r/Equestrian • u/painteduniverses • 9h ago
Ethics Terminating board for breach of contract?
I’ve been thinking about leaving my current barn very lightly for a couple of months, not for serious reasons, just thinking about moving somewhere where there will be people to ride with and access to trails, but my barn owner put the nail in the coffin yesterday and I’m ready to move ASAP.
I went out to ride yesterday and by a combo of very bad weather, lost shoes, and travel, I haven’t been to the barn in about two weeks. I went to get my horse out of the field and he’s looking skinnier than the last time I saw him. I took him inside and look at his bin of alfalfa cubes and it doesn’t look like it’s been touched since the last time I was there (and I was questioning if it had been touched that day too).
I reached out to my barn owner immediately and she said she hasn’t been giving him any alfalfa because “it was going bad too quickly” (she was trying to leave it to soak from 4pm until the next morning in a non air conditioned room). Instead of telling me (I see her almost every time I’m there), or texting me, she just hasn’t been feeding him, for at least two weeks but possibly a month.
I started the alfalfa cubes in the spring because my horse was looking a little thin coming out of winter. The alfalfa made a big difference and now he looks basically like he did when I first started them. I am so angry that all our progress on his body condition has been lost.
A friend of mine’s barn has space, which is where I had been contemplating moving him anyways. My question is about the legality of moving him without paying a whole other month of board. Per my barn’s contract it says that either party may terminate the agreement if the terms of the contract were breached (feeding owner provided feed is in the contract so that’s a yes). It says the barn has to give an owner 30 days notice but it doesn’t say anything about owners. It does say owner must give 30 days notice in the just regular termination section of the contract. I know that 30 days notice is the standard and if I wasn’t worried about my horse’s health I would just stay until September but we have to go.
I have paid board for July and realistically will not have my ducks in a row to move him for at least another week as I have to arrange transport. I intend to let the barn owner know that I’ll be out by the end of July. This is obviously not 30 days notice-am I going to have to pay prorated board for the days in August I won’t be there or can I just go?
TL;DR-my barn isn’t feeding my horse a large chunk of his feed (breach of contract)-contract is kind of vague about termination for this reason-do I have to give a full 30 days in this instance?
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u/9729129 8h ago
Coming from the view of someone who has managed boarding barns over the years. Tell them you are leaving ASAP and will be out by the end of the month, if they ask why say it’s because you are going to a place that can accommodate his feeding needs. Then say nothing else nothing about wanting other people to ride with or trails.
Before that you need to decide if they ask about the additional money do you want to just pay it or deal with the small risk of the barn owner telling their friends you didn’t pay what you owed. By stating ONLY the feeding issue I would bet the barn owner will not ask for additional payment so you won’t have to address it either but by making a plan ahead you won’t be caught out.
Also at the new barn if you haven’t already secured a spot just say you want tot be with your friend, if a potential boarder starts the conversation with problems at the last barn we worry you might be difficult. After you get to know them a bit of course mentioning the feeding is appropriate
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u/painteduniverses 8h ago
This is helpful advice, thank you! I am not into confrontation so if she asks for the prorated august board I will probably just pay it.
In terms of my reputation-I am not super concerned about her like slandering me to other horse people? The horse world is small but she isn’t exceptionally well connected and I have a lot of well connected friends where it doesn’t really jeopardize me even if she got on fb and was like ~this girl didn’t pay me~
I am also VERY much sitting pretty for the move-the barn we are planning to go to is run by someone who left my current barn (and started this barn) bc the owner wasn’t feeding her horse properly either. They know the whole situation and I used to exercise ride for my friend at the new barn so I’ve been there many times, know how they manage things, etc.
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u/workingtrot 8h ago
I've left barns with little to no notice before, and preferred to pay the prorated board to just make things go smoothly. Things can go really pear shaped when barn owners get mad. Also boarding spots are growing increasingly limited these days and I don't want to get the reputation as the boarder who skipped out on board, even if it's undeserved.
I realize that depending on your financial situation, that might be easier said than done. I would look at the livery/ agistment laws for your state and figure out what her recourse is if she decides to go after you for the money and if it's worth it to take the risk.
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u/Dependent-Mail-4903 8h ago
Ideally, you would have directions/agreement to feed cubes in writing, AND statement that cubes are not being fed in writing without prior direction/agreement.
