So was the horse lame during the lesson? I’m hoping not. And I agree with the itemized bill on move out, if you see her move out.
I just have to comment on the “abandoned horse” problem. My saint of a TB that I purchased from my trainer at the time was an abandoned horse that I put the time and training into. He was my heart horse and my life is much better having had him in my life. I miss him and always will.
[QUOTE=tbchick84;7882618]
It’s really sad that people like that are out there because people like me already have so few options. To have everyone afraid to take on boarders will just shrink horse ownership opportunities even more. Some of us just cannot afford to buy our own farm.[/QUOTE]
What I find really sad is that I, as a PAYING BOARDER, have been subsidizing the horse ownership of others. I ended up with $300 in extra bills a couple years ago after my mare colicked because my BO, with a heart bigger than his checkbook, allowed other boarders to not pay. He was feeding hay cubes instead of long hay because that’s all he could afford in February. I didn’t know it at the time, if I had, I would have blown my top. (I found out ~6 months later)
Hey deadbeats, I’ve been paying your board, how about you pay mine for a couple months? I have to confess that as this drama has played out at my barn, I have seriously considered skipping a board check just because.
I have made several pointed comments to BO about how unfair it is that these people are getting the same thing I’m paying for. Oh Wah, one has a medical issue; he still got my board when I was laid up for 2-3 months.
I have had serious issues when I suddenly could not pay for a horse. Twice. Sold one dirt cheap, gave the other away. I NEVER expected a BO to carry my horse out of their pocket for months while I struggled to get caught up with everything else before even thinking about back board.
I HAVE been behind in barn bills. Never the board part though. Lessons, transport, day charges and other show fees sometimes had to be spread out- with prior arrangement and no other shows until the first ones were paid off. Never went more then 90 days to clear those and, again, ALWAYS paid the full board on time as horse ALWAYS needed the same care whether I was paid up on show expenses or not. Even when off work with an injury, I got that board paid out of savings.
BTW, OP here cannot seize the horse, have it declared abandoned or make any decisions on its behalf. YET. No contract exists and she potentially acquiesced to the non payment by allowing whacko to stay. There are specific steps to follow differing by state and local jurisdictions that can be initiated now…but will take 30-90 days.
Hate to say it but OPs best hope is making whacko feel unwelcome and offering minimal care with no extras, including storage. And getting a real good pair of earplugs. I’d say block her on phone and e mails but you need to save all communication for now.
Wait - the horse is LAME with an obvious, long standing problem and there is a trainer out there who not only continued on with a lesson, but also was going to LEASE the poor creature to another student???
[QUOTE=dotneko;7883677]
Wait - the horse is LAME with an obvious, long standing problem and there is a trainer out there who not only continued on with a lesson, but also was going to LEASE the poor creature to another student???[/QUOTE]
Caught my attention as well. Doesn’t say much for the trainer either. Good Lord. :no:
I also don’t think this woman is going to be gone (with the horse) on Dec. 8th.
When we bought our house, two hours before escrow closed and we were supposed to be given the key, the seller’s agent called and said the seller decided she needed more time to move so she wasn’t leaving. We had the police over that evening (technically she and the renters were trespassing). There were some boxes in the living room when the police talked to them and she said she needed one more week. We said no, be out by tomorrow. The next day, noon, she was still there and we called the police again. She left an hour later, and left all her stuff (furniture, clothes, dishes, etc.) We ended up throwing all her stuff away.
Moral of story: be prepared to use the police. She needs to leave, now, no excuses.
[QUOTE=findeight;7883348]
Bad as this is, it’s not really the main reason for all the Private signs. Barn owners have every right to not open their barns to others even if running such a business was permitted by their zoning, insurance, HOA etc.
Have many friends who moved horses to their own places…for peace, quiet and privacy. Imagine how they felt when every one of them were forced to put a PRIVATE sign on their own driveway to stem the parade of uninvited inquiries from those who assumed they were welcome to just drive on up the driveway. Anytime. Even if they had to open the gate.
Oh, the nice little Private notation under the farm name or added under the address? Forget it, need a big red billboard, even then they say “Yes, we saw that but we wanted to see about boarding and/or Pony Rides”.???[/QUOTE]
I don’t really fault people for coming and knocking on my door to ask. It’s a private residence, how else would they get in touch with me to ask?
After a “sold” sign went on a farm near me, I put a note in the mailbox. I asked if they were considering boarding horses, please call me and left them my number. The mailbox is at the end of the drive. No reason to even look any further up the drive.
The new owner called me, said she wasn’t looking to run a boarding barn but would like for her daughter to have company while she rode. I made an appointment to come by. It turned out to be not exactly what I was looking for, thanked her for her time and moved on.
There’s no reason for a person to have to pull in and knock on the door if there’s a mailbox. 
[QUOTE=saultgirl;7884166]
I don’t really fault people for coming and knocking on my door to ask. It’s a private residence, how else would they get in touch with me to ask?[/QUOTE]
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I Had a WONDFUL boarder at my last farm…daily, I fed four times a day, turned out and cleaned her horse’s stall. She paid a very small amount and provided hay, feed and bedding.
