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Need your thought!!!Sorry Long
Topic Started: May 18 2007, 11:02 AM (392 Views)
Barn Mom
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Schooling
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How would you handle this situation - Trainer calls last week & said that he has a horse he is bringing up for daughter to ride and only get lessons on at a show(her horse has been out of commission since March and she has had no lessons with said trainer since then until now) Trainer goes to show on Thursday with horses. We get there on Saturday morning and trainer told daughter to tackup said horse and meet him down at the schooling ring. Daughter tackes up horse and goes to the schooling area for her lesson. Horse trips about every other step and is very unsound. Daughters lesson consisted of about 30 minutes. Daughter takes horse back to barn and bathes him etc.Trainer gives horse banamine. On Saturday night trainer has another trainer showup to LOOK at said horse (he was out in the paddock) 2nd trainer said she was very interested. 1st trainer said that hey could watch it on Sunday when daughter is riding. Sunday morning we show up and trainer tells daughter to get on for her lesson. Daughter asked trainer if horse was sound enough and trainer says yes. We take daughter back to barn area and there are 2 ladies standing next to horses stall. Daughter says hello and they say hello and we are here to look at this horse. Daughter says ok and tacks up the horse and goes to the schooling area with the 2 ladies in tow. Daughter warms up the horse and jumps a small verticle 2 or 3 times. Then trainer tells her to jump the 3' oxer and when horse landed after the jump he went to his knees, daughter sat back and pulled up his head to keep them from rolling. Horse finds his feet and trainer says to walk him aound for a while. All while this is going on trainer has (1) trainer and assistant sitting in a golf cart on one side of the ring and (2) the 2 ladies standing on the other side of the ring watching this horse go.
After daughter walks horse around for about 30 minutes, one of the two ladies wanted to try out the horse so she got on the horse and trotted and cantered around for about 15 minutes. Daughter takes horse back to barn area and cleanes him up and treated his skinnedup knees. Daughter said horse was loosing balance in wash rack.
After about and hour trainer comes back to barn area and I asked trainer what we owed him for the lessons etc.. and he said to just pay him for the 2 lessons and give him some extra gas money. So I paid him for the 2 lessons (which were certainly not lessons) and a tank of gas.
On Wednesday he calls me and asked if I checked the horse out at the office and I said no I did not know I was supposed to. He said yes and I said well I asked you on Sunday what we owed and you said to pay you for the lessons and a little extra for gas. Now he wants me to pay for the horse show bill - all of it -
I am soo mad at this point :argh: - He wants me to pay for a horse that he brought up to sell. I would pay for the bill if he brought the horse up for daughter only but he was not honest enough to say he was bringing a sales horse up and that he was showing it to people so I don't think I should be responsible to pay for the whole show bill. I do think I am responsible for Sat & Sun portion but no more.
I need some input. What do yall think
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Lion1024
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It'll be an adventure! We're going on an adventure!
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I think you need to run far FAR away from that trainer. Do not EVER let your daughter get on a horse that this man suggests again. He put your daughter's life in jeapordy and he should know better.

Do you have a horse with him now? Is your daughter's injured horse with him? Get the horse out of there if so. If this is how he treats a sales horse, he can't be treating your horse any better.


*Edited for a grammar mistake*
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Barn Mom
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Schooling
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No daughters horse is NOT with him. She is at a private barn. He would just come in for lessons. I agree with you that he put my daughter in jeopardy and that will not happen again.
If you were in this situation how would you handle the bill. I just do not agree with him having a sales horse on my ticket. Advise please. Oh and we have been with this trainer for about 4 years.
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Trialbyfire
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You're BANNED!
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OK.....I don't know anything about shows and how common this is (bringing horses to shows for sale) and how the finances would normally be handled....

But my uneducated opinion is that the trainer is trying to sell the horse....brings it to the show for viewing by interested parties.....the trainer should be the one paying for the show.

Your daughter took two lessons on the horse, you paid for the lessons. Gas money was a nice tip, especially considering the fact that the horse was lame and your daughter probably didn't learn anything.....

If you were interested in buying the horse and that is the reason the trainer brought it to the show (for your viewing and trial), then perhaps it would make sense for you to pay the show entry.....although honestly, I'd assume the trainer would somehow make this cost up in the sales price -- that would seem easier for everyone all around.

It's too bad that you're in this position, especially if you've been with the trainer for a while and want to stay with him. But I guess I'd just say "Why would you expect me to pay the show fee for a horse you brought for sale? We paid you for the lesson, and I think that's fair." Good luck!
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monami
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Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
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As much as I would hate to do this sometimes it is just easier to pay and walk...no run far far away. It is hard to give you a good answer with out knowing how much "damage" this person could do.

Just curious in the 4 years you have been with the trainer has he ever done anything else like this ?
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Barn Mom
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Schooling
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No he has not. He has been a good trainer up til now.
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elle T
We're on a bridge, Chaaaaaaaaarlie!
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You don't owe him anything! Taking that horse on to sell is his problem, not yours! I'm guessing that he wasn't able to sell the horse, so he was probably thinking, "Hmm... Who can I get to pay for what I lost by bringing this horse to the show?" These types of situations are why I stopped taking lessons... I will never ride with a trainer that doesn't have a price list or won't state costs ahead of time in writing. I got so tired of being scammed. I know it is hard to make a living in the equestrian industry, but that doesn't give trainers the right to nickel and dime clients. It took a lot of fun out of riding becuase I felt like I was constantly having to watch out for situations like this. Like the other posters have said, time to start looking for a new trainer. What a pain. At least you don't have to move barns.
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Eleanor
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Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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Did your daughter show the horse? I am thinking not. Tell trainer that as far as you paying the bill on a horse that you didn't show or ask to have at the show he might want to look up his back side (a$$) because that is the only place you would be pulling the money out from to pay his bill. Then I would tell him that you paid for lessons that your daughter did not get, as she was to busy showing the sale horse to clinets. You do feel that "you" did get a lesson from him that worth every penny and it was "Not to ever do business with him again." But then that is just me.
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2hsmommy
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It'll be an adventure! We're going on an adventure!
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I agree with above posters. If your dtr didn't show, no paying on your part. You already paid what was owed.
Oh, and leave the trainer.
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MAR
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Thomas H. Cruise!
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If daughter didnt show, and it was not agreed upon in advance, you owe nothing!...And RUN away from this trainer
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snaffle
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Is the meadow on fire?
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Unless it was agreed in advance, you don't owe any show expenses.

Your story concerns me on quite a few fronts. The trainer worked a horse who was clearly unsound. The trainer put your daughter in jeopardy. The trainer is now asking you to foot the bill. None of that adds up to good horsemanship.

It seems like this behavior is out of character for your trainer. Is that right? Is there something going on with his business or personal life that would cause this change in behavior?

I'm with the other folks. I'd immediately start looking for a new trainer.
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