Bought a lame pony - what would you do?

[Birker2020]

It isn't a question of being able to afford the money to "think like that". Horses are living animals, not pullovers with a split seam. And so many people can't spot a lame horse until it's on 3 legs, especially hind end.

Unless you can absolutely prove that the seller knew a horse was unsound when you bought it, it's libel to suggest that they did. And it's rubbing salt in an already very sore wound to allow it to dwell in your mind. I am speaking from experience.
.

Yes I know that YCBM that's why I have kept Lari on at retirement, but its a huge commitment not just financially but mentally as well with abscesses and weight loss to contend with. Both my vets said Lari was sound on the sales video I showed them.
I was answering AA's comment "It never even occurred to me to try and claim miss-selling". Maybe it didn't occur to her for the reasons I laid out in reply 140. That's not being critical of AA by the way but maybe that is why she thought like that at the time.

Anyway I feel sorry for the OP in this case but it does appear that if she felt the pony was lame before buying it she obviously shouldn't have gone ahead.

It's not cheap to run blood and its not as straightforward as people seem to realise. It does provide information about detectable pain killers, sedatives or other ‘doping’ drugs but it cannot possible cover every possible substance.

Patonlee - Services

patonandlee.co.uk

Detection of medications - At the purchaser's request a blood sample will be taken during the vetting and stored for 6 months. If there is any subsequent doubt about whether the horse was treated with (for example) pain killers of tranquilisers during the vetting, the sample can then be run at additional cost which will be met by the purchaser. The cost of running analysis on a pre-purchase examination blood must be paid in full before any analysis is performed. Some 'medications' and supplements will not show up on a blood test, but could effect the performance of a horse during a vetting - for example glucosamine, 'no-bute' type supplements (containing Devil's Claw herb) and over-the-counter horse calmers.

 

[Glitter's fun]

I bought a pony (5 stage vetted) for my daughter in July this year
I am having the vetting blood tested now

presume pony passed 5 stage vetting?

Yes he passed. I have just started the ball rolling for getting the blood tested.

This was a month ago & no news from OP so we presume the bloods were negative.

 

[Rowreach]

This was a month ago & no news from OP so we presume the bloods were negative.

The OP was back on Sunday asking for further advice, which is why this thread is active again. But we are still waiting for answers, yes.

 

[Birker2020]

The OP was back on Sunday asking for further advice, which is why this thread is active again. But we are still waiting for answers, yes.

Maybe the thread has snowballed and escalated to the extent that she is finding it difficult to manage. I can understand her feelings, that she might want to bow out.

 

[primrose123]

Hi all, thanks so much for all your input. I thought you’d like to know that investigations are still on going.
The blood came back negative. I’ve done some digging into his past but nothing much revealed apart from one trainer saying he had difficulty with cantering on one rein. I found social media vids of pony putting in a buck after jumping, which have since been deleted - not too alarming. Pony has been x-rayed and scanned - scans reveal both stifles inflamed and have damage to patella ligaments - which would have been a problem before we owned him. He’s now had steroids injected and we are waiting for another vet appointment to check his front fetlock as he is intermittently lame.
I do feel like I’ve been scammed and I would love to get legal justice. When buying a horse it is all so balanced in the sellers favour which is wrong imo!
Pony is currently very happy and I am thousands of pounds out of pocket.
Happy New Year everyone!

 

[ycbm]

When buying a horse it is all so balanced in the sellers favour which is wrong imo!

The balance is in favour of the buyer if the sale is by a dealer and subject to the Sale of Goods Act. It's one good reason to pay the premium it costs to buy from a dealer, though you do need to be careful if it's an agency sale where the dealer doesn't own the horse.

I do feel like I’ve been scammed and I would love to get legal justice.

I'm sorry Primrose but with that update and your previous information, I'm pretty sure you will give yourself enormous stress over many months and lose a lot more money if you try to sue anyone over this pony. Medicated blood was about your only hope.

It really sucks, but there's no point in throwing good money after bad.

.

