The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Update for me and Sonny

3K views 22 replies 11 participants last post by  Barbarosa 
#1 ·
The owner of Schulyer Creek Farm called and said she would be able to transfer Sonny to her stables on THURSDAY!!! WOAH!!!!! I CAN"T SLEEEEEEEEP
Sorry realllllly happy and excited!!!!!

But I agree with my mom that we should leave on good terms with the BO...even though I'd LOVE to tell her my mind. She has afterall been fairly kind to us....letting us board there when she wasn't really going to board.

So thought I'd share the letter I wrote her because I'm bored and want something to do lol
"I would just like to express how thankful I am for everything you have done for me and Sonny.
First, thanks for being a wonderful instructor. I learned a whole lot from you and wouldn't be the rider I am today without you. Even if I was "boring" and perfered to keep my feet (or Sonny's feet as I should say) on the ground, and just do flat work. I've learned how to handle situations without going into panic mode...or at least not all the way =)
Second, thanks for letting me board Sonny at your facilities for the six months! We had a great time! I know you weren't wanting to board so we really appreciate what you've done for us.
DEBs Heavenly Acres will always be in my heart and I'll look back on the good times there and be able to recall the fun times I had.
Please keep in touch and let me know how everyone is. All of your horseswill have a special place in my heart, as will you"

Yeah, kinda nice...nicer than she deserves...but I know I'll get crap from her so I thought I'd butter her up as much as I can lol.

I am also writing letters to the 4 lesson girls just to say thanks and to keep in touch.

So, yeah...it's 12:30 and I'm still not really tired....darn the new BO...lol I blame her hehe...she's gotten me all excited.
But she's a REALLY nice person...she'll charge me $25 for an hour lesson...she does parelli work. Lots of clinics at her barn and so much more.
Also there is a pool there, and she said it's for anyone...if you get hot and sweaty just jump in...but no boots or spurs in the pool lol.

I'll take pictures and such on the last day. I made a check list of what has to be done before we leave, and I'll arrive at around 7 am to do those things so it's cool and I don't get all over heated.

Cookies, dinner, desert, and beverages for those that read hehe
 
See less See more
#3 ·
Congrats on your new place!

As far as the letter, don't you think it's a bit unfair since you don't seem to feel most of it? Making it all sunshine and daisies might be more offensive to her since your obviously leaving because you are not happy.

If it was as good as your letter states, you wouldn't be leaving.

Maybe thank her for allowing you to board there when she didn't normally take boarders - but don't go over the top like you have.
 
#4 ·
Solon,
The BO was a wonderful teacher and I have learned more in 1 month of riding with her than I did 3 months at another stables. She was a great instructor.
And she was really nice about letting us board even though she didn't want to take on a boarder.

I'm not trying to make it all "I love everything in the world" type thing, I was trying to be as sincere as I can. I know the BO will be really upset so I thought if I mentioned things that I was thankful for it would be easier on her.

The things went horrible about a month ago...but if you delete last month, things were pretty good.
I was always thinking of moving on...mainly because I want to try some parelli work and I can't because the BO wouldn't let me bring another trainer in.
 
#5 ·
I guess that makes sense, I'd only read about the stuff you didn't like.

I think you'd be doing her a favor if you mentioned why you are leaving though. Explain to her why having a specific trainer is important to you, explain the other things that have happened. It'll likely help the next boarders (if she takes any on).

And keep a copy of the letter!!! I don't know how small your area is but sometimes BO will get it in their minds to talk really bad stuff about boarders that leave and move to other facilities. Having proof of the letter you leave for her might be good in case you need it.
 
#6 ·
What do you mean, Solon?
I know she'll say some nasty things once I'm gone...she did when I didn't buy her horse and bought Sonny instead.

She's not really a boarding place and would just rather give lessons than board. She said she'd let us board, but hasn't said anything else about boarding other horses. She has had some horrible things with other boarders...horses ruining run-in-sheds, ruining a pasture, breaking such...that I don't think she was entirely thrilled about letting us board there...though she did and seemed okay with it. I worked my butt off at the stables doing things ....like cleaning up huge messes that the other kids made..so I'm done with it anyways.

I called the owner of SCF back and just confirmed that Thursday would be alright to transport him.

My mom is going to break the news to the BO....she said she thought the BO would give us less of a hard time if she talked to her. I agree.....the BO would give me a huge problem if I told her.

