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Dilemma - do I get into a discussion?; owner/trainer lacking proper contracts
Topic Started: Jan 29 2008, 06:46 AM (331 Views)
doppelganger
I Visited Candy Mountain and All I Got Was This Lousy Incision
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Without going into too much detail, as the horse community around here is such that you can't scratch your butt without someone knowing about it.

I work with a relative of the landlord of the barn that I left a while ago. I left due to concerns on the competence of the trainer, which everyone knows. Most of the extended family lives on the property, each one has their home on their own piece of the pie. This relative is annoyed at what goes on in the barn but keeps to themselves about it. There is also a bit of a family feud going on as well over other things.

The landlord only cares about the owner/trainer in the barn making the monthly rent on the property and really has no interest in what goes on in the barn or how this person conducts their business. Maintenance of the fields and barn is kept to a minimum at best.

It's common knowledge that the owner/trainer does not collect signed board agreements and has not done so for many years. Hence there are horses and ponies on the rented property with no contract....at least 19 to 20 of them.

There have also been some accidents and incidents involving horses and/or riders that are above the acceptable threshold for the industry. As if there was a published one, but you get my drift. Most of those things never happen in a well-run place.

Many of us who left wondered if there was ever any proper business insurance and CCC, as this trainer does trailer students to shows. This trainer is particulary adept at spinning stories, making excuses and deflecting blame. It's really quite a skill if you think about it. It's kept us cowering for years.

My dilemma is - the relative has been asking me a few questions. Do I answer them? Do I point out that lack of signed board agreements? Do I tell them "look, I got the Hell outta there, not my problem."

What could possibly happen to the extended family if a boarder or their child was seriously/fatally injured on the property?

Oh...and there is also the obligatory mentally unbalanced "friend" of this trainer who is lovingly described as their "Pit Bull, and this "friend" is kept on a longer leash than many of us would like.

:unsure:
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FlashGordon
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You're BANNED!
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My husband and I were involved in a horse business that operated on a family-owned property. We were not part of the family, we were just employees. The owner of the business leased the land from the rest of her family. Her business and the land were two separate entities.

You can be sure she had airtight contracts and heaps of insurance. She also had a very clear contract in regards to her lease of the property. Therefore any issues regarding her business were dealt with by her and her insurance companies. The property was maintained by the trust, not her.

In your case, I'd suspect that the family members could be liable, if there is no good legal paperwork and the boarding/training isn't registered as a business w/ separate insurance etc. They are essentially owners of the land and therefore responsible for what occurs on it. I'm not a lawyer, but that is my guess.

Not sure if you want to get involved..... it sounds like a very sticky situation and when it involves relatives it seems to get even messier. :(
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heineken
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Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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I think you can answer direct questions fairly but leave out any additional info.
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OnyxThePony
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I think you could mention what Flash said, and answer her questions as long as she understands that what you say is all FYI only and has no basis for legal grounds. But if (s)he's the type to go blabbing around what you said- then, no, I"d definately keep my mouth shut.
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