More barn drama! (you know you love it) FINAL UPDATE page 13

[findeight]

Small detail…OP is not owed $xxx.00. She’s owed $xxxx.00. Over 1200 for 6 months services.

Without a written agreement, small claims is probably a waste of time. Even if you win or she defaults by no showing ( as these people often do)? All you get is a judgement against her you have to PAY a Marshall to serve her with.

You actually have a great excuse for shutting her up- your insurance said NO to any horse not owned by you on the property and NO guest riders on anything on your property. So get out.

[spotmenow]

[QUOTE=TBROCKS;7881274]
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.[/QUOTE]

I know you want her off your farm, but I feel badly for the next sucker. This woman should be stopped.

I hope for your sake that the drama ends soon and hopefully you find an equally kind-hearted person to share your barn with!

[blairasb]

[QUOTE=Silk;7881290]
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.[/QUOTE]

No kidding! After going through multiple full care board nightmares, I am glad to be where I am now. no indoor arena, and I take care of 5 (soon to be 6) other horses about half of the time (stall cleaning, feed set up, turning in) in exchange for a stall and hay, but… yeah. I’m generally pretty happy to bust my heiney just to not be paying out the nose to pay someone for care that my horse isn’t getting.

[arabracer]

She has no food in her house because she probably eats out all time. She is saving
so much money by not paying board! I would pursue this in small claims, my gut tells me you’re not her first scam.

[red_mares]

OP, 2 questions for you.

Are you, by chance, broke away Amish or have some Am in your family somewhere?

Does this border have family in Indiana?

:):D:lol:

This whole scenario is playing out where I board. The BO has finally figured out that if more than 3 of his 11 boarders were paying him, he’d wouldn’t have any trouble affording feed.

We (the paying boarders) finally got him to send certified letters to the 3 non paying owners (accounting for 8 horses!) saying if they didn’t pay up their horses could be sold. One isn’t paying board on FIVE HORSES! How do you not pay board on five horses? One of the deadbeats has apparently reformed. The others have been told to get out. No ones worrying about actually getting back board.

Don’t you dare send your nut our way!

BTW, Apparently his wife (little old Amish woman) got a hold of the worst offenders and her tirade would have made a sailor blush.:lol:

[PonyTales]

WOW !!! Sry your first boarder experience was so bad. Its unfortunate for you & the situation could have gone either way. There are a lot of NICE people who would make excellant boarders & riding buddies. Don’t be so hard on yourself, because HOW were you to know ?

I imagine since you don’t do this professionally that you have no posted barn rules. I would suggest posting some now. Such as barn hours, only owner are allowed to ride on premises, that you are not responsible for riders equipment & it is their responsibility to have own insurance for (lost, missing and damaged items), all guest must sign in & sign a release. You get the jist of it - just write in whatever suits your needs.

When she does depart I would @ bare minimum have an itemized bill with a statement included. A statement w/explanation of WHY she is being asked to leave (failure of payment). In addition you could also Have an area for her to sign aknowledging that this is WHY she is being asked to leave. If case she refuses then have a witness sign it. Or call the cops to bear as witness & escort her off the property.

I see nothing wrong with locking your own stuff up - even if just for peace of mind. Put her belongings off to the side by her feed or in an empty stall.Tell her you no longer have available space in your private tack area.

If she continues to harass I would consider getting a temporary restraining order.

I would try to refrain from answering her texts or getting into a back & forth debate. I would text her only that she owes $xx.xx amount & must be off the premises by (specify date/plus time). Remind her that the original boarding agreement allowed owner access to use of property. Notify her that barn rules are posted & she should take note that only horse owners are allowed to ride on property. Include a copy of barn rules & the Bill in the certified letter you send to her.

It sounds like FORGET THE MONEY & you just want her GONE ?

[MoonoverMississippi]

[QUOTE=TBROCKS;7881292]
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]

Really sounds to me like she is working on the trainer; mentions of no food and poor me, this is the last time riding the horse, sounds like she is trying to guilt the trainer into either cheaper lessons or offering to take in the horse.

[CindyCRNA]

OP, you are a very kind person but you have had enough and I am sorry you are going thru this. My mind keeps wondering back to the poor, hapless animal with an uncertain future. My next sentence won’t be popular. Wouldn’t it be better for the horse to allow people to come out to look at her so she has a stable home? I mean, couldn’t you have them sign a liability waiver when they step on the property. I would think if she sold the horse, you would have a better chance to get your money and the horse gets a chance period.

