Horse Boarding Issues! How do you deal with drunken and or unruly co-boarders?

Question

Every stable has it's issues. I angered a co-boarder who was drunk and putting a child at severe risk when I intercepted them. Now, the alcholic is spreading lies about me and my children to the other boarders. Many will no longer speak to us. The drunk's friends make really rude comments to my children and I. We don't have any other suitable boarding facilities near us. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

I agree, you need to take this to the owner, and if they do nothing, you need to move.  Your children and possibly your horses are at risk, and that's not worth the convenience.

Answer 2

If you have any alternative at all, I would move out of there...any stable owner that would be so lax as to let those things happen is capable of not providing the care to your horse that you are paying for.  If at all possible, find another place to board your horse...I know, you shouldn't have to, but sometimes, you just have to bite the bullet and do what you think is right for your horse/horses.

Answer 3

No place is perfect but you definitely need to find a new location.  I would never allow my horses to be around drunks/addicts or owners who allow drunks/addicts on the premises.  That is a huge liability so the owners again are showing their ignorance and inability to run a proper business.  Horses are such high risk anyway, I can't image allowing people around in an altered state.  You have no choice except to move.  Who cares if people are not speaking to you.  Would you listen to anything and give credence to what was said by a drunk.  Sounds like some of the sober people have their problems too.  Boarding is such a difficult situation to be in.  Hope you find a place.

Answer 4

Keep looking...you can't control this, and if you make trouble you may find yourself with no place to go.

Answer 5

Tell the person you are boarding from. When around the stables just act normal if you are genuinely sweet and direct then the other people will figure it out. let you kids carry a tape recorder to Hear those comments.

Answer 6

wow- that barn owner is just asking for a lawsuit, isn't he? Even if the other boarding options are less than perfect, you need to move. Now. Your childrens safety is at risk.

There has got to be somewhere decent to take your horse. You just  haven't found it yet! Ask at the feed store, the tack shop. Stop anywhere you see a horse in the pasture & ask if they take boarders. Contact your local 4-h, or show associations.

I have a boarding barn myself, and if you asked me, I could think of about 20 other places within 15 minutes of my barn that board, most of which don't advertise or aren't obviously boarding barns on sight. Ask one of my customers? They could name 2 or 3, max.

Good luck - I hope you find a nice new place soon!

Answer 7

Why not talk to the barn owner to let them know that the boarders are on site drunk?  Surely that isn't allowed at the barn...?  And if it is, maybe you should move (further away, if need be) if things are that bad.  God only knows what accidents might occur to you, your horse, or someone else with drunk people stumbling about the grounds.

Answer 8

If you frequently confront this boarder who's drunk and unruly, try wearing a hidden camera or recording device so you can prove just how bad it is.  The owners of this facility need to step in and take charge.  If not, and this person gets out of control or endangers others, call the police.  Whatever you do, you need to help stop this person's unacceptable behavior!

Answer 9

Having a similar problem myself. My cousins board their horses at the same place as mine. I, too can not afford a different place. My male cousin (who is an addict and alcoholic) keeps telling my aunt to talk me into letting him ride my horses. I told her and him "NO" and told the stable manager to call me if he sees him on my horse.

I've yet to get a call so I don't know if he is doing it and I am not notified or if he is abiding with my rules.

If he does, I will call the police and charge him with theft. That will make for a nice family Christmas.

Answer 10

and the barn owner/manager wont do anything about it? lots of liability issues if you can get some good evidence as to this... i would point this out... if that doesnt work then you could call for law enforcement...the boarding stable is most likely a "public" place (i am assuming that there are seveal boarders)...

this means that you have also sorts of legal recourses to someone who is drunk...

every state is different, but in texas where i work if i rolled up to a scene where a drunk person was doing what you describe i could charge them with:

public intoxication, DWI (if i saw them driving), disorderly conduct if they used offensive foul language or used actions that could cause a "breach of the peace", or even child endangerment...possibly animal abuse as well,depending on what i saw...

this is just all without having a conversation with the person.. drunk people frequently give us also such fun arrests as: resisting arrest or detention, assault, and assault on a public servant (dependent upon how much POP the actor does (pi$$ing off police!)

Answer 11

I had to deal with this drunken issue back in March.  One of the other boarders who was in her cups at the time, without my permission and when I wasn't there, decided that she would take my 3 yr old AQHA filly out and "graze" her.

The owners were on the premises, however not right there at the horse facility.

It was turning dusk, getting cooler and the wind had started to pick up.

Having NEVER handled my filly before, she put a halter and lead on her, lead her to the arena gate, opened it, the wind picked up, all the other horses (3) in the arena fired up and the filly bolted through the open gate and got away from the boarder.

I got a call from the stable owner at dark (I'm night blind and can't see driving these country roads at nite.) telling me what basically had happened and that the filly had ended up getting tangled up in their wire fencing.

The next day I came out and assessed the damage.  Apparently she'd gotten caught in the gate and her left hip seemed to be sore which concerned me so I did call the vet.

The "boarder" got to pay the vet bill, my gas for the next week and the extra feed to get the meds down the filly (Antibiotic and good old Butte).

She was NOT happy about it and the owners tried to make a stipulation that she NOT drink on the property, so she'd tank up at home, then come to the barn.  She got a 30 day written notice but at the end of it seemed to have done a turn around.  We have made it clear though if I am NOT there, she is NOT to touch any of my horses!  PERIOD!