Vent: poaching a rider

[Come Shine]

I have had a part-boarder on my mare for over a year. She pays half the board plus a bit ($180 a month). In return, she picks the days she rides and I work around her schedule. She is welcome to ride as much as she can and I accommodate that.

I went out to the barn the other night and my part-boarder was in the process of untacking another horse. I was really surprised because no one had mentioned anything to me about her riding this other horse. This is a horse that the owner has been trying to find a rider for, for several years. She has had a few people out unsuccessfully.

So I get an e-mail today from my part-boarder saying she is no longer going to pb my mare because she has been offered the other horse for FREE.

Niiiiiicccceee. You can't find your own rider, so you poach mine.

[Thomas_1]

and so?

[bort84]

Yeeeah, I have to admit, though it may seem a bit shady to you, I would probably do the same in the part lease situation. Offer me another horse to ride for free when money is tight, and unless there is a contract, well, the economy is rough right now. I'd probably drop the part lease too. Actually, for me, I'd probably ride the free one too, haha. But if she's someone that's just doing it for fun and doesn't have a lot of time, it makes sense to me.

Sure, it sucks for you, but can you really blame her? Maybe next time you can write up a contract that requires them to give you more notice before dropping the lease.

[Come Shine]

I don't know. Just venting a bit.

I really like this part-boarder and the owner of the other horse, and it just strikes me as a bit wrong the way this happened. She was talking a month ago about showing my mare this summer in the dressage ring and I even got my membership so she could do so.

I guess that's the horse biz though right? In the big world, this is pretty small potatoes.

[bort84]

I really like this part-boarder and the owner of the other horse, and it just strikes me as a bit wrong the way this happened. She was talking a month ago about showing my mare this summer in the dressage ring and I even got my membership so she could do so.


Yeah, that is a little bit lame. I'm guessing she could have handled it better, which is why you feel "poached." Well, perhaps you will find an even more likeable person to share board and show = )

[RockinHorse]

You can only poach someone who is willing to be poached.

[Calhoun]

It was handled wrong, she should have told you in person, not an email. Everyone is cutting back, you should not be surprised.

If this situation happened to me, I would approach the gal and ask if there is anything you should know about your mare. Maybe there is something wrong and she is afraid to tell you. Also, the new free horse might not work out and she'll come back asking to part lease your mare again. Be professional and thank her for her business.

[jeta]

I think anytime our world seems to be working just fine and something comes around to change it, we can feel a bit put out.....Yes, now if you want someone to part lease your horse you will have to put some effort into it to find someone acceptable....If she treated your horse well, count your blessings for the time your arrangement worked for both of you....

Honestly, it sounds like she responded to an offer that was presented to her...I really have a hard time believing the owner of the other horse she was offered was trying to find a way to screw you.....

Life changes.....Life marches on.....

Good luck to you.

[kellyb]

I'm sorry it happened to you but I don't think it's the worst thing ever. In this economy you don't know if your ex-PB had to take a pay cut or isn't making as much on commissions this year. Riding for free vs. $180 per month is a pretty big difference. Try not to take it personally, a lot of people are hurting financially.

[Ambrey]

alternate scenario- the PB was having money problems. She heard through the grapevine that this other owner was looking for a rider, and approached her. The other owner was so desperate for someone to help her keep her horse in work that she said "if I find the right person, there would be no charge."

Part boarder comes to meet the horse and gets along fabulously- what would you have the owner and part boarder do? Not go with an arrangement that benefits them both (and saves PB $180/month) because of you? I think that's a lot to expect.

I'm guessing that your horse/situation is nicer than the other, but the PB is willing to take the step down to save the money. That's just reality in this environment.

[Come Shine]

She did treat my horse well and rode her well, too. She will definitely be hard to replace.

I do understand about economic cut backs and really can't blame her for turning down a free horse.

I guess it just hurts that she was offered the other horse in the first place because the owner knew how much this part-boarder meant to me - both financially and for her ability with my horse. I just wish that she would have found another rider. I don't think she was intentionally out to get me, it just happened.

ETA: Reality sucks sometimes. :)

[Ambrey]

ETA: Reality sucks sometimes. :)

You got that right :yes::no:

I'm sorry about your part leaser. I have a part leaser right now, and they ARE hard to find, and one who is good with your horse is definitely a treasure.

[2DogsFarm]

You're better off thinking "it just happened" than stewing over it & being resentful. Especially if you will have to see & ride with your former PB and the other owner.

