Stallion got out and my mare got bred...need opinions

Hi ~
Here's the nutshell.... at the barn where I keep my mare in pasture, one of the barn owner's stallions evidently got out last year and my mare ended up pregnant. When my mare started getting big I repeatedly asked the trainer/barn owner if she could possibly be pregnant and I was repeatedly told no. The last time I asked was about 3 weeks before a filly appeared in the pasture. Turns out that the barn owners knew that the stallion got out but never told any of us mare owners. I had plans to take my mare to a couple of shows this fall which I now cannot do and also had poor riding with her before the baby came. The barn owners (who I also purchased my mare from) had bred her before and I can't believe they didn't know she was pregnant. (btw - I'm a first time horse owner who knows nothing about breeding and babies.) I realize that stallions can get out - I'm upset that they never told me and even after the filly was born never came to me to apologize.

So now - they think I should still be paying them board while the baby is with her. I think I should have to until the baby is weaned since now my horse is not available for me to ride. Would appreciate any comments.
Thanks!
SuzyQ

I'd be finding another barn and moving my horses ASAP.

They knew your mare was bred and LIED to you about it, knowing as a first time owner you'd believe them and not do the proper prenatal and postnatal care for your mare.

They're scum, and you need to get your mare and foal away from them. Seriously, what more do you need to know?

I agree with Speed racer 100%. You should be looking for a new place to board. That kind of behavior is inexcusable.
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Im not sure how it works - but in this situation, who's responsibility is the foal? If you were to move your mare, is the foal the stallion owners property or the mare owners? I would have thought the foal was your property (as the mare owner) but as the breeding was not approved and the result of the stallion being allowed to get out would it make it the stallion owners property?

Just curious is all.

Foals belong to the mare owner regardless of the circumstances of the breeding, unless otherwise stipulated in written contractual form.

Thats what I thought , but if your mare was bred without permission resulting in said foal than is that something you can hold the stallion owner liable for financially as it was done without your permission (presuming you could prove that). Given that their actions have directly impacted in your plans to show etc and the use of your property, could you - if you were unwilling to take responsibility for the resulting foal - force them to resume responsibility for the animal? Or are you stuck with the outcome of their actions?

Which isnt to say that you would not want to take the foal too at all ! , im just curious as to how it would work.

I agree, find a new place to board asap. In till you are able to find another place to board are you able to take the mother and her foal to your house?

That was the part I forgot to mention... when I bought my mare from the barn owner there a breeding option in the sale agreement - so I am giving the filly to them. (I'm not in the market for a baby) so I'm kind of stuck there until the filly is weaned. But I don't think I should have to pay board while my horse is not available to me to ride. I have offered to meet them half way and pay half board - just so it's not so contentious. But the barn owner is balking at this.

As soon as that baby is weaned we are sooo out of there.

Suzy, you should pay board on your mare ONLY, not the foal. Since there was a breeding stipulation in your purchase contract, they should have been responsible for her prenatal/postnatal care, which I'm going to presume she didn't get.

If you want to get contentious, you could move the horse and then file grievances against them in court for loss of use, as well has improper care during her pregnancy.

Agree with the above. However, loss of use of the horse for riding bears little relation to whether or not you pay board on it. If the horse were to get injured and had to be out of work for six months, you would not get free board for those six months. At least not at any "normal" boarding stable.