BEWARE of horse riding stable owner in St. Maarten!

[mcoverv]

First I would like to say Thanks to all the people who use these boards. You provide a wealth of information to those who are going on a cruise and as we all know being prepared makes the trip that much more relaxing.

In an effort to get ready for our Sept 7th, Magic cruise I posted a question about horseback riding on St. Maarten. I received an e-mail address in response to my question with a subtle "check these guys out before you use them" reply.

So I e-mailed the stables and received a response that I was extremely unhappy with. So I thought I should share this with all of you traveling to this island so that you can steer clear of this guy. I know my family want's nothing to do with him even though we are actually European (Belguim). I ncluded a copy of my original e-mail to him as well so you can see what I actually asked them.


Start of reply:
I’m sorry but our riding club is reseved only for european people and latinoamerican people

We don’t like US people and his bad politic and our horse don’t like american style and prefer French and european style

We prefere to see us people in states

bye



-----Message d'origine-----
De : Vervaecke Family [mailto:mcoverv@kc.rr.com]
Envoyé : lundi 2 septembre 2002 02:49
À : baysideSarl@wanadoo.fr
Objet : Horseback riding



We will be visiting St. Maarten on Sept 10, 2002. My family and I wondered if you still did horseback riding tours.

If you do can you give me some idea of the cost and what is included as well as the times you have available for that date.



Thanks Crystal Vervaecke

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Since you live in Belgium, I'm guessing you probably speak French in addition to Flemish and English. I'm curious what kind of response you would have gotten if you had written your inquiry in French...

Hmmm...

 

[mcoverv]

Actually my husband is the Belguim in the family. We currently live in the states and probably will for our lifetime. It would be interesting to see if how they would respond.

My husband is going to respond to his e-mail I am sure that he will understand that he has made a HUGE mistake. I also found it curious that he does not like US people but he does latinoamerican, which wouldn't they live in the US and thus make them US people hince the name "latinoamerican"!

 

[we3luvdisney]

After reading this post I found it hard to believe that a business would actually respond to someones request for information. So, I took it upon myself to send this individual an e-mail requesting information/prices for horseback riding. Listed below is my letter to the BAYSIDE RIDING CLUB in St. Maarteen. I received a reply from LOUIS ROUSSEAUX, which I was NOT too happy with.

My Letter

Dear Sir,
My family will be taking a Disney Cruise in the future and are interested in your horseback riding tours. Will you please send us some information on your tours and cost.

Louis Rousseaux's reply

I'm sorry but our riding club is reserved only for european people and latinoamerican people. US OUT. We don't like US people and his bad politic, this people is barbarian and decadent. Our horse don't like too american style with fat people and prefer French and european style! We prefere to see us people in states
bye

I just hope Disney does not use this outfit as part of the excursions?

When we return for our next cruise, we3 will make sure WE DO NOT do ANY excursions with this business.

 

[RellingTwin]

How rude. If he prefers not to do business with Americans maybe he should just not answer????
I have never meet a horse bigot!!!LOL!

 

[nuke]

The horses don't like Americans either? How do they know their rider is American?

 

[Willowwind]

Originally posted by nuke
The horses don't like Americans either? How do they know their rider is American?

Well, going by his response letter, it's because we're the fat ones.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

FWIW - There is a difference in "styles" of serious competition riding between the US and Europeans. However, I don't think that most people who would rent horses to ride on the beach would be that skilled anyway. Besides, you'd be out there to have fun - not to compete. Sound's like he's just anti-american I'm sure the horses don't care.

 

[peagreenid]

I AM AMAZED...........
That someone would even send a response back. So I have to tell you what I did to NIP this issue in the Bud. I did a search on the Web for Bayside Stables. Guess what? I pulled up Frommer's. They referenced them as the only stable to contact in St. Martin for horseback riding. I sent an email to their customer service area explaining the situation and referencing the link to this thread, so that they may read it first hand.

