Help- I need to get my horses back from rescue centre!

sgcoolchick said:
i did not want retirement "livery" i wanted a quiet retirement home, they contacted me remember offering a home for life for both of them, the issue im having is they are using my unsound horse to teach idiots to jump! if i knew he would end up being used for this would i have let them go there? i dont think so! they have completley pulled the wool over my eyes, i did background checks, visited the yard and there were no issues, it has come to light there is a serious staffing issue and these new members of staff are ignorant and not treating the horses correctly. i am more than happy to pay a livery bill for the time they have been there, i am not after something for nothing!
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If there is no transfer of ownership in writing, then they dont have any proof of ownership. Tell them you will pay them double whatever they charge for full livery for the time your horses have been there and that you are removing them as of now (take a trailer). If they refuse tell them you will pursue the matter through the courts. They sound as if they are rather dodgy and probably won't want the hassle, tbh...money now or court case for who knows how long? A dodgy place won't bother arguing, a genuine rescue will.
 
Get a trailer and go and get them, asap.

Thats what I would do - probably not the 'right' course of action but hey ho.
 
Just a thought, but if they claim to be a rescue but are possibly hiring out the horses to be ridden, or even giving lessons, maybe they're an illegal establishment. There's a place currently winding down as they were doing just this: an unregistered "charity" rescue centre, funded by hiring out the ridable horses. As they were unlicenced, uninsured and had no H&S in place, they are under investigation. I'm not suggesting it's the same place but the same thing could apply?

You say you're blocked on Fb. Do they have a Fb group/page? Then get a friend who's not blocked (or someone here) to do some detective work and follow their posts there. It's not hard to work out if they're an illegal riding establishment, plenty of sleuths here have checked places out that way! ;):D

If they're an illegal riding establishment, you may have some leverage to get your horses back. Or if you really think they're treating horses cruelly, you could report them and have them shut down.
 
Yes...I think things change once money becomes involved.... Had they taken your coloured and just ridden him themselves then thsts one thing, if they offered retirement home and are now receiving money for lessons that's another...
I would initially do some detective work. Keep copies of all correspondance then hit them with all evidence and say I'm collecting my horses.
Another case of people using animals and people in difficult circumstances to line their lying pockets!!!
 
What are your plans for the horses, if or when you get them back, OP? The truth is, it is hard enough to find genuine companion homes for one horse, let alone two that need to go together. Do you plan to keep them yourself in retirement or PTS?
 
Vectro said:
I 100% Wholeheartedly agree with this!! All sounds a bit strange to me.
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Op's circumstances may have changed. There may have been a time when he/she couldn't afford to retire the horses, but things could have improved since?

Or, OP might just want them back to re-home to someone kinder, or pts to prevent further abuse. They were given away to be retired, not thundered over jumps by 15 stone men. :(
 
vectro- there is nothing strange about this! i had 4 horses, i had two that were not being used- one retired and one unsound, i wanted to find them a home together which i have, they are now not being used for what they should be, and i am also in a position to have them back as i have sold my other two horses,i will happily pay livery for the time they have been at rescue centre. nothing strange about it, apart from i have been mislead!
 
Horrible situation for you OP :(

I would probably go and take them back, offer to pay their cost of keep for the time they have been there, load them and go.

If you don't want to do this, then, as others have suggested, I'd take the legal route.

I hope it all works out for you x
 
FionaM12 said:
Op's circumstances may have changed. There may have been a time when he/she couldn't afford to retire the horses, but things could have improved since?

Or, OP might just want them back to re-home to someone kinder, or pts to prevent further abuse. They were given away to be retired, not thundered over jumps by 15 stone men. :(
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thank you- this is exactly the case but this time they will be going no where! no one is to be trusted i have decided! they will live with me forever and retire in the way they should. i wish i could show you the photos so you could see why its breaking my heart but i cant publish anything until this is sorted
 
What I would do is
1. make sure you have copies of your original ad and their reply & also copies of your original purchase documentation for the horses.
2. make sure you have copies of the video of the coloured being jumped.
3. if possible get a copy of the passports (not sure if this is possible)
3. Contact a solicitor and get a letter stating your intention to take the horses back (not sure if this is feasible) - take all the above and a large bloke with you (better to be safe than sorry) and your trailer and headcollars and arrive at 6am in the morning - before anyone else is around - first person on the yard - present them with a copy of the letter - your ad and any correspondence - load your horses and go. If they attempt to stop you tell them that if they touch you you will call the police and that if they dont let you take the horses you will call the police.

If they state they own the horses - ask for proof of ownership - copy of sale documentation etc. Make sure you have your proof of purchase for the horses with you to prove you are the owner and also your own identification to show who you are.

Sounds dramatic but if you are in the right (not doubting you but I dont know you from adam) stand your ground.
 
Go see the personn in charge, tell her you miss them and are ready to pay a reasonnable amount to get them back (offer cost of livery) and see how that goes.
 
You could go down the "give them back or I'll cause you more trouble than their worth x 10" route... You know...reporting to tax man, enviro Health, planning, RSPCA etc etc....
 