[spacytracy]

I wouldn’t let her on the property until she pays. Why should you allow her to bring a trainer, that she PAYS, to your property???

I know you know that you’ve been too nice, but you can stop anytime now. Seriously, why are you allowing her to manipulate you?

[Alagirl]

[QUOTE=CindyCRNA;7881559]
OP, you are a very kind person but you have had enough and I am sorry you are going thru this. My mind keeps wondering back to the poor, hapless animal with an uncertain future. My next sentence won’t be popular. Wouldn’t it be better for the horse to allow people to come out to look at her so she has a stable home? I mean, couldn’t you have them sign a liability waiver when they step on the property. I would think if she sold the horse, you would have a better chance to get your money and the horse gets a chance period.[/QUOTE]

at one point you have to stop the bleeding! Because the OP holds the deed or mortgage on a farm does not mean she has money to flush down the drain.

Folks like that don’t pay. And if the horse is not gone, what would compel the owner to sell?

[Bastile]

i am just as guilty as the OP - but i let mine go on for over a year cause i liked the horse and was worried about it. it kinds went the same way - she paid for a while, then asked if she could work off, then said she hurt her back working off board, then said she couldnt work or pay board and quit coming around. i finally found a new home for the horse in a good situation and never spoke to that person again. then i had a few other boarders that i always had issues so i dont take boarders now for any reason.

[taharah]

im surprised you let the trainer on your property! thats letting someone else make money on your property when you arent getting paid.

in that situation, i would call an attorney and see if i could possibly get ownership of horse in exchange for the unpaid board. that way, you would get payment, but also, the horse would be rescued from the hands of this crazy lady who is not interested in taking care of it. you would also doing the community a favor by saving the next barn from this same fate

good luck and im watching to see how this plays out

[TBROCKS]

[QUOTE=taharah;7881637]

in that situation, i would call an attorney and see if i could possibly get ownership of horse in exchange for the unpaid board. that way, you would get payment, but also, the horse would be rescued from the hands of this crazy lady who is not interested in taking care of it. you would also doing the community a favor by saving the next barn from this same fate[/QUOTE]

Dear God in Heaven, no. I don’t want her horse. It’s a mean, flighty mare with a blown out knee. Sorry. No thanks.
I don’t know what fate will come to her horse, and that’s HER problem to work out, not mine. She knows plenty of people from the large horse show barn she worked and boarded at, someone would probably take her.

[TBROCKS]

[QUOTE=CindyCRNA;7881559]
OP, you are a very kind person but you have had enough and I am sorry you are going thru this. My mind keeps wondering back to the poor, hapless animal with an uncertain future. My next sentence won’t be popular. Wouldn’t it be better for the horse to allow people to come out to look at her so she has a stable home? I mean, couldn’t you have them sign a liability waiver when they step on the property. I would think if she sold the horse, you would have a better chance to get your money and the horse gets a chance period.[/QUOTE]

My understanding of the liability waiver -and I could be wrong but I don’t think I am- is that it covers boarders here, on their personal horses, and trainers that they have paid to ride their horse. There is no protection for a random person coming on my property and riding a boarder’s horse for a try-out.
I didn’t tell Thing that no one could come take a look at her horse. I COULD have, but I didn’t. I told her she will not be bringing anyone out here to ride it. And that decision stands. There is an arena less than a mile down the road, and he allows anyone and everyone to use it- she can walk the horse down there if they want to try it out.

[macmtn]

@TBROCKS;7878356

“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.”

snort…

[Jingo-ace]

It sounds like you have been above generous to this person, & this person has taken advantage of your good nature. Once she is gone, remind yourself over & over -“Do Not Take On Boarders”.

J

[jacksmom]

I do love a good barn drama thread

OP - I am going to echo others when I say not to let this experience dampen your generous spirit or forgiving nature. You are a gem.

This thread is also a good reminder of why I don’t do boarders. I have a big barn and I get an occasional inquiry, and I just tell them that what I would have to charge to offset the insurance to cover would be outrageous. I just really enjoy it as my sanctuary - I hope you get back to enjoying yours soon.

[catherines]

O.M.G. you could be me !!! Been there and honestly be prepared for some last minute drama… I took in a girl and her half broke , obnoxious rig of a horse a few years ago… She was upfront or so it appeared about her financial straits and asked upfront about working of board… We seemingly reached an agreement and all went well for approx 2 weeks…

Then it all went to hell in a hand cart… She had the rig altered by my vet on the premises … on account ( mine , unbeknownst to me ) Vet took her word that the horse was mine and in good faith did the deed.

