Barn Owner Making It Impossible To Set Up Time To Leave Barn. What Are My Options? longish?

Question

I have boarded my horse on a woman's property for just over a year now. Do to no fault of the owner's I have had to find a new place to board (Gas prices ICK!) I gave the woman 30 days notice that I was leaving and two weeks later had the new barn pull out from under me. Luckily I had a fall back barn. I was waiting for the results of the needed blood tests to move when the owner gave me a time and date that would be good for me to move from her barn (field actually) and I told her I would make plans accordingly. I warned her that I had a person to trailer my horse but they wanted the tests in my hands before they would come get my horse. She assured me that if I wanted it that day that after 5 in the afternoon would be fine.

I received the results and notified the owner that the time we had agreed upon earilyer that month was going to work out fine. She replied that she has since made plans for that date for a picnic and I would have to wait for another day. This happened less than tree days before the appointed time we had set almost a month prior. Its coming up to the end of the month and I needed my horse moved and I spent 3 days trying to work out a time between three people to move this horse and the owner is making it so difficult that the people trailering me are thinking of pulling out.

My questions are:

1st I have no written or verbal agreements with this woman about removing horses from this property. Am I within my right to go to the barn at the previously appointed time we agreed upon and take my horse with out her there?

2nd The woman has told me she wants to be present at my leaving the barn and that I will have to work around her children's sports schedules to move him so that she can be there. We had three other days open to move and she turned them all down for one reason or another. Is it the boarder's responsibility to work around the owner's complete schedule when she is not willing to allow someone to stand in her place (ie barn manager)? I thought it was the other way around.

Again I want to stress that we have had no verbal or written agreements about this and I never actually agreed that I would wait until she was there. She merely assumes that I will not show up at the preappointed time and trailer my horse to the new barn.

any and all imput welcome

Answer 1

Forget verbal contracts; if there is nothing in writing and the horse belongs to you; then you move it when you want.  She should be accommodating you, not the other way around.  She probably doesn't give written agreements because it is technically illegal for her to rent to boarders.  Move when it is convenient for you and tell her when you are leaving - end of story.  She is being unprofessional and ridiculous.

Answer 2

Your horse you can move any date you wish.  Do yourself a favor and when you do go pick up the horse take some pictures of the area and any where you walk through...She may try to pull something later and say you destroyed something, for you protection just take a few photos.

Answer 3

I guess I'm kinda rude. I boarded my horse down the street at the stables while I was getting the barn at my house ready for her. I rented by the day and didn't even tell the lady I was leaving just left. I don't understand this women's attitude. It's your horse not hers. She's lucky you rented from her.

Answer 4

Hey   it's her candy store   stop whining

Answer 5

almost everyone else has said it - its your horse, you can move him when you want... unless you have something in writing that says you cant be on the property when she's not there you are good to go, and you said there are no written agreements, so just pick your horse up when you are ready...

she cannot keep you from your horse, and she has no right to hold the horse...if you show up and she doesnt let you and tries to make a fuxx, back off and then go to your JP judge the next working day and tell the judge your story.. the judge will sign a writ that will require her to let you take your horse...

if you try to call the cops to help you when you go to get the horse and the manager kicks up a fuss the cops wont really be able to help, as this will actually be a civil matter... by getting a writ from the judge it will essentially order the cops to interfere as necessary.. that's the only time law enforcement can get involved in civil matters...

Answer 6

Move on the date you arranged. She's messing you about and it's costing you money. If she's so keen to be there when you leave then she will alter her schedule.

It sounds like she really doesn't want you to go and is trying to stop you. If you mess the new barn around too much they are going to get fed up and let your stall to someone else - don't forget that they are also losing money holding an empty space for you.

Answer 7

my advise to you is go like u were gonna go ride and just get your horse together for shipping and bring him out to the street and put him on the trailer.that way she cant make a fuss about others on her property.i just dont see how she can decide when u move YOUR horse.best of luck

Answer 8

No contract, you go when you want! If the woman cannot get there, tough cookies for her. You have been more than understanding and it is time to put your foot down. I highly recommend a contract at your next barn. They not only protect the barn owner, but the horse owner as well. There is nothing wrong with you moving your horse when you want. You are under no obligation to move the horse only when the owner of the barn is present since you did not sign a contract and since she cannot make it work. I would tell her when you are moving the horse and if she says she can't make it, then say, ok, well, i will still be moving my horse then so if you can make it great, if not, thanks for the boarding!

Answer 9

I believe you can go when ever you want. especialy since you gave her a 30 days notice. Id say call her and tell her your moveing your horse out this day and if she isnt there your astill going to have to move them becuase you have other people in this process and you cant keep s******g up there plans just becuase she wants to be there. I mean i can understand why she wants to be there, but you gave her a fair warning and she cant just keep doing that to you.

Answer 10

What sort of written contract do you have with this woman about boarding your horse there?

It seems to me that you have given her sufficient notice that you are moving your horse and she chose to make other plans for that day and time well after the fact.

I would go ahead and move the horse if it were mine, but I would have a law enforcement officer present at the time, "just in case."

And, make sure you get a written contract with your new place that spells out details such as this!

Answer 11

If you have no boarding contract explicitly stating that the barn owner must be present when the horse leaves, than you are well within your rights to take your horse whenever you please.

In the civil courts, the law holds every person up to the "reasonable person standard." That is, what would a reasonable person do in your situation? I believe that since you've tried to make arrangements for your horse to leave several times, and the barn owner at one time agreed to a certain time, that qualifies as a verbal contract and you should be allowed to truck your horse out at that time. Most people consider it reasonable for thirty days notice to be given, and the most I've ever seen happen if a horse leaves on short notice is for the horse owner to pay the remaining board for that month. I've never heard of anyone getting upset over not being there when a horse leaves, and I don't think there's any legal action she could take against you. The most that might happen is that you won't be welcome back should you ever want to board with her again. But considering how controlling and manipulative it seems she's being, I don't think you're going to have a problem with that.