ANOTHER UPDATE # 80 Potential Client or Potential Problem?!

CowGirlUp1833 · 03-09-2007, 06:38 AM

Below is a copy of an email conversation I've been having with a potential client. I haven't come right out and asked her age because I didn't want to sound rude, but I'm guessing around 15-16. In addition to teaching lessons, I'm also in charge of new client development, and she had responded via my website. Please read the following, there is a question at the end....

(Sara) do you have any horses for lease?

(Me)There are several horses at our barn that you could possibly lease. What type of horse are you looking for?
Riding Level?
In Barn/Out of Barn?
What discipline? (Hunters/Dressage/Western?)
Full or partial lease?
If you can give me that info, I would be happy to let you know if we have anything suitable for you....and you can come out and meet him/her!

Thanks
Kimberly

I am looking to lease a horse trained in english it would be a in barn lease I am advanced beginner to intermidate I have taken lessons and will continue to take lessons to inprove ridng as weather permits

Sarah, I teach hunters and dressage. I would love for you to come out and see our place and meet some of our horses. Can I call you so we can talk more about this?
Thanks!
Kimberly

I was wondering what equpiment i will need to get?

Thank you for giving me this opurtunity I look forward to to seeing you
Sure but I don't get out of school untill 3 and I wont be home until 4 my cell phone number is ********

We can discuss that when you come out.... I assume you already have boots and a helmet? The horses should have thier own tack, depending on which horse you end up with

Do you have a day this week that will work well for you?
Kimberly

My mom and i are planning to come out this weekend and i do have a full show outfit and grooming equipment

Great. I teach on Saturday afternoons.... I can meet you anytime on Saturday...what works good for you?
Kimberly

My mom is willing to drop me off any time after ten because she has alot she needs to do so I can come and stay for a couple hours

Does anyone feel like I got volunteered to babysit someones kid??? A horse barn is not a daycare....horses can be dangerous, and kids need to be supervised. I have to teach lessons all day in addition to showing other potential clients the farm, I DO NOT HAVE TIME TO BABYSIT! Would it be rude if I respond with:

Sara, I'm looking forward to meeting with you and your mom! Its my
standard policy to meet with the parents of any student under the age of
18, so please plan on her coming with you. I'll need her to sign a
release form for you to ride. Have you discussed the costs involved with
your mom yet? I would really like to talk to her if possible, can I
call her later tonight perhaps?

I'll be teaching all day Saturday. I will be happy to make time to show
you around and have you take a riding test (so we can find you a horse
that you will be comfortable on) but unfortunatly, I won't have time to
spend several hours with you this weekend. Once we get your riding test
done and we find a horse who will be a good match for you, we can set up
your lessons (they are included in the lease) so we can get you riding
right away!

Thanks, look forward seeing you!

Kimberly

I'm trying to be polite but get my point across that she cannot just get dropped off and 'hang out'. I work 40 hours a week in ADDITION to teaching AND running a marketing business as well....I don't want to add babysitting to the list. And lets face it, if its just a kid who WANTS to ride but her parents aren't willing to pay for it/drive her there, etc....then this is a total dead end lead.

whiteraven · 03-09-2007, 06:44 AM

I think that is an excellent response. As you said you are not a babysitter and the potential client and her parents need to understand your time is valuable and respect that. Also, they need to be 100% on board or you really could find yourself with a potential problem!

It's never rude to ask for parental involvement for children, in fact, I think it is the only responsible way to approach the situation. Your response is perfect.

Tymacs Girl · 03-09-2007, 06:44 AM

Hun I think you did just volunteer to babysit. It doesn't seem like she really knows what she's doing with horses or anything about them. You could tell that by her giving a VERy vague answer to your "what type of horse do you want to lease?" questions. I would watch this one, and make sure the mom sticks around and doesn't dump her on you. I don't like that comment of "I can stay for a couple of hours"one bit.

But on a side note.

I'll come take lessons with you! Hahaha

Je_Reve · 03-09-2007, 06:48 AM

Yep, sounds like you're babysitting

I think your response is perfect!

CowGirlUp1833 · 03-09-2007, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TymacsGirl

I'll come take lessons with you! Hahaha

LOL..bring it on!

Well, I guess if it comes down to it, I'll just tell her YOU MUST bring your mom....

Little Red Dun · 03-09-2007, 06:52 AM

Your response was very professional and polite. I think it was just about perfect.

tbtrainer · 03-09-2007, 06:52 AM

If her mom comes out and drops her off after meeting you and signing waivers, then become the babysitter from HE double toothpicks! Put a pitchfork in that girls hand and keep her busy! I bet the next time she comes out it is for a lesson only, and she will keep her mom close by to have a speedy exit!

CowGirlUp1833 · 03-09-2007, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbtrainer

If her mom comes out and drops her off after meeting you and signing waivers, then become the babysitter from HE double toothpicks! Put a pitchfork in that girls hand and keep her busy! I bet the next time she comes out it is for a lesson only, and she will keep her mom close by to have a speedy exit!

Haha. I'm completely fine with babysitting paying clients... LOL But I'm NOT okay with babysitting people just wasting my very limited personal time. Once my students have been with me awhile, they learn how to safely be around the barn...then I don't need to have them at my hip 100% of the time. But, a kid who isn't familiar with the barn and just "hanging out" is a huge liability.

I'm all about "smoozing clients" to earn thier business...but I don't offer free pony rides and day care

tbtrainer · 03-09-2007, 07:05 AM

I'm all about "smoozing clients" to earn thier business...but I don't offer free pony rides and day care

Oh darn, just when I was going to send you my kids!

Tymacs Girl · 03-09-2007, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CowGirlUp1833

LOL..bring it on!

