The Wells Fargo Stagecoach horses showed up unannounced at my barn last night...

[goodhors]

Wells Fargo was here for a local parade, stabled at the Fairgrounds. Husband went down to talk to the Driver and watched him hitch. We also drive Multiples, so always interesting to see how “other folks” do things with their rig.

The visit was planned ahead, so everything was in place for the horses.

It would have been quite the surprise to find such a rig in my barnyard!!

Like the Budweiser Clydes, the Wells Fargo folks have more than one set of horses and stagecoach out doing promotional things in the USA. We had a Four of black horses here, but there is also a chesnut Team, and I think a third outfit someplace.

[french_fry]

It’s so weird that you’re so offended by this.

I’m sure they thought there was no harm in asking…

[enjoytheride]

Now now, I do think I would also feel put out if a Semi Trailer of horses showed up unannounced without some sort of “we’re sorry for surprising you, but we just came from the barn we were supposed to be at and…”

[vxf111]

From having them at Devon, I got the real sense that they weren’t totally, totally horsepeople?! Not that they were completely clueless but they weren’t a well-oiled machine like the Budweiser team. They seemed like they were picked less for their horse savvy and more for their ability to do the Wells Fargo marketing properly?!

And rolling up with no warning, who DOES that?! Even people at a hotel… if you show up day-of, there’s a risk there’s no room. I can’t imagine doing that with such a huge rig and a team of horses.

[arapaloosa_lady]

[QUOTE=enjoytheride;8047756]
Now now, I do think I would also feel put out if a Semi Trailer of horses showed up unannounced without some sort of “we’re sorry for surprising you, but we just came from the barn we were supposed to be at and…”[/QUOTE]

But I wouldn’t be expressing that mild irritation publically.

If the OP actually didn’t want to be a layover for the horses, she could have sent them away. It’s pretty cool & good publicity to have such a high profile team stay at your stable. That’s what I thought this thread was going to be about.

[2DogsFarm]

My jaw would need picking up off the ground if something that ginormous pulled onto my farmette.
OP: Did anyone with the group offer any explanation of the surprise drop-in?
Inquiring minds (= nosy) need to know.

[ReSomething]

If they pulled that rig into my trainer’s barn they’d better be damn good to get it out again. I know the Mennonite shavings guy can drive in and back his trailer into the indoor no sweat but my DH says my trainer foams at the mouth the whole time - the car, the door, the fence, the tree, the horses!!!11!! She loses a year off her life every time she’s there when he shows up.

Really, it’s not wise to show up with a rig like that and expect accommodation at an average boarding barn. A racetrack or fairground or “equestrian center” would be expected to be able to handle large trucks like that and possibly handle transient animals with no notice, but otherwise . . .

[HealingHeart]

Agree, I would question the management. What did they bring to feed the horses, you just don’t change feed state to state… I’d colic…, thank goodness you were there & had room, but poor management…I would wonder about the overall care…

[QUOTE=enjoytheride;8047756]
Now now, I do think I would also feel put out if a Semi Trailer of horses showed up unannounced without some sort of “we’re sorry for surprising you, but we just came from the barn we were supposed to be at and…”[/QUOTE]

[findeight]

They have had teams out promoting for decades…never killed anything…and we have not heard anything at all from their side as to why this happened. So I won’t pass judgement.

[Paks]

I would suspect that where they had planned to stay fell through and they quickly googled lay ups. The driver was just faster with the rig than the manager was with the phone. Or maybe the driver was told to see what it looked like and when you passed muster the driver notified the manager who called.

[HungarianHippo]

People are reacting as if the OP runs a little farmette or average boarding barn. Based on the FB post it’s Riverbend Equestrian Center, which is a public equestrian center, and it advertises temporary stabling. Again, if if it is true that Wells Fargo team routinely drives around, pulling in random driveways looking for stabling, that’s obviously not a good practice. But do we really think that is the case? We can’t extend one iota of “benefit of the doubt” to them, that the fact that their manager called after the rig arrived was not typical?

Just say no if you don’t want to do something. Or, agree but don’t complain about having agreed to do it. Choosing one or the other makes the world a much happier place. (But would reduce COTH posting volume by 74%).

[Duramax]

[QUOTE=2DogsFarm;8047872My jaw would need picking up off the ground if something that ginormous pulled onto my farmette.
OP: Did anyone with the group offer any explanation of the surprise drop-in?
Inquiring minds (= nosy) need to know.[/QUOTE]

No explanation offered!

[Duramax]

I guess I am “irritated” because it just seemed like really poor planning and really poor horse management to be that unconcerned and haphazard. I also feel like if you’re a professional/corporate get up then you should act professionally.

Not saying it wasn’t interesting to see them, it was just highly unusual for them to just roll up unannounced.

[Duramax]

[QUOTE=2DogsFarm;8047872My jaw would need picking up off the ground if something that ginormous pulled onto my farmette.
OP: Did anyone with the group offer any explanation of the surprise drop-in?
Inquiring minds (= nosy) need to know.[/QUOTE]

No explanation offered!

[Seraph]

A good friend of my family is the layover barn for a Wells Fargo team. They’re usually there twice a year. It’s all planned, people are friendly, and the horses look great. Maybe cut these guys some slack eh?

[tangledweb]

I feel bad about how much money I spend on Amazon vs how much I spend with local businesses, but that’s the way it always works for me. You turn up at somebody’s country business and they act like it’s a huge inconvenience and they were just about to close because it is noon on Saturday, then complain that everyone goes to Walmart instead.

Every now and again you find an awesome mom and pop business, but most of the time you slink out saying “Sorry to have inconvenienced you by trying to spend money at your business” and never come back.

[stryder]

@Duramax;8048148

I also feel like if you’re a professional/corporate get up then you should act professionally.

You’re the manager of a public equestrian facility that does, at least from time to time, offer layovers. Think this thread will help that part of your business grow?

[roseymare]

So the truck arrived before they had a chance to call. Probably had a plan fall through. Probably not their sop but I don’t see major issue. You had the room.

[2DogsFarm]

Tangled web - MD must have a corner on the (human) crab market.
Here in my part of the Midwest, I’ve been flabbergasted by how accommodating not only local merchants can be, but government reps as well. Exemplified by the time I had to get a document notarized, did not have the $1 it cost (they could not make change) & was told “just come back when you can”. And yes, notary stamp was applied that day.
Coming from a Big City background this astonished me.
Even the USPS workers are friendly here!

OP:
No explanation? Still makes me go WTH?!?!

[TBROCKS]

Maybe wires got crossed somewhere, and someone was supposed to make a phone call that didn’t happen? Maybe the weather has thrown a monkey wrench into their usual routes and travel plans? At any rate, I am in the “what’s the big deal” camp.
I would have been excited to have “famous” horses stay at my barn.
The Budweiser team layovers at a show facility not far from here, and it’s like “celebrities are in town!” when they’re here!