;7880857]
Invite her to this thread. We’ll get rid of her for you. :D[/QUOTE]
Epic idea!
So Miss Thing’s trainer just called me to tell me that they’re doing a lesson in about 30 minutes. I was SO TEMPTED to nix that with the trainer, but I do like the trainer, and lessons are her livelihood, so I’m sucking it up and allowing it. Trainer said Thing told her “because of me, this will be the last time she rides Mare, ever”. Oh, the drama, and the injustice of life, I’ll tell ya, it’s just SO not fair.
I’d place a sizable wager that she’s been busy lining up the next sucker to take them in.
TBROCKS –
I’ve read this story and all I can say is that you are one lovely person.
Instead of putting yourself down because someone took advantage of you, never forget the kindness you extended and make sure this episode doesn’t change that part of who you are.
[QUOTE=TBROCKS;7878523]
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?[/QUOTE]
OMG! If I had been in her situation, and had been given the opportunity you gave her, both my husband and I would have worked our asses off for you. We would have taken it upon ourselves to do extra things and take as much of the work load as we could.
For those suggesting I keep her tack, take her to court, etc…
I get where you’re coming from. But honestly, I don’t want retribution. She owes me and I’ll never see it, and I can accept that because I was the dumbass who didn’t see the light until 6 months into it.
Trainer said they have no food in their house. Nice priorities, eh?
I just want her gone, and never setting foot on my property again. That’s what I need from her at this point.
[QUOTE=twelvegates;7881288]
TBROCKS –
I’ve read this story and all I can say is that you are one lovely person.
Instead of putting yourself down because someone took advantage of you, never forget the kindness you extended and make sure this episode doesn’t change that part of who you are.[/QUOTE]
What a lovely thing to say, thank you for that
[QUOTE=TBROCKS;7881297]
What a lovely thing to say, thank you for that :)[/QUOTE]
I second twelvegates. It sucks, and it went to far, but it shows what a lovely person you are.
[QUOTE=TBROCKS;7881292]
Trainer said they have no food in their house. Nice priorities, eh? [/QUOTE]
No food in her house, and she’s paying a trainer to ride her horse?!
Good god.
You can use your willingness to write off the debt as a lever to get the horse moved. In that certified letter that someone already suggested you send on Monday, maybe write something like this:
This letter serves as written notice that effective December 8, 2014, the boarding agreement between us is hereby terminated due to non-payment of boarding fees. Your horse and all possessions must be removed from the property on or before this date.
The unpaid boarding fees total $xxxx. Taking into account the fair market value of in-kind services provided by you, the adjusted balance owed as of December 8 will be $xxxx.
However, if, and only if, the horse is removed on or before December 8, the delinquent balance of $ xxxx will be forgiven.
Beginning December 9, a boarding fee of $xxx/ day will be assessed for each day, until the horse is removed.
