At the barn we board at, my mom feeds the horses and takes them out to pasture in the mornings to pay for the board of our 2 horses. A new boarder came at the beginning of January. The girl is 14 and the horse is an 8 yr old OTTB on 10 pounds of senior feed a day, not getting worked. The girl and the parents have no idea what they're doing, and should not be horse owners. Plain and simple. This horse is getting more and more out of control. In the mornings he charges my mom, drags her around when she tries to lead him out to the pasture, tried to run out the gate and has gotten loose on multiple occasions. He will run over any person in his way, and his owners see no problem because they are never out there, and they don't have enough knowledge to know any different. The barn owners don't care enough to say anything to them, and probably won't because they can't afford to lose a boarder. But my mom is becoming very afraid of this horse. She is used to being around horses, but does not ride and is not quite as handy as a rider would be while handling them and is afraid she is going to get hurt. Has anybody had a similar problem or have any suggestions on how to tell these people they need to do something about their horse before he kills somebody, without offending them and causing them to leave? Posted via Mobile Device
Being run over by a disrespectful horse is more expensive than years of boarding costs anybody. If your mom doesn't mind being possibly hospitalized, then she should continue. I wouldn't.
Your mom doesn't know how to retrain this horse, and the owner doesn't have a expressed interest in it. Unless somebody speaks up about this nothing will change.
For the time being and while you guys are dealing with this horse, maybe have your mom steer clear. It's great that she's helping out, but if she's as inexperienced as you say she is, she's at more risk than someone who could spot and school any problem given to her. If the barn owners put up a stink about your mom skipping that one dangerous horse, then they fail to realize what kind of Liability they're boarding and should have it brought to their attention. If they don't care that they're boarding a possible law suit, I'd consider leaving and start browsing through options.
As for the owners who are never there, you might consider setting up a camera and filming the horse's misbehavior. This can be a great visual to help those people see just how bad their horse is. Don't forget to film a better behaved horse so that you can compare the two. This is a good way of showing them that their horse is a nutcase without having to put anyone at risk, leading the horse.
If they think that you've done something to their horse, invite them to try leading it on their own. Some people are skeptical and accusatory. Be prepared to give them some information on the kind of food and schedule the horse is on, as well as some resources they can try for training, if they're interested in keeping the horse.
The horse is a problem, but it seems like the bigger problem is the BO. Any BO worth their salt should care if their staff has told them that a horse is dangerous. There are a number of things the BO could/should be doing in this situation. Assuming the BO is an experienced horseperson, she should handle the horse herself a few times to get a first-hand view on the horse's behavior and figure out if there's a simple solution or not. Then, approach the owners about the horse's behavior and let them know there's a problem. If the BO thinks there is a simple solution- like reducing the grain ration- she should suggest it. If it's a serious training and respect issue, the BO may need to give an ultimatum that the horse either be worked with by a trainer or the owners find boarding elsewhere.
This is definitely an issue you need to confront maybe have the people come out while your mom feeds and show them what there horse is doing and ask them to fix the problems cause it is going to get worse!
All horses will test you and if the get away with it they will continue to do it over and over till some one gets hurt!! That way if they see the problems they will understand better and hopefully fix it and if not have your mom refuse to feed that horse and make them come out and do it so they really see what's going on!! Posted via Mobile Device
It isn't between the horse owners and you/your mom. Not your place to address them. It's the BO responsibility, period. Safe environment for everyone is essential. I would refuse to handle the horse or leave. BO is not going to pay med bills or compensate for down time. Posted via Mobile Device
Your mom needs to stop trying to handle this horse at all. When she gets hurt (and she will!) both the horse owners and the BO will blame her and say she should never have been touching someone else's horse. Can you move somewhere else?
If there is an option, your mom needs to tell the BO that you will be leaving unless this situation is taken care of immediately. If they are really that scared of losing boarders, you would think that they at least want to keep the good ones (you & your mom).
Mom isn't an employee of the facility, period.
That means she shouldn't be handling anyone else's horse either but yours.
Unless there is a "contract" in writing that states so much work for so much board reduction in lieu of pay... your mom is technically wrong touching others animals...
If she gets hurt, she has no recourse as she doesn't exist as a employee.
No one is going to accept responsibility of permission given to handle that horse...her bills and her injuries will be hers alone...no financial help.
If the horse should get injured while she is "in control of it"...mom is liable for a lawsuit and paying all bills.
Me... you need a reduction in your board, fine.
Feed the horses, turn-out the manageable and respectful horses... this one that frightens her... leave it for the BO or the actual workers to handle him, not mom.
One-day of that horse pulling his nonsense with the BO or the "real" barn workers and he will have the beginning of a new attitude and discipline regiment required of him!
Then again, if the BO already knows about this behavior and is not willing to do something about it, leaving mom to get hurt... I use to work in barns, those same horses I walked on a rope shank to the t/o had chains across their face with their owner...reason... I would not tolerate it and had their respect earned and given by the way I demanded they act when I handled them.. a meeting of minds you could say and they understood my mind very well!
I couldn't afford to be hurt, out of work, work injured or not have a paycheck!!
I would stop putting myself in danger and just feed the horse and let others handle him once outside the stall. No reduction in board is worth injuries that could last a lifetime or worse!!
I would before any more feeding & turning out of horses get it in writing that you are paid by services done toward your board bill reduction...that clears her to handle {or not} the privately owned horses on the premise. It also clears her for workers compensation in case of mishap, although that part you keep quiet about from the BO..he should know this anyhow but :?.
Best of luck to mom. Worse case, move your horse to another facility you can afford to not have to work off board at...
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