Have you ever had your trainer just quit teaching???

[kdg]

OK I have been with my trainer for 4 years. He decided he was fed up with the lessons and sold his school horses and quit teaching. He said he was tired of people not showing up for scheduled lessons and it was no longer worth his time, and quit the business. He was awesome and charged much less than the other trainers, but our students were very competitive at the local and A rated shows, but since people were not respecting him by cancelling sheduled lessons he just turned the towel in. He said he loved the lessons and the showing, but it was no longer feasable for him to continue because he was not making a profit. How can he do this to his students?? This is not fair.he was letting us show his horses without us having to pay a lease, which is very nice,,, but now we are forced to have to BUY our own horse to show- the other local barns have a policy that you must lease a horse in order to go to the shows... That is not fair. We can't afford to pay $30,000 for a nice horse to do the local circuit, which is what it costs around here for a decent 2'6-3'0 horse, to lease a horse is around $10,000 for a good local horse for JUST 1 YEAR!! For a horse to go to the A shows and win is way much more. How can a trainer just walk out on his students??? Has anyone ever experienced this before??? I think it is his obligation since he was in the business to accomadate us. He just threw the towel in and walked out. He even sold all his school horses- no one wanted to pay a lease on the school horses, but we were paying for lessons and that should have accounted for something. The parents felt like they did not have to purchase a horse because most of them were showing the horse for basically free., just pay show expenses.( No lease fee- but they were still paying for lessons) He even sold all of his investment horses. Now we are having to go to other barns and pay twice for lessons and in order to show HAVE to lease the horse, I don't think this is fair. What do you guys think??? I think in my opinion if we were showing his school horses he should have given us the option to buy the horse, but he sold them for WAY much more than any of us could have afforded. Just NOT fair- now none of us have a horse to show this year. We just can't afford the cost of a horse, but we took a lesson each week which put money in his pocket.

[kdg]

OK I have been with my trainer for 4 years. He decided he was fed up with the lessons and sold his school horses and quit teaching. He said he was tired of people not showing up for scheduled lessons and it was no longer worth his time, and quit the business. He was awesome and charged much less than the other trainers, but our students were very competitive at the local and A rated shows, but since people were not respecting him by cancelling sheduled lessons he just turned the towel in. He said he loved the lessons and the showing, but it was no longer feasable for him to continue because he was not making a profit. How can he do this to his students?? This is not fair.he was letting us show his horses without us having to pay a lease, which is very nice,,, but now we are forced to have to BUY our own horse to show- the other local barns have a policy that you must lease a horse in order to go to the shows... That is not fair. We can't afford to pay $30,000 for a nice horse to do the local circuit, which is what it costs around here for a decent 2'6-3'0 horse, to lease a horse is around $10,000 for a good local horse for JUST 1 YEAR!! For a horse to go to the A shows and win is way much more. How can a trainer just walk out on his students??? Has anyone ever experienced this before??? I think it is his obligation since he was in the business to accomadate us. He just threw the towel in and walked out. He even sold all his school horses- no one wanted to pay a lease on the school horses, but we were paying for lessons and that should have accounted for something. The parents felt like they did not have to purchase a horse because most of them were showing the horse for basically free., just pay show expenses.( No lease fee- but they were still paying for lessons) He even sold all of his investment horses. Now we are having to go to other barns and pay twice for lessons and in order to show HAVE to lease the horse, I don't think this is fair. What do you guys think??? I think in my opinion if we were showing his school horses he should have given us the option to buy the horse, but he sold them for WAY much more than any of us could have afforded. Just NOT fair- now none of us have a horse to show this year. We just can't afford the cost of a horse, but we took a lesson each week which put money in his pocket.

[Lama]

Boo Hoo http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/sadsmile.gif

Good for him with an attitude like yours I am not suprised http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[AW]

You are joking, right?

[abbie4me]

This is a terrible thing for him to do, but he has to think of himself first. If he is becoming too stressed out or is losing money, obviously he cannot afford to keep doing this. Just think of all of the shows that you got to do on nice horses and all that you have learned from him. If you work for other barns they could let you ride their horses and even show them without a leasing fee if you work hard enough. I know not every barn does this but if you want to ride and show bad enough you will find a way. I think that it's sad that he's done this, but it is his choice. It's rotten that he's done this to all of his students, but he has to pay the bills too.

[radio talk Aefvue Farms RCA]

Sounds like your trainer went out of his way to help his students. He just got fed up with being treated poorly. Having horses that your students can show is both expensive and time consuming. The upkeep alone doesn't make it worth while to not get any $$$'s for them. Unfortunately my sympathies, from what you posted, are in your trainers favor, not yours... http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/yes.gif

[Darden]

KDG - Sounds like he did what he considered best for him. Sounds like it was LONG OVERDUE and I hope that he finds happiness in his new chosen profession.

No one can take advantage of you without your permission, but this guy was WAY WAY generous. YOu say that it's not fair?

Wake up, hon. Life's not fair.

As I said- best wishes to this man and I hope that you find some sort of situation that you can afford. But if not, you were given a wonderful opportunity for a period of time. And it's over.

[Tiffany01]

Get a horse.....who would wanna ride school horses??? OMG i got my hunter/Jumper for 2,000$

[Noodle]

Let me get this straight...you feel like it was your trainer's obligation to provide you with a horse to show for free? To accomadate all your wants and needs? To sell his horses dirt cheap to his students when he could get a better price just because they shelled out some money every week to take lessons? Or no...shelled out money SOMETIMES to take lessons, since you said people cancelled a lot. Good Lord. The guy probably just made the smartest decision of his life.

"I want, I want, I want." - Give me a break. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

Sorry to be a crotch about it, but I can't stand people who think the world revolves around them.

[Dusty]

First of all - if he sold everything, this must have taken some amount of time. Didn't you see it coming? Secondly - consider yourself extremely lucky that you were never charged a show-lease fee. Do you really think that taking one lesson a week entitles you to special treatment. Personally, as someone who teaches and has my own horses, a student like you wouldn't be of any great financial value to me.

Sorry if this sounds harsh, but it is a business pure and simple. If you just want to play and lesson once a week - why in God's name would you think you need a 30k horse! Since you are from IL, I would love to know at least the area this ex-trainer is from.

Also, if you are any sort of decent rider there should be a number of barns that would love for you to catchride or help show their horses. My suggestion - find a working student position.

[sanctuary]

Sounds to me like his students had it coming. As a trainer myself, I know how hard it is for students to afford lessons and shows. I also know how hard it is for me and my BO to make any kind of a living off of lessons alone. Those lesson horses that he lets you ride don't live for free. The money that you paid him didn't go straight into his pockets and make hima rich man. I'll bet that 50-60% of that went straight into caring for the horses at least! I know that I only get $13.5 from each student. Not alot considering the time and effort I have to put out. For example, I have 7 scheduled students for Thursday nights. Half the time I'm lucky if more than 3 show up. It's very hard to make ends meet this way. Thank God my hubby has a good paying job and can support us.

Quit your cryin. I don't think you're going to find a whole lot of sympathy on this board. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[mango1612]

not fair, not fair, not fair? How about it's not fair to him for giving up his time (and time=money...) to people who don't show up? It's most likely not a win-win situation for him to let everyone use horses of his, that he's spent time training, and caring for for a practically free lease. It's your trainer I have the most sympathy for, he made a ton of sacrifices, time and financial, for his students and it sounds like they didn't appreciate him. He was probably doing what he loved and hoping to make it.

I'm sorry you're out a trainer, and I hope you find someone else. Make sure you appreciate the work and sacrifices that your trainer makes, it's anything but easy.

p.s. send him to NC http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/winkgrin.gif

[Madame Butterfly]

kdg, he owes it to you...? Please tell me you're a teenager, because, with all due respect to your possible riding abilities, you have some major growing up to do! Please, when you do grow up, think about someone besides yourself.

[Sswor]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I know what trainer you're talking about. And he and his wife bought their own farm 2 or 3 years ago, right? Had bunches of school horses. Up and sold them all. They hold clinics and rated dressage shows as well as open h/j shows. They also show actively on the A circuit and sell horses as well as try to run a barn currently with 50% occupancy. These are extremely competant people who are well on their way toward making it big on the local scene. Obviously the decision was a difficult one, but cost effective in their eyes. This is what good businesses do. That's how they become successful.

No one is obligated to provide anyone else with a horse to show. THAT'S WHY PEOPLE BUY HORSES. Why buy a horse if you can have/lease one for free? You have to pay to play. Thats FAIR.

Everyone who mentioned making some money off teaching on a school horse is lucky. I own 4. Each week, I teach the first 5 lessons, PER HORSE (thats 20 lessons total), for free. It all goes straight to board. Shoer/vet NOT included. After all the upkeep on the school program, shoer/vet, tack, supplies, supplies, supplies, I might break even anually. I continue to teach the school simply because I love it. I certainly don't make money on it. I started and stayed in a riding school for 10 years, so I guess it's my way of giving back. Unfortunatly, if I had as much on my plate as this trainer you're talking about does, I'd have to quit the school as well. I have a mortgage to pay, bottom line. Fair? Yes, probably it is fair. Fair is paying for what you want to have.

You say all the other barns in the area make you pay large lease fees to have a horse to show. That's funny because my school has school horses you can take to shows for a small lease fee of $160 per show + show fees. I don't think that's very expensive for two days of showing. Too bad you didn't call around very far. After reading a post like this, I'd be wary of taking you as a student.

[firelizardfarm]

I am a trainer who "Just quit teaching". Let me tell you how it feels from the other side. You have a few students who seem like nice people who want to take lessons and supposedly have goals which they and you make a plan to accomplish. For a while they show up and pay, then "other" things start to make it harder and harder for their riding to progress. Have to go to the husbands softball game, can't forget the other family activities and oh yeah, the concerts, vacations and other hobbies. Now they aren't progressing so well, could it be that it is because one lesson every couple of weeks won't get you to the A show level? Meanwhile their very nice lesson horse, nice enough to win at the A level still expects to eats, get his supplements, and receive vet and farrier care. I guess I am supposed to subsidize their riding fantasies while they dream about showing and I pay for it. Sorry but 2-3 lessons a month doesn't cut it. I have to pay insurance in case the idiots fall off, feed, vet, farrier, oh, and by the way I enjoy the occasional meal and roof over my head. I'm just self indulgent I guess. Then we make it to a show which goes well and the client says," Oh by the way I am a little short, can you hold my check till next Thursday?" Sure how about if I don't feed your horse till then! It just gets old. The harder you try, the less people respect you, the more they demand. The only trainers around here are pretty much hard a**es because its the only way to stay in business.
One day I woke up, looked in my check book and in the mirror and knew what decision I had to make. Sorry clients but I, as in ME, need to be happy and financially solvent and with you as clients that was never going to happen. I did give ample notice to everyone, tried to help those who were looking for another situation find one and generally behave like an adult, even though I wanted to tell them all to just get the hell out of my barn and my life. It was the best decision I ever made, and I will never allow myself to be put in that type of situation again. If you have a trainer you like and respect, live up to your obligations, pay your bills, be serious about your goals, and thank god you haven't driven him or her into the mental hospital.