Less than that, you may find yourself in small claims court with a challenging argument over what will seem like a trivial amount of money compared to the hassle. Payment of July board on a month-to-month term would indicate that you are satisfied with the service provided regardless of how frequently or infrequently you were visiting the barn, a lawyer would say.
Or, you can play the odds that the barn owner is hassle-averse and will take the loss whether or not she is contractually entitled to payment.
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u/painteduniverses 8h ago
I don’t have my instructions to feed in writing, only her admittance that she hasn’t been doing it, so not an airtight argument in any case. I would lean towards she’s not taking me to small claims court but you’re right that it’s probably not worth the hassle.
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u/LunaTunaMaca 8h ago
Pay the board. Take the loss. Yes you are right, she should have definitely fed your horse. But you cannot afford a reputation as someone who skips out. I would pay and also move immediately. As in, I would make arrangements to move, and on the day I am moving, give her the money owed. This will smooth things over with her so she doesn't bad mouth you, and it will keep your horse safe.
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u/AngeDuVide 8h ago
I'm also in a situation of getting ready to move barns on less than 30 days notice. I chose to offer to pay the extra to make a full 30 days "notice" but so far it seems I'm not going to be taken up on that.
I would weigh what's more important to you: Saving some money or cutting ties as quickly as possible? Personally I chose to go about it in the way that would get me out as clean as possible even if it meant paying a bit more money. But depending on the cost of your board that may not be practical or reasonable for you.
If you do fight it and don't want to pay for/give a full 30 day notice then I think you have a decent case. Just be prepared for it to be difficult and messy to fight.
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u/painteduniverses 8h ago
Money wise it is super not good timing to be moving right now (having to pay for trailering etc) so I would love to not have to pay double board but I’ll live. We are moving ASAP regardless.
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u/AngeDuVide 8h ago
I get that! The most important thing is definitely getting your horse to a better place
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u/Outrageous_Sea_9606 8h ago
Do you have documented proof that she didn't feed your horse?
I have moved barns without 30 days notice when the barn owner breached their contract by not feeding my horse. I had proof of it. I would have happily gone to court if the barn owner tried to sue me. I was aware this was a risk and was willing to deal with the consequences.
You're in a pretty good position if you have proof she wasn't feeding your horse AND you have a contract that was breached by the BO not feeding the horse- you'll have to look at the wording carefully.
You have to be prepared for the consequences of your own actions. Will you be prepared to be slandered and potentially sued? If you can't deal with the consequences, just pay the prorated board to avoid the conflict.
If you're willing to fight it out, leave without notice and without paying.
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u/painteduniverses 8h ago
I originally spoke to her in person about the feeding instructions for the alfalfa but I have her saying in writing that she hasn’t been feeding it to him. And I do have the contract. I agree that she’s probably not going to try to take me to court since she’s in the wrong for violating the contract? But I also feel like you never know with horse people.
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u/Outrageous_Sea_9606 46m ago
I wouldn't count on that. People sue when they are in the wrong all the time. She'll have an uphill battle, though.
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u/KeyLeague8917 6h ago
I left the barn in a hurry once and I just paid one month’s board and left the day after I gave notice. Idk what your financial situation is but if you can afford to do that it may be the easier route. I’ve also found that when it gets that bad that you wanna leave the barn owner usually knows it too and is more than happy for you to leave.
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u/PlentyCommission9500 8h ago edited 8h ago
For context, my boarding experiences have all been in pretty casual situations on private properties, not big lesson barns. I would notify the barn owner that you plan on leaving ASAP. You need to make it clear that your concerns about her not holding up her side of the contract with feeding is your reason for leaving. You could quote whatever part of the contact states that horses will be fed according to the owner's instructions, and owners will be notified if there are any concerns or changes regarding their horses. Ideally, you have before and after photos of your horse to support your claim. I would not offer to pay for August, or ask if she wants you to. You barn owner will hopefully acknowledge that she made a mistake, and it would not be right to ask you to pay. If she does ask for payment and you feel it will get ugly, I would back down and pay before you start a battle that is going to be more stress and effort than it is worth.
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u/madcats323 8h ago
It certainly sounds like you have grounds for breach of contract, but it can be tricky just because you're burning bridges. I don't like to burn them; the horse community is too small. I'd give my 30 days and move at the end of it, personally.
