Issues with a client...?

Question

I've been working with a woman and her two mares; freedom and midnight. 
Midnight is beyond morbidly obese, far too heavy to put on a saddle. This is horse is drenched in sweat after maybe 3 minutes of lunging. She's on pasture, hay, AND grain. The owner won't cut back on the amount of food that she's feeding, but I can't train this horse if I can't do anything with her. She's fine with light lunging, but that won't be enough to get this horse in shape. 
The other one, freedom, is just downright dangerous. She charges at people, kicks with the intent to actually hit you, bucks like crazy, etc. Nasty, nasty, mare. The owner can only afford to have me out once a week (it's almost an hour long drive to get there), but this mare needs someone working with her daily. She's 5 years old and has been like this her whole life. Once a week will not break this habit, but the owner can't afford anything else. 
In my opinion, midnight should be put on a dry lot and be worked lightly every other day until she's at a healthy weight. The other one she be sent to another trainer to be worked with daily for probably 60 days until she's decent, and then sold. I think the owner should buy a nice gentle gelding instead, since all they want to do is ride down the road every now and then. 

The owner won't do any of these things, so there's only so much that I can do. I don't want to just stop working with her, but I don't want to waste my time either. 
What would you do?

gallop · Accepted Answer

I'd look at the obese mare in the same way I'd look at a starved mare.  I'm sure you wouldn't agree to train a horse being starved because that would be like participating in the horse's demise, and the principle is the same.  Obesity poses serious health risks with laminitis being high on the list, and the horse may have metabolic disease that should be investigated by a vet and medically managed. You already know that the horse is being grain fed which is insanity, and if the owner won't even listen to you on that, she isn't thinking of the horse's welfare.  
Ron Sr. is right in that your reputation as a trainer can be damaged if you continue to work with these horses against your own better judgment. and you know that as it stands, you can't accomplish what is needed.  Much as you don't want to walk away, that is probably what you should do.

Snezzy · Answer

This person needs to be paying a lot more for training, or she won't listen at all. If you insist on keeping her, multiply your fee by four or five times at least. Maybe ten.

If she cannot take the price increase, tell her she'll have to find someone else. If she asks you to recommend someone, then name the most awfully expensive trainer in the area. She's got to be paying enough money that she'll listen to advice.

Still, I think the best advice is to fire the client.

==++ MORE ++==
Oh, I read the question again. "Can't afford more." Fire the client. Say, "I'm sorry but I've done all I can do for you."

The nasty horse has exactly the same problem as the fat horse. Both of them get whatever they demand.

Aimee_Q5 · Answer

It must be hard and i understand that you want to help the horses but if the owner is not willing to accept your advice then you need to tell yourself that there is really nothing you can do, as a last resort you could try offering her an ultimatum? Say to her that she brought you in to train her horses and offer her advice on what is best for them and if she cant let you do that then you cant see her anymore. Would there be any other way in which the owner could pay you to come in more regularly? Like i say though, if she can't or won't accept your advice then there really is very little you can do and bleak as it is, it's a waste of your time and her money. 
sorry i couldn't be more help i hope something good comes of it all, best of luck xx

Finley · Answer

I'd face reality.
If the owner is too stupid and stubborn, what else are you going to do? keep working at what for what? 
it's a dumb situation that is going nowhere. 

the fat mare:
I'd flat out tell the owner, she's killing her horse slowly. how are the feet? has the mare foundered yet? I'd be VERY VERY blunt and tell her that grain + pasture = founder. that means laminitis and sure death for her horse or a life of pain and suffering.

as for the so called nasty mare:

60 days? lol. gimme a break. what's that going to do? nothing. that horse has had bad handling for her entire life and you think that 60 days will "fix" the issues? she'll go to auction and to slaughter for sure.

what she needs is one year of solid training and then to be sold to a better owner.
since she's getting a ridiculous time of 1 day a week (NOT YOUR FAULT) I'd say, she needs to just be sold (given away) to a trainer now....or sent to a rescue as a pasture horse or given to someone who wants a project

Bottom Line:

A) 
Offer to buy the horses (for next to nothing of course) and then "fix" all the problems

B)
Walk away

C) keep hitting your head on the wall til your brains bleed

D) a or b

That's it.
The hard fact is...there are stupid people out there who own horses. you found one of them. 

I have found plenty of these types who are totally unrealistic and want everything for nothing (no effort or money on their part)....I always walk away. There's nothing more to do.

Either you take the horses for yourself or you leave.

Theotherhorse · Answer

You need to be straight-forward with your client and give her the honest truth. You refuse to work with the mare until she reaches a reasonable weight and that you refuse to train a horse you know you'll have no impact on. A good trainer is willing to put the money on the line for the sake of the horse's health and well-being. Even if their is a potential for you to lose this client, the horse should come first. If there's any chance of convicing her, you should take it.

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