A how much with a 3 legged horse/divorce!!

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jen1

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OK I am going through a divorce, not nice, and I have found out via an acquaintance that my ex hates me having my horse, he thinks that the maintenance he is paying for the children is being spent on the horse! and that I don't go to work but spend all day with my horse!

Facts are... I paid for the majority of the purchase of my horse 3 years ago, he gave me some money towards it though and was at the time happy for me to get the horse. (we were still together then) I have always paid my way and worked even when having the kids, have never been a 'kept' wife and always contributed to the household income, but importantly he has never paid towards the horses upkeep. Yes it is a struggle for me to afford the horse but luckily I have recently got a sharer who pays enough each week to cover the livery which is fantastic!

BUT
and stick with me here, this is where it gets different,

I have to fill out a multi-page form that states all my income and outgoings, any investments, savings and most importantly in this case any assets and my solicitor said the horse is classed as an asset.

Keep with me...

Unfortunately the horse was kicked in the field in February and sustained a broken tibia, he was on 16 weeks box rest and only recently has started to slowly come back into work. He had x-rays about 8 weeks ago which showed the bone is healing but there is still a definite line where the break was. he still needs another set of x-rays in about a months time to see how it is progressing.

SO! My question is what is he worth. 16.1 Irish show cob, not done much only a couple of local shows, good to box, shoe, clip, bath, in stable, to catch etc but very spooky to ride, better in company and not a novice ride (can do huge spooks, has a big buck and spins!)

My YO is willing to testify (if that's the right word) that I don't spend every day at the yard! Oh I wonder why?? Oh maybe that's because I am working!! and she says the horse is worth meat money as he is ostensibly a 3 legged horse at the moment and wouldn't pass a vetting,
So if you have kept with me throughout this post, what do you think he is worth? I can post a pic if it helps.

Thanks in anticipation of your help!!
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I think the YO is right, meat money esp if he is not 100% at the mo and not really working!..... was he insured? could you get loss of use?
 
yes he is insured and the insurance have been great paying for all his x-rays etc I am hoping that eventually he will be OK but it will take a while yet. I really want to keep him as apart from his few 'oddities' he is a one in a million and even with the leg issue having him has actually kept me sane the last few months going through the c*&p of the divorce.
 
Your YO is right, at the moment, he's worth nothing more than meat money.

However, if he were to become sound that would be a different matter entirely.

I think I would be seeking another opinion about whether an animal can be seen as an asset unless you use it for business purposes, ie riding school or stud!

If you ave a friendly vet could they not testify, ie write a letter, stating the current value of the horse?

I'm sorry you're having such a shitty time of it right now. Try to remain as unemotional as possible!!!

(HUGS)
 
i agree with your YO, he's pretty much worthless. you couldn't sell him how he is.
might be worth getting an independant vet out to confirm this?
i know someone else who was in a similar situation years ago. they sold the horse for a £1 to a friend rather than letting the ex get a hold of the money from a proper sale. horse was sound and healthy tho. they then bought the horse back after the divorce was finalised.
 
Ahh someone said that but I have been told it's classed as disposal of assets, thing is my horse is not worth even a tenth of exe's sports car, even with 4 legs!!! but hey don't want to get you all involved with the tit for tat that seems to be the norm in divorce? Why do people get so sh***y over things that they previously accepted?
 
i'm never getting married. 1 reason being cause i can't afford a divorce
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so sorry you're having a sh1tty time. really hope you manage to keep your neddy.
you can always smuggle him up here to stay with me for a bit
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Sorry your having crap time.
Sorry but if OH insisted on half value of horse I would definitely be insisting on half value of sports car but then I can be a bit if a bitch when pushed.
 
I think you could quite honestly say that at the moment and for some foreseeable future that your horse could not be classed an an 'asset' (not a legal person so I don't know what they classify as an asset) but in monetary terms he is not worth any more than meat money ( I hate even having to write that.....) but then again the meat man may not be interested as he has probably had alot of veterinary drugs etc
so his 'value' is nil (except to you to whom he is probably priceless!) Lots of (((hugs)))) and I hope the sad situation that you find yourself in gets sorted very soon
 
Thanks for all the hugs in fact the gg is very good at letting me just stand in the stable in the evening and hug his big neck for ages, makes me feel better!
Yes he has had Bute and antibiotics and sedalin a lot in recent months so don't think I would like a burger made from him, although he is a bigun so would make a few 1/4 pounders! Oh joking aside, and I really am trying to keep my chin up, he is fab and I think it would be very hard for me to find another like him. Although sneaking him up to Scotland is a good idea KAO although don't think he'd appreciate the midgies!!!
 
Sorry you're having horrible time.

Just a thought - if current monetary value is close to nil, and you have spent lots of money/vets bills etc, could you say this horse had a minus value, if you see what I mean.

Could you not ask OH for half of money debt on this horse, if you see what i mean?

bit cheeky, but I can be a bit of a witch if pushed!
 
I agree about the meat money - same as everyone else.

I also really, really like the idea of selling the horse for a quid, then buying it back. However, that could cause more problems than it's worth I suppose.

Can't people be awful?? Hugs.
 
yes, the horse is an asset, but you work, thus proving you do not spend all day with the horse and if your ex came out with this in court it'd make him look a complete bitter prat. TBh it has sod all to do with him how much time you spend with the horse.

Yes, it's an asset, like dogs can be assets... but by the sounds of it, not worth much.