Well, I guess if it comes down to it, I'll just tell her YOU MUST bring your mom....

Okie Dokie! Who should I bring? The Warmblood, or the Trakehner? I'll just bring both. Haha!

03-09-2007, 06:38 AM	#1
CowGirlUp1833 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: On the Lake Michigan Shoreline Posts: 17,367 Images: 438 Blog Entries: 41	ANOTHER UPDATE # 80 Potential Client or Potential Problem?! Below is a copy of an email conversation I've been having with a potential client. I haven't come right out and asked her age because I didn't want to sound rude, but I'm guessing around 15-16. In addition to teaching lessons, I'm also in charge of new client development, and she had responded via my website. Please read the following, there is a question at the end.... (Sara) do you have any horses for lease? (Me)There are several horses at our barn that you could possibly lease. What type of horse are you looking for? Riding Level? In Barn/Out of Barn? What discipline? (Hunters/Dressage/Western?) Full or partial lease? If you can give me that info, I would be happy to let you know if we have anything suitable for you....and you can come out and meet him/her! Thanks Kimberly I am looking to lease a horse trained in english it would be a in barn lease I am advanced beginner to intermidate I have taken lessons and will continue to take lessons to inprove ridng as weather permits Sarah, I teach hunters and dressage. I would love for you to come out and see our place and meet some of our horses. Can I call you so we can talk more about this? Thanks! Kimberly I was wondering what equpiment i will need to get? Thank you for giving me this opurtunity I look forward to to seeing you Sure but I don't get out of school untill 3 and I wont be home until 4 my cell phone number is ****** We can discuss that when you come out.... I assume you already have boots and a helmet? The horses should have thier own tack, depending on which horse you end up with Do you have a day this week that will work well for you? Kimberly My mom and i are planning to come out this weekend and i do have a full show outfit and grooming equipment Great. I teach on Saturday afternoons.... I can meet you anytime on Saturday...what works good for you? Kimberly My mom is willing to drop me off any time after ten because she has alot she needs to do so I can come and stay for a couple hour*s Does anyone feel like I got volunteered to babysit someones kid??? A horse barn is not a daycare....horses can be dangerous, and kids need to be supervised. I have to teach lessons all day in addition to showing other potential clients the farm, I DO NOT HAVE TIME TO BABYSIT! Would it be rude if I respond with: Sara, I'm looking forward to meeting with you and your mom! Its my standard policy to meet with the parents of any student under the age of 18, so please plan on her coming with you. I'll need her to sign a release form for you to ride. Have you discussed the costs involved with your mom yet? I would really like to talk to her if possible, can I call her later tonight perhaps? I'll be teaching all day Saturday. I will be happy to make time to show you around and have you take a riding test (so we can find you a horse that you will be comfortable on) but unfortunatly, I won't have time to spend several hours with you this weekend. Once we get your riding test done and we find a horse who will be a good match for you, we can set up your lessons (they are included in the lease) so we can get you riding right away! Thanks, look forward seeing you! Kimberly I'm trying to be polite but get my point across that she cannot just get dropped off and 'hang out'. I work 40 hours a week in ADDITION to teaching AND running a marketing business as well....I don't want to add babysitting to the list. And lets face it, if its just a kid who WANTS to ride but her parents aren't willing to pay for it/drive her there, etc....then this is a total dead end lead. Last edited by CowGirlUp1833; 03-13-2007 at 06:46 AM. Reason: Update*

03-09-2007, 06:44 AM	#2
whiteraven Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 439 Images: 36	I think that is an excellent response. As you said you are not a babysitter and the potential client and her parents need to understand your time is valuable and respect that. Also, they need to be 100% on board or you really could find yourself with a potential problem! It's never rude to ask for parental involvement for children, in fact, I think it is the only responsible way to approach the situation. Your response is perfect. __________________ "Riding a horse is not a gentle hobby, to be picked up and laid down like a game of Solitaire. It is a grand passion." - Ralph Waldo Emerson http://www.ashelynmorgans.com

03-09-2007, 06:44 AM	#3
Tymacs Girl Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4,351 Images: 15 Blog Entries: 3	Hun I think you did just volunteer to babysit. It doesn't seem like she really knows what she's doing with horses or anything about them. You could tell that by her giving a VERy vague answer to your "what type of horse do you want to lease?" questions. I would watch this one, and make sure the mom sticks around and doesn't dump her on you. I don't like that comment of "I can stay for a couple of hours"one bit. But on a side note. I'll come take lessons with you! Hahaha __________________ Life is full of challenges.It's what you do with them that defines who you are....-Me

03-09-2007, 06:48 AM	#4
Je_Reve Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Central California Posts: 311 Images: 12	Yep, sounds like you're babysitting I think your response is perfect! __________________ the wind of heaven is that which blows between a horses ears

03-09-2007, 06:52 AM	#6
Little Red Dun Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: the Sunshine State, USA Posts: 1,406 Images: 10 Blog Entries: 2	Your response was very professional and polite. I think it was just about perfect. __________________ Amanda VP of the Player Fan Club ....horses should be trained in such a way that they not only love their riders, but look forward to the time they are with them. ~ Xenophon, 350 B.C.

03-09-2007, 06:52 AM	#7
tbtrainer Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 7,849 Images: 450	If her mom comes out and drops her off after meeting you and signing waivers, then become the babysitter from HE double toothpicks! Put a pitchfork in that girls hand and keep her busy! I bet the next time she comes out it is for a lesson only, and she will keep her mom close by to have a speedy exit!

03-09-2007, 07:05 AM	#9
tbtrainer Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 7,849 Images: 450	I'm all about "smoozing clients" to earn thier business...but I don't offer free pony rides and day care Oh darn, just when I was going to send you my kids!

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