When that bill came in I taxed her with it asked what the hell she was playing … she didn’t think I’d mind apparantley ,and she asked if she could just add that to the board and work it off with what she was already working of … Sucker here said o.k.

Then she started not showing up for her designated two days a week for mucking , only mucking no feeding turnout , watering nothing just mucking… At first it was a call that the kids were sick and no one to leave them with … then it was just not showing up no call… The best one was when I spoke to her and said why did you not come out ? Her answer was it was raining… Really your damned horse eats and shits when it rains too… soo yeah you need to come out in the rain and fulfill your obligations…

Like yourself I let it go too long almost 5 months before I lost the plot and told her to get the hell out with her horse. She cried , begged , pleaded asked for extension to try and find a home for the horse she finally realized she could not afford.

I found a home for the horse … she took the peoples money and on the day they were coming to pick it up she showed up with the police … Claiming that I and the person who had bought the horse had forced her into the sale … because of manufactured debts we said she incurred…
WTF Really… Thankfully the OPP officer who attended was versed with the inn keepers act and the buyer did have the bill of sale… She was allowed to remove her tack … But was told the rest was a civil matter that she would have to pursue in court … The bill of sale was legit as far as the officer was concerned …

So yeah lots of drama … entertainment for the neighbourhood… and a lesson learned … I have helped others and it has worked out well but I now ask for references …and don’t believe every hard luck story that comes my way… A bit more cynical and wordly wise.

The nice thing for me though is I am blessed with some of the loveliest people you would ever want to meet as boarders and all have been with me long term … And all of them every last one pitches in and helps around here and pays their board on top of it. So I wouldn’t necessarily stay away from boarding just be a bit more hard hearted perhaps , there are awesome boarders out there who appreciate the effort it takes to run a barn well.

[maunder]

<raises hand> sucker here too. A neighbor brought a woman to see me who begged to be allowed to bring her horse to my then empty little barn because her current boarding barn was mean and etc… Oh boy - did I fall for that one.

Since I knew and liked the neighbor I said yes and woman brought a thin, very lame mare to stay at my house. Deal was she’d pay a bit for board, but would provide feed and bedding and pick the stall.

All was fine for about three days, except she brought no bedding. Then she didn’t show up to feed. I waited and then called her and then fed the horse. Turns out she was sitting beside a pool and having a drink and just didn’t want to come to feed the horse. She even told me that I was so much nicer than the other people were when she didn’t show up to feed.

Well…

This continued on the same vein until she didn’t bring any food, never did buy any bedding (I did). She and her daughter would come out and ride this poor, lame horse. When I caught the child (12 years old) kicking the hell out of the mare because the mare wouldn’t move I had it. Both got a piece of my mind. I surprised myself as I’m not usually a yeller…but boy howdy I sure did yell at that kid and her mother. I told the woman to find somewhere else to “board.” The poor old mare! They moved her and she lived for another couple of years in that thin and lame condition. I never did get paid and the woman took a feed bucket and a muck bucket when she left.

Turns out everyone (but me) knew about this woman and her way of going around and doing this. Not only did she do this with her horse but also with apartments. Move in, build up great big bills and move out.

[tbchick84]

Wow OP, you might be one of the kindest people ever. I really feel bad that she took such advantage of you. I would have dropped kicked that deadbeat 4 months ago. Definitely communicate in a certified letter stating she has violated the terms of your agreement by failing to pay $1,200 of back board. She is to have her horse and her possessions off your property by midnight of December 8th. She is required to give you notice before entering the property and is the only person now allowed on said property. I love the idea of a nice obviously placed fake security camera. Better yet one of those signs at the entrance saying “this facility if monitored by closed circuit cameras”.

Put all of her possessions where she can find them, but lock your stuff up in the tack room. A nice motion activated light near the entrance of your barn will give her a nice scare if she tries to show up and pull crap in the middle of the night.

I’m sorry you had to go through this. I am a boarder and have always paid on time. I clean up after my horse and treat the barn as if it were my own. I have always promised myself that I would never buy a place where I could have my horse unless I could do it without outside help. I never want to be reliant on having to make up the difference with boarders for the very reason of why you started this thread.

I eagerly await your December 9th post. Good luck getting the freeloader out!