Complaint Review: Joe McKinley

Joe McKinley came into Fresno advertising services as an Eventing Trainer. We paid him 700 dollars for the month of April, according to his own pricing schedule that got us 20 rides/lessons. He gave several lessons, in which his demeanor became increasingly unprofessional, rude, and condescending, and also rode a horse of ours several times, although his rides were very brief, generally 20-30 minutes, they did seem to make some progress with the horse. He gave a total of 17 rides/lessons out of the 20 for that month, and said that the remaining 3 lessons/rides rolled over to the following month.

 For the month of May we paid him 400 dollars for 10 rides/lessons, technically half training, and the specification was for him to ride a horse that I did not have time to ride frequently enough during the week due to my work schedule, but that I was trying to get ready for a Three Day Event. He was supposed to ride the horse during the week, then I would ride her on the weekend, and the show was at the end of May. We decided that although he did NOT give a good lesson, he was a decent rider and could help CONDITION the horse, which was what was needed to get ready for the upcoming show. 

Joe was given access to our tack room, where all tack was labled for each horse, and given access to the tack room key. Several days into the month, he packed up his own horses from the stable we board at, and left to work under another trainer out of town. He did not put a single ride on the horse, yet cashed the check for 400 dollars and left town. 

When confronted about the money and not riding the horse, he replied that it was OUR responsibility to set up lesson times. I mentioned that he had left town, and he said that he was in town still Monday through Wednesday. But, if he was in town those days, and had access to horse and tack that he was supposed to ride, why didn't he? Also, he was not getting paid to give lessons, but to exercise a horse I didn't have time to ride during the week. Why would I call to set up a time for that, when the whole point of having him ride the horse was because I could not be at the barn during the week? What would I be setting up a time for? He had the opportunity to ride the horse at whatever time worked for him, it was his responsibility. That was what he was getting paid for.

Since this incident, I have become aware of him ripping off numerous other clients in this same manner. He has also bothered many clients with his demeanor, he freely talks trash about clients and their horses, as well as other people in the eventing community. He also has gotten in trouble at various barns for trying to seduce female boarders and clients.