Complaint Review: Tammy Schmierer at Bucking Girls Performance Horses

Tammy Schmierer (owner of "Bucking Girls Performance Horses") operates a boarding/sales stable out of Hillside Farms in Unadilla, New York. She supplies horse boarding, riding lessons, and horse sales. Over the course of 12 months of being at Tammy's establishment, I witnessed many of the sales horses being falsely advertised as healthy/sound and/or trail safe or child safe, when most were not at all as advertised. Tammy has been able to sell several unsound and falsely advertised horses to people who have little horse knowledge.

During my time at her establishment, I also witnessed horses being left without water or hay for excessive periods of time (sometimes out in small, open paddocks in the heat of summer), horses getting injured in unsafe paddocks, horses being left in soaking dirty/mud filled stalls, and cruel horse training practices. In one instance, a stallion was there on training board. This stallion had been taught basic groundwork/longeing, but had not been taught any riding basics. He did understand a rider's seat/body, legs, or rein aids. While attempting to "train" this horse, Tammy said that he was lazy and would not walk forward (when in reality he just did not understand what was being asked of him), so she proceeded to hit him on the hindquarters with a crop. The horse was startled, jumped forward, and bucked. This resulted in the stallion injuring his shoulder and had to be sent back to his owner as he could no longer be ridden. I also witnessed Tammy buy a black large pony gelding who was obviously severely lame in both front legs, with the intent to re-sell him. She told people that he was "gaited" and attempted to sell him as a suitable child's pony for over $1500. She finally ended up giving this pony bute (to make him feel better and seem more sound) before taking him to an auction. I also witnessed her sell a woman a Quarter Horse mare without informing her that the horse had moderate navicular. I witnessed many boarders/customers come and go from this stable after realizing the poor treatment of the horses and the scamming of people. I am one of the people who left this stable after witnessing so many scams and cruelties.

I would recommend anyone who is looking to buy a horse, schedule a riding lesson, or board a horse to avoid Tammy Schmierer and "Bucking Girl's Performance Horses". Please do your research before making a transaction with anyone in the horse industry, there are many dishonest horse dealers in upstate New York and nationwide!