PLEASE HELP! owe money to trainer & he's keeping my horse

[kas7777]

My daughter has a horse in training. She has lost her job and owes the trainer $2,000. Everyday the horse stays with the trainer the bill goes higher. She would like to bring the horse home so that she can sell it and pay the man for his services. He says he will not allow her to pick up the horse until she pays him. Does he have the legal right to do that?

 

[lwpat]

She needs to sell the horse where it is or make arangements with the trainer to take the horse for the amount owed.

 

[Michael Wechsler]

My daughter has a horse in training. She has lost her job and owes the trainer $2,000. Everyday the horse stays with the trainer the bill goes higher. She would like to bring the horse home so that she can sell it and pay the man for his services. He says he will not allow her to pick up the horse until she pays him. Does he have the legal right to do that?

Unless there is some ironclad agreement that allows what is occurring (and I don't know what your contract is) then the trainer has no right to keep your property. First, look at any written agreement you may have. Second, write a certified letter to the trainer demanding the return of the horse and telling him that every day he has withheld the horse you are unable to sell the horse and you will charge him $X as damages. You should state that you can't pay the man if he continues to hold the horse illegally as collateral and that you will report the horse as stolen if he continues to keep the horse without your authorization. In the meanwhile, try to sell the horse and see what you can do.