[Madame Butterfly]

Dear FireLizard, for your good intentions, you get the Purple Horseheart. The good die young, and the as--h--es live on to torment us!! Damn!

[Whiskey Lullaby]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Get a horse.....who would wanna ride school horses??? OMG i got my hunter/Jumper for 2,000$ <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm sorry, (but IMO) but that was uncalled for. Not everyone has the time or $ necessary to take care of their own horse. And school horses - some are angels to ride and there are always a few sour rides, point: they are all horses no matter what and riding is supposed to be fun! It is also the cost of the upkeep of the horse itself that is difficult for some people, like myself, to manage.

kdg: Yes, I have had a trainer (also my friend of a long time) who quit teaching from out of the blue. Like others, she also couldn't take people not showing up, ignoring her reqests, etc. I know (been in the situation myself) that leasing horses/riding elsewhere is going to be difficult, but it could deff. be managed. Could you try to work at a stable in exchange for lease payments/riding time? Just a suggestion, hope this helps!

[kansasgal]

It's too bad your instructor wasn't a better business person. It should not have taken him so long to realize he was losing money and in trouble financially.
Also, what about lesson contracts? At the place where I ride, you pre-pay and if you don't show up and don't call 24 hrs in advance, you lose that lesson.

Riding and showing horses is extremely expensive. Lesson horses and programs are gradually disappearing across the country.

When you get into any business, it is crucial to figure out what your actual expenses are and charge ENOUGH to make a go of it.

IMO it is rare to find a good instructor who is also a good business person.



Best wishes

[Heineken]

And yet we continue to wonder WHY we Hunter/Jumper riders have a reputation as bratty princesses...I can't IMAGINE where that comes from... http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[Dancing Lawn]

Why in the world would he be expected to subsidize you? Or any one else?

[runspotrun]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Madame Butterfly:
kdg, he owes it to you...? Please tell me you're a teenager, because, with all due respect to your possible riding abilities, you have some major growing up to do! Please, when you do grow up, think about someone besides yourself. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

That's an insult to teenagers. http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/winkgrin.gif

This person has to be a troll. And $30,000 for a horse to do the local circuit? Ouch. These must be some pretty darn competitive shows. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[ThirdCharm]

Thank GOD I thought I was the only person who realized this was a troll..... *LAUGH*

JenniferS

[QueenMother]

I think "kdg" is short for "kidding" which is what the original poster has got to be doing! I know I'm laughing.

[Gold Dust]

Either a troll or a perfect example of people who really do not understand how hard it is to make it in this buisness.
This is a perfect example of why, looking for an honest, hard working trainer that does not see you as a walking wallet struggle in this buisness. Although this one really went over and above the call of duty and proof right there, did not make it.
kdg-one lesson a week does not put your trainer on the cover of Forbes500. Since you did not own, the cost of keeping that horse going as been described already did not even come close to making profit. I'm surprised he did not charge you horse rental fee for show days but hopefully next go they think about these things. Sorry, I'm pulling for them to re-start more then feeling sorry for you at this time. Take this as a lesson learned, you do not understand the 'buisness' side of this and trust me, it is not easy.
As far as him selling the horses out from underneath you, thank god he could. Selling horses is not easy and many can sit on them for years putting money after more money into them and still no takers.
I could go on and on but just cann't help but think on post one you must be just a little bit of a troll, no?? http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/yes.gif

[Madame Butterfly]

Sorrry, Runspotrun, lotsa teenagers are compassionate, non-spoiled types....those lil dudes are fun to ride with...

[Gold Dust]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by QueenMother:
I think "kdg" is short for "kidding" which is what the original poster has got to be doing! I know I'm laughing. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gif OK. I'm really out of the loop on computer lingo. Now that you pointed that out I feel really dopey!! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

[runspotrun]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Madame Butterfly:
Sorrry, Runspotrun, lotsa teenagers are compassionate, non-spoiled types....those lil dudes are fun to ride with... <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Oh, I know. My comment was more a reflection on the origional poster, than on teenagers in general. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Madame Butterfly]

http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[radio talk Aefvue Farms RCA]

And thankfully another trollarama is laid to rest!! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

[Clydejumper]

I thought we sprayed for trolls. Better call the exterminator and get him back here. lol

[Magnolia]

MY GOD, the man was a saint and probably losing money. Suck it up, grow up and get on with it. Should he have sold you a $30,000 horse for $5000 because he let you ride it for free???

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> We just can't afford the cost of a horse, but we took a lesson each week which put money in his pocket. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

That money paid to feed, show and care for those fancy horses you got to show for free, not to mention his insurance, time, and facilities.

I pay my trainer $25.00 to practice ride on her horse. I would appreciate that she let me know she is selling the horse first, so I have first dibs!, but I would not expect a discount just because I had paid to ride the horse!

I doubt school horse teachers are making a ton of money, so just GROW UP!

[ESG]

Musta missed a nest of them. Did they spray in the corners and under the carpets? http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif

[Magnolia]

http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif I hope it is a troll........ if not...... someone is really clueless!

[QueenMother]

With all due respect to those of you who have gotten your dander up over this topic, why are you wasting a perfectly good amount of self-righteousness on this? Can anybody in their right mind ACTUALLY think that kdg is NOT kidding?

[OnyxThePony]

TROLL or not, don't think it doesn't happen to real trainers. I guess this is a troll alter trainer joking around to make a point?

[lvignerot]

Oh grow up- from a former "trainer" who got smart from people like you. I have a real job now and leaving the business was the smartest thing I ever did! Good luck to that trainer- pass the word- there is life after horses!!!

(although the addiction is still there driving me to continuous debt...)

Lisa

[BarbB]

Training horses is a BUSINESS and a trainer needs to be able to make a living. That means mortgage, utilities, car/truck payments, groceries, insurance, horses, feed, vet etc etc.
If the trainer is not making a living they can't continue training....it's not subsidized.

Sorry you feel stuck, but there are lots of options to continue showing other than purchasing a 30k horse.
You, or your parents, saved a ton of money by showing with this guy, but you must know by now that how he operated is not the norm.
Look around for other options, like leasing or sharing a lease. You don't have to have a proven winner that costs a lot to go show.

To answer the original question.....my first dressage trainer quit training after I had been working with her for several years. She had a GP level horse that she had brought up the levels herself and decided to focus on showing instead of instructing.
Life goes on.

Good luck finding a horse, I think that you should be thanking your trainer for everything he did for you and not complaining about the fact that he has had to quit a job that he enjoys because he wasn't making a living.

[Ride'emCO]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> I think it is his obligation since he was in the business to accomadate us. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Newsflash, Sweetpea!

He was in the business, and now he is not, because of attitudes like yours. He is not now, nor was he ever, obligated to you in any way. This is life, get used to it.

[divasmom]

As an instructor in a different field...I can totally understand where your trainer was coming from....I treat my trainer with the upmost respect for her time and knowledge, just exactly how I want to be treated.

I just read your post and shook my head...Why does he "owe" you anything...sounds like he needed to make money in order to make a living. If you have a good coach, who goes above and beyond what he has to do, then you need to let him know how much you appreciate him..by a.respecting his time b.treating him like a professional and c. thanking him on a regular basis. Sounds like a good part of his students took advantage of him and they got what they deserved. He let you ride his horses without a lease fee..OMG..do you know how lucky you were???? Lease fees at my old barn were 125.00 plus 695.00 for board.

I can tell you how angry I am everytime I bend over backwards to help one of my students and they proceed to try and walk all over me...I have very strict rules here as far as cancellations and payments. When people are making a living teaching, and are good at it, you are enjoying it, then you need to realize that person needs your income in order to continue teaching you. If you cancel without 24 hours notice, then you should still pay him for his time, that's only fair.

I hope a man such as this gets back into the profession and as someone else said..send him to NC..we'll take care of him and treat him right!

[divasmom]

Oh, I just reread your post..I'm laughing even harder now...he should have been OBLIGATED to sell YOU the school horses because you were riding them..but sold them to someone else for more money than you could afford...Well, DUH, how dare he sell his horses for what they were worth.

And just maybe you guys should have realized just how nice you had it there with him and treated him better before he got fed up..sorry, I have NO pity for you or your friends for having to join the real world and have to pay for a horse, pay a lot for lessons, and having to pay a lease fee. Give me a break!

[pooh]

I think anyone who gets a chance to ride horses at shows without paying anytype of lease fee should feel themselves very lucky. I have never heard of any trainer being that gracious!! or even caring enough about the students to allow them that priveledge. Not that most trainers wouldn't want to see their students show- but can't afford it. Running a barn is running a businees no matter how you look at it- and with students being greedy and inconsiderate of the trainers position- no wonder why this poor guy gave it up. Hopefully they are now able to relax more and enjoy life.

[kdg]

Yes I am a junior, my initials are kdg, maybe I was being selfish. For the past year he had talked about how he needed to lease this horse that I was riding, because he was not making enough money on lessons to pay for the horses board, vet bills etc. But in a way I felt like this horse was mine, because for the most part I was the only one showing it-yes he was generous to not charge me a lease fee- but after every lesson, I made sure I untacked the horse and cooled it down and put it away for the night, so I was basically doing a lot of the work. When he purchased the horse I know he only paid around $7500, and for him to sell the horse right out from under me I thought was rude. He made a lot of money on the horse, knowing my parents could not afford to pay that amount. I just feel like since I rode and showed the horse he could have offered it to me for $7500, or maybe a little more. I rode the horse 90% of the time and was the one that put in all the hard work- He knew my parents could not pay more than $10,000. I just thought more people would have been supportive of my point of view. What really would make my parents angry is he would have a block of times lets say on a Sunday that we could ride, but if we planned a family outing and could not ride until 4pm he said that was not convenient for him, that he was only doing lessons from 9 am to 2 pm, so on some weeks we could not ride, if you are in the business for lessons, I think just like any business you should be available from 9-5, particularly on week-ends when we are in school all week. He always scheduled lessons when it was convenient for him. well I guess I am done venting for now. I just think after being a loyal customer for 4 years he should have thought more of his students than he did.

[Heineken]

<span class="ev_code_RED">but after every lesson, I made sure I untacked the horse and cooled it down and put it away for the night, so I was basically doing a lot of the work</span>


How, kdg, is taking care of a horse properly after you are given the PRIVELEGE to ride it, "work"????? If you were mucking stalls, tacking and untacking for the trainer, feeding, bringing and turning out, THEN I MIGHT be sympathetic. Maybe. Good lord, where did this sense of entitlement come from? You have to PAY more for a full-service barn, they are actually few and far between!!!!

[Squirt]

I've got to chime in and this will probably sound witchy but here it goes---

<span class="ev_code_RED">YOU NEED A REALITY CHECK!!!!!</span>

Whew, I feel better now. Taking care of the horse means a heck of a lot more work than putting him up for the night. And the trainer should be there at your beck and call? Good Lord! Boy am I glad I'm not this trainer! So you're the only one who showed him? So you should get a better deal?!? He let you show the horse FOR FREE! Sheesh!

