So annoyed! Lied to about horse?

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Nicole-Louise

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Aplogies if this sounds like a rant.. it partially is!

Anyhow, I was contacted by a woman who wanted me to work with her horse, possibly lightly back and mouth him. And she offered to pay for everything and pay me £150 for doing it. It seemed like a good idea at the time.

She explained to me that he was a quiet, approx 14hh coloured, 3 year old gypsy cob - which is true. She also said that he's had people sit on him, and he's been handled.

As soon as he came, he refused to even get off the box. And then she decides to tell me he's barely halter broken, won't pick up his legs, oh and that for the past 6 months he's been shoved in a field with a load of cattle and that it's best if I isolate him because he may have ringworm.. Oh and he's for sale and that it would help if I tried to find someone who wants him -.-

Not to mention, I'm now stuck with another 3 year old, who isn't even mine, that I'm stuck paying rent, feed and bedding for which she agreed to pay.

He's so nervous, it took me 10 minutes to even get close enough to where he wouldn't run around the stable. Although, I've been working my backside off today handling him for hours. I've had a hose over him, had a rug on him, brushed him, managed to pick up his legs, walk him and muck out with him in the stable. Not bad for a few hours, but still not the point.

Have no clue what to do. I'm not wasting my time or efforts to sort out a horse that isn't even mine when I have my own 3 year old I could be working on.

Any advice? I'm refusing to do anymore work unless she bucks up on her part..
 
Tell her the £150 only covers him till x day, then she either pays more or takes it back. Or offer her its current value, do the work with it & sell on for your own benefit.
 
This happened to me I added up all the costs and said you either pay up or I am selling him to make up for the costs, I called some solicitors and even though I didn't write up a contract I was in the right and was aloud to do so.
 
As above, and keep the 150 pounds for feed hay bedding, transport charge and for time already spent. If she wants you to continue working with him, give her two days to send a delivery of hay feed and bedding for him (paid by her). Also inform both YO and ponys owner that you'll no longer be paying livery for him after this week. Get payment for your breaking services etc up front. If she doesn't agree (and put her money where her mouth is) then take him back.
 
You were warned the other day to make sure you charged enough and had a clear contract in place, the fact that she has lied about him being handled does not help but you either need to get on with it pdq then send back a handled pony or refuse to do it and take it back now before you get further involved.
 
be positive said:
You were warned the other day to make sure you charged enough and had a clear contract in place, the fact that she has lied about him being handled does not help but you either need to get on with it pdq then send back a handled pony or refuse to do it and take it back now before you get further involved.
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It's not the money I'm bothered about. I couldn't care less about being paid, I enjoy it for the experience. It's the fact that I was lied to, she painted a perfect picture, and instead I have an unhandled, 3 year old. I have a contract also. But doesn't seem like she's listening.

Will contact her again. Either she pays upfront, collects pony, or I continue working and sell him for unpaid costs acquired.
 
Be very careful if you plan on selling him for accrued costs if she doesn't pay. It's not straightforward for registered businesses, I think contract or not you would struggle.
 
Nicole-Louise said:
It's not the money I'm bothered about. I couldn't care less about being paid, I enjoy it for the experience. It's the fact that I was lied to, she painted a perfect picture, and instead I have an unhandled, 3 year old. I have a contract also. But doesn't seem like she's listening.

Will contact her again. Either she pays upfront, collects pony, or I continue working and sell him for unpaid costs acquired.
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Sell, him....... I don't think you can do that! You are being very naive, as for telling YO you won't be paying, I think you will be shown the yard gate, you and your horses!
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=542950
 
Speak to some solicitors when I had this problem legally I could sell the horse to cover the outstanding costs. I didn't cause it was far too much hassel but she wanted the horse back after a paid to get him chopped ect.
 
I'd just deliver the pony back and mark it up as a lesson learnt, what a mess.

Might be worth meeting owner and potential new charges first in future before you take them on :)
 
Luckily, the YO is a friend of mine, and offered him a place for free. Still not the point, now having to split myself between 2 yards to see to my own.

Will be contacting her shortly, if she doesn't like what I say, then he needs to go back or sent elsewhere to someone willing to put up with it.
 
Did you big yourself up to the owner and swank about your skills?

The reason I ask is, the way she happily handed the pony over to you with such great confidence? Have you led her to believe that you'd have her pony backed, broken, schooled and back on the lorry for home in just a few days?

Maybe you need to rethink exactly what was said between you.;)
 
Also, she mentioned that whenever he needs the farrier, to contact her and she will cover costs.. but I'm wondering whether she isn't trusting me that I will get the work done, and therefore paying after?

Just a huge mess that needs a specific direction..
 
