Big problem with boarder!

There is this OTTB boarded at my facility. He has been a HARD keeper and his owner was not prepared to take care of him at all so she tried to sell him. She got ripped off and wanted way to much for him. Well he bruised his foot really bad and things just went down hill from there. He could hardly walk and just stood in the pasture looking miserable. He dropped weight soo fast and then he started swelling up all over the place from just standing there. He knocked himself in the eye so he had to have treatment there. She wanted to send him back to the organization she got him from but they are in Ohio and she couldn't afford to ship him back and of course they won't foot the bill so we have been trying to find him a home here.

Because this horse was soo pitiful, myself and other boarders really pitched in and bought him extra hay, feed and amplify to get his weight up. Another boarder bought him ulcer medication to hopefully help him keep weight on. Another boarder bought BOA boots so that he could get turn out and be able to walk around comfortably. I offered to feed him three times a day which I don't normally do. I also got him a joint supplement to help him too so that we can make him well enough to find someone to take him. Because the way he was, a slaughter house wouldn't even take him.

Well now he's gotten better, still underweight, but he is ready to do very very light riding.. well another boarder and I finally found someone that may be interested in taking him as a companion animal for their other horse and maybe light trail riding for her husband which would be PERFECT. Well I get at email from the owner asking for information about the lady and she added "I hope she doesn't think I'm just going to give him away!".

SO now I'm like "uhhhhhhhh WTF"? Everyone despises this lady and we came together to provide for the HORSE not for her. What should I do?
Should I ask her to pay us back?

Yes! Have all the bills been kept?
I'm not sure if you can enforce it, probably not. But at least ask. And do not do anything else. If she wants to continue to neglect her horse, contact authorities. Again, not even sure what, or if they can do anything.

Almost seems hopeless, that horse is lucky to have you.

Maybe try to make out a deal and let her see that this possible buyer is what is in the best interest for the horse and let her know that since you have provided extra care she should be grateful and listen since she is unable to provide him with what he needs on her own. If she's the kind of person I'm thinking she is this could be a very difficult task, but it's worth a shot

Unless she agreed to pay you for these extras, I don't see how you'd be able to get her to pay you back. Remember, you did this for the horse, not her. Personally, I think I'd give her notice to leave within 30 days, or whatever your contract allows. I would tell the horse owner that you will no longer do the 3 times daily feeds without being reimbursed for it. I would give her written notice of this change. You cannot change her behavior but you don't have to witness it.

Great advice Joshie.
I do wish that people could be reimbursed by owners or surrender an animal if they can't pay in a situation like this. It's not fair to the animal. Although I can understand the laws. You can't have people going around buying stuff for a horse then claiming them. That's not exactly fair either.

I would detail all the time/money/etc spend by you and all the others at the barn and then let the owner know that people are giving away gorgeous perfectly healthy horses so if someone who is providing a good home is willing to give her horse a great home then she is blessed..... if she doesn't see this then tell her to find her horse a home on her own and she needs to move on

Sounds like you and some of your boarders went out of your way to provide "addded-value" services to one of your boarders. She (and her horse) really lucked out. You have become victims of your own kindness and generosity which is quite easy to do when you have compassion for animals.

You should determine what you want your end-game result to be in this situation. Do you want the horse? Do you want her out? Your money back? How you proceed from here will be different in each instance. You have several different strategies available to you and it will depend if you want to go legal or not.

This is a great place to solicit advice.
I would like to caution you ............... what you decide to do legally should not be posted here. This is a public forum and she may be reading it.

Good luck and I will be curious to hear how it goes.

My desired outcome is for the horse to go to this interested lady or anybody besides her. I do have a Standard of Care clause in my contract saying that I will provide all necessary care at their expense.

I could care less if this lady reads this forum, because I don't like her. When he was on stall rest, I told her to put his boots on and go graze him on the side lawn and she takes him over there and takes his halter off. We don't have a gated facility and its wide open. He walks away from her about 10 steps and starts eating grass. I yell to her and ask her what she is doing?! I think it clicks in her brain and then she starts running towards him screaming... So of course he takes off and goes running down the road. What a freaking idiot this woman is!

If you can get your money from her, do so. I would try sitting down with her to talk over the situation with the horse, and lay it out for her as it is. Let her know how much extra care & expense this horse requires to keep on condition, and if she is unwilling or unable to pay it, let her know she needs to let it go for whatever the horse is worth at this moment. I don't care how much she paid, the current worth is no reflection on what was paid years or even months ago.
Either way, I'd tell her to walk. Give her whatever notice is necessary, and say goodbye.

You could possibly do something with the 'standard of care' clause. But, if she lawyers up, you could end up paying more in legal fees than you'd get from her.

Either way, I'd send her a bill for what she owes, and her 30 days notice. Perhaps she'd be more willing to give the horse away if she has to go through the hassle of finding a new barn for him.