Dealers near Darlington

[Kearneyse]

Hi Everyone,
I'm looking at some horses in HorseDeals and there's a good few with a dealer who says he's called Gary and based near Darlington. He sounds OK and seems upfront about what he's got advertised- but then they all do. Anyone know who he is and what is his reputation? Thanks.

 

[minesadouble]

This is probably Gary Watchman, joint master of the South Durham and father of showjumper Gareth. Sells good stuff and not so good. Go with your eyes open & if you decide to buy have a vetting done. They do sell some good neds so you may find what you are looking for. Good Luck!

 

[Dizzykizzy]

Gareth and Gary have been advertising quite a bit in the Yorkshire post, horses for sale.
Irrelevant probably!

 

[Kearneyse]

That's v helpful- thanks. Will prob go and look. Prices were very reasonable which makes me a bit suspicious.

 

[velvetbrown]

I recently boutght a horse from gary Watchman. She was advertised as 'an easy ride suitable for a novice'.
I tried her out and liked her though she looked quite unschooled as she rushed about with her head in the air.
I was told he had taken her in on part ex. and her name was 'S*****'.
I had recently lost my old mare and as this one looked just like her i really liked her.
I was told she was in 24/7, fed barley and ridden a maximum of 20 mins a day and that this was 'hre at her worst'.
She had no shoes on but when i enquired i as told it was because they had so many horses they could not shoe them all.
I bought her with no vetting as he told me if anything turned out to be wrong i could exchange her.
When she was delivered i saw on her passport that her name was 'B*****'. I contacted her previous owner as named on the passport to find out more about her and was horrified to hear that the lady had sold her to Mr Watchman for £100 as a broodmare/companion only as she had such a bad heart murmer that vets had told her the horse was unridable.
They had been riding her for a month before they had her vetted and said when they got her she was rake thin, covered on rain scald and had come from Phil Mcateer in a very bad state.
I contacted my vet straight away who confirmed it was a loud heart murmur but could not say how serious.
I then contacted mr Watchman who said it was not true, he had no idea about the heart murmer and did not pay £100. The lady said Mr Watchman siad he would only pay £100 because he didn't know if she would carry a foalk.
Mr Watchman says this is not true.
He said he would get a specialist to d a scan and find out what was what and pay for it himself which he did.
He said if she was ridable i could keep her or exchange her. If she was not fit for the job he would 'scrap' her.
The scan was done and she was diagnosed with a leaky valve but i was told she could still be ridden whoever it took a week for this to be done in which time i just turned her out.
Later, when i tried to ride her for the first timei could not get near her as she shied and leapt all over the place.
When i was finally able to get on she reacted badly, doing a rocking horse action and going backwards into the fence until i got off. She never once went forward.
I haven't been on her since and have had her 3 months.
I got in touch with the previous owner again who said if anything touched her withers she 'went mad or refused to move'. They also said she was a ngthmare on a hack.
They has ridden her for a month before discovering the heart murmur and she had been turned away for 4 months hence no shoes.
I had my instructor try her incase it was just me. She trotted some then exploded, doing a rodeo of bucking, rearing, and running backwards- not exactly an easy ride suitable for a novice.
I had the physio look at her who said she had a sore rump area and treated it.
Someone else tried her several weeks later but she just galloped flat out in 20 meter circles, the next day she would only go backwards.
My farrier looked at her and said 'you will never sit on this horse' and he sees a 'catastrophy' and he believes she has a back injury in the wither area.
I am thinking so too now as when her withers are touched she tosses her head and goes backwards.
My husband believes despit all this rather dodgy story that Mr Watchman is 100% trustworthy or he would not have paid for the specialist.
I think i was conned.