Equine Specialist Solicitors / Lawyers?

Thank you Xmas Furry - great link. The main difference in my case is that it was a private sale. Rights are much more restricted in that case. We do have legal expenses cover with our house insurance so that's good.
 
I'm not sure jrp204. I think the vet should have picked it up, our vet did! However, our vet is defending the vet who vetted her. he says we would be in for a 2 year legal battle with them with a low chance of success. The owner is not willing to take the horse back and says she was unaware of any problem and sold her in good faith. Nightmare.....
 
Im sorry to hear/see this, but im not sure how much joy you will have, unless you had bloods taken and can prove that she was doped.

Vetting is based on that vets opinion on that particular day.

Good luck
 
I'd get the bloods run, and if they come back clean then tbh I can't see you will get anywhere, especially if your vets are defending the 5* ones.
 
We have had bloods taken. It will cost £250 to have them tested. Vet says there are drugs you can get that fade over time in the blood. Don't know if it's good money after bad. Certainly makes me think that we are wasting our money on vettings. Surely if they had any doubts this should have been picked up? He didn't do the walking in a small circle, and he didn't tell me he didn't do that. I also have a pre-purchase video which shows and out to in movement that was what made my vet think that there was a problem.
 
Well do you think that the horse was doped for vetting?

If so I would test and then you can go after the owner, if you think that the vet who vetted did not correctly carryout vetting then report them, although I think you might be hard pushed to get any money back.

Very unfortunate situation.
 
Has the workload increased since you bought the horse? There may not have been a problem in the previous home, there may not have been an issue with the vetting (unless the bloods throw up something). Some conditions can exacerbated by an increase in exercise.
I am no way defending anyone, just throwing in some thoughts. Vettings are only an opinion of that horse during the time the vetting is being done.
 
If the horse was vetted as being suitable for sport type work and the vet did not carry out the small circle on the hard type test I think you could form an argument that the vet was negligent in passing the horse without carrying out this test.
Op does need a solicitor who does this type of work .
I know of two people who have successfully sued vets after vettings and won so it can be done one missed a whistler and the other missed a bone spavin.
 
Horseymum13 said:
We have had bloods taken. It will cost £250 to have them tested. Vet says there are drugs you can get that fade over time in the blood. Don't know if it's good money after bad.
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Firstly, so sorry to hear of your problems.

Were these bloods taken at the time of the time of the 5 stage vetting or more recently? IMHO it would only be worth testing them if they were taken on the day of vetting.

Your best bet of getting a result against the vet is if you can prove that he did not follow the prescribed procedures required for a 5 stage vetting. Were you present at the vetting, or was a trusted third party there?
 
Tiddlypom, the bloods were taken at the time of the vetting. I wasn't present at the vetting (it was 4 hours away) and didn't have a trusted third party there either. But then that's why I hired a professional who was acting on my behalf with my interests in mind....

I feel that the vetting must not have been carried out to the standard required. Not doing the small circles is a biggie, and it was not mentioned that he did not carry it out. It said on the certificate (which I only got about 2 weeks later, after I had purchased her) that it was not done because there was not a suitable surface. I was at the yard and there was a suitable surface.

Goldenstar, it's very encouraging to hear of people who have been successful. I'm sure it's very hush hush. Would you mind pm'ing me and perhaps asking those people to get in touch with me? I'd be interested in how they went about it.

JRP204, we have taken it very cautiously since getting her. Ridden 4 times a week, light schooling and hacking, jumping once. My daughter is very careful and always puts the horse first. I spoke to the previous owner's daughter today and she said the horse had been in work right up till sale but our saddler and physio thought that she lacked muscle and looked like she'd been out of work.
 
If the vet was not able to carry out the full requirements of a 5 stage vetting because the facilities available to him (alleged lack of a suitable surface for the circling) were deficient, then he should have at the very least contacted you to discuss it as to whether to proceed. He should not simply leave that part out and tell you that the horse is fit for your purpose.

It is not acceptable that you only found out later when in possession of the certificate. However, as he has written that he has failed to carry out the circling on the certificate, that should give you good grounds for making a case against him (and does without the need for a third party witnessing this omission.).

Thanks for clarifying the timing of the bloods, I thought that they must have been from the vetting, but wanted to be sure.

As GS says, you now need specialist legal advice on this. Good luck.
 
Thank you Tiddlypom.
Now I'd like to find out who the Goldenstar's friends used.....

Thanks everyone for all your best wishes... I'm not looking forward to this and it totally puts me off buying a horse ever again, it's such a minefield....
 
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