Last fall, I offered to board my friend/coworker's horse at my place after learning about the neglect he was experiencing at his previous boarding facility. He was often left without hay or water, which was really concerning.
Because it's just pasture board and doesn't require much extra work beyond my personal horses, I only charge her for the cost of hay. Plus, she's been going through a tough divorce, and I wanted to help out where I could.
We signed a boarding agreement outlining our responsibilities and the board cost. Essentially, she’s responsible for anything beyond the basics (hay, water, pasture, and shelter). Initially, she paid on time, but payments gradually became delayed. As of late March, she finally paid for February and March, but I haven't received anything for April or May. I even bought a winter blanket for her horse during a cold snap because she couldn't afford one. I've also been using my grain to give her horse his daily medication, as well as feeding it to him, even though our agreement states she's responsible for that. She's consistently late paying me back for the farrier, and I ended up buying his dewormer myself because she kept postponing it.
To top it off, I've caught her in several lies, like saying she can't afford board and then mentioning spending money on non-essential things shortly after. I'm incredibly frustrated because I feel like she is taking advantage of me. How can I address this situation without making things awkward at work? I care about her horse, but I'm struggling with being a good friend while also protecting myself. I would like to keep things friendly and civil at this time, any advice is appreciated.