My mom thinks it would be best to mainly say we are leaving because I wanted a nice huge outdoor arena (which I do), some place with clinics (I do), and mention good things about the place like unlimited hay, etc. That way we aren't complaining about her stables.
I personally thought that we should let her know why I want to leave for real.....because I feel she's taking advantage of me, Sonny should be getting better care, I'm sick and tired of getting yelled at for no reason of mine, tired of cleaning up a mess that isn't mine, etc....but my mom said no, so whatever. My mom says that the BO knows what she was doing wrong...so Im not going to argue with her lol.
 
#10 ·
UPDATE:
I returned the call for the BO of SCF. She said she'd be able to pick up Sonny before the 24th because she was free all week long. So I told her that picking him up on the 24th would work best for me because I didn't have to work that day, and I'd let my BO know that we are leaving on Wednesday and that would give us enough time to get our things out.
I have yet to hear back from her to confirm that that would be alright. if I don't hear back from her by when I get out of work tonight, I'll call her house. Because I need to know by tonight since I'd need to go to the stables tomorrow morning to get my stuff.
So I'll give another update when I know when she's picking him up

Question: Should I give him food Thursday morning before he gets transported? What about grain? I'm going to use a handful of grain to get him to load easier cause I'm not sure how he'll load
 
#11 ·
He'll probably load just fine, walk into the trailer like there is nothing to even think about, he'll probably follow you right on. If he doesnt, don't pull him, let him back out and then go from there. Your new BO will know how to load him.

You can feed him like you normally would. I'm so happy for you getting a new place! I'm with Solon on keeping a copy of your letter, just in case you ever need to refer back to it. Mouths can run in small towns...

I'm really excited for you! One teeny peice of advice if I may... Don't get completely sucked into the parelli stuff. I mean, it's good for some things but keep your mind open becuase some of the things... just arent helpful... I know you are already a parrelli fan so I'm glad you found a barn that is into the same types of training as you are. Just keep an open mind, although you seem to be pretty well grounded anyway.

Good luck to you and don't let your old BO put you on any guilt trips or make you feel bad at all.....
 
#12 ·
Update:
Sonny will be moved Thursday morning (around 10am ish). I will take pictures and other stuff on that day. My mom wrote a letter to the BO just explaining that we were moving Sonny..so she's hoping that she won't have to explain to her lol.
So I'll let everyone know how the BO takes it

And I'm not too into the Parelli stuff...I want to know a little about all sorts of riding....and since Sonny is trained in parelli I thought I should know about it hehe
 
#13 ·
Sorry i'm getting into this so late, but
CONGRATS! I know what it's like to be at a place that you just don't enjoy anymore, and the joys and thrills of moving to a new barn. If you can, i would have someone neutral load Sonny. Thats what we did for Gem and Vega. Gem backed out once, but then loaded fine. I'm sure it would have been much worse if Tom or I did it. But see what works for you :)

Definitely take lots of pics and videos (videos if you can) of the whole thing. I wasn't able to get any pictures of two appaloosa butts in a trailer :(

Let us know how things go!
 
#14 ·
I know it's supposed to be raining tomorrow morning when we get them loaded so I'm not sure if I"ll be able to take pictures.
I'm definately not going to help load unless Sonny will not listen to the new BO....and in that case I'll just bribe him in with a handful of grain...works everytime so far with getting him into something he's not sure about lol.

Well we are just about to leave to go get my stuff from the stables....and we will tell the BO then. Wish us luck!
I am going to tell the lesson girls to keep an ear out if she starts talking behind my back...not because I really care, but I want to know what she says lol...I'm sure she'll give me a ba reputation there...or try to. The 4 girls know why I'm leaving and they are considering leaving also
I'l llet ya know how it goes when I come back
 
#15 ·
i think it was the adult thing to do-dont burn bridges and always leave on a good note! even if it isnt 100% true-you did right =now you can go to your wonderful new barn starting out fresh knowing you did what was right or at least polite and respectful and -heres a thought-pick your battles-you would not have won with her so leaving is best. great happiness to you and your horse at the new place.
 
#16 ·
That is soooo exciting! Congrats!! :D I think its a nice thing you did writing the letter. Show pictures of the new barn soon!

And a pool! That's fantastic! :P
 
#17 ·
UPDATE:
Alright...she was NOT out so we went to the house and left the note with her husband...and told him that we were moving Sonny. As I said to my mom, her husband wouldn't care...he just said "oh, alright" and closed the door (yeah he is sooo friendly :roll: ) lol.
Anyways I have not yet left her the note...I will leave it tomorrow before I leave
So by now I'm sure, she has read the letter and knows we are leaving.
I asked the two girls that were there (whom I took lessons with) to do a sight check on Sonny to make sure he's alright, and make sure he has water...incase the BO is so mad she doesn't give him water.

