Showcase Equestrian Center

Showcase Equestrian refuses to refund money paid for unused riding lessons. On Thursday July 9, 2015, I arrive at the business with y husband and daughter for a scheduled riding lesson. This is our first lesson since May 28, 2015. My daughter usually has weekly lessons but missed lessons due to an injury and because the owner and her trainer were out of town. We arrive to the farm to see a For Sale sign and unmowed pastures with grass waist high. We get the horse my daughter is to ride from its stall and notice the stall is covered in days if not weeks worth of horse feces. We notice other horses in the barn without water on a very hot day. We walk through the barn and notice the office had had the computers removed and looks abandoned. My daughter goes to tack up the horse and while cleaning feces from her hooves the horse's back hoof begins to bleed profusely. During all this time the owner nor her trainer, Gwen are on the property. Also the horse's stomach is growling loudly and makes me wonder when the last time she ate. I make the decision that it would be inhumane to ride this horse in this condition and under these circumstances. I make the decision to leave and am so disturbed by what I have seen I want to cut all ties with this place. I have purchased a package of 10 lessons for $350 and have used 2 lessons. I am asking for a refund of $280 for unused lessons which the owner refused to give. She says I haven't paid enough even though this is the price she has charged me for lessons for the past 2 years. She informs me that the lesson package is $600 and not $350. I have never been told of that price or been given a bill saying I owed money. Only when I ask for a refund for the 8 lessons does she tell me of the $600 pricing. I was never quoted or charged $600. I have only been charged $350 for 10 lessons over the past 2 years. Side note...my daughter takes weekly lessons except for when things come up with our schedule and when things come up with the owner and trainers schedules and they are unable to provide lessons. Desired SettlementI am seeking a refund of $280 in cash or cashiers check for the 8 unused lessons. I did not purchase the lessons to ride at a unkept farm and poorly cared for horses. Business Response Hi,I was told to email you in regards to a complaint filed by [redacted].To start Showcase Equestrian Center, LLL is a single member LLC company owned soley by Thomas L. W[redacted]. On November 1st, 2015 Thomas L. W[redacted] had a stroke and on December 1st a conservator motion was filed in probate court in Shelby County. While Ms. [redacted] assertion that the property is abadoned is unsubstantiated and false (a full time groom lives on the grounds as well as myself and my four children) the grass in the paddocks and front lawn are high. All maintenance has to go through the conservators as up to today they are refusing to cut the grass or maintain the property. However, in the horse business it is not standard practice to cut pastures that horses graze on. Ms. [redacted] had more than 7 no call or shows or late reschudeling for her daughters lesson and it has been our practice to charge a fill lesson price for that. This is because that time slot is lost for another child. She signed this agreement when her child began taking lessons at the facility years ago. In addition, she was given a "financial aid" waiver due to the fact that she was unable in her words to afford the standard lesson pricing for a child who is cantering and jumping course. Our hour lessons for cantering and jumping are $60.00 and piece Ms. [redacted] was allowed to purchase a package of 10 lessons for $350.00. I even offered to continue to let her daughter ride but she needed to contact and schedule the remaining lessons through me which she refused. I have saved all text messages.As far as the computer in the office being gone. The computer has not been in the office since the winter when we had several water pipes burst which damaged the compute. To address the consition of the horses: we are a nationally recognized facility that just won the GOLD medal at Pony Finals. Ms. [redacted] assertations are completely false and slanderous. She is doing this to try to circumvent the agreements that she signed and has started harassing the business through social media.If you should need anything else please do not hesitate to call me.Thank you,Tresie W[redacted]Showcase Equestrian Center, LLC[redacted]Eads, Tn 38028[redacted] Consumer Response (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)I have had a standing Thursday afternoon lesson at Showcase which has been cancelled too many times to count by my daughter's trainer due to the fact she was traveling to horse shows and would not be available to teach. She would offer an alternate time to reschedule which rarely worked out since Thursday is the only time we have available to go. I also on occasion rescheduled lessons due to my family's own scheduling conflicts and was never told this was a problem until I filed this complaint. I do not believe I signed anything stating that I would pay for cancelled lessons. Although Ms. W[redacted] keeps saying she will provide a copy of my signed agreement she has not yet been able to provide me with this. As far as the "financial aid" we receive....this is news to me. I have never stated I have financial problems and have always been more than able to pay. As I stated in my original complaint, I was told the price of a package of 10 lessons was $350. I continued to pay this price and was NEVER told the price was different. If I had been told of a price of $60 per lesson that is what I would have paid as I am more than able to afford that. I am still seeking a refund of my unused lessons I have paid for. The facility and animals are nowhere near up to the standards of a suitable place for my daughter to ride. When I purchased the lessons the facility was run adequately where now it is not. As far as "slandering" Ms. W[redacted] through social media, the only thing I have done has been to exercise my right of free speech by sharing my true and real experience through online reviews. Ms. W[redacted] has threatened to sue me for slander through text messages if I do not remove my online reviews. She even gave me deadlines of having me remove by noon of the next day or I would receive a summons from her attorney which I have yet to receive. I am still waiting for a copy of my signed agreement along with a check for a refund of my unused lessons.Final Business Response