If you really need the $$ then perhaps post a notice at the barn (if that is allowed) saying you are looking for a new PB.
If you can't post at the barn, the local tack or feedstore may be another place to look for candidates.

[BuddyRoo]

I can totally understand your disappointment.

I agree...could've been handled a little differently and with some notice so you could start looking for another rider.

But it's hard to beat free.

[Somantu]

That sucks.
I do think you deserve more than just an e-mail, not to mention fair warning.

I have always had great part-boarders who would never be as opportunistic as yours. But shit happens, so make sure the next part-boarder signs an agreement to give ample notice.

Good luck!

[War Admiral]

Well, that's the downside of not having it in writing.

FWIW, I've been on the opposite side of that scenario - paid half expenses, ALL of shoeing, got horsie going, forked over a bunch of cash for all the memberships, took a few lessons to sharpen up, got ready to show - and the owner sold the horse with no notice to me at all. The only reason I knew about it was b/c I happened to arrive at the barn when the new owners were loading it up.

You just sigh and deal.

Sorry it happened though!

[5]

Offer your horse for free same terms.

[Trevelyan96]

I know how badly you must feel, but if you love the rider and she's great for your horse, and money isn't really a huge factor, I'd ask her if she'd still like to ride your horse occasionally while you look for another rider. She most likely sent you an email simply because she felt really bad and just didn't know of an easy way to tell you. Don't burn bridges of resentment, especially if you really do like the rider and the other owner. It may be that the other owner offered her the ride for free thinking she would continue to ride your horse, but the rider simply decided that it was better for her financially to give up the part lease.

Its tough to be an owner desperately looking for a rider. People think there are horseless riders grouwing on trees out there, but the truth is the good ones have owners throwing horses at them, and sometimes they are forced make tough decisions about what will suit their needs the best at the time.

[Come Shine]

FWIW, I've been on the opposite side of that scenario - paid half expenses, ALL of shoeing, got horsie going, forked over a bunch of cash for all the memberships, took a few lessons to sharpen up, got ready to show - and the owner sold the horse with no notice to me at all. The only reason I knew about it was b/c I happened to arrive at the barn when the new owners were loading it up.

I've been on that side of it, too. A little earlier than the loading up stage but it still wasn't great.

Thanks for the understanding. It's not the e-mail I got, I'm fine with the amount of notice, and I'm not upset with the part-boarder. I can totally understand her reasons for going with the other horse.

I am simply miffed with the person who 'stole' my pber. I just think it was a bit underhanded to offer her horse without mentioning anything to me, especially since we were supposed to be friends. Hey, a heads up - your pber mentioned that money is tight, I would be happy to let her ride my horse for free... type of thing would have been nice.

As for offering my horse for free, I have other horses part-boarded and it would not be fair to offer one for free and make others pay. Everyone is having money issues these days.

In the end, in the big scheme of things, I wish both my old pber and her new horse all the best. However, I think I'll keep a hand on my DH around the owner, just in case. ;)

[saultgirl]

I have had a part-boarder on my mare for over a year. She pays half the board plus a bit ($180 a month). In return, she picks the days she rides and I work around her schedule. She is welcome to ride as much as she can and I accommodate that.

I went out to the barn the other night and my part-boarder was in the process of untacking another horse. I was really surprised because no one had mentioned anything to me about her riding this other horse. This is a horse that the owner has been trying to find a rider for, for several years. She has had a few people out unsuccessfully.

So I get an e-mail today from my part-boarder saying she is no longer going to pb my mare because she has been offered the other horse for FREE.

Niiiiiicccceee. You can't find your own rider, so you poach mine.

There must be something else going on if you feel like this is something the other horse owner is "doing to you".

[Come Shine]

Nah, I don't think that the owner is out to get me. It's just the way things worked out. Sometimes it just sucks to be me. :)

[goeslikestink]

She did treat my horse well and rode her well, too. She will definitely be hard to replace.

I do understand about economic cut backs and really can't blame her for turning down a free horse.

I guess it just hurts that she was offered the other horse in the first place because the owner knew how much this part-boarder meant to me - both financially and for her ability with my horse. I just wish that she would have found another rider. I don't think she was intentionally out to get me, it just happened.

ETA: Reality sucks sometimes. :)

and-- life is to short move on pass say hello be polite and ride your horse yourself
you have entry fees paid for in dressage - so get on with it and do

[Come Shine]

and-- life is to short move on pass say hello be polite and ride your horse yourself
you have entry fees paid for in dressage - so get on with it and do

Absolutely! :)