[QUOTE=Minor Altercation;8428609]
Posting under an alter, for reasons that will be apparent below.
I began hunting in early childhood then stopped in my 20s and started again during the past 10 years, during my 50s. Hunted some with the hunt I grew up with but settled upon one that in this day and time, has most of my “friends” and meets are closer AND their hunt territory is fabulous. I have loved the people, the hounds, and all.
I have known their master since he arrived in the county decades ago and I have known his wife since the 1960s when she moved into the county and married someone local. Others in this hunt are people I know well from eventing, and one of my best friends now boards my 3 horses (2 training/sales horses and one not for sale horse). Although I have been hunting with this hunt regularly only last year and this, I feel very much at home with them, knowing so many of them, and I particularly like hunting with their large number of pony club juniors who I see professionally in the eventing and dressage world.
This year, I had some major financial setbacks with my horse business. Typically, most of my income comes from horses, finding, training, selling, and taking one or two in to train/sell once in awhile. Those who know me know that while my business is small, it has been quite good to me, grossing about $100k annually. This year is the first year that I have had to delve into my other income, as a full time medical professional.
I swear the above is relevant!
I did not hunt much at all this fall because I had not paid my dues and I frankly did not have the funds available to pay the cap regularly. I also had horses that had to be competed through the month so as to prep them for sales. I thought I could pay my dues about six weeks go and emailed the secretary to expect the check on the pro rate. Within about two weeks, I incurred a huge and unexpected expense on one of my horses that I owned that threw me 10k behind. Two weeks ago, I called the master and told him that I was embarrassed to admit that I had not hunted because I couldn’t afford it. He told me then that my presence was much wanted and told me to just pay the cap until I had reached the membership dues. I told him that I would do that, thanking him profusely, and told him that I would pay in full in January if not sooner. All was well.
So I paid for two hunts, one $100 cap and one $150. I had already hunted one time before then but he had told me to just keep paying and there was no issue.
Today, I showed up for a meet and the secretary ran up to me in my trailer and (rather loudly) told me that “we have no tolerance for people who do not pay and if you do not give me a check for $500 now, then you will need to leave.” He followed this up by stating that I had hunted 5 times and paid for only two meets so I owed that amount immediately in back capping fees. I attempted to reason with him to no avail, and then turned around and drove home.
I sent him an email stating that I truly did not believe I owed that much and that I was disappointed in the public humiliation.
I then received a text message from a relative from another hunt stating, “Is it true that XXH turned you away today?? What the hell was that about???”
The word was out.
Secretary then sends me a pretty curt email stating that I owe $250 (what happened to the $500) if I wanted to hunt and that I was no longer a pro since I board my horses out (USEF, USEA, USDF do not agree with this!) and that I had capped 3 times so therefore I would need to pay the full non-pro fees in addition to back caps of $250 if I wanted to hunt again. Oh, and he added that any humiliation I might experience is self-inflicted as I had been so unappreciative of the generosity of the XXH in allowing me to hunt on an “IOU”
So… I sure hope that the master/long time family friend calls me about this and I sure hope I get some sort of apology.
Sooo… I do not see how I could go back after what transpired today. I am truly humiliated and aghast and hurt (it takes a lot for me to cry and believe me I have been crying). This also comes at the end of a hideous week at work and working for the past 15 days with no day off until yesterday and today.
Arggghhh… I guess I need to look for another hunt. I do not want to go back to my first hunt because they hunt coyote and I really prefer fox. There are many other hunts in the area… but this all feels so darned wrong…[/QUOTE]
- I’m glad the situation got resolved. I can’t imagine anyone at my local hunt behaving in such a manner, no matter the circumstances.
- Yes, it was rude. Obviously everyone thinks this is not appropriate.
I am not justifying her actions, I will take the unpopular thought of - you make 100 K from your side business, make enough in your medical job to cover any expenses, had a 10,000 loss, have 3 horses boarded out, 2 are sale horses that you show- then you come to me and cry poor. Yes, it has happened to all of us, but really? Capping fees are what set you over the limit? . If you are that strapped is hunting THAT many time needed? You can’t wait until you are caught up with other things (with your dual income).
It is none of my business, I certainly would not have treated you in that manner but I can sense the frustration of the secretary. No excuse for rude behavior, but I think that given your financial situation, you are perhaps not a member I would feel the most generous to allow a running balance or payment plan. We have extended payment plans to people without batting an eye, who are definitely not brining in 6 figures plus. However, our more affluent members would not even ask if they were in your situation. It honestly sounds a bit like you are taking advantage of the situation, someone called you out (though inappropriately) and you are the victim.
I think the person was rude but have a hard time feeling sorry for you, given the circumstances.