Frommer's is a HUGE outfit....in Travel. I can't believe that they will continue referring people to this stable. So, when Bayside stables no longer has any business, Maybe they will think twice about treating people this way.

smiles Patty

 

[Laura24]

Patty,
Bravo to you. Little does this person know the powers of these boards. Good news travels, but bad news travels twice as fast. The only *fat* part of we AMERICANS are our wallets, which we will keep closed with that type of attitude. I said this before, I wish Disney would just skip St. Maarten. I don't need to see their chickens and dogs and multitude of Heineken beer litter every where you look on the Dutch side of the island. See what that does to their tourism income and that multi million dollar port they built (or should I say we built).

 

[RellingTwin]

Patty...YOU GO GIRL! I was going to suggest we ALL start e-mailing with querys. Fill the box with requests for info/prices. Let them see how much $ they are flushing!!!
But then I thought....I have better things to do!

It's funny because I e-mailed Bayside Stables before out 9/22/02 Eastern cruise and got a very nice/fast reply. I wonder if they have changed ownership?Also their website was in English. If I remember correctly, they are located near Orient Beach.I wish I had the reply, but it was lost with my hard drive "melt down" (due to a virus)
We decided to skip the riding after I read a report of a child who broke her arm. Not that it was anyones fault, just thought I would
worry to much to enjoy the ride. We went to Dawn Beach instead

 

[Mjasp]

Good Going Patty

 

[RellingTwin]

I just HAD to share this info with my friends on the "Cruise Critic Board"

 

[taswira]

Originally posted by RellingTwin
I was going to suggest we ALL start e-mailing with querys.

You are right and we shouldn't all waste our valuable (DIS?) time e-mailing that place, but my curiosity about the guy's behavior has me wondering if we would all receive the same type of reply. I think I might e-mail them when I get around to it. Do you think there is any chance it was just some irate kid answering? It appears there was no name at the end. Wouldn't a manager or person in authority give a name? You really never know who might be using someone else's computer, even at a business. A stable boy perhaps? I'd hate to condemn them without knowing exactly who is behind it all. It's just a thought . . .

 

[poopie]

I think the typical tourist who isn't an equesterian rides badly no matter where they are from. The horses could care less one greenhorn is just that same as the next to them.

 

[my3kids]

Patty....your'e a genius!

I just purchased 3 Frommer's Guides yesterday....The Carribean, Arizona and New Mexico. They are tremendous sources of knowledge and information. I'm sure they would like to know what response one of their recommendations provided to the reader.

 

[we3luvdisney]

I took offense to Louis Rousseaux's letter, so I responded to his letter. Listed below is my response.

How did I do?


Letter to Mr. Rousseaux

Dear Mr. Rousseaux,

I received you reply yesterday concerning my request of tours/prices for horseback riding in St. Maarten.

The United States is a country that allows free speech, as a matter of fact I believe everyone is entitled to that right, including you. Listed below is a discussion thread that I thought you would be interested in reading:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=257935

Please note that there were over 670 people that have viewed this thread. Based on your prices of $50.00/person for horseback riding, that equates to $33,500.

I hope you will not be offended, but if anyone should ask about horseback riding in the Caribbean I will make sure NOT to recommend Bayside Riding Club.

Sincerely,
__________

 

[Laura24]

That's about as direct and to the point as you can get. Great response back to him. The dollars lost will definitely "bonk" him on the head. Is this the stable next to the Butterfly Farm near Orient Bay? I remember thinking how great riding would be on our next trip. Guess what........I'd rather put a quarter in one of those mechanical childrens rides or satisfy the urge to ride at Cinderella's Carousel.

 

[mcoverv]

I think you put it better than anyone. Maybe seeing this in $'s will make him see his mistake.

He certainly did not like my response that maybe he should open a Amazing Horse show instead of stables since his horses seemed to be the only ones that anyone knew of that could tell someones nationality just by their size!

Oh well we plan on having a great time regardless of this one bad seed!

Thanks for everything!

 

[we3luvdisney]

Laura24,

According to what I found on the web, that sorry excuse of a riding club is located next to the butterfly farm.

It is amazing how this individual treats potential clients, makes me wonder how well he treats his horses and family.