h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

No, I'm not doing the NationalJournalSpam thing, but I feel the need to post a journal...

I've always been obsessed with horses. Lately, I've been obsessed with one particular horse. I've been riding him for nearly a year now, we've both come a long way, and we're really becoming a good team. But the more I hear about his owners and their "training" methods, the more I cringe.

Luckily, after more diplomacy than I thought I was capable of and numerous cups of tea, they've now offered to sell him to me.

And we'd ride off happily into the sunset if it weren't for the owner of the barn where he's stabled. Let's call her M. When I went to tell her the good news, instead of being happy for me, she threatened to take him off me because R hadn't paid his bill. R being the boyfriend of C, the horse's legal owner. She said she'll padlock the horse in his stable until he pays her. Even if I buy him and he's nothing to do with them anymore.

I've been in contact with the horsey legal helpline and they say that unless she has a contract specifically allowing her a lien on this particular horse, she doesn't have any rights to him.

Unfortunately, I think she'd be capable of it anyway. I feel like I've been slapped in the face. And I want my horse!

I'm very sorry to hear that. Can't you just like... take the horse out for a walk and then not return it? I mean, it's yours, right? Of course you'd need a different stable for it.

... and if she doesn't let you call the police.

That's terrible, Mala. Why do people have to be so mean?

We are all on your side and wish you the best with your

I would find out exactly how much the stable claims they are owed, and the explain to the owners that they have to reduce their selling price by that amount, as they can not sell anything they don't own free and clear of any debt.

You are then free to continue in the current stable or find a new one.

F S

Unless there is something I'm misunderstanding, she would be breaking the law. She might be "capable of it", but if she does do it, I would tell the police. And the RSPCA, too.

She *is* the police, they seem to hold themselves above the law sometimes... No money has changed hands yet, but they have named their price.

She might be a cop, but she's not the police. Police officers don't have the privilege of making laws up as they go along...

She's already got him under lock and key now I feel like I've been slapped in the face, I thought she was on my side! She kept going on about how great it would be if I could buy him!

What is it about people who run barns? I've met a few in my horsey time, and they have been unpredictable of temperament, to put it mildly.

Obviously, it's an illegal lien, and what a sane person does in that situation is go to court and get an order for part of the payment you're making to the current owners.

Meanwhile, YOU look for another barn. You don't want to ever be on the firing end of this manager's outbursts, let alone your future horse!

*sigh* Exactly. I was planning to move him anyway, but now it's getting more urgent. I went and looked at a place that will have boxes free soon; it's also only 4 miles from my work instead of 20, making life much easier!

I've threatened both parties with the involvement of a solicitor as a neutral third party and they both panicked and promised to behave like grownups. The horse owner claims his bill will be paid by Wednesday; I'm going to let it rest until then.

Good work!

Well done!

Nice one!

Threaten to start jousting if they don't move on