OK, rant done now. Going to the grocery store. (Shopping of any kind seems to calm me down. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif)

[kdg]

Well for $25 a lesson, he should have the horse ready, which at times he did because we were running late due to traffic, but for that amount of money I feel he should have taken care of the horse afterwards, so my parents could go along about business. It took us almost 30 minutes to get to the barn and 30 minutes back- that is a lot of driving time for them especially when my brother would be at basketball practice and would need to be picked up before school closed up. My parents even made sure for shows we would drive home and undo the braids- he would complain in the morning before the show that he had to get the horses ready to trailer to the shows- He would chrage us $45 for trailering- so in my opinion getting the horses bandaged to go to the shows and fed was part of his responsibility- he made sure we showed up at the crack of dawn to bandage and get the horse on the trailer. If you are charging $45 for trailering to go to a local show (45 miles) he should have the horses ready. That is $1.00 per mile. He is making a killing off of just trailering alone. We paid $45 for trailering and $30 for coaching. He made a lot of money at shows, he took an average of 4 horses. So for 1 days work he made $300. We averaged 2 shows a month. SO there is no way he was NOT making ends meet. We basically paid for his horses to be shown- which in my parents opinion is not right. He should have split the gas expenses between the 4 he was trailering as well as his 2, which would maybe be $10 a piece IF THAT! He just ripped us off and my parents are done with the trainers and the showing. There is NO WAY the gas cost $180 to trailer 4 horses plus his two to go 90 miles round trip.

[sanctuary]

KDG - You honestly make me want to throw up. THANK GOD I do not have students in my barn like you. I think I would have kicked you out a long time ago!

Big whoopy do that you put him up for the night, that's part of my lesson program! All my students tack up, cool out, and put up for the day/afternoon. It's called caring for the animal! Not most of the work!

I could go on, but I think I need to go find a trash can. You really do make me sick.

[GirlNextDoor]

yeah, $300 is a real KILLING.

I hope you never find another trainer again so you don't have the chance to take advantage of anyone else like you did this poor man.

You are grossly annoying and pathetic.

[kdg]

You guys don't understand where I am coming from... how can you justify trailering 4 horses for your students and have your trainer put on 2 of his horses and travel a round trip of ONLY 90 miles and charge each student $45 for trailering. The gas in a normal truck does not cost $180 to go 90 miles. I can see him amking $20 or $25 for his effort but you have to figure 90 miles round trip could be no more than $50. He was ripping us off and not even paying the gas for his own 2 horses. He made a huge profit for the day and got to show his horses for free- then turned around and sold them for a huge profit- including his school horses that we all cared for. JUST not right. At the A shows we even had to pay for his hotel room, while he was at the show with his 2 horses. Hotels are quite expensive- there is no reason that we have to pay his room fee.

[jordiensyd]

You've got to be kidding me! I realize you are a junior and may not have a clue about how business works - but I would think that your parents as adults would! Don't think that the measely $300 a day he made at shows was enough to make ends meet. That in no way covers all of the many expenses that occur with running a barn and trying to live on just that salary.
And for $25 a lesson - which by the way is CHEAP - YOU should be doing all the work! Not to mention that doing that "work" gives you FREE knowledge of proper horse care - something essential for owning/riding a horse. The fact that he sometimes had your horse ready for you because you were stuck in traffic was just him being extremely nice. Most places - if you're late - you miss part of your lesson - no make up times and no refund.
I too teach in another profession and have to deal with students who just don't show up - or show up unprepared - or show up late - and expect me to refund them for time missed. This is where I think your trainer made a mistake. In trying to be nice to his clients - it appears he neglected to have his clients sign lesson contracts. That way - show up or not - he would be paid. All my students do this - and let me tell you - it encourages them to get there - prepared and on time.
I'm sorry that you feel that he was unfair to you - as was stated already - life is unfair - but - honey - he's the one that got the unfair part of this. For trying to impart knowledge in an affordable way - he got trompled on and felt he needed to leave a business that he probably loved very much in order to pay the bills each month.
If you truly still want to ride - you will find a way - and without spending $30K on a horse. I spent a mere $1500 on my horse and do fairly well at the shows I attend. I have also spent a ton of time WORKING to pay for the expenses involved in owning a horse. If you really want this - you will be willing to do whatever is asked of you in order to gain the knowledge and get the privilege of riding a horse that's not even yours.
Hopefully you will treat this as a learning experience - and grow fromit - stop feeling sorry for yourself - listen to the advice given on this board - and grow up a little.

[sit up]

Well, I think that when you go to another trainer, you will see just how cheap you had it. Now that $180 that you see as excessive for trailering 4 horses has to pay for gas, upkeep on the truck AND trailer, insurance etc etc. It is not just going to the shows. That trailer sits for most of the month at home. Also, bandaging and loading all the stuff for the horses also takes time. I would say with 4 horses, it is a minimum of an hour. Do you want him to work for free?

Oh, about the 9-5 working time, 7 days a week. When exactly is he susposed to have a life?

Oh, and the $25/lesson he charges makes sure the horses eat, get shots, shoes, dental care and pays for insurance for sue-happy customers with a little left over if he's lucky for a roof over his head.

You have no clue as to just how expensive these beasts that we love actually are. Maybe someday if you are really lucky, you'll get your own and see just how much money they really cost. You will be amazed...

[kdg]

He had another full time job and did this on the side and said he did it because he loved the business, and was giving us a break. What a break... he made a lot of money off of us and threw in the towel, could not accomodate us if we wanted to ride at a particular time, it just did not suit him or his work schedule- but he made sure when it came to shows he could rip us off and charge us $1.00 a mile and trailer his horses for basically free. The gas costs should have been split between the number of horses, which was usally 6 including 2 of his own- so basically he never paid a cent for gas NOR for his hotel at the A shows.

[ShowGym]

kdg - I have gone back and forth through your posts from being a little sympathetic to having really none! I am in no way trying to be mean at all. My child rode a schooling horse for shows for two years. She taught this horse flying leads, tacked, untacked, washed, got horse ready at 4am to be trailored, got back at midnight to untrailor! She mucked stalls, swept the barn, cleaned off the wash racks, etc.... I will stop with that! We as a family were very appreciative for the horse she was riding and she learned a lot of valuable lessons learning how to care for horses! She rode atleast 3 days a week at $25 a lesson - she only did local shows - $115 to trainer plus show fees. At shows she was totally responsible for her horse the ENTIRE time!
Because this horse was not hers but she was the main rider and shower of it - others occassionally rode him! Yes, she would cringe watching knowing she would have to "fix" him - but it was NOT HER HORSE and she knew this!

We have sinced left that trainer - she could only take my daughter so far - it was time for a move!

She went from riding a horse that could sell easily for $20,000 to nothing!!!! The reality was that we had to find a horse of her own in order for her to move up and go to another trainer! We were lucky enough to come across a college student who fell in love with my daughter and sold us her horse for half what it is worth! So now after 5 months she will be able to ride and show again! But the expenses will be great!

Even though things did not work out with her previous trainer we realize how much simpler life was! She provided tack (except for saddle - but had them if you needed), even clothes if you couldn't afford them! Now I have to buy everything but a saddle!

Please try to see your trainers perspective in all of this! If they were struggling they really needed to get every dollar possible when selling their horses! I am sure he felt badly but this is a business!

[MeanderCreek]

My sincere hope is that kdg is a troll, because it scares the snot of of me that its possible a person like it exsists.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by kdg:
There is NO WAY the gas cost $180 to trailer 4 horses <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Nope, the gas couldn't have cost that much, but if you had three brain cells all firing together darlin' you might be able to figure out that the payments need to be made on that truck and trailer, the driver needs to be compenstaed, insurance needs to be paid on the rig and wear and tear needs to be factored in. Most trainers go through at least a $45K truck every two years and a $30K+ trailer every four or five years. Yep, they're making a killing charging $1/mile http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gif

For that $25 lesson maybe he should have included a chauffer service so your poor parents didn't have to exhaust themselves driving you there and back. Or, maybe he should have provided drinks and hors de vours for them while they waited through all that work you did http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

Seriously, WAKE THE HELL UP!!!! Your attitude and I'm sure others with this incredibly obnoxious sense of entitlement are the REASON - not excuse, REASON this trainer is done teaching. NO amount of money is worth tolerating this BS from ANYONE. Personally, I'd like to buy the man a drink for dumping your sorry butt - he deserves it http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[radio talk Aefvue Farms RCA]

You have got to be kidding?? You think what you were charged for trailering was expensive? And where are you from? http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif What do you think gas costs these days? <span class="ev_code_RED">Or are you really really trolling and enjoying all this stirring up?</span>

[ShowGym]

so basically he never paid a cent for gas NOR for his hotel at the A shows.

He should not be responsible for gas or really his hotel! Was he showing too? If he wasn't then the cost should have been divided up and paid for by the riders!

[Pet Psychic]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by kdg:
At the A shows we even had to pay for his hotel room, while he was at the show with his 2 horses. Hotels are quite expensive- there is no reason that we have to pay his room fee. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Why, I totally agree. He should've gone to Walmart, picked up a cheapy one-man tent and pitched in the parking lot next to the port-o-potties. Add to that some kindling wood, a club and some squirrel bait and dang, the guy could fend for himself!

[MistyBlue]

It's a troll...gotta be. This is the only post it's posting on and even if it were an infant it would have a better grip on reality.
The troll is feeding well... let's see how it does without anything to feed off of. I hear trolls just keep shrinking without food until tehy disappear. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[sanctuary]

Did you ever stop to think how much it cost him to purchase that truck and trailer, cover insurance to haul your horses? My clients pay $35 per horse to go literally 5 miles. It's a luxury. If you don't want to pay the $45 go buy your own damn horse, horse trailer, and truck, and pay the bills yourself.

Consider how many hours a day your trainer put in caring for your horses at those 2 day shows, I somehow doubt that he had grooms helping. If you spread it over 24 hours, that "killing" only works out to be less than a few bucks an hour. Not high means of living by any means.

I'm sorry, but it sounds like you need to spend a few days working in a barn, but judging by your attitude, I don't think you know what work is.

And his fees are not unreasonable OR uncustomary. Like I said, my kids pay $105 EACH just to get to a local show 5 miles down the road. That's $35 for training, $35 for trailering, $35 for lease of horse. Not to mention my kids do ALL their own bathing, clipping, braiding, bandaging, loading, unloading of tack and horses. 2 shows a month is not much at all.

Maybe this will help put it in perspective for you. I have 45 students currently enrolled. Between cancellations, vacations, and no-shows, I average about 28 a week. I bought a new car in February, nothing fancy, a Hyundai. I AM STILL IN THE RED (as in operating in the negative) from just the down payment. Have you thought about how much one bale of straw/shavings cost? $3.75 and up a bale. Each horse requires at least 2 bales of straw, so that's $7 every 2 days so that's $21 in straw alone for one horse per week. That's almost one of your lessons, shavings can be even more. Now add in a few bucks per day for feed and supplements, now we're up to $36 per week for one horse. Now add in insurance, mortgage, barn help salary, food for trainer and family, tack, truck payment, trailer payment, insurance for truck, insurance for trailer. You're looking at more than $75 a week for ONE HORSE, easily. It's too late to do the math. HOW in the WORLD is your $25 once a week lesson covering those bills?

