Our barn is a not-for-profit association. We provide basic services
(feeding, cleaning, maintenance of facilities, etc.) for a very
reasonable monthly rate. Most of the people who do the management stuff
are directors, who are all volunteers and don't get paid. We don't
provide lessons; you can have your trainer come here and train you and
your horse as long as he/she signs a waiver.
We recently had a new boarder arrive -- and 11-year-old girl with an
Arab mare. To make a long story monotonous -- Mom and Dad, who have no
experience with horse, want to just drop her off. The mare has the
upper hand in this relationship, and knows that if she misbehaves long
enough, the girl will get off and try to deal with her from the ground.
Once she's off, she can never get back on. She gets frustruated, and
puts the mare back in her stall -- which is what the mare wanted all along.
We've had a few incidents where I thought for sure the little girl was
going to end up in the hospital. Reasonable discourse with the parents
has failed ("she's had riding lessons since she was four, and she's
handled tougher horses...", etc., etc.). The board of directors has
tried to enforce a policy of parental supervision, but it is ignored.
Unfortunately, the boarding agreement can be interpreted just about
any way you like.
At this point many of the other boarders are past the point of
worrying about the little girl's safety, and are worried about their
own. This mare is in definite need of an attitude adjustment.
So what to do? I'm not convinced that rules, policies, or contract
addendums will make any difference, since enforceability would be
problematic, at best. I hate to see the little girl get hurt to prove
a point, but the parents don't want to sell this horse ("she can
handle her..."). At the same time, I don't want to see *my* kids get
hurt.
Suggestions?
Thanks.
Best regards,
Mark Thayer
Albuquerque, New Mexico
USA