Red Flags, Part I

Rather than try to tackle a huge subject like this all in one post, I'm going to start with some pretty obvious, but sometimes overlooked warning signs that you might encounter when trying to place your horse in a good home. These warning signs are meant to not neccessarily pinpoint any potentially bad home on their own, but combined with other red flags they may serve as a warning of a home that you may not want your horse in, or, you may want to request more references or do a little homework.

Red Flag #1: The person does business in a particular breed, but is suspended from that breed.

For example, you own an APHA mare that you want to lease to a person who breeds paint horses. They claim to show in APHA and stand an APHA stud. Don't be afraid to call APHA and check their membership status! They WILL tell you.

After leasing a pregnant mare and her filly, and only getting the filly back home alive (in very poor condition), I later found out that the lessee had been suspended from AQHA since November of 2007 and she was also suspended from APHA. A little later her daughter's name came up on the suspended list, so apparently they are registering horses under their childrens' names and getting them suspended as well. This person still stands an AQHA stud to the public, so I would suggest anytime you do business with someone, make the call and check their status! I have no idea how anyone breeding to that stud will get papers on their foal....

Red Flag #2: Their website features outdated and closely cropped photos only.

For example, take this picture below.

Looks like a cute, happy little horse, doesn't it?

Now take a look at the entire photo:

It's quite a different picture, isn't it? The mare is clearly emaciated, junk laying all over the place, and the other horse's feet are in terrible shape. When all you see on a person's business website is old photos that have been on there a year, photos that are so closely cropped that you cannot see the whole horse or anything around it, or plain and simple no photos at all, it should make you question what they're hiding.

In case you're wondering, the horse in this picture, Atari, was immediately returned home after this picture was taken by a sheriff's department. The culprit: the same lessee who I leased three horses to and only got one back alive, which brings up another point....

Red Flag #3: Follow up on any references and/or name dropping!

More often than not these are multiple-offenders. If you check, there WILL be signs. Ask around on the forums, check with anyone whose name they dropped (and see if they owe them money or are otherwise delinquent on any other obligations). Google their name and the name of their ranch. Here's a tip on how to best Google a name:

Go to http://www.google.com/ and type in their name in quotations: "Jim Bob Johnson" or "JBJ Acres"

If there's any sign at all follow up. For example, if someone says they are trying to get a hold of them and can't, follow up with that person and see if they ever found them. Don't be afraid to snoop. This is too important to be dismissive of details.

Red Flag #4: They change their phone number often or they move or move your horses without telling you.

This is a more of an after-the-fact red flag, but if they keep changing cell phone companies, there's probably a reason (they can't pay the bill, so then, can they afford to feed your horse?). Furthermore, there is almost always a clause in a lease agreement that states that they must inform you if they move the horse. ENFORCE IT. Know at all times where your horse is. If they don't respond, send the sheriff out immediately.

To be continued in Part II, but in the meantime, if you have any tips, don't be afraid to comment!