Can the seller of a horse refuse to allow owner to move horse to a new yard for a period

[Cheetchy]

I have a friend who's buying a young horse from a livery yard, the horse is owned by the yard. They have been mucking her about really bad to the point she's now to share him 2 days per week and pay for 2 x 1 hour lessons per week before the sale takes place in 6 weeks this means shes paying £140 per week. A lot of red tape but I suppose you could argue they just want to make sure it's the right fit for the horse and my friend and not simply as we all think that they're lining their pockets with her.

However

When the sale takes place in 6 weeks, they are going to make her sign an agreement that she will stay on their yard with the horse on full livery (it's a full livery only yard) for 6 months And not be allowed to move him.

Personally all the red tape would have warned me off but my friend has been of the impression she was buying him since they agreed price and sale etc so has spent time bonding with him.

Does anyone know if that agreement would be legally binding when she takes ownership? I think it wouldn't be worth the paper it's written on, she'll have a receipt for the sale and take full ownership so surely they can't physically refuse to allow her to take him to a better yard? Ideal if anyone has experienced this and can advise if signing that agreement will legally binding her to having to stay there.

 

[wills_91]

Friend should walk away

 

[ester]

Go shopping elsewhere.

 

[bonny]

I can’t think of any reason why anyone would proceed with that deal ?

 

[JBM]

They’re never going to get anyone to agree to that I’d just put my foot down and say you’re happy to stay in contact but you are not paying them for a horse and then paying them for full livery too that’s a rip off and a half

 

[babymare]

Scam and walk away very damn fast

 

[Cheetchy]

She almost did walk away when the goal post changed to these new rules, this will be her first horse and I think because she's invested so much time and money in him already she's frightened to walk away. They've stipulated brand of bridle, bit, reins the lot and she's jumped through every hurdle for them.

In her head she's saying she can handle 6 months there but in reality I think they won't leave her alone when she's there. She's stubborn though.

 

[Cheetchy]

Also she's been having lessons at that particular yard for the past 8 months or so, its local to her but there are much better livery yards in the area she would prefer

 

[JBM]

Horses can be hard enough without crazy ex owners involved this sounds she’s buying a loan horse

 

[shortstuff99]

Once she's paid for him she owns him and can do what she wants

 

[Dave's Mam]

Run a mile.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

If she really, really wants the horse, she could pay for him in full and then 'take him for a walk' to meet a transporter and move him to another yard. The seller wouldn't be able to do anything about it. She would need to get all her possessions off the yard first, though.

 

[Cheetchy]

Once she's paid for him she owns him and can do what she wants

This is exactly what I'm thinking and I think she's hoping. That agreement they make her sign won't be able to be enforced right? Then when she legally owns him she can do as she chooses

 

[meleeka]

It sounds like they want paying for a loan! If she’s that set on having the horse I wouldn’t sign anything, but would go along with it and then just leave. I do hope she’s going to have the horse vetted prior to purchase? If they are that desperate for the money, they could be trying to offload vet bills too.

 

[Wizpop]

Totally ridiculous situation! Friend should just walk away- this is not normal procedure when buying a horse!

 

[silv]

I can’t think of any reason why anyone would proceed with that deal ?

I know, it is one of the most ridiculous things I have heard in a long time. They obviously see the buyer as a soft touch and are either going to milk her dry or scam her. I cannot believe why she hasn't told them where to go.

 

[Lucky Snowball]

Walk away

 

[Cheetchy]

She is a soft touch, that's why we all think they're taking advantage. Plus she really really wants him. They're trying to put her off a vetting as they've owned him for 4 years but he's not vaccinated so she's going to ask for a vetting for her insurance.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Once the horse is sold the seller has no say in where it's kept. Although I'd urge your friend to walk away from these lunatics , there's always an option to buy the horse and just leave.

 

[Dave's Mam]

She is a soft touch, that's why we all think they're taking advantage. Plus she really really wants him. They're trying to put her off a vetting as they've owned him for 4 years but he's not vaccinated so she's going to ask for a vetting for her insurance.

This all has alarm bells ringing.

 

[Glitterandrainbows]

Devils advocate.. if your friend has no experience of young horses and has only been having lessons 8 months do they see it as a bad match?

 

[criso]

While I agree once the horse is hers she can move it, I'm wondering if they make her sign a 6 month contract for livery, it would make her liable for the livery if she did move.

 

[Cragrat]

It sounds like they want paying for a loan! If she’s that set on having the horse I wouldn’t sign anything, but would go along with it and then just leave. I do hope she’s going to have the horse vetted prior to purchase? If they are that desperate for the money, they could be trying to offload vet bills too.

Agree. She needs a truly INDEPENDANT vetting

 

[tda]

She is a soft touch, that's why we all think they're taking advantage. Plus she really really wants him. They're trying to put her off a vetting as they've owned him for 4 years but he's not vaccinated so she's going to ask for a vetting for her insurance.

A seller trying to put a potential purchaser off having a vetting would ring alarm bells, never mind the rest of the "conditions of sale"

 

[Jellymoon]

I’m just wondering…as your friend is very very inexperienced, and taking on a young horse, are the people who have been training her and the horse are actually protecting the horse and future partnership, and trying to make the situation work out well? Could it be that? Is it a good yard with good training? If so, maybe staying 6m and getting some really good help with a new horse is not a bad idea…

 

[Jellymoon]

Just read about the vetting situation - that’s not good. Maybe they aren’t so genuine after all!

 

[shortstuff99]

She is a soft touch, that's why we all think they're taking advantage. Plus she really really wants him. They're trying to put her off a vetting as they've owned him for 4 years but he's not vaccinated so she's going to ask for a vetting for her insurance.

Yeah she needs to walk away. Why has the horse not been vaccinated on 4 years? Has she looked at its passport?

 

[Cragrat]

They could be intending to keep him on bute for 6 months whilst he stays at their yard???? So include bloods in the vetting

 

[millikins]

If she's been having lessons there, is it a riding school? Will "her" horse continue to be used for lessons in this 6 month compulsory livery scenario? She really should walk away.

 

[Caol Ila]

That's a pretty high level of crazy. I'd run fast and far in the opposite direction.