Our arrangement was that she would farm sit when I was out of town giving clinics one week per month, and do all the things I did on a daily basis. Since her horse lived there, she had a vested interest in being the. She lived less than five minutes away and was invaluable to me for three years.
I just wanted to tell the OP that it can work…I vetted this woman and she in an outstanding person in all respects.
Don’t let one bad apple spoil you from having a boarder. We are out there!!! I remember at one small barn I was boarding at, the woman running it was also an artist (horse scultures etc) and she really wanted to make it to Breyerfest to sell her work. She was pretty much resigned to not going because she didn’t have anyone to take care of the barn. I knew how much she wanted to go and offered to take the week off from work and take care of everything at the barn! She was thrilled and I had a fun week taking care of all the horses.
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[QUOTE=JBD;7877960]
Just curious- has anyone helped out someone who professes to be on a tight spot and it turned out OK?[/QUOTE]
Yup, my trainer/bm-- has been helping me out for some months now. I get reduced board in exchange for one day a week of barn duties, I pay her what I can and work hard to “be even” by the end of each month.
[QUOTE=dotneko;7883677]
Wait - the horse is LAME with an obvious, long standing problem and there is a trainer out there who not only continued on with a lesson, but also was going to LEASE the poor creature to another student???[/QUOTE]
I didn’t watch the lesson, so I don’t know how long they worked the horse. Hopefully the moment they realized she was off they stopped. Or maybe she became sore after the lesson. Trainer is a good sort and to my knowledge wouldn’t work a lame horse. I’m certain trainer would also FULLY disclose this mare’s issues if someone were willing to take her on a lease. You would look at her leg and immediately have some hard questions, there’s no disguising the issue. When Boarder first arrived to my barn she was reguarly giving her Adequan, Pentosan, and other joint supplements to keep her going sound. She’s not currently doing that. Not surprised at all to see her unable to tolerate working under saddle.
[QUOTE=gumshoe;7884208]
After a “sold” sign went on a farm near me, I put a note in the mailbox. I asked if they were considering boarding horses, please call me and left them my number. The mailbox is at the end of the drive. No reason to even look any further up the drive.
The new owner called me, said she wasn’t looking to run a boarding barn but would like for her daughter to have company while she rode. I made an appointment to come by. It turned out to be not exactly what I was looking for, thanked her for her time and moved on.
There’s no reason for a person to have to pull in and knock on the door if there’s a mailbox. :)[/QUOTE]
It’s illegal to put anything in the mailbox actually. They are only to be used for mail that is properly stamped. Definitely not for leaving fecal samples for your vet. I have a friend who got a big lecture
[QUOTE=Highflyer;7884898]
It’s illegal to put anything in the mailbox actually. They are only to be used for mail that is properly stamped. Definitely not for leaving fecal samples for your vet. I have a friend who got a big lecture :)[/QUOTE]
That’s right. Put a note ON the mailbox if necessary, but it is a No No to even open someone else’s mailbox.
[QUOTE=Highflyer;7884898]
It’s illegal to put anything in the mailbox actually. They are only to be used for mail that is properly stamped. Definitely not for leaving fecal samples for your vet. I have a friend who got a big lecture :)[/QUOTE]
Our postal person has admonished us a couple times for doing this. However, putting a note in someone’s mailbox is how I got a great place for my old boy to retire.
[QUOTE=MoonoverMississippi;7881529]
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.[/QUOTE]
Yep. Wouldn’t be surprised the horse goes from OP’s barn right into trainer’s barn.
We’ve had people stroll right into the barns…one barn is down a rather long laneway and ask about boarding. I think it is incredibly rude and not cool to just walk into someone’s barn without being invited. Would you just walk into their house?
One gal told me that so and so told her that she could board her horse with us…oh really? not happening. Another bragged about how her trainer would be there working with her several times a week…definately not happening.
People just don’t get it.
[QUOTE=TBROCKS;7882898]
She IS a professional scammer. Surprise. I learned from a mutual acquaintance that she bought that mare on a lease to own deal, and before the mare had been paid for and before she paid up her back board, she showed up with a trailer and the previous owner had to threaten to call the police, told her to get off the property and if she couldn’t finish payments on the mare she wasn’t taking her anywhere. She somehow managed to produce a check and was allowed to take the mare, but honestly WHO DOES THAT? [/QUOTE]
Lots of people. I’ve heard of it many times, which is why so many horse owners - and it happens a lot with dogs as well - do not allow the horse or dog to leave their property until it is 100% paid for. They know that the moment the animal leaves all future payments will just not be made. Even with this rule, I’ve certainly heard tales of the “buyer” showing up when the owner was at work and simply loading up the horse and taking it away. And then of course not paying one more payment. Sad.
If the buyer cries poverty, then they shouldn’t be buying anyway. The purchase price is nothing compared to the money we all need for monthly bills & routine food, care, equipment, and supplies, let alone the nest egg for emergencies or other unlooked-for issues.
Save those texts! They may be useful in the future.
