Reschooling livery eventer is hard to pin down should I be worried

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Twinkley Lights

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As some may know I've recently had a nightmare experience when I was sold a rearer as a horse suitable for a rusty rider wanting to resume RC activities.

The horse is beautiful and t's not his fault at all and I want to do the best for him not just pass him on without being really clear about his issues and also trying to resolve them.

After a day of trama and multiple rearing episodes a local eventer loaded him for us and we took him to his yard. The plan is that he will review and reschool the lad wth a vew that he could then go to an experenced competition home with full disclosure. He is charging £165 per week for this which seems fair.

The horse has been with him 3 weeks last Tuesday and initial updates were qute positive in that he had managed to ride him through the rearing and had him popping jumps etc. We agreed that I would come to see him ridden and then agree next steps. That was 2 weeks ago , I called last week but he was away and to be fair I have some issues last week too. I have called 8 times this week - no answer or reply and I've texted too only to be put off by text. I've now texed and said I'm coming up today and what time is best - no reply.

Perhaps I'm too paranoid given the situation around the misdescription at purchase but all sorts of things are going through my head that the horse is injured etc. I know he must be really busy as a professional eventer but he seems to be very dismissive and I can't think of a good reason why.

Am I overreacting? What would you suggest?
 
I'm in exactly the same boat as you Shivvy but with totally different experience. Mine arrived from the dealer and couldn't be mounted as kicked out violently (had passed 5 stage week before). Napped like anything and chucked off a really experienced professional.

The girl I sent her to has been in constant contact, facebooks me with pics at least twice a week and has already taken her to a hunter trial and dressage competition to ensure that she is safe for me (had her 5 weeks)

Communication is part of their job so I would get a bitty tougher if I were you.
 
Some professionals are a bit of a law unto themselves and are better with horses than with people and organization. I wouldn't worry yet.
 
Shivvy said:
scarymare said:
Mine arrived from the dealer and couldn't be mounted as kicked out violently (had passed 5 stage week before). Napped like anything and chucked off a really experienced professional.

QUOTE]

Sorry to hear this scarymare, sounds very similar as he was good for saddle fitting but nothing else after.
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Indeed however judging from this morning's FB, mine may be plotting to keep my mare....LOL you just can't win can you? Good win for the mare though I would say.
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I wouldnt be overly worried.

For all you know mum/gran may have just died, and there are loads of things that need sorting out.

If he's local I would probably just nip down. Assuming thats he pretty reputable at that kind of price!
 
I would go and visit the horse, simply just go, you know where he is :)
But try not to jump to conclusions, I know it isn't great, not calling back and so on, but there might either be a valid reason, or less valid but equally common and to some extent understandable, like feeling hassled and being a bit grumpy ;) :)
It's not a good excuse, I know, but I had a schooling livery a while ago and after 15th inane text in 3 days, saying (again) ''do you like her, though?'' I stopped replying - now I know you are not doing such a thing, but that ''incident'' at the time has rubbed off on my other liveries, too :o I simply switched off my phone for a couple of days.
 
Thanks Martlin and others I promise I wasn't texting him to ask if he thought my boy was a pretty colour or looked cute in his headcollar (because I already know he is and he does).:)

He has now texted back and we have arranged for 2pm tomorrow so I'm happier and feel easier in my mind.

I do know he will be busy and stressed in his job but a simple text is really quick ... especially when money changes hands. Also suspect it's a man / woman difference re: what qualifies as communication.
 
Any good trainer should be fine with you seeing your horse at any time (within reason of course) so if it were me I'd be annoyed and just a bit suspicious in your situation.
Leave a message to say what time you'll be there and just go. Assess his condition, and if there is anyone there insist on seeing evidence of the work that is supposed to have been done, you are entitled to that as a paying customer.
 
LittleBlackMule said:
Any good trainer should be fine with you seeing your horse at any time (within reason of course) so if it were me I'd be annoyed and just a bit suspicious in your situation.
Leave a message to say what time you'll be there and just go. Assess his condition, and if there is anyone there insist on seeing evidence of the work that is supposed to have been done, you are entitled to that as a paying customer.
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I'm going tomorrow at 10am. I've said if he's out then sort a groom to show me my horse -dont care what he says. We did speak today and he said the lad was doing fine ready to be advertised etc but then didn't get back in touch. I just think I'm not suited to deal with someone like that at the moment as I've had so much upset through this situation and I just want reliability and communication.
 
I'd have just gone.
I had a mare on sales/training livery .... couldn't get hold of the trainer, so turned up. Stood in middle of yard (wasn't going to let myself into barns obviously!) until a groom found me ... Groom panicked and said I shouldn't be there unannounced, but I simply stood my ground until I was taken to the mare. Once the groom was reassured that I was the owner (and actually, I was reassured they didn't just take me to a horse on demand tbh), he relaxed and chatted about the horse and I felt a lot better about everything + also found out at what time my mare was scheduled for her exercise the next day and turned up to watch and trainer was delighted to see me and chatty and everything was lovely ... Just, my phone calls never got returned lol!
 
MissTyc said:
I'd have just gone.
I had a mare on sales/training livery .... couldn't get hold of the trainer, so turned up. Stood in middle of yard (wasn't going to let myself into barns obviously!) until a groom found me ... Groom panicked and said I shouldn't be there unannounced, but I simply stood my ground until I was taken to the mare. Once the groom was reassured that I was the owner (and actually, I was reassured they didn't just take me to a horse on demand tbh), he relaxed and chatted about the horse and I felt a lot better about everything + also found out at what time my mare was scheduled for her exercise the next day and turned up to watch and trainer was delighted to see me and chatty and everything was lovely ... Just, my phone calls never got returned lol!
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Thanks. I know it's normal that they don't phone etc but it does make you worry. We have agreed 1pm :eek::eek: but I said if you cancel I will still be there. Now official stalker:)
 
The pro I shared the ride with on my 4* horse was a brilliant communicator with horses but crap with humans.....be they staff, vets, farriers, owners, trainers or whatever. Coming from a professonal services background, it took a while for us to get on the same wavelength as far as our communication went .......helped by an excellent head girl that compensated for his deficiencies! :D

It happens.....not ideal, but if he is doing the business as far as the horse goes then I would tolerate.
 
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