I'll be up tomorrow at 8 am to clean the pasture and such. All my belongings are gone from the barn...took them this morning. They will be at the new barn tomorrow.
I will take pictures and videos as long as it isn't pouring out
 
#18 ·
UPDATE:

Well surprise, surprise...the BO was NOT as upset as I thought she'd be. She seemed a little POed, but not much. We didn't tell her that we were leaving because she was treating me like crap, we told her that she kept saying she'd sell the place so we didn't want to wait till the last minute and move. But she said that she'd never sell the place, and would be alright with me staying lol. You could tell she was trying to convince me not to move.
Then she asked where I was moving him to, and we told her, and she seemed fine with it. She seemed alright...a little upset but definately not to the extent that we thought.

As for loading...he did better than I thought. He followed me on and the first try to get his back feet on he didn't place his foot on the right place and then couldn't lift himself up...so then he got nervous and backed out. Again we tried and he did fine. I learned how to load a horse yay!!!!!

The drive was fairly short, and though I was panicing the whole time on whether or not he was fine....he was lol
He unloaded fine, but was VERY flighty at first. He kept pacing and just realllly pushy. He spooked at the goat...and I had to turn him in circles a couple times to stop him from getting too pushy.

I let him go in the field...a nice acre field...and he trotted off. but OMG I'm sooo mad at myself...here I was watching him prance and canter around like a stud and I didn't record it! I'll never forgive myself!
But after a while he calmed down and munched on grass. I sat on a tire in the pasture (he's in the obstical course pasture...really happy about that now he can get used to all the weird objects lol) and he'd occasionally come over to me and let me pet him.

I am really happy that I moved him. SCF seems like a GREAT place and he seems realllllllly happy there. The other horses are great, and the BO is wonderful. I feel that I made the right decision in moving him.

But on the downside the old BO made me feel so bad about leaving. We were considered kinda close...I'd help around the stables...and so on. She said "it felt like I had gained a daughter...and now your leaving"......I felt bad, but I couldn't tell if she was being sincere about it, or just saying that to get me to reconsider. But I still felt kinda bad. But I guess it was time anyways.

Pictures will come soon...I'm having difficulties with my laptop again so I'm on my dads computer.

I'll post again once my laptop behaves and I can upload the pictures
 
#20 ·
Wow, now I feel bad....
I am talking to my barn friend (or old barn friend since I moved) and she said that the old BO was almost in tears after a left. I don't know why. I mean I left her the letter in the box (the one on page 1) and then my mom wrote wrote both her and her hubby a note saying that we were moving Sonny on the 24th...thanking her for all that she did for us...and letting her know what items we were leaving for her (my manure fork, an extra parelli lead and rope, my grain bucket hanging thing lol, and others)...but evidently she took that as a "goodbye I never want to see you again" type thing.
Sure I am still REALLY upset that she treated me that way, but I do appreciate all the things she has done for me.
We told her that our friendship still remained and if she needed any help around the stables that I'd be happy to come up and work with some of the horses (free of charge)....(did not tell her the following...) but I didn't want Sonny in her pasture because I believe he should be taken care of better.

And she's sooo in debt I was worried that she'd have to declare bankruptcy....we didn't tell her that either, but yeah lol

Pictures still coming......stupid computer!
 
#21 ·
Maybe it upset her that you didn't talk to her in person. She might have thought if you were that close you would have gone to her about the problems.

That is really sad. It sounds like the BO really did like you.
 
#22 ·
well mainly we didn't go directly to her was because
1) we thought she'd be TOTALLY POed and was afraid that she'd get all upset and start an arguement
2) she wasn't out anyways for us to tell her

I know she knows how poorly she's been treating her clients, and her bad attitude was gone the next day...
My mom didn't think it was "my place" to tell her that she was actling like a....well you get the idea. Though, personally, I think I had every right to...but hey, I live with my mom...can't get her all upset on me.

I am entirely happy that I did move, I feel it's a better place for him than that small pasture he was in.

PICTURES (no I am not uploading all tonight...just a few to tide you all over...it's almost 2 am and I got to wake up early to see Sonny)








I will upload the rest sometime tomorrow......probably in the Photo section. ENjoy
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top