I would ask your local instructor to come value him for the sake of the solicitors paperwork. Then stick your fingers up at your ex. Though if he's anything like my ex he'll claim you hurt the horse yourself on purpose... *rolleyes*
 
If the meat man would not take him, because of the medication then it would actually cost you money to dispose of the horse, it therefore not an assett, but a liability. See what your solicitor makes of that
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Well having just had Cairo cremated - he could not have gone as meat due to all the drugs (not that he would have) the cost was £600. Therefore I would say you have a liability rather than an asset.

I would go this route, ie horse not even worth meat money as it is full of drugs and could not be taken off them due pain.

If he is a total a*rse and insists on a sale, then sell for £50 to a friend - better than the £1 less to argue about and then buy him back later.

Alternatively, let him run up his lawyers bills trying to prove the value of the horse - in these sort of cases the only people who win are the lawyers and the experts - trust me, I know as I work for lawyers running their IT and have done for over 25 years.

When I got divorced we agreed everything before hand we we did not want to give the lawyers anything more than fees for the basic paperwork for the legalities of divorce - shame not everyone can split up like this.
 
transfer the horses ownership into a good friend or relatives and once divorce is over transfer it back- problem solved
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Oh dear, poor you. Been there, done that so I do empathise. I'm not getting married again, I'm just gonna find a really nice house and give it to a man I don't like, as the outcome is the same!

Point out to your ex that if the horse is an asset to which he is entitled to half, then he is also liable for half the costs of the horse and then list how much he has been costing you....he'll soon leave it alone!

My bro is getting divorced at the mo and has just had a letter from his ex's solicitor staking a claim over any inheritance he may be in line for from our parents - they are only 64! I'm afraid divorce brings out the worst in people, but can assure you that this will pass and you will come out the other side and have a much happier time of things after the dust has settled, keep your chin up and look to the future. Good luck x.
 
I really don't know how any of these things work I'm afraid though if it were me I'd get a Vet, your YO, a local instructor/trainer etc all to give a written testimony to the condition/value of the horse and then perhaps - for the devilment of it - something from the meat man saying he couldn't take horse because of drugs etc. Something from your boss too - to confirm the number of hours you work per week/month and then your Ex shouldn't have a leg to stand on with regard to you spending all day with your 'asset'
 
Was just going to post along the same lines as angelbones, Im just out the other side after 18 months of S**t.

The horse is a asset but the livery bill could not be put down as a out going as seen as a luxury!!!! you explain that one. Also trailer was a asset so that is in daughters name i brought it half way through divorce

It will come good and you will keep your horse and in a year or so you will smile again

I agree that Sherbet - my horse was one of the only things that helped me, a long canter gets rid of a lot of anger and you can say its the wind that has given you tears!!

Its not easy but dont let the so and so win - good luck
 
The only value you can put down is 'meat' value. It would then up up to him to prove it is worth more. You don't need to have anyone else involved at this stage. If the drop in value from purchase price is questioned just say the horse has been permantly injured & you have the vet bills to prove it.... (he's not entitled to see your bills).
 
£500 on paper as no vet would say at this stage he will ever be completely right again.
It really is none of his business where you spend your time, no wonder you split up with an attitude like that!
I think you need to be strictly factual and not get into any discussion whatsoever, get a written statement from your vet as to your horse's current injury and sent them that.
You're well out of this relationship...
 
Would this valuation affect any future insurance pay out? I don't really know how these things work.
Also you don't have to justify how you spend your time to him, as long as the kids are looked after nothing else is his bees wax, you can spend all day at the yard rolling round naked in nettles if you like - newsflash, I'm divorcing you, that means I don't have to pretend to be interested in your opinion any more so sod off bog gob! - or something to that effect
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i would say as everyone else has that atm the horse is worth meat money. Am going through something silimar - not a divorce but a division of assests with the house etc and my solicitor told me that the horse wouldnt count as you can have up to £3000 of savings or assets before they are taken into account. Dont know whether this would still apply in a divorce tho. Hugs for what your going through tho xxx
 
you have got to remember that if your horse is considered an asset - then all the costs associated with him have to be listed as a debt - so his vets bill and the cost of his basic upkeep has to be detailed as well. My ex did exactly the same. he claimed my old retired horse was worth £5K - he had been retired due to un soundness and was a huge drain on me financially - he was too old for meat money and I had no choice but to keep him or PTS. I had a vets letter to this effect and my solicitor argued the case sucessfully - my young horse was not put as an asset but as a personal effect, as was his.

be careful with your solicitor - they are harbindgers of doom whose only remit is to make themselves money. They will never act solely in your best interest - only their own. It is not in their interest for it to be settled amicably - they want to write lots of letters, appear in court and generally drag the process out to maximise their income for the minimum amount of work. I have since discovered that both parties solicitors in my divorce were exaggerating the animosity on both sides. it only came out when we ended up in court.

Get your finance form completed - and be as accurate as you can - detailing all your expenditure, all your expenses and include your vets bills etc, you cannot sell him as he is broken. When you see your ex's form it will have his expenses and assets/debts detailed - check it thoroughly. My ex forgot to detail finances of his that I knew all about. He also claimed he owned some items that I had been gifted ie my piano and my grandmother's furniture which cannot be taken into account as assets. Be factual - and don't get drawn into serious arguments by your solicitor.

Good luck - life is fab out the other side. It took me 18months to get out - of which 12 was the financial problems. But life is now different - far far better, just keep telling yourself you will get through it and get a life back, doing what you want to do.
 
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