You had it so good, and were spoiled absolutely rotten! Now you're pissed because you realize how good you had it and can't find anywhere else to go? Wake up to the real world.

Boy, you have really gotten under my skin! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_mad.gif

[divasmom]

I guess I am amazed that you aren't understanding why everyone is so outraged by your comments.

You think the horse should be tacked up for you at 25.00 a lesson..GIVE ME A BREAK! I pay 50.00 per lesson and tack up the horse that a barn member is gracious enough to let me borrow..and I cool her out and even give the horse treats afterwards...I can't believe you think that for 25.00 you should have your own personal groom/assistant.

You think that this man should be open 9-5 for business daily..you just remember that the day you go to work. So you have a family outing on Sunday...too darn bad for you, you miss the lesson..I don't know many trainers who would do anything for you on Sunday, not that I blame them. I can tell you just how enraged I get after telling people.."My teaching hours are 3-9pm"..Oh well, we can come in the AM..I don't give a #$*&^ that you can come in the AM, that's my personal time.

And let me tell you something when you grow up and people start walking all over you, the way you and your riding buddies have, you'll understand why people get out of businesses such as this..you can't do it simply because you love it..no, you'll get walked on..you have to charge for everything in order to make a living. I hope you are willing to accomodate the entire world's schedule because of personal conflicts...and I hope you find out that working for a group of kids at a show nonstop for a day is worth a heck of alot more than 300.00..If the man worked for you 8 hours a day, he's making about 30.00 an hour..let me tell you, most trainers wouldn't work for that, nor should they.

I suggest that you go to work for someone as a working student and find out how much work is involved in actually running a stable.

I am so very sorry that this man found a buyer for his horse that was willing to pay more money than you for the horse..so you rode the horse 90 percent of the time..apparently FREE, you have to pay any lease fee..and even then, it's his horse.

Did you ever stop and think that it's this type of attitude that drove this man to quitting and perhaps he didn't want to sell you his horse.

Sorry, but you do need to get a clue or go pick up another diva sport!

[BarbB]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by kdg:
Well for $25 a lesson, he should have the horse ready, which at times he did because we were running late due to traffic <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


ok...I give up ....it has to be a troll
http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gifhttp://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gifhttp://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gifhttp://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gifhttp://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gifhttp://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gifhttp://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gif

[divasmom]

I really do hope it's a troll...if not, then the poster must be one of those who will grow up saying.."My daddy always said I was a princess." Oh, those words make me cringe.

[radio talk Aefvue Farms RCA]

<span class="ev_code_RED">TROLL ALERT TROLL ALERT</span>

Come on people, we have us a real life, died in the wool troll... http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/winkgrin.gif

http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/yes.gif http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/winkgrin.gif http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/yes.gif

[SemiAutomatic]

Wow! Why do you ride? If you feel like it is work to tack/untack a horse! If you took lessons at my barn and gave that kind of attitude...you would be asked to leave. In order, to have a horse tacked/untacked here it would cost you an additional $10 on top of your lesson (which run $30-50). We make the clients exp. kids tack/untack/hose/clean tack before they are allowed to leave.

YOU SHOULDN'T OWN A HORSE! If I were him, I wouldn't cut you any special deals either... Maybe if you were a kid that LOVED horses and spent every waking moment at the barn because you loved being around the horses, I would consider selling you the horse you wanted for a price that you could afford. But not to an ungratful child that feels some sense of entitlement because they untack a horse after a lesson. Get off your high horse and go to the barn at 7am and stay till 6pm and tell me how hard the work is and how demanding horses truely are.

As for trailering... ever heard of depreciation? oil changes? tire changes? upkeep on truck and trailer? The trailering fee is not just for gas but for all this plus any damage a horse may do inside the trailer (kicking, pawing). We charge .70/mile, with a minimum of $50 (not to mention the closest show we go to is 200+ miles away).

Do your research on prices at other "A" barns before you start complaining and I think you'd find out that you were treated too fairly!! Be grateful that you had a trainer that made it very affordable for you... obviously he learned his lesson since you are not grateful about any of it...

[xegeba]

Hey kdg! Need your car... for a month. Hell,make it 6 months. I'll pay for the gas. Fair? I'll wash it once a week. You pay for all the yadda yadda. Thanks a bunch. I'll be so mad if you decide to sell. Mom and Dad can't afford to buy me my own. http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/cry.gif

[Madame Butterfly]

Xegeba, stop being a troll....you know you love to walk...

[Smigget]

<span class="ev_code_RED">Well for $25 a lesson, he should have the horse ready</span>

http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gif My lessons are $35 for a 45 min lesson, and I *gasp* bring the horse up from the pasture and *gasp* tack it up myself. When I am done, I *gasp* cool the horse down and untack it, then *EEEK* hose it down!!!! Oh, so much work. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_eek.gif Then I work mucking out pastures for an hour after all that slave labour (because my trainer knows a young ammie like me is stapped for cash, so I work off some lesson). Man, my trainer is totally ripping me off. Hmmm. I think I should demand that she ocomidate (can't spell) me for a earlier lesson time so it's not so darn hot. I exersize peoples horses for them when they are out of town. Maybe I should insist that since I'm doing all the work, I should be able to ride their horses for free in a show.

http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gif I don't know whether to laugh my head off, or scream. Your trainer sounded like a saint. You sound like a little snot. Lease yourself a horse for a year and find out how much upkeep costs. I did, and learned a very suprising lesson.

[Crossroads Farm]

My workday starts at 5, and doesn't usually end until 8, and that's when we're at home. Horse shows are a whole different story. What I wouldn't give for a 9-5 job! It's only worth it if you love what you're doing, and with clients like this gal, none of us would do it!

[horse_poor]

ok so i was living my non COTH life as usual when i got an email stating OMG HP YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS POST

and here i am, cranky like i have never been before--and THIS is what I am directed to?????? I swear to Willem that X and MB set this up to draw me back to the boards

I hope to Willem it is in deed a troll......if not, I hope to Willem that such a person NEVER darkens the the door to my lesson program

Either way I am in a really really really bad mood and am gonna let her rip........

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE FRUITBATTING KIDDING ME?!?!?!

why the fruitbat should this saint of a man have to rearrange his schedule just to accomodate your selfish-its-all-about-me-who-cares-about-you-cuz-its-all-about-me-me-ME-self????

ooooooooo geez you cool the horse down and put him away-big freakin woopdeedo--ooooooooooo you had to tack up yourself and get up to the crack of dawn and bandage and help load a horse you were showing------ooooooooooo--another big woopdeedo----NEWS FLASH EINSTEIN----its called THE WONDERFUL WORD OF SHOWING HORSES! Another news flash-getting a horse ready and tacked up is part of the learning process, hence the reason it is called a LESSON

in my lesson program i have X amount of students-all sent to me by word of mouth as i do not advertise and have a waiting list--I turn people away because A-i only have x amount of time and B-i focus on quality instead of quantity and many of my students need extra work due to confidence issues, etc. i have VERY VERY strict rules---no show, ya pay anyway, lesson times are at x, x, and x time-cant make it? too bad. i have other things to do than be at the beck of call of someone who wants a random lesson. what? you have a family reunion on sunday and cant make it until 5 pm? too bad---see ya next weekend --i will be LIVING MY LIFE at 5pm--- lesson horses are to be treated as royalty (even though one actually is http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gif) and they had damn well better be cooled out, groomed, and returned their stall in better condition than before you had the privilege to ride them-if i EVER found out braids were left in after a show i would absolutely go insane---you show the horse? you take care of the horse after-period-no exceptions. payment up front and in advance--no payment, no lessons, period--i do not invoice, i do not extend credit-i am not a collection agency----oddly enough my people are more than happy to oblige and only once have i had to throw someone out and someone else happily moved into their slot. in my opinion my time is priceless and you had better not waste it.

at shows......all of my expenses are paid. why the hell else am i there? because i have nothing else to do on a rainy miserable sunday or scorching 100 degree saturday? you want me to be there while you show? great-your gonna pay for it. trust me, i have other things to do

want to take one of my horses to a show? great-your ass is gonna be there at 5 am to wrap and load----dont wanna do it? thats fine-i could use the extra sleep and my horse would love to have a day off and you are gonna have a hell of a time showing without a horse. oh you say you want me to HAUL the horse you are going to show all day long? Ante up the cash my friend and we have a deal---not only am I paying for gas, insurance, and wear and tear on my truck/trailer, but for the love of Willem i am using my most precious commodity---MY TIME.

oh and you want me to sell you a horse for the same price i paid for him even though i have nursed the horse thru this and that issue, paid for the vet, farrier, and upkeep not to add the time it took to get him schooled to the point he could cart your ass around--do ya think he came out of a cardboard box like that?

get the hell out of my barn and dont let the door hit ya in the ass on the way out.

~MIRRRFC~

[xegeba]

OH FOR GOD SAKES, HORSEPOOR!!!! You work for the LOVE of it! Your mission in life is to see that poops from all walks of life have a WUNNERFUL time at your expense! Now kiss my ass and make it a love story http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gif http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gif http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[Chezzie]

I'm gonna run those prices by my trainer, and see if we can work me a deal like that! http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gif
Seriously, this has GOT to be a joke...no-one is this clueless, right??? http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[Madame Butterfly]

HP, sweartagod, I didn't do this to haul you back....however, someone started a thread last night "Which Favorite COTHers have Too Much Time on Their Hands" and it listed me, X, you, and Zed...Of course, I was winning...well, then the BBer lit into me so bad-d-d- that the gods that be banished the entire thread. And there I was trying to play psychologist...."Why honey, you have all this hate inside...."

Was that you trying to draw X, me and Zed all together?

Missed ya.

[xegeba]

MB! I'll walk if the Bentley gets a flat. I have never had to walk because there are just some really nice guys out there... but I would. Not far though. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Madame Butterfly]

I would too, just to keep the arse from getting big. But I'll hop a ride in the Bentley if you have room. I'll bring the wine and grey Poupon...

[xegeba]

There was a thread about too much time and we were named????? Where is it. Look... it takes a butt-load of time to direct the help. The help help me correct my spelling here. Mutual helping thing going on here. Trust me... there are simply not enough hours in the day.

[SunshineGA]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by kdg:
You guys don't understand where I am coming from... how can you justify trailering 4 horses for your students and have your trainer put on 2 of his horses and travel a round trip of ONLY 90 miles and charge each student $45 for trailering. The gas in a normal truck does not cost $180 to go 90 miles. I can see him amking $20 or $25 for his effort but you have to figure 90 miles round trip could be no more than $50. He was ripping us off and not even paying the gas for his own 2 horses. He made a huge profit for the day and got to show his horses for free- then turned around and sold them for a huge profit- including his school horses that we all cared for. JUST not right. At the A shows we even had to pay for his hotel room, while he was at the show with his 2 horses. Hotels are quite expensive- there is no reason that we have to pay his room fee. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

How about mantainence on the truck for wear and tear of trailering 2x a month? What about mantainence on the trailer? What about INSURANCE?

I really hope you're a troll b/c $300 for a show is NOTHING, especially if you are free leasing the horse. And all that time you spent under the saddle showing the horse, etc. put miles on the horse, training on the horse therfore raising the price of the horse. And no you shouldn't get a cut of that because you were free leasing and walking all over your trainer.