 

[HorsesRule2009]

Hi all, thanks so much for all your input. I thought you’d like to know that investigations are still on going.
The blood came back negative. I’ve done some digging into his past but nothing much revealed apart from one trainer saying he had difficulty with cantering on one rein. I found social media vids of pony putting in a buck after jumping, which have since been deleted - not too alarming. Pony has been x-rayed and scanned - scans reveal both stifles inflamed and have damage to patella ligaments - which would have been a problem before we owned him. He’s now had steroids injected and we are waiting for another vet appointment to check his front fetlock as he is intermittently lame.
I do feel like I’ve been scammed and I would love to get legal justice. When buying a horse it is all so balanced in the sellers favour which is wrong imo!
Pony is currently very happy and I am thousands of pounds out of pocket.
Happy New Year everyone!

I'm sorry to hear this but hopefully with treatment you can get the pony back happy and comfortable.

The condition may have been there for a while but that doesn't mean the previous owner new about it.
A change of ownership/lifestyle and rider could have been enough to tip the pony over the edge si to speak and he became symptomatic.
I don't think it's worth trying to pursue legal action as ycbm says above.

Good luck going forward

 

[primrose123]

It's one good reason to pay the premium it costs to buy from a dealer,

Pony was advertised at £12k, I thought he was being sold on behalf an owner by a ‘dealer’ I had no concept of a ‘sales agent’ at that time or that it was a different legal term. Lesson learned!

 

[ycbm]

Pony was advertised at £12k, I thought he was being sold on behalf an owner by a ‘dealer’ I had no concept of a ‘sales agent’ at that time or that it was a different legal term. Lesson learned!

Sadly it's a lesson a great number of people have learned. What you had was a classic sales agent situation, a dealer selling a horse they don't own and taking commission on the sale. The one thing that might be worth checking out is if this is one of the agency sales that is covered by the Sale of Goods Act, but even so I think the odds are against you, especially as you knew it was an agency sale.
.

 

[primrose123]

Sadly it's a lesson a great number of people have learned. What you had was a classic sales agent situation, a dealer selling a horse they don't own and taking commission on the sale. The one thing that might be worth checking out is if this is one of the agency sales that is covered by the Sale of Goods Act, but even so I think the odds are against you, especially as you knew it was an agency sale.
.

its really hard not to feel cross about it. I was under the impression that it was a sale from a ‘dealer’ and not a private sale, she is still regularly advertising new horses. She kept me at arms length from the owners, so much so that the only person she allowed me access to was the father who didn’t know anything as he wasn’t horsey! She gave a convincing (at the time) reason why I couldn’t contact the mother. Sorry, for going on. I’m just bitter lol!

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Horse buying is so often an utterly dispiriting experience, bringing you face to face with shady practices and dishonesty. In the 18 years my children were growing up we had several horses and ponies, about half of which I think were missold to a degree. I’m so glad I have bred 2 of my own now, so have succession plans in place for my horse Lottie, and will never, ever need to buy a horse again! It should be exciting and fun but it just isn’t.

I do really feel for you. At the same time I think you are on a hiding to nothing trying to pursue it, and your best bet is to focus on getting the pony right. You could name n shame on the Dodgy Dealere site though. Might protect others and give you some sense of justice? Good luck with your pony’s treatment and recovery x

 

[maya2008]

So you bought a £12,000 pony and didn’t get a full set of x-rays? Even insurance companies insist on those beyond a certain value of pony! Or get several opinions on their movement etc (which you say you now have and that show pony as lame) or fully social media stalk pony/owners? I think the overall lesson to be learned from this, is that yes lameness doesn’t always show up depending on current management regimes, but you should always fully investigate any purchase, especially a very expensive one, and not just rely on the vetting. Which is one moment on one day of the pony’s life.

Glad you have found something you can treat in the hocks. Hope the front leg issue is also treatable and pony is soon happy and working well for you.

 

[Goldenstar]

Pony was advertised at £12k, I thought he was being sold on behalf an owner by a ‘dealer’ I had no concept of a ‘sales agent’ at that time or that it was a different legal term. Lesson learned!

TBH it’s pretty normal for dealers to be acting was dealers for some horses and agents for others .
You should always check .
For example the person that Blue came through is a dealer , producer and an agent.