Buyer's Beware - a Cautionary Tail

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Harrythehorse

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:mad:I write this after a 700 mile round trip to Suffolk to see a CB mare for sale that we saw advertised last week. I contacted the owner, explaining that I had recently lost my last CB and asked for more info and breeding details etc which she willingly supplied. We liked the sound of the mare mare so much that my husband took a couple of days off and we travelled to Suffolk to view her, despite the weather forecast. We kept in touch everyday with the owner and she gave me an assurance not to sell the horse before we had seen her. I called the owner on Monday evening to say we had travelled up and would be with her at noon as arranged on Tuesday, we all went to bed very happy. As a CB enthusiast we also wanted to track down her breeding and as we could find no photos of the stallion we contacted the breeder, it turns out that not only did she own the stallion but she bred the mare and was happy to give us further details, including an email the day before the viewing saying she could let us have some photos of the mare and to keep in touch. All seemed well and we set of to drive the last 30 miles in the snow on Tuesday when, just 3 miles from the stables, the owner called me to say she had Sold the mare. I was speechless !!!! I asked her how she could do this and who she had sold her to and it turned out it was to the breeder. The breeder who seemed at face value to be very helpful and trustworthy, used the info that we had given her to go behind our backs and buy the mare for herself; at no point did she give any indications of her true intent. The same goes for the seller who had no qualms about ignoring the arrangement we had with her and was fully aware of our circumstances and how far we had travelled; she didn’t even have the decency to apologise. We have never sold a horse, only buy to replace those we have lost and three days later I am still seething with anger. I cannot believe how people can treat others in this way; are there any sellers or breeders out there that can be trusted or has all honesty and integrity been lost? Should I name and shame?
 
The T&C's you agreed to prevent naming and shaming!

It's a sad tale and it's not the only time it's been heard. There are a number of people who have posted "What do you think of this advert?" posts and found that a fellow HHOer has nipped in and bought the horse on being made aware of the ad although the original poster has said they had a viewing booked. I myself was very tempted last year when my perfect horse's details were put up here but I knew the potential buyer was so excited about the horse and so I didn't go to see it.

So very sad for you and not very professional of the seller but I'm afraid that's life.
 
Similar thing happened to me once & both me & my little girl who the pony was for were gutted.

I'm a massive believer in things happen for a reason & for us it took us to another fantastic pony which we wouldn't have found if we hadn't been messed about.

That someone special is still out there waiting for you to find them xxx
 
As owner of 4 Cleveland Bays I would like to know who the breeder is.. Please PM me..

I can also forward you details of a mare my friend has, not long backed.. An exceptional mare.. Beautiful paces, stunning big mare.. Needs a new home as her owner has stopped breeding CBs now.. I'd snap her arm off but have 6 horses..

I totally understand your anger, I would also be furious, it's not fair under the circumstances but not illegal.. I like deposits for what they are worth to some less moral people..

I suppose in a way it could be seen as nice the breeder wanted her back, must be nice stock.. However I deplore unscrupulous underhanded behaviour and the breeder could at least have been honest with you or notified you of their intent..

I wish you luck with your search for a new CB..
 
I can totally relate to what you're going through. I too had the misfortune to be taken in by a seemingly genuine and honest seller who turned out to be very different in real life! When I saw her ad I thought that I had found exactly what I was looking for, so I rang her and the mare seemed to tick all of my boxes. I explained that we practically lived at the other end of the country but would make the journey the following day. I expressed my concern that she would sell the horse before we got there but she assured me she wouldn't even show her anyone else (her suggestion, not mine). Anyhow we set off as planned, kept in contact as we were travelling down and all seemed to be going well until about half an hour away when she didn't pick up her phone. When we arrived at her yard (10 minutes earlier than arranged as it happened) a teenager was jumping the horse I intended to try. Anyhow to cut the story shorter, this girl was trying her out. The woman selling her had decided to stop answering my calls as a sale was looking likely to the teenager. Angry? I was beyond that :mad: :mad: The upshot was that the teenager didn't buy this horse as alarm bells started to ring with her that the seller was less than honest or genuine, so the seller lost 2 potential buyers in one fell swoop!

That was a very long time ago and I must say that it has put me off travelling so far to look and I certainly don't take any seller at face value anymore - so maybe not a bad thing in the end? :rolleyes:
 
What the breeder should have done was to ask that if you weren't interested she would be. The seller wanted a hassle free sale with (probably) no vetting.

Appalling, thoughtless, bad manners, but not illegal.
 
I'm not surprised you are still angry!! that was really underhand of the breeder and downright ignorant of the owner to treat you like that:mad: jeez if that had happened to me i dread to think what my OH would have done , having taken time off work and travelled that far he would have been spitting feathers!!
I hope you get to find another CB, from someone who has more morals than the first seller.
 
I really feel for you, it's a horrible position to find yourself in and an almighty waste your time.

However, I'm afraid cash will out - perhaps the breeder made an offer the seller couldn't refuse. Or perhaps seller & breeder have a history. Perhaps the seller has other pressures on them, and wanted to avoid a drawn out sale, vetting etc.

I'm not saying it's right, but I can think if several reasons why the seller have acted this way.

It's a shame, but I think cash over morals is typical these days :(
 
I sympathise with your disappointment, but can't help wondering why you contacted the breeder before you bought or even saw the horse?
I also think that you should always assume the horse you are going to view is NOT going to be the one for you - that way you will make more sensible decisions about how far you are willing to travel, money you will spend on accommodation etc beforehand.
If you invest in a long journey/time etc there's a danger you will talk yourself into buying something completely unsuitable.
S :D
 
How disappointing and frustrating for you. Let's hope as someone else said that it is fate that the horse was sold and that there is a nicer one out there somewhere for you. I wonder if the one KSR mentioned will be suitable?
P.s. where on earth did you travel from for it to be a 700 mile round trip? :eek:
 
Aw I do feel for you and I'm not surprised you are upset about it. This has never happened to me as when I really like a horse that I'm unable to view immediately then I do a bank transfer to the seller to hold the horse for the few days it takes for me to be able to get out to view it. I've never had a seller renege on this and they have always put off viewings until after I've seen the horse. If the horse isn't for me then they get to keep the "deposit", if it is then this money is taken off the final purchase price. Try not to dwell upon it, after all the horse may not have been what you were looking for after all. Actually had this happened to me I'd have travelled the extra few miles and viewed the horse anyway ... and then tried to find some fault with it just to make my mind believe that I got away lightly :)
 
Yes, I agree with you. Make that the pox on them - but not so much as it stops them caring for their horses :D I too am of the opinion there's a reason all these things happen (or don't, as you currently feel). The one you find next will probably have meant to be the one in the first place. Been there once or twice myself and wouldn't swap the ones we found 'instead' for anything. Good luck.
 
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