Damn for the $50 I pay my trainer better wipe my a$$ for me too.

[xegeba]

You know Sunshine... I'm thinking pink toilet paper suits you and your arse. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Madame Butterfly]

Touche, X.

[horse_poor]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Madame Butterfly:
HP, sweartagod, I didn't do this to haul you back....however, someone started a thread last night "Which Favorite COTHers have Too Much Time on Their Hands" and it listed me, X, you, and Zed...Of course, I was winning...well, then the BBer lit into me so bad-d-d- that the gods that be banished the entire thread. And there I was trying to play psychologist...."Why honey, you have all this hate inside...."

Was that you trying to draw X, me and Zed all together?

Missed ya. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
well MB hate to disappoint you but I just came to this thread as it bugged the hell outta me-going back to non coth life after this post

now..isnt that whole Which Favorite COTHers have Too Much Time on Their Hands thread interesting-in what context was favorite used--favorite as in LOFF or favorite as in LOFF TO HATE? either way the title is a contradiction in terms----and one would have to question the amount of time one someones hands to come up with a thread like that-----oddly enough i am honored as I have not posted in nearly a month-what is it they say-absence makes the heart grow fonder? whatever-my time as of late has been spent painting the entire jump course-ask x about it-i think i sent her pics-gotta get them looking purty (or in my little world perfect) as cross country magazine is coming out to do a story on saturdday and half the barn is at a show and the BO sister decided today would be a great day to go into labor so it 'tis i in charge of jump paiting and have found myself redoing the ones that i did not think were perfect enough-so no i do not have too much time on my hands-my hands are full of masking tape, paint brushes, and measuring tapes as well as heading off every damned life crisis that could possibly be thrown my way in a few weeks time.

take care

[xegeba]

Where the hell is that thread http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_mad.gif

[SunshineGA]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by xegeba:
You know Sunshine... I'm thinking pink toilet paper suits you and your arse. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

OOOH I HATE pink!! It makes me look washed out. And my arse is already pale... what about baby blue or lavendar? Scented to please &lt;snaps fingers&gt;

[horse_poor]

ok i lied-i found another troll to exterminate-after that i am going back to LWOCOTH (life without COTH)

x i think according to MB it was deleted--i for one did not see it as I was out decorating the Oasis liverpoole jump with pink lawn flamingos

[Madame Butterfly]

You have to go to Madame Butterfly and pull up my posts. You can see some of my comments but you won't be able to get the thread. You can't believe the things this person was saying. Good that the moderators jumped in. Major hate mail....or someone who really loves me and thinks I did them wrong.. http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/uhoh.gif http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/dead.gif

[xegeba]

Sunshine??? Are you from No. Cal? I 've noticed that there are some from No.Cal that prefer lavender and scented. Their bum also gets out of joint if there is not MANY rolls at their disposal. They also are Very poor tippers. The staff hates them. The staff prefers the Gentile Ladies of Houston. Nice gals, those Houston Gals.

[Madame Butterfly]

X, if you don't wear stiletto heels, you should....what a drop kick.. http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gif

[Perrier]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by xegeba:
MB! I'll walk if the Bentley gets a flat. I have never had to walk because there are just some really nice guys out there... but I would. Not far though. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

FINALLY! The thread hijacker herself makes an appearance! Thank goodness. I was getting worried.

For a second I thought *maybe* you had given up making every thread revolve around you. Heaven forbid no one mentions Xegeba!!

Sadly, Madame Butterfly is not much better.

[Sswor]

kdg, you have a crap attitude. Have you ever had a job? Do your parents work? Do either of you understand what is like to really work for a living? Work=paycheck not break even. Do really think that all these people responding to you are wrong?

Unfortunatly, the problem here lies with the parents. They apparently have a disorted sense of reality and fairness which you, kdg are now emulating. Well, since they think asking a lease fee for showing a horse is so unfair, I guess you won't be showing anymore. And if they thought $25/lesson was high, I guess you won't be riding at all. Frankly, it serves you right.

If you seriously think $25 per lesson is high, then so are you.

[QueenMother]

Well, after reading kdg's subsequent posts, I'm going to have to reassess my original diagnoris of "just kidding."

NOW I think that kdg's problem is entirely of her trainer's making, but not in the way she thinks it is.


My guess is that this was kdg's first experience with riding, showing, etc. The ONLY thing she knows about pricing and availability of horses and the "service" she expects for he $25 per lesson and her show expenses is what she has experienced with her (now former) trainer.

I also think it was kdg's trainer's first experience as a trainer. Most people (especially people like kdg who is a beginner and having her first experience in the horse-showing world) simply cannot appreciate what has been given to them because she has nothing to compare it to. (I know when we started out we were flabbergasted and sometimes even "furious' that the trainer charged per mile for shipping instead of dividing the "gas" into equal parts for all the horses he shipped. We, like, kdg were operating in the dark. A problem at that first barn was that the trainer did not post a list of charges and the charges seemed to change with the wind. Kdg's trainer obviously didn't have a standard list of charges either or if he did, he didn't stick to them. This is confusing to beginners.)

IF IN FACT kdg is not kidding (as i originally believed), then she is a beginner, and her parents are beginners, just losing her first trainer, who was as clueless as she is about what he should have charged for and how much, and what the boundaries are between generosity and just plain no business sense.

She has gotten her first wake up call from the posters here. The next one will come when she tries to replicate her first experience and finds out how things really work and how much things really cost.

All that said, the bottom line is: Kdg, you will look back at your former trainer (if you go on to ride/show again) in years to come, and ask yourself how you could have thought you didn't get way too much for your money.

[Dusty]

Sswor...you have to PT me and let me know who kdg is talking about, unless she wants to! I live in the area, have my own barn, teach and show locally but am having a brain freeze on who this trainer could be.

Also, kdg...along with all the other expenses mentioned to keep a horse for my students lessoning pleasure - I also spend time picking out the arena, watering it down if dusty and dragging it so my students have a decent place to lesson. Time involved - 3hrs. I'd probably make more money babysitting the neighbors kids http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[seal]

I think Sswor got it right--the problem with our little *troll* is her parents. When you are this young, naive and have little if any experience in the real world, all you have to draw upon is the guidance your parents provide. Some of us are just naturally savvy and can make do with less than stellar parents, but clearly kdg is not one of them.

Heck, when I was a kid it never occurred to me that the horses would be all ready and tacked up--after all they are NOT rental horses. I think you must have them confused. No, they are lesson horses and therefore they are there for you to learn not only how to ride, but HOW TO TAKE CARE OF. That is a HUGE part of having a horse. The time in the saddle pales in comparison to all the preparation that is involved. There is so much to clean: stalls, water and feed buckets, tack, the horses themselves, trailers, tack rooms barn ailes, etc.

If you ever hope to have a horse one day, don't you think it would help to learn how to care for it? That's what I did when I was a kid, and I got my first horse at 13 I boarded at a self care barn. Yep, all that was provided was a corral, tack room and water. I had to do all the work, but it was something I loved so it was no big deal to me. I would buy a ton of hay every fall for the winter and would happily lug big 100 pound bales of hay and break the ice in the water. It is very labor intensive and therefore expensive to have a horse, so if you are either unwilling or unable to do the work yourself, you have to PAY FOR IT. And if ain't cheap sister, but that doesn't mean you are being ripped off either.

You should have been charged at least $50 a lesson with another $10 if you don't care to dirty your hands with the tacking and untacking. And as far as trailering, you got a major bargain. I have been charged $70 to haul a horse 3 miles. The last time I had a horse hauled it cost me $165 for 64 miles so you do the math. What you can deduct is that is really isn't all about the gas but the wear and tear on the truck and trailer as well as the insurance.

I suggest that they next time you want to enter a costly sport, you bring your wallet if you care to be catered to like a queen.

[ponies123]

A little late in the game here, people have already said what I am going to say and plenty more but I figured I would give my own two cents to the situation.


kdg, you've been spoiled, and believe me you are lucky beyond belief at the fact that you got to experience riding with this trainer for however long you did. He has no obligation to do anything for you, after all you really did nothing for him except gave him money to pay for the upkeep of the horse he let you ride (for FREE) sometimes -- as you said that not everyone always came for their lessons.


I'm going to address a few issues, just because it's 9:40 in the morning and I have too much time on my hands, and because I can.

- $25 for a lesson is nothing. It sounds as if you had private lessons, I used to pay $30 for a six person group lesson at my old barn. At my new barn I pay $50 for a lesson that not only isn't schedualed on the same day (Yes I have to plan around my trainers scheduale, not the other way around) all the time, but I don't even have two lessons each week like I arrange to have. But guess what? I still pay the $400 a month for eight lessons.

- When I go to the barn I sometimes will go for the entire day just for one ride/lesson, when I have a lesson/ride I tack up the horse. I groom him. I get him out from the pasture, sometimes having to chase the horses to get him. After my lesson I walk around for a good ten minutes or so cooling him off, and then I hose him down for another five + minutes. Often times I feed him if he gets lunch or something. If I didn't want to, said I didn't have time to, or just plain didn't feel like doing any of this my trainer would laugh in my face and kick my a$$ out of the barn.


- When I am at the barn for those insanely long hours often times I won't even ride at all, even though that's what I came for. My trainer might have someone looking at a horse or something. While she does that I clean the aisle, clean out a trailer, groom a horse, etc. etc. If I said no when she asked me to do this, again I would be out of the program faster than I can say your username.

- A couple times I have gone up to the barn to have a couple of rides and isntead have been brought to various other barns to watch my trainer ride or something. I have never complained.

- My trainer doesn't have lesson horses, but rather she sells horses/ponies on consignment. I guess next time one of the horses I ride gets sold I should try and sue her or something because I rode that pony and I should have been given it for $10,000 because that's what my parents could afford -- when she could easily sell it for $50,000? Wow, I have been missing out. Good thing you told me.

- If my trainer accompanies me to a show then yes I pay her hotel room. Why not? Do you really think that she WANTS to be at a horse show over the weekend when she could say, be spending quality time with her new husband or something? If you don't want to pay the hotel room -- then don't expect your trainer to come. But wait, do YOU have a trailer that you can bring the horse in? I think not, so again, you need him. Your fault, buy a trailer and truck and do everything yourself at the show if you think you're too good to pay his hotel fees.

- He let you ride the horse, you didn't do it as a favor to him or anything. It isn't as if he couldn't have just found a better and probably nicer to work around junior to ride it for him -- and I am sure that there are plenty that would have been willing to actually PAY something to do it. But YOU are the one that would have been out a horse if he hadn't let you ride it.

- Thirty minutes really isn't all that long, if you dont' like it why don't you find a barn closer? My mom drives me an hour plus each way to the barn. Almost every day. My brothers have hockey almost every day at a place about twenty minutes away from our house in the oppisitte direction. She's a single parent. Go figure.

- Seriously, on this subject again. Of COURSE he schedualed lessons when it was convenant to him. Why should he work around you? Maybe HE has a family outing on Sunday at four, boo hoo if you can't work around yours. It's his business and if he didn't have to cater to the likes of you and your family I am sure that there are others willing to rearrange things to be able to ride.

