Buying unseen, what are your rights?

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Flora

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Apologies in advance for my long post

I bought a mare and foal, unseen from Ireland in June. The mare was a bit of a stress head but calmed down and was lovely. Only problem was, you couldnt touch her legs, which I wasnt told. I bought her for her foal with the intention of selling the mare on.
I advertised the mare as a project/broodmare, stating she was wary with her legs getting touch. Someone got in touch, and I told her everything I knew about the mare and she decided to buy unseen and paid a deposit until foal was ready to be weaned.
Throughout the last couple of months, I have kept in touch with the girl, sent videos and pictures. The mare turned out to be lovely apart from the leg issues and a bit of weaving, which I mentioned on more than one occasion.
Fast forward, the foal was weaned over a few weeks then the mare was transported last wk with a 2 day stop over at the transporters yard, then onto the girls yard on Monday. I received a msg yest saying the horse is stressed out, bitting, dragging and turning her bum on them. Today she says she is weaving and wants her money back!
She told me she was experienced, which she came across as in her messages, but I have since found out she has just turned 18 and I dont think she is that experienced. Anyone would know that having her foal taken away, moving from one yard to 2 yards in the space of a week, she would be stressed and need time to settle.
I have kept all the messages from myself and her replies, I told her everything I knew about the mare. Where do I stand as to her wanting her money back? Thanks for listening!
 
To be honest, it probably is her look out but distance selling regulations might cover her for a 14 day cooling off period, I cant remember.

If you're in a position to take the mare back and place her appropriately, I would.
 
It’s probably worth a quick call to a legal helpline to check your position.

It’s one of the reasons I’d be very wary of selling unseen - there are some completely delusional buyers out there.

If you are in a position to, for the mares sake, it might be worth trying to come to some sort of arrangement to have her back. Sounds like the buyer is out of their depth and it’s only going to end badly for the horse.
 
I also think that you'd have no liability. It seems as though you were upfront about her issues.

And realistically, giving the horse 1 day to settle on a new yard after a transport, including a layover, and a recent weaning is just ridiculous. I'd think an experienced horse person would recognize this.
 
Thanks for your replies. No Im not a dealer. I bought them with the intention of selling the mare on as I wanted to keep the foal, which I did tell her. I cant take the mare back as I have no stable now as Im keeping the foal.
I have copies of all my conversations with her in which she said she has bought a few unseen and how experienced she was but I think I will take legal advice just to make sure where I stand
 
Poor mare has had her world turned upside down for the second time in four months, this time coupled with the stress of weaning. Anyone who can't wrap their head around that shouldn't be allowed near any animal. The decent thing for the mare would be for the OP to take her back and rehome with a good deal more care next time, but then when are humans ever decent?

(Doubtless, I shall soon be chastised with bleating to the effect of: "But why should OP have to scratch about and find space - any sort of space - when they're already done with the mare as a commodity?" Hmm, let's think - perhaps because it would be the right thing to do?)
 
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