Need advice pre-rescue

[fairazelle]

I know I am kind of a lurker now here, but I have a situation and was looking for a bit of advice.

I am at a self care facility now with a friend of mine and the other 2 boarders here are sisters. They currently have 5 horses, 3 on the premises (including a stallion) and 2 out on lease I believe. These girls are 16 and 21 and are now both pregnant and due in the fall I think. The 21 year old has a part time job and is living with her unemployed boyfriend and I think the 16 year old is living with her mom still.

Anyway, these girls have NO money and are behind on their board bill by several months (a whopping $50 per horse), and cannot afford hay. Throughout this last winter they were even taking my friend's hay and "promising" to pay her back...which they did not do. They are still able to buy grain and have been, but I am very concerned about the horses' future. No vets will come out and treat their horses since they owe money at every single one. One vet even called my friend looking for contact info on the girls since they owed over $1000. (unethical yes, but I think he was desperate)

As of right now, the girls have their grandfather and mother coming out to feed since they "don't have time" and the younger has no license. They also live an hour away.

So right now the horses are not in dire straights, but if any of them needs a vet there won't be one that will come. So what happens to the horses then? Just suffer until they die? And what happens once these girls have their babies? They are going to want to get rid of these horses quick (and we know where they'll end up), or, slowly starve them come winter when they can't afford hay and grain. From what I understand, last year their father was the one footing the bill for all of their horses, but now daddy is in the big house for fraud and there's no money coming in.

The three that are here are not going to be easy to place either. All are POA's (so they are small), the 2 year old is not halter broken, the 3 year old is green broke, very aggressive at feeding time (attacked me) and has NO manners, and of course the other is a stallion. All 3 are registered and the girls say they won't take anything less than $3000 for the green broke 3 year old. They are nice looking ponies, but not worth that much by a long shot. I don't even know if they'd sell the stallion since they made a deal with a mare owner...one foal for them, one for the girls. Since another foal is just what they need.

Anyway, my question is...what should I do? I hate to just sit by and watch it play out, but what else can I do? I can't afford to offer them anything for any of their horses, nor do I have the time to work with any of them like they need. Plus, I don't know if they'd even sell them. This whole situation is driving me nuts!

[Admin]

One idea:

If the owner of the barn puts an agister lien ( simple do do ) on the horses for past due board they cannot legally remove the horses from the facility and she can then sell them for the board due.

asci.uvm.edu/equine/law/lien/wa_lien.htm

[fairazelle]

I am in MD, so I am not sure what laws there are here regarding this. However, I don't think the barn owner would do this anyway. He is not that familiar with horses and only started boarding because the girls' grandfather talked him into it. He used to raise cattle on the property before he retired. There are also no official documents, no contracts or even release forms, so could he really enforce it? He's a handshake kind of guy.

Also, could he put a lien on them, and then the girls just pay what they owe quickly and get the horses back? They might be able to persuade family members to come up with the money to do that.

He is frustrated with them, but he is just too nice to do it and wouldn't want to take on the responsibility of caring for them. Although he did tell me that he is watching to make sure someone is coming to feed them everday, and that if the horses were becoming neglected he would kick the girls out.

I keep hoping they'll manage to sell their horses before it gets too bad. They had already sold 2 right before I came, but at their delusional prices I just don't think it'll happen. The 2 that sold were well broke kid's ponies.

Thanks though for the link. I will mention it to the BO and see what he thinks...can't hurt to ask eh?

[rocky]

Can you talk with the girl's and tell them how you see this playing out and offer to help sell them at a reasonable price??? Tell them the market is saturated right now and they will have their hands full with their... babies.... So better to do it now.

[jenm]

Any chance they can do chores around the barn in trade for board or feed?

[bridgetah]

I'd talk w/them and focus on their future needs such as baby clothes, child care, how to finish high school, etc. They're probably not very realistic about things.

It's hard not to judge, but those babies are on their way and everyone should be welcoming, IMO.

The whole point of that is that it may give you some leverage with them. I'd just try to get to know them and then, when the time comes, you'd be in a good position to help place the ponies.

[Admin]

asci.uvm.edu/equine/law/cases/laws/laws.htm

Excellent site with state by state laws!

[hayforhorses - The Food Angel]

These are excellent suggestions. It is best to go 'straight to the point', so to speak, and, right the wrongs, rather than wait for the situation to further deterioriate.

Plus, these girls are really 'stealing' from the boarding facility and the vets, using their services without paying them. This is really wrong and unfair to the persons supplying the services. These girls need to learn that they cannot keep on taking advantage of other persons. And, the father is being charged with FRAUD??? What is he teaching his children?

AND....the horses are going to suffer eventually if this problem is not taken care of.

Aimee

May 31, 2008 18:57:55 GMT -5 Admin said:

asci.uvm.edu/equine/law/cases/laws/laws.htm

Excellent site with state by state laws!

and PEC's previous posting:

"One idea:

If the owner of the barn puts an agister lien ( simple do do ) on the horses for past due board they cannot legally remove the horses from the facility and she can then sell them for the board due.

asci.uvm.edu/equine/law/lien/wa_lien.htm "

[fairazelle]

Thanks for all the advice! I will try to figure out a way to talk to them. I don't know them very well at all (have only actually seen/met/talked to them twice) and they don't much like me. They think the place is "theirs" and they are upset that I am there. When their grandfather comes to feed he won't even speak to us. I had only been there 2 days before they were calling my friend and asking if I would feed their horses at night since they "were at a show" or "didn't get off work til 6". So my friend was doing mornings and they had me doing every night. After 2 weeks I told her to tell them I was worried that their 3 year old was going to hurt me and I would no longer feed. They are very good at taking advantage. I think they are used to having their way. they start off small and before you know it you're screwed. Sigh...so much drama. My friend knows them a bit better so maybe I can work through her a bit?

Sadly enough, I don't think they would listen even if they liked me. They seem to have the "I don't need advice because I am an expert" mentality. I would invite them to ride with me, but they kind of can't....maybe I could schedule a trip to Dover Saddlery and invite them? I can't think of any other way to extend the hand of friendship without them trying to take advantage...grrrr

[earlybp]

I would go through your friend. As much as you want to help their horses, they may need a lesson in self-sufficiency.
I feel really sorry for their future babies.

[pikzeedust]

And these people are having kids??? Poor little kids.......

[fairazelle]

So last night at midnight the BO heard a noise...and apparently it was the girls sneaking their horses off the property.

Problem solved I hope. Their grandmother raises POA's, so maybe they were able to put the horses up there. I can only hope they'll get the training and care they need.

[mbr]

Actually your friend could of put a lein on them for the hay, if money is owed you can put alein on, hopefully they are in good hands