- I go to the barn and bathe, braid, wrap, etc. etc. the horses for a show even when I am not showing. And often I go to the show with my trainer to help out there. No pay, no nothing. And after the show guess where I am? That's right, back at the stable helping get the horses undone and such.

- We tend to pay about $150 - 200 to go to a SMALL local show ten, fifteen minutes down the road tops. That's not counting entry fees. If it's a bigger show then you can sure as hell bet that we pay a lot more.



Okay I think I am done, this is insanely long but I think I got most of what I wanted to say off my chest. So I'll leave it at this -- you obviously are not a very good horse person if you would be willing to just leave the horse in a stall after a lesson without cooling it down, or to not take care of it after a show. I am surprised he put up with you and your family for very long anyway, so be thankful for the time you did get to ride him and work on becoming a bit more dedicated if you really want to continue succesfully in this sport. It is NOT cheap, and if you want something cheap and "more convenant" go ahead and pick up soccer or track or something at your school.

Oh and for the record I am a teenager as well, just barely infact -- I turned fourteen in April. I'm guessing you're older than me which quite frankly, is sad.

[Sswor]

Hey, one more thing. kdg, you and your parents sound like one of those nightmare clients that us trainers sit around daydreaming about how to get rid of. In the past, I have given people like you to my competators (evil grin). You are hereby NOT invited to ever participate in my lesson program. Sadly, you could easily call or show up at my barn and I wouldn't know who you are. I'll have to keep my eyes out for those initials...

See, it's funny, you think you as the client/student get to pick and choose from the trainer/barn choices out there, but what you don't know is that the trainer/barns have the final say. With your attitude and your parent's obvious lack of willingness to open the check book, you'll be hard pressed to find a trainer/barn to put up with you.

I also think it's funny that you were so bent out of shape that your ex-trainer wouldn't sell you the horse you were riding at a reduced rate even though you stated on more than one occasion that you and your family can't AFFORD a horse. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_confused.gif

[seal]

Hey, Sswor we were both right--it IS the parents! Thanks for the great post appaloosahunter. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif Kind of confirms my faith in the younger generation, and unfortunatley, it's people like kdg who give ALL teenagers a bad name.

But kids are a reflection of their parenting (as are horses) so I would have to say that this very spoiled young lady has had a really rotten upbringing to think she is entitled to so much for doing so very, very little.

[jumper11]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Madame Butterfly:
Poor Perrier, jealous of X, HP, me and Zed. Poor poopie troll. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

but what about MAD and GoGO. They can't be left out of the mix!!! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Black Market Radio]

This thread has been a good http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gif when I REALLY needed it!

[Go-Go]

Oh, yes, Go-Go can be left WAY outta this mix, thanks. I don't want to have anything to do with it this time. I only like the fun trainwrecks. How did I get all lumped in there? I haven't posted once on this thread.

[jumper11]

Only because if I see hp and x I usually see you post, and hey ya'll are entertaining.... but I hear ya on this one, I'm staying away too.

[Noodle]

kdg...you're an idiot.

[MAD]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>quote by Jumper11:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Madame Butterfly:
Poor Perrier, jealous of X, HP, me and Zed. Poor poopie troll.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



but what about MAD and GoGO. They can't be left out of the mix!!! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks J11 for the vote...WOOHOO...only one behind Skater. Go-Go, will you be my campaign manager??? I hate to lose.

Anyway, J11, perhaps if you stick around long enough, maybe go back and read the majority of my posts...the topics they appear on and READ FOR COMPREHENSION, you'll figure out why I post. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Ketch]

MAD, Go-Go, you cannot imagine my chagrin. I was left out. I thought we were inseparable as the charter members of Club Poopie. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif

[jumper11]

oh I know why you post.... for the same reason I post, you can't resist the drama. It just brings out the best in us.... in any case, I always like posting wherever you guys are, it just makes the day more interesting. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[MAD]

Warmer, J11...but if you were on I95 from NY to Florida you'd only be in about Maryland http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[sanctuary]

Horsepoor - AMEN SISTER! So very very well said. http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/winkgrin.gif http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/winkgrin.gif http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/winkgrin.gif http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/winkgrin.gif http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/winkgrin.gif

[jumper11]

BTW I don't think you guys are chopped liver...that's pure nastiness....

[Go-Go]

Okay, here's the breakdown of Decision 2004:

On the ballot for the realitycheck party we have Perrier. VP unknown, but must have some pretty solid financial backing to go it alone. Campaign manager also unknown, but again a master as Perrier is way ahead in the polls. Her campaign is based on calling BS on the establishment.

On the ballot for the ladieswhopostunusuallylateinthteevening party we have MB for prez, HP for Veep, and X managing that dog and pony show. Their platform includes sticking up for the little guy and making sure everyone in our COTH country can have access to baths, not just the rich or overly served.

Lastly, for those independents out there, we have on the ballot for the nocluewhatthefuhhowdidwegetdraggedintothispoopieci rcus party: MAD for Prez (cause she's very presidential), Ketch for Veep - she's always there to back up the big dog, and Go-Go managing - when she's not getting sammiches and shoe shopping, that is (hey, prioritize is my slogan). This party stands for, well, not very much except only jumping in when it's fun. And maybe controversial.

Now, get out and rock the vote, kids.

[MAD]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>nocluewhatthefuhhowdidwegetdraggedintothispoopieci rcus party: <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

ROTFLMAO http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gif

[jumper11]

http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif ROTFLMAO as well. poopiecircusparty

[mygenie]

Boy, this threat is hilarious. I needed some comic relief.
And sure, kdg thinks we all don't know where she is coming from??? What the hell are we all on this board for if we are not involved with horses some way and know the kind of money it can take?

And for $25 per lesson, trainer is supposed to have to horse ready? Oh my god, that one if going to keep me ROTFLMAO for a long, long time.

[majesty]

How could you students do this to this great trainer?!

[creseida]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by kdg:
OK I have been with my trainer for 4 years. He decided he was fed up with the lessons and sold his school horses and quit teaching. He said he was tired of people not showing up for scheduled lessons and it was no longer worth his time, and quit the business. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Well, when you plan your day around clients coming in when they say they will, and they don't show, not only does he lose the money he would have made from the client, but he loses the opportunity to make money elsewhere because he has laready reserved that time slot for a client

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> He was awesome and charged much less than the other trainers, but our students were very competitive at the local and A rated shows, but since people were not respecting him by cancelling sheduled lessons he just turned the towel in. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> He may have been awesome, but it is very obvious his clientele was less than so. After two "no call no shows" my clients are SOL. I've only had one....

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> He said he loved the lessons and the showing, but it was no longer feasable for him to continue because he was not making a profit. How can he do this to his students?? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Easy. Because the man has to EAT. He has to pay to maintain the string of horses, the lease fee on the facility, the insurance, etc. He's not a fricking charity.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> This is not fair.he was letting us show his horses without us having to pay a lease, which is very nice,,, but now we are forced to have to BUY our own horse to show- the other local barns have a policy that you must lease a horse in order to go to the shows... That is not fair. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> How is asking you to help pay for the cost of maintaining a horse "not fair"? NOT paying any money and free-loading off the trainer, having him foot all the bills is not fair.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>We can't afford to pay $30,000 for a nice horse to do the local circuit, which is what it costs around here for a decent 2'6-3'0 horse, to lease a horse is around $10,000 for a good local horse for JUST 1 YEAR!! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Yep. It really sucks doesn't it? You had a nice trainer that bent over backwards to help his clients show, and the clients screwed him over royally by not following thru with lessons, which (from the looks of it) were his primary source of income.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> For a horse to go to the A shows and win is way much more. How can a trainer just walk out on his students??? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> How can his students be so rude as to not keep their appointments?

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Has anyone ever experienced this before??? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> No, because I don't dis' my trainer.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>I think it is his obligation since he was in the business to accomadate us. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
It is also your obligation to show up for lessons when they're scheduled and to treat the trainer with respect. Obviously that didn't happen, so you got your come-uppance.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> He just threw the towel in and walked out. He even sold all his school horses- no one wanted to pay a lease on the school horses, but we were paying for lessons and that should have accounted for something. The parents felt like they did not have to purchase a horse because most of them were showing the horse for basically free., just pay show expenses.( No lease fee- but they were still paying for lessons) He even sold all of his investment horses. Now we are having to go to other barns and pay twice for lessons and in order to show HAVE to lease the horse, I don't think this is fair. What do you guys think??? I think in my opinion if we were showing his school horses he should have given us the option to buy the horse, but he sold them for WAY much more than any of us could have afforded. Just NOT fair- now none of us have a horse to show this year. We just can't afford the cost of a horse, but we took a lesson each week which put money in his pocket. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Obviously you didn't all take lessons each week. Life's not fair. You were getting a free ride. Guess what? Welfare's been revoked.

[findeight]

Lets do the math for KDG.
Trainer rents the stalls and the barn for..oh..what...25 hundred to 6k a month? Buys school horses for 50 or 60k total for 5 or 6 of them. Works another job then teaches for $25 an hour-expected to groom and tack up for this one too. Yeah, he's making a fortune and will easily pay off the 60k in horses and 30k a year in rent PLUS $100 a month per head in feed and that pesky farrier at $100 every six weeks per head...your $100 a month will go far in settling that debt.
Buys a truck and trailer used for 40k or so, pays insurance at about $250 a month and hauls you for a "rip off" fee of less then 2 bucks a mile..when that rig will NOT get more then 7-8 miles to the gallon at $2 per gsallon.

Either you are a troll...and with 5 posts at the start????????????????
Or you realy do NOT know what anything costs and really do not underdstand what working for a living means..and it means food, mortgage, vehicles and health care way before it means doing you a favor by operating at a loss to provide you with a horse that costs him $500 a month to keep-not even counting the purchase price of 7500- you pay $100 a month for...and have the gall to whine he doesn't get it ready for you? Then you selfishly lash out on here that he sold it for more then you could pay to support himself and his family?

You either are a troll or really have NO idea what anything costs, yeah-you get it for yourself-but not for what it cost this trainer.

Maybe just auditioning for the next Simple Life?

[LaQueSabe]

OK...$25/lesson, but to show the local circuit you need a $30,000 horse...yeah, something doesn't mach up here. I don't think we will be hearing from kdg again, but perhaps kdg will create an alter personality and name??? I know if I said what she said, I would not be under the nearest rock, but a boulder!

[LaQueSabe]

OK...$25/lesson, but to show the local circuit you need a $30,000 horse...yeah, something doesn't mach up here. I don't think we will be hearing from kdg again, but perhaps kdg will create an alter personality and name??? I know if I said what she said, I would not be hiding under the nearest rock, but a boulder!

[findeight]

Or ?Quien sabe? with that first question mark upside down..means "who knows" but can mean "who cares".

I think this OP needs to get the message she is caught red handed lurking under the bridge...or so out of reality ?Quien sabe?

[pooh]

Why do you need a 30,000 horse just to start off as your first anyway!! What about doing what many people on this thread did- you get a safe horse within you budget and you show where you can!! Who says you need to go to A rated shows!! How about your local schooling shows or do you think you are too good for them. In my opinion- no one is too good to support a local schooling show unless they are doing the highest division they can and still constantly kicking every one's butt!!
You need to grow up and face reality- equestrian sports are not cheap, most adults just make ends meet to support their habit or that of their kids!
And I can't remember the last time I took a lesson for $25 on my own horse let alone with me tacking up!!! I think the last time I took a lesson on a school horse- a private cost me $60!

