Personally, I would be cynically interested in why the horse started rearing, all while getting the horse out of there ASAP. Already get why the "trainer" wants her gone. Ultimately, all should return to the original situation priour to the plan seeing as the work never took place or was not effectively applied. As much as you might not have the space for the second mare at the moment, can she go back home long enough for you to find other arrangements for her? placement? affordable sale? free to good home? lease? Any chance the trade can stay at the "trainer's" place for the remaining 30 days or until placed, whichever comes first, for trade on non ability to finish 30 days on the trainee seeing as it was the "trainer" that jumped ship?

Nowadays, with the economy, banned slaughter (USA) and the sad trend of dumping taking the horseworld into some dark and expensive places, one has to have a contigency plan for every animal under their auspices in order to have even the slightest chance of protecting them long term. Even in this situation, while dumping is NOT the action here, it can quickly become the result of forced placement. I might trade a horse for a horse but not for a service just to avoid the very situation you find yourself in. I hope there can be a suitable solution for you, Fanlynne, horrid experience for all of you. Wish I had a more useful answer for you.

-- Edited by justice on Friday 18th of March 2011 06:48:36 AM

Justice makes great points, and Barb has equally great questions. I am interested in the condition of you mare prior to her going to the trainer (did she rear/etc before), too.

As Justice said, the trainer "jumped ship" on you, therefor you are not obligated to pay the trainer in full. Meaning you have no reason to let the trainer have your other mare, despite the room you have or don't have at home. I like the idea of asking if you can keep the mare at the trainer's barn until you can find other arrangements, as a sort of payback for the trainer backing out on you/breaking contract. I'm glad you've confronted the trainer about "false advertising". One cannot expect a trainer to know how to "fix" everything, but something like rearing is a serious issue that any trainer should know how to overcome, or else it will hinder any of their progress.

I forgot to add ... that before she suggests another trainer, she already has apprised that trainer of the situation and typically makes sure that the other trainer is prepared to take that horse on. I have never seen her leave a horse and owner just hanging with nowhere to go. Make sure you keep your supposed "trade-in".

Would be interesting to have an update Fanlynne. Did you find another trainer? or find out what the trainer was doing when the rearing first started. It seems unlikely that mare was just humming along nicely and then for no reason started a new behavior, unless someone did something, or moved her too fast into some new demands. This is why it's so difficult not being able to see exactly what a trainer was doing for yourself when the behavior began. My guy had some tricks when I got him, which were not apparent on the test drive before I bought him. So I had to iron out a few things on him, mini-rears, backing up, spooking, saddling issues etc. He must have gotten away with a few things before I got him,  pluse had some bad fitting saddles or something,or he had me pegged for a pushover. If your mare started this behavior recently, I should think a decent (different) trainer, who is  willing to work with a known tendency that is not yet an ingrained habit, should be able to figure something out. Just be careful that you know what they are doing, what their plan is, and that they aren't going to make it worse by over-reacting or getty nasty.

we had a mare that was rearing - the rearing got worse with training - turns out she had high ringbone and navicular - only 5 years old - we had to put her down.

Hope this is not your problem but I would have a lameness vet and a chiro check her out.