might be goodbye

Well needless to say I am very confused right now. The place I am at right now I was 'given' my mare, well right now she does not feel like mine and the lady is changing her rules. I free board in exchange for work there, we agreed on cleaning 7 pens 4 times a month (once a week which I do ) and riding/working whoever she wants and feeding whenever needed. Well she lately has been freaking out on me about not being there enough and neglecting her when I am there atleast 2 times a week once for riding and once for cleaning(seperate days as my back can only take so much). On top of my back I have been stuck watching my dog which has a broken leg and needs 24hr watching so I can't go out more then 2 times a week without being yelled at by my parents. Also she has yet to get me the contracts for ownership and board and rides jubee whenever she feels necessary and untrains my barrel work all the time. Needless to say I am about fed up she has told me numerous times that theres another person who wants her and blah blah blah so I am now most likely searching for a new horse and either going back to my old house (have our own pens or boarding at my old barn :/

Have her to pull out ownership papers. If she doesn't she looses you as a worker. I have found to only take people for face value. Just my opinion and experience.
Posted via Mobile Device

Well see she was supposed to write up an ownership agreement and work agreement type contract but even after pushing her she alway came up with excuses. Now me being only 16 I am still learning and this shows me why you ALWAYS get it in writing, lesson learned.

Just tell them to do it that moment even if it's in pen. Otherwise I would leave. She could be mooching work from you. It hs personally happened to me. ( different situation though. Still got mooched though!)
Posted via Mobile Device

No she isn't mooching work I do exactly what I agreed to 7 pens once a week and occasionally I do hers 2-3 times if im upto it but she has been trying. Now I have asked her about it and she literally has every excuse so I think at this point it would be best to leave but I am afraid of harsh feelings since I will be going back to my old ranch.

Um, free horse and board? I'd be there every day of the week. That is EXTREMELY generous.

That would be a lot of time and work you wasted for her to just someday sell the horse, or decide she doesn't want you to own her. If I was you I would just tell her that you need the ownership papers or else she's going to have to find a new worker...

Yes, you always get everything in writing BEFORE you start. That's with everything, not just with horses.

I understand that you only had to be there 1-2 times a week, but that really isn't that much for free board. I worked off my board when I was a kid. I was at the barn everyday, literally. I changed school buses so I would be dropped off at the barn and I took care of 20+ horses, usually the BO would help. I wouldn't just do basic barn chores either. I would help mow, paint jumps, fencing, help with the garden. Anything that needed to be done. I'm sure the work I did exceeded my board, but I enjoyed my time there. I think you need to realize that you have it really good considering the small amount of work you do for her.

I agree with some of the others, she's being very generous letting you have free board for only working 2 days a week. Maybe try to step it up some and help out a little more, she's probably losing money on keeping your horse there for free.

If you have your own place to keep horses at home why not try to get ownership papers and move the horse to your place?!?

I think she's getting the short end of the stick here she gave you a horse and she's taking care of it 5 days out of the week and you only have 2 days?!?!

I understand that she is being generous, I completely get that but it is the fact that at the moment I have some other things I am having to take care of ( broken legged dog and parents who wont watch him, have to go get my back rechecked as it isn't any better and I am still having extreme pains if I do to much and on and off sick) now I am not making excuse I do what I can however I am only 16 and can only go when permitted by parents which lately is only 2 times a week. Also I have let her know why I am not around as much in fact she knows why since her car is the one my dog hit. My biggest thing here is that she is changing everything on me and not talking to me about it instead her daughter (my trainer) and I still have no contracts that she kept telling me she would get me and now I have no clue what she expects me to do. I was supposed to help her start a couple horses but everytime I ask her who she wants me to ride or if she wants to start them she blows me off and there are only 10 pens and the other 3 are their neices assigned pens but I wash horses and stay and feed whenever I can she just won't physically confront me anymore she only has once but texts me and tells me she's going to give jubee to these other people quite alot.