[JumperQueen]

Wow... is all I have to say. He let most of his customers ride/show his horses without any extra fees at all??? That sounds kind of crazy to me. Personally, I don't really blame him for what you said he did. It's hard to make a living in this busines and while trainers want to help their students out as much as they can, they still have to put food on the table and bills to pay. Try not to be so upset, although I can understand why you would be. He's just trying to get by from the sounds of it, and if things weren't working out as is, can you really blame him? Did he try at all to charge lease fees and if he had, do you think you would have complied?

[boosma47]

kdg- I'm willing to give the nod to your youth and inexperience in the real world. I do, however, sincerely hope you have perhaps developed some inkling of how insulting your post has been to many of us.The lesson I would like to have you gain, if possible, (and hopefully you still can learn it), is that one is never entitled to disrespect or take others for granted. You need to learn a little humility and gratitude, as well.

[horse_poor]

OMGIh i was directed back to this thread yet again via email

and given the day i have had, my mood last night made me look like an agel compared the mood i am in now-----i have dealt with a day of paining a lattice gate for a jump to look like an amercian flag, accidentally killing my sons fish, dropping an A/C out a window and whacking my head on said window when it closed on my head (can anyone say this is not the real life seinfeld episode about the commando 2000?), a horse coliced during the show here tonight and am driving myself nuts how to turn a jump standard into a palm tree so the liverpoole flamingos dont get lonely

first off, i will not be partaking in any election--MB and x will have to find another veep as i do not feel qualified as a regular cother any longer-and while i loff the name of mad and go go's party - this it be wrong to run against them as they are simply too much fun and i think the name of the party should be called the insomniacs-and to correct you, i dont stick up with the little guy, i am simply snark/troll intolerant-this allergy makes me become a giant cranky witch and make my mouth open up and say things i should just let swirl around in my brain. so therefore i must step down from my appinted post and feel as if x should step in and mad can run the campaign and go go can be the economic advisor and ketch can be the press person and jumper11 can be the spin doctor to make it all appear to be on the up and up. to show my support i shall paint the insomniacnocluewhatthefuhhowdidwegetdraggedintothi spoopiecircus party logo on one the wings of the jumps i am currently painting, with the approval of econ advisor gogo and press sec ketch all while jumper11 spins it into a good for the welfar of human kind story.

but back to the topic at hand-i actually told a client about this and she laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaughed and asked where this trainer was that quit as she wanted to go hook up with his lesson program and send kdg to me for a reality check...

[Madame Butterfly]

But, HP, we want a patriotic fishkiller on the ballot with us... http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/cry.gif

[Dusty]

Alright kdg..this is a final challenge to you - if indeed you are legit let us know the barn name of this trainer. If you can't or won't, to hell with you and properly labled a troll. If you're gonna play with the big kids as least be a worthy playmate - at this point, you're pathetic.

[Gold Dust]

Wow! I cann't believe this thread is still going. Come on guys, this troll is so chubby by now. Stop feeding it!! LOL

I actually stopped reading but is anyone here from Illinois that would volunteer a day at their barn for kdg? http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/uhoh.gif

[Janet]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> I think it is his obligation since he was in the business to accomadate us. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Reality check!!!

In the capitalist economy, the primary reason anyone is "in business" is to make at least enough money to keep body and soul together (aka "not starve to death").

NOBODY is "in business" just to accomodate YOU.

[Go-Go]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Gold Dust:
I actually stopped reading but is anyone here from Illinois that would volunteer a day at their barn for kdg? http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/uhoh.gif <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I can think of a couple of Chicago area barns where she might go to get some "lessons." Unfortunately, I think the trainers are in the slammer...

[findeight]

KDG = kidding.

Dam..you got me.
But great fun http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[kidbrother8]

are you absolutly crazy?

I am 12, and I know, obviously, more than you, the value of a dollar!

An hour private, non-boarder lesson: $125 (at my bar), consider yourself lucky.

Trailering for local shows: $100/horse

Our barn has pretty loose barn hours, mostly from 8-5, but nobody is coming in at 7, unless you are a worthy customer, to teach you!

I have my own pony, and thanks to my parents for paying for him! However, I work Pony Camp, making $60 a day, tacking-up, un-tacking, everything, helping for four days a week, four hours a day. Then, I ride three or four horses, my pony I tack, un-tack, and I will help the stablehands who graciously help me tack up the horses on Full Board (my pony is the only one in the barn on Rough Board, cheaper, however I do all the grooming and tacking work myself.) Then, I will help out wherever I can to get credit on the bill.

I also get a free lesson a week for cleaning school saddles.

You need to work, or do something if you expect prices like you were paying. It is an expensive sport, but if you aren't willing to lift a finger, don't expect it to get any cheaper!

My typical barn day: 7:45 in the morning to 6:15 at night, I'm 12!

I work hard, but if I want a good deal, it's expected. My parents can't pay for hundreds of lessons, so I work so I can further my riding.

I feel bad for this trainer, busting his butt without a sorry. My trainer does a whole lot for me and everytime I thank her. I never am late for a lesson, never miss a lesson, always help when called on. You get, you have to give! This trainer did a whole lot for you. It's time for you to realize it.

I show my trainer's horse without rental fee beacause she graciously let me ride him because my pony was hurt and couldn't be ridden. I also help whenever I can and try hard, but it seems to me, you didn't do anything.

I ride anything I can sit on. I am sure you can get a pretty decent horse for less than $30,000, my Large Pony Hunter was less than that! It seems to me you need to brush up on your attitude before you enter the show ring.

If there are no grooms going to the show, I am there (20 miniutes away), wrapping and loading him into the trailer. At our barn, we don't always have to do that, but I like doing it, I enjoy it, knowing that I did it myself. You seemed to want everyone else to do things for you.

Like I said before, are you absolutly crazy?

[crave2event]

those of you who continue to insist that this is a troll, the actual trainer posted on page one, (with over 100 posts to his name) and another poster said they knew who it was.

[The Muffin Man]

x i think according to MB it was deleted--i for one did not see it as I was out decorating the Oasis liverpoole jump with pink lawn flamingos[/QUOTE]

That thread hasn't been deleted, you just have to know where to look! http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/winkgrin.gif


~I'm just a Poopie Troll~

[blazew/4whitesocks]

KDG - You are making me so sick I don't even know where to begin.

1) I really hope you are a troll, but if you aren't......
2)$25 for a lesson???? You are soooo F***in lucky.
3) He should tack up for you and you sometimes have to cool the horse down? You should kiss the ground he walks on.
4) It's his horse. He's not entitled to sell it to some bratty kid who takes lessons on it (and I don't care what % of the time you ride the horse) and who can't pay full price. Also he probally had to make ends meet while getting out of the lesson buisness and needed to sell the horse for full price.
5) You're complaining about trailering and paying for hotel rooms yet you aren't paying to show the horse like normal people do. The logic is getting very twisted.
6) Somebody please name a trainer that will give you lessons whatever time of the day or night that pleases you all week. Hear that KDG? That is called silence. That is because no such trainer exists.
7) I think enough people have givin you numbers to show he probally wasn't making it and you had it really lucky.

You are beyond bratty and it's kids like you that give other kids bad reputations.

[Other]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by crave2event:
those of you who continue to insist that this is a troll, the actual trainer posted on page one, (with over 100 posts to his name) and another poster said they knew who it was. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Can't seem to find the actual trainer's post anywhere. Can someone point me to it? I am very curious.

[ESG]

Aw, c'mon, blaze, give kdg a break. She's obviously been off her medication too long to be in touch with reality. http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gif

You can't get mad at little twerps like this - they just don't know anything about anything. It's kinda like being mad at a puppy that chews up your favorite shoes and piddles on the floor - it just hasn't been trained to behave any better. kdg is obviously in need of remedial training in Reality 101, Economics 101 and Appreciation 101, heavy on the Appreciation. In fact, I think she needs private tutoring - anyone wanna volunteer? I can't - even if I were geographically able, I'd probably ignore my own advice and apply my bootsole to her delicate little hindparts and punt her into the next county. What a stupid, ungrateful haglet it is, to be sure. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[The Muffin Man]

Give it time, life will straighten her out! http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/yes.gif

[Sswor]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> I can think of a couple of Chicago area barns where she might go to get some "lessons." Unfortunately, I think the trainers are in the slammer... <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Be sure you know what you're talking about before you post. I don't know any trainers from Chicago who are currently incarcerated, even recently. No, unfortunatly they're all out free and clear. Should be is a another story.

I was the one who said I thought I knew the trainer kdg was refering to, but it seems I was mistaken. This trainer is still in the business, just not the riding school (you must lease or purchase), and would never buy a school horse for $7500. Who would, really? Answer: NO ONE buys school horses for $7500, no one. Going rate for school horses is $2-4K with the average around $2750. Trainers typically wouldn't even spend $7500 on a sale horse because you can't make much money on them unless they sell for $30-40K and that doesn't happen very often. Sale horses picked up by trainers typically go for $5-6K. That initial cost puts a good, realistic profit margin after paying vet, farrier, training, show costs, trailering, feed/bedding/board.

Bottom line, kdg is probably a very nieve and hateful little girl. She lashes out and then runs away with her tail between her legs. She knows she has no basis for her feelings, short of her teenage hormonal mood swings and we all just pointed it out. She knows she is wrong, she just doesn't know how to appologize. She is frightened, most likely. Kdg, it's ok. The first step toward maturity is admitting when you're wrong. We all screw up. Fess up, pledge your humility, and everyone moves on http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif.

[Sswor]

Wow, that was my 100th post. Hope it was a good one!

[creseida]

sswor, it was a good post, but since trolls are hearing-challenged, no doubt it fell on deaf ears.

[The Muffin Man]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by creseida:
sswor, it was a good post, but since trolls are hearing-challenged, no doubt it fell on deaf ears. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Dusty]

crave2event...I assume you are speaking of AW (posted on pg1 of this thread) that kdg is speaking of. How do you know this this is him or is it just a guess?

sswor...great 100th post!! Yep, the Chicagoland slammer comment is truly a whole other thread - one that I'm not gonna even touch on here.

[MAD]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>kidbrother8:
My trainer does a whole lot for me and everytime I thank her. I never am late for a lesson, never miss a lesson, always help when called on. You get, you have to give! This trainer did a whole lot for you. It's time for you to realize it. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Why waste time on kdg?

Bravo to 12 year old kidbrother8 and his/her(?) parents for raising a great kid.

Pooh on ESG for once again to resorting to name calling:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>You can't get mad at little twerps like this - they just don't know anything about anything. It's kinda like being mad at a puppy that chews up your favorite shoes and piddles on the floor - it just hasn't been trained to behave any better. kdg is obviously in need of remedial training in Reality 101, Economics 101 and Appreciation 101, heavy on the Appreciation. In fact, I think she needs private tutoring - anyone wanna volunteer? I can't - even if I were geographically able, I'd probably ignore my own advice and apply my bootsole to her delicate little hindparts and punt her into the next county. What a stupid, ungrateful haglet it is, to be sure. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Jessi P]

Kidbrother8, go give your parents a hug and a kiss for me and tell them I applaud their devotion to you and your pony.