Elsbells said:
Did you big yourself up to the owner and swank about your skills?

The reason I ask is, the way she happily handed the pony over to you with such great confidence? Have you led her to believe that you'd have her pony backed, broken, schooled and back on the lorry for home in just a few days?

Maybe you need to rethink exactly what was said between you.;)
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Not at all. I even offered for her to stay and watch me work with him and my own to see before she decides. Even offered for her to get involved.

Nope, indeed not, like I told her, I don't rush so it could be a few weeks, and she agreed. Simply said ''take as long or short as you think is necessary''... I clearly stated that it's not going to be a quick job and that each horse works well over different periods of time.

Stated what I do with breaking in and what I've done with my own, and offered her to watch and decide after..
 
People for whom cheapness is the overwhelming deciding factor in any area of life have no interest in the quality of work done, and are usually incredibly difficult to work with. Why would the owner care if it takes you months to back this horse if its not going to cost her anything more than having it a week somewhere else would cost!
 
Nicole-Louise said:
t could be a few weeks, and she agreed. Simply said ''take as long or short as you think is necessary''...
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No wonder she is not bothered how long as you have agreed to do it for a fixed price, please be aware that you have effectively taken on the role of a professional breaker, no matter that your price is ridiculous.
She is taking advantage, you were warned in your first post, but went ahead anyway.
Get it back to her and learn the lessen.
PS did you get the £150 when the horse was delivered? If it were my yard I would be furious if it also turns out to have ringworm
 
Nicole-Louise said:
Luckily, the YO is a friend of mine, and offered him a place for free. Still not the point, now having to split myself between 2 yards to see to my own.

Will be contacting her shortly, if she doesn't like what I say, then he needs to go back or sent elsewhere to someone willing to put up with it.
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So, she is paying for feed and bedding, your YO offered free place on the yard...? So even if he had been tamer he would have still been at the different to your horse anyway, wouldn't he?

I think you're over reacting a bit. Lots of horses I've had to break have been nightmares initially. Usually people pay by the week, so it takes as long as it takes.. You've kind of shot yourself in the foot by doing a set fee. You could tell her it will take longer and will probably work out double the cost - does she want to go ahead... Next time, if charging a set fee, go and check out how much work needs doing...
 
Miss L Toe said:
No wonder she is not bothered how long as you have agreed to do it for a fixed price, please be aware that you have effectively taken on the role of a professional breaker, no matter that your price is ridiculous.
She is taking advantage, you were warned in your first post, but went ahead anyway.
Get it back to her and learn the lessen.
PS did you get the £150 when the horse was delivered? If it were my yard I would be furious if it also turns out to have ringworm
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She told me last minute that it possibly may have and then left. I never agreed on a fixed price, I simply told her x amount a week, and that £150 adds up to x amount. She seemed okay about it, however, if it turns out that she's looking for a quick way out and to sell on, I'm not willing to do so.
 
Honey08 said:
So, she is paying for feed and bedding, your YO offered free place on the yard...? So even if he had been tamer he would have still been at the different to your horse anyway, wouldn't he?

I think you're over reacting a bit. Lots of horses I've had to break have been nightmares initially. Usually people pay by the week, so it takes as long as it takes.. You've kind of shot yourself in the foot by doing a set fee. You could tell her it will take longer and will probably work out double the cost - does she want to go ahead... Next time, if charging a set fee, go and check out how much work needs doing...
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Nope, I had to move him elsewhere because the yard he was at, refused him. And it's not going to be free for long, just a few days, until I settle an agreement out with her (once again), then afterwards it's back to all costs. Even if he had been tamer, he would have been at the same yard as my own.

It's not that he's a nghtmare, he's a real sweet lad, just the fact I hate being lied to then having it all dumped on me at once before she buggars off. I haven't done a set fee lol, I've said this covers x amount of time. And she agreed. No set amount, just setting price by weeks. This is only covering 2 weeks..
 
If you want to break/school on horses for people, prepare to be lied to!

One of the reasons I got a 'proper' job and only do my own horses now.

People either genuinely do not see how badly behaved their horses are through their rose-tinted glasses or they think you are stupid enough to fall for the 'he's never done that before...' line.

If money isn't a consideration for you, I'm not sure what you are that upset about tbh.
Be upfront with the lady, tell her if needs more work than expected and let her know the costs- or she can pick it up within 24hrs.

Next time, ask a few more questions BEFORE the horse is delivered and if when it arrives, you get the feeling something isn't right, ask the owner there and then, don't wait for her to drive off!

Or it may be that the horse isn't that bad, but has reverted a bit in it's behaviour in a new yard with an unknown handler and it will take a few days for it to settle and it's normal behaviour to return.
 
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