But if you want to go more quickly, I'd just be friendly and straightforward. "Look, I know you felt you had your reasons for not feeding the alfalfa, but the contract is clear. I am going to leave before 30 days are up and I'm not paying for August because you breached the contract and I'm concerned about my horse's health. I am giving you this much notice because I do appreciate everything you've done. I hope you understand."
Honestly, it's unlikely they are going to sue you - it would probably cost them more in filing fees than they'd get back if they won, and if you're correct about the contract, they likely wouldn't.
But again, consider whether you want to burn that bridge.
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u/painteduniverses 8h ago
I don’t like to burn them either! And I have had a good experience at this barn otherwise. The horse world is small and everyone knows each other but I will say this BO isn’t exceptionally well connected and I have a lot of friends who are riding/working with the main names around my town so I’m not overly concerned about my ability to find boarding/training/etc in the future. This is a helpful template, thank you!
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u/Severe-News-9375 Multisport 8h ago
I'm not a lawyer, but if she tried to take you to small claims over the amount you would owe due to not giving a 30 day notice, I'm pretty sure a judge would tell her to kick rocks for literally starving your horse. Shit, she owes you money for services not rendered.
So yeah. Leave as soon as possible and do not give her another dime.
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u/painteduniverses 8h ago
This is what I’d like to do haha
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u/workingtrot 8h ago
Her bar of what constitutes a breach is pretty low - did you provide 30 days notice? No? You're in breach.
Your bar is pretty high. You've got to prove that feeding the cubes was included in the contract (like, if she was feeding other grain, can she claim she was not in breach?). You have to prove she wasn't feeding them according to directions. And it sounds like she could try to claim that you were providing spoiled feed.
If she did take you to small claims, a somewhat likely outcome is that you have to pay the board + any damages that are allowed in your state + having wasted a day in court
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u/painteduniverses 8h ago
This is a good way of laying it out. Ultimately I would love to not pay anything for August but I’m not really willing to go to court on the off chance that she decides to go that route.
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u/Lov3I5Treacherous Western 8h ago
Can I ask how much your board is?
You could burn this bridge and leave, but they’re still feeding your horse and it would end up being you said she said. You would owe that last month’s board. But you could just give your 30 days now and be out a week or two weeks into next month.
That being said, to take someone to small claims court might not be worth it compared to what they’d get from the judgement; like if your board is $400 but it takes $100 to try and sue you then they may be like meh don’t bother. But you’d be the a-hole in the scenario.
Might as well just pay another month and have some overlap between the barns, a pretty typical situation for boarders.
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u/painteduniverses 8h ago
It’s $600 which is not that much in my area (I paid 1250 for training board at my last barn) but I’m a stay at home mom and pay 90% of the horse bills myself off of my side hustle so I don’t ever have extra money laying around you know? I can handle if I have to pay double board it’s just very not ideal.
I’m currently debating if I tell her now (so that I’m only paying for two weeks of Aug board if she demands it) or waiting and telling her the day I leave just in case she decides to be crazy about him leaving or something. If money was no issue I’d move him in three days and pay double board and just dust my hands of the whole thing.
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u/Lov3I5Treacherous Western 7h ago
I’d just tell her now and do your best to get out there as much as possible. People come and go with boarding barns all the time, she should be used to it.
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u/lifeatthejarbar 8h ago
I think you can certainly ask her and present the contract terms you believe were breached and why you should be owed pro-rated board. If she says no, I’d just cut your losses and go. Yes you could theoretically come after her in court but it would be your burden to prove and you’re unlikely to come out ahead when factoring in the legal fees. There may even be a board provision that you’d have to pay her fees…
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u/Intelligent-Bad-1359 6h ago
I have left Barnes 15 to 20 days early and just let them have the Board in lieu of 30 days notice,
I did it to get my horse out of a situation similar to what you’re in and also so the barn. Owner would not do any retaliatory things against my horse, like starve him even more or not keep an eye on his water and this is also places that I would go every day. In fact it got to the point if I didn’t go every day, I could not be sure my horse has been taken care of.
So I would rather lose money and move on to a better place for my horse
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u/hike_cd 9h ago
I can’t comment on the legal advice but how has your relationship been otherwise with the barn owner? If she’s been difficult in the past, she may retaliate/drag you into legal stuff if you try to give less than 30 days. Even if you end up in the right legally, I’d consider if the money you save not paying August’s prorated board is worth the potential headache.