You have great parents because (I am horrible at quoting things but herehttp://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif "If there are no grooms going to the show, I am there (20 miniutes away), wrapping and loading him into the trailer."

So that means your Mom or Dad is driving you there right? http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif Shoot, you've got it made kid, and whats BETTER is you realize and are appreciative of what you have been given in financial and emotional support, opportunities and a chauffeur!!

[findeight]

Notice that KDG..after I outed her on the Kidding analogy... has been absent.

[MAD]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by findeight:
Notice that KDG..after I outed her on the Kidding analogy... has been absent. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Where have you been? YOU outed her http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_eek.gif? Read Page TWO of this thread.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by QueenMother:
I think "kdg" is short for "kidding" which is what the original poster has got to be doing! I know I'm laughing. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Gold Dust:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by QueenMother:
I think "kdg" is short for "kidding" which is what the original poster has got to be doing! I know I'm laughing. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gif OK. I'm really out of the loop on computer lingo. Now that you pointed that out I feel really dopey!! http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[ESG]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by MAD:
Pooh on ESG for once again to resorting to name calling:

QUOTE]

Oh, please - like I'm the only one? Give me a break. And believe me, if I were in the mood for honest-to-god name calling, I could come up with much better ones than "haglet". Believe me, that's one of the kinder ones in my repertoire. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[findeight]

MAD..sorry, did not read all of this drivel.
You beat me.

[MAD]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>posted by ESG:
Oh, please - like I'm the only one? Give me a break. And believe me, if I were in the mood for honest-to-god name calling, I could come up with much better ones than "haglet". Believe me, that's one of the kinder ones in my repertoire. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

"Like I'm the only one?" makes it correct? That deserves an "Oh, please".

No, you missed the point of my post. An adult resorts to name calling (unproductive, waste of bandwith, IMO) while a 12 year old shows her up with an incredble demonstration of work ethic and outlines their method to achieve affordable riding (productive, good use of bandwith, IMO).

By the way, do you have any positive or encouraging words in your "repertoire"?

[laurencsi03]

alright, I read four pages and have had enough, so if this is "behind the times" so to speak, that's why.

But, here we go- lets do some math!
an inexpensive stall and turnout for one horse in my area is $175. Only inclues shavings and a pasture- no grain, no hay, no work.
Hay for one horse- $100 every six weeks.
Grain for one horse- $50 a month, minimum, plus supplements.
add to that the labor costs of doing all the work, stalls, feeding, turnout, and we've reached a round total of about $400 a month. And that's going the cheap route. In some places these things are even more costly.

So, kdg, your trainer was footing a minimum of $400 per month for every horse he kept. Next- each horse has to have a saddle, bridle, martingale, boots, and saddle pads- lets say that altogether costs about $1500.

So now, in the first month of having a horse at the farm, the trainer has spent almost $2,000 MINIMUM. Now, if he has ten students taking once a week lessons, we'll assume that actually 5 of them show up, leaving him with a grand total of $125 for those lessons. Add $600 from 2 16-hour show days (btw, that's less than $20 an hour, IF these were only one day shows,) and your trainer grosses $1100 a month, plus whatever extra he makes off boarding some people's horses or doing some training at the shows. That's not very much money and certainly not enough to cover the overhead on a barn, owning several horses he lets students ride for free, and the costs of owning and maintaining a truck and trailer to trailer you for the bargain rate of $1 per mile. I am very lucky to get that same rate, and I wonder how on earth my trailer person does it.


My trainer works at a barn where lessons are between $25 and $35 per half hour, we tack our own horses and put them away, and pitch in to earn the respect and rides we want and to keep our own costs down, and she makes between $300 and $400 a week. That means she makes $20k or so a year at the high end of her salary, and while that may sound like a lot of money to you, it isn't when you have to buy food, pay for your car and your rent (you would probably stagger if you knew how much I, and I am 16 years old, have to come up with every month to cover my car payment, my insurace, and my food,) as well as keep one horse for yourself. If you're riding, unless your parents are extremely supportive of your hobby, they probably make far more than that. Just a thought.

Teaching is really a thankless job, and it gets worse when you give and give and give and peopleonly take and take and take. I recently switched trainers, and she loves how flexible and easygoing I am about lesson times, which horses I ride, who I ride with, and helping out with chores and at the shows. In turn, she gives me rides when she has horses who need them, and everyone's happy. All it takes is a little flexibility and a good attitude, and things might just come your way. I've only been riding there a few weeks, and this is how it is already. I owned my own horse prior to this, and I'm just fine with riding whatever I can... and doing whatever I can to help my poor trainer out. Maybe you don't enjoy riding for the sake of riding enough to put in the time with the horses and the other people? It's really dedication that makes you appreciate what you're given, and you either lack that or are highly spoiled. Get a working student position somewhere, adjust your attitude, and learn about all the hard work that goes into working with horses. The payoff might just be worth it.

[laurencsi03]

also, I'm pretty sure that the standard for "kidding" or "just kidding" in e-lingo is actually "jk" or "j/k." I have never, ever seen or heard of "kdg" being short for "kidding."

[ESG]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MAD:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>posted by _ESG:_
Oh, please - like I'm the only one? Give me a break. And believe me, if I were in the mood for honest-to-god name calling, I could come up with much better ones than "haglet". Believe me, that's one of the kinder ones in my repertoire. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

"Like I'm the only one?" makes it correct? That deserves an "Oh, please".

No, you missed the point of my post. An adult resorts to name calling (unproductive, waste of bandwith, IMO) while a 12 year old shows her up with an incredble demonstration of work ethic and outlines their method to achieve affordable riding (productive, good use of bandwith, IMO).

By the way, do you have any positive or encouraging words in your "repertoire"? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Umm, I'm sure we all appreciate you visiting our world from whatever universe you normally inhabit, but what in fruitbatting heck are you talking about? Do you really comprehend so poorly that you thought I was bashing an obviously stellar person such as kidbrother8? It was the original poster, kdg, that was the object of my scorn, and rightly so. You really need to work on your reading comprehension, honey - you'll embarass yourself a lot less frequently....................http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

And yes, for those whose actions merit, I have lots of encouraging words. Unlike you, who seem to get a massive charge out of bashing me whenever or wherever the opportunity presents itself. Even if you have to make yourself look stupid in the process. Gotta give you credit for persistence, anyway. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

Edited to add that calling a spade a spade is seldom considered "name calling" - just truth. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[oskaar]

Hold up y'all--I think I have been downright robbed! First of all, I pay $40 for a lesson. And I have to bring my own horse! THis is just ridiculous. I mean really, who needs new shoes every four weeks? And sometimes I even go to Southern Pines for a lesson. Shouldn't my trainer (a **** Olympic eventer) drive over to Charlotte to pick up my horse? I mean really.

While this may be a troll, the sad thing is that I've known kids like this before (and sometimes I'm even stabled next to them at shows), and I'll know plenty more before I die. Some people just don't get it.

[MAD]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>posted by ESG:
Unlike you, who seem to get a massive charge out of bashing me whenever or wherever the opportunity presents itself. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

At least you got this part correct.

[Magnolia]

Oskaar
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Shouldn't my trainer (a **** Olympic eventer) drive over to Charlotte to pick up my horse? I mean really.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Honestly, if you are paying $40, you SHOULD get to ride all of his Olympic Horsies for free and take them home to practice on. And he should pay the board. And kiss your butt for doing so.

Are you enjoying Charlotte?

[ESG]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MAD:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>posted by ESG:
Unlike you, who seem to get a massive charge out of bashing me whenever or wherever the opportunity presents itself. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

At least you got this part correct. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yeah, but I see you conveniently left out the rest of my quote. Here, I'll include it so you're not accused of not being thorough:

"Even if you have to make yourself look stupid in the process. Gotta give you credit for persistence, anyway. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif"

There, now; that really helps with the delivery, doesn't it? http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gif

MAD, we have to stop this. People will say we're in love......................http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/uhoh.gif

[Alyson]

kdg -

Since you're from Illinois - do me a favor....never show up at Top Brass. We don't welcome your kind there. Right now the going rate for trailer in 1.50 a mile. That doesn't include wrapping that doesn't matter how many horses are being trailered to the same place. It's your job to groom, tack, untack, cool down, and groom again. It's your job to braid for a show, it's your job to take those braids out. It's your job to be there to load and unload the horse at both the show and at home. $25.00 is extremely reasonable. I charge $30.00 for 30 min. on your own horse. Grow up you little troll!

[Ketch]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>MAD, we have to stop this. People will say we're in love......................

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I doubt you have to worry about *that*, ESG ... http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gif

[ESG]

Unrequited lust, then? Or just ueber cyber crush? http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gif

[akrogirl]

H'mm, my trainer actually has the nerve to ride MY horses http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif I think I need to tell her that she should be paying me for the privilege of riding my wonderful boys - I'm sure they don't really need any of that training stuff http://chronicleforums.com/images/custom_smilies/lol.gif

[jr]

Don't be sad -- Embrace your first real world lesson in economics!!!!

Your trainer doesn't owe you.... http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_confused.gif He's trying to make a living. Sounds like you guys had a great deal -- so good in fact that the trainer couldn't make enough profit to make the business worthwhile.

Guess what, it's not his responsibility that you get to continue to ride at low cost. His first responsibility is to himself, his family, and his creditors.

[radar]

I guess if Bill Gates opens a training barn, we'll all be rushing there from far and wide to see what he'll subsidize for us.........

[Bumpkin]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by radar:
I guess if Bill Gates opens a training barn, we'll all be rushing there from far and wide to see what he'll subsidize for us......... <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I wish Bill Gates would build a barn, because it would be by me.
http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[oskaar]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Magnolia:
Oskaar
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Shouldn't my trainer (a **** Olympic eventer) drive over to Charlotte to pick up my horse? I mean really.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Honestly, if you are paying $40, you SHOULD get to ride all of his Olympic Horsies for free and take them home to practice on. And he should pay the board. And kiss your butt for doing so.

Are you enjoying Charlotte? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yeah, dude. It's pretty cool. One of these days I might actually make it to a show http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Tory Relic]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by MAD:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>posted by _ESG:_
Oh, please - like I'm the only one? Give me a break. And believe me, if I were in the mood for honest-to-god name calling, I could come up with much better ones than "haglet". Believe me, that's one of the kinder ones in my repertoire. http://chronicleforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

"Like I'm the only one?" makes it correct? That deserves an "Oh, please".

No, you missed the point of my post. An adult resorts to name calling (unproductive, waste of bandwith, IMO) while a 12 year old shows her up with an incredble demonstration of work ethic and outlines their method to achieve affordable riding (productive, good use of bandwith, IMO).

By the way, do you have any positive or encouraging words in your "repertoire"? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

OH, COME ON. This whole thread is a waste of bandwidth, or would be, if it weren't so entertaining. If you are so worried about bandwith, MAD, stop wasting it to tell other people how to post. That's the moderator's job.