Do I have a right to be upset about this?

So I LOVE the barn where I board my mare. It's always nice and clean, the people are super friendly and the BO is wonderful. In August, I decided to lease my mare out during the winter months because I don't ride in the winter anyway and I could use a little extra money. I discussed this with the BO and explained that she would be returning in March and he was okay with everything. He even said I could store my tack, blankets, brushes, etc. at the barn in my existing tack locker while she was away because he had plenty of room. However, I went out to the barn the other day to take some pictures of some tack I'm trying to sell and just to chat with people and visit some of the horses. When I got there, I opened up my tack locker and where previously all of my bridles, halters, fly masks, etc. had been hanging on this portable rack on the inside of the door, the rack was gone and my (not cheap!) bridles and everything were just chucked on the dirty floor of my locker underneath my saddle racks. I don't know how long they were down there, and it really irked me. Do you think I have a right to be upset? If they needed the rack, I would have at least appreciated them letting me know they were taking it and I would have liked for my things to not have just been thrown on the floor...

Well I'd certainly be pretty pissed- he did clearly state that you could use the racks and you do pay him money to board your horse there.

I personally wouldn't leave my things there. You do not know who threw your stuff down, just take it home and don't sweat it.

Is this an off property lease? And why would you leave expensive tack at a place you wont be visiting frequently?

Not really, you did leave it there knowing you wouldn't be around. You don't know who threw it down there. I would have taken everything home.

I'd be mad! They said you could safely store your stuff there! While you may not know who did it.. that doesn't make it ok! It doesn't make it Your fault.

I would take your stuff home with you now if I were you.. but yeah, I'd be MAD.

Thanks for the replies, guys. I wanted to take everything home, but the fact is that I live in town and have limited space in my room. I already have 2 saddles and a bunch of other stuff at home and just didn't have the space to take everything home. Trust me, leaving my stuff there wasn't my first choice. Also, the only people who have access to my locker besides me is the BO and the other staff, so I know it wasn't just some random person in my stuff.

Basically, I don't care so much that they needed the rack. I get it - someone else who actually has an animal there needed it. Fine. I just wish they had 1) let me know they were taking it and 2) respected my things enough to at least hang them over the horn on my saddle or something, ya know?

And yes, it is an off-site lease, but the BO made it very clear that my things would be safe being left there while she was away.

Wow that was really awesome of your barn owner to let you leave your stuff there for FREE. From a barn owner stand point, she is probably just super busy and needed a rack quickly. If it's just bridles, she probably didn't think it would hurt them and on the list of priorities and things to remember it was probably low. OR it could've been someone else that did it. Either way, if you tack is fine then I wouldn't complain to much.

Starline, I know you yourself are a BO, so I appreciate your input. None of my things were damaged, so I agree that it's not a bit hairy deal. And I'm not really upset, it just irked me a bit. And yes, he is AMAZING for letting me keep my tack there for free. :)

I would be po'd if my stuff were damaged but if not I probably wouldn't care.. Maybe I'm just used to it though because my boarders treat my tack like crap :o)