FionaM12 said:
Op's circumstances may have changed. There may have been a time when he/she couldn't afford to retire the horses, but things could have improved since?
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True, but it's hard to feel sympathy for the OP who was so keen to pass on her elderly horses in this manner. I do hope there is some resolution for the horses who don't deserve to be passed off to such a "charity".

FWIW, I would be investigating the "illegal riding establishment" side of things, joining the BHS to utilise their helpline and pitching up to retrieve the horses.
 
Phoebe said:
You could go down the "give them back or I'll cause you more trouble than their worth x 10" route... You know...reporting to tax man, enviro Health, planning, RSPCA etc etc....
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That's what I was hinting at my earlier post! :)

If they are a genuine rescue, surely they'd be glad to return them (unless they considered they'd rescued them from you) to make space for some of the many other horses in need?

If they're not genuine (and I'd be suspicious of any unregistered "charity") then they're probably an illegal riding establishment, as I said earlier.
 
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Also, I'd go with checkbook, pen and paper, pay straight away and try to get on paper that money is for livery fees and horses are yours, and leave with the horses if possible. They might change their mind if not paid straight away.
 
Is this the same coloured that was sold to someone and returned to you back in July last year? The one that was apparently unable to be hacked out and came back all cut up in a terrible state? If so, if I read your previous posts you wanted to keep him for life after that ordeal......

Anyway, I suggest you either get legal advice as suggested from BHS or go collect them immediately.

I would also suggest as you haven't had much luck with your coloured and it appears he's been through quite a traumatic time that either you really do give him a home for life or PTS to prevent a further disasterous life for him
 
guido16 said:
Sorry to ask, but if you can give them a home now, why did you give them away in the first place?
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I did the very same, gave my horse who i couldnt cope with to a TB rehab centre but when the time came they said they couldnt keep him i had him back like a shot. The OP did what she thought (and what should have been) a very responsible thing to ensure her horses future. I still cant cope/afford my horse but i will have to find a way until i sort something else out.

OP This is shocking and i hope you manage to sort it all out, what a nightmare x
 
meesha said:
What I would do is
1. make sure you have copies of your original ad and their reply & also copies of your original purchase documentation for the horses.
2. make sure you have copies of the video of the coloured being jumped.
3. if possible get a copy of the passports (not sure if this is possible)
3. Contact a solicitor and get a letter stating your intention to take the horses back (not sure if this is feasible) - take all the above and a large bloke with you (better to be safe than sorry) and your trailer and headcollars and arrive at 6am in the morning - before anyone else is around - first person on the yard - present them with a copy of the letter - your ad and any correspondence - load your horses and go. If they attempt to stop you tell them that if they touch you you will call the police and that if they dont let you take the horses you will call the police.

If they state they own the horses - ask for proof of ownership - copy of sale documentation etc. Make sure you have your proof of purchase for the horses with you to prove you are the owner and also your own identification to show who you are.

Sounds dramatic but if you are in the right (not doubting you but I dont know you from adam) stand your ground.
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I agree with this, but include in the letter the reasons why the horses are coming back to you (a) terms of contract are broken in that she deliberately misled you as to your horses' future (b) terms of contract are broken in that she is jumping an unsound horse - welfare issue. cc Trading Standards in to your letter to scare the pants off her.

She needs to know that you will not go away quietly and she give your horses back or all hell (Trading Standards, Tax office, H&S) will be notified.

Maybe your horses aren't the only ones being used in this way :mad:

Good luck.
 
OP could u pm me the place please? Iv got a feeling I know where it it and the lady has a very nasty temper. Is she expecting a baby? The owner that is
 
as someone else said, is this the same coloured you had for 4 weeks, sold, got treated roughly then went back to you weeks later after being sent away to be 'taught manners' whilst at that current home? So if I have read right, he has been from you, to new owners, to training lady, back to new owners, back to you and now the charity in less than 6 months?? So you said you would never let him go through that again but in a matter of months passed him on to an unregistered charity for him to be mistreated yet again??? poor poor horse. I am very sorry if I have read that wrong.
 
Ok it's a long old story- please DO NOT assume I am a bad horse owner. I bought this horse from a friend who saved him from being put to sleep! he did not end up being what I was looking for i.e bolting on the road etc. He is 100% to handle and ride in a school. but not out hacking, he was sold to a new home where he then apparently caused havoc and they threatened to shoot him- i was not going to let this happen on the basis he was a gentle sole to manage. I took him back- i could not afford to take him back but i would not see him put to sleep. at this point I had 4 horses, all my horses are well cared for and have the best of everything- i then decided 6 months after having him back and him settling so well that perhaps...PERHAPS someone out there may be able to make use of him and hack him quietly ...which was when the rescue centre got in touch, now i admit i have been a fool...or been "fooled" and he is now being used for a different purpose. I do not like to see this and i will not stand for it, which is why i would like him back. At the end of the day he always behaves 100% with me to handle, we have a bond and i love him to pieces, everyone around me tells me to have him pts, but i wont do it on the basis he is good to handle and respects me when handling him on the ground. Therefore i would appreciate people not saying oh your shoving him from pillar to post, i have actually just tried to give him a chance. or he would be in the ground by now~! i have done much research on this horse and traced approx 15 previous owners, i wanted to be the one who could provide him with the right home, but i got in a situation around xmas time and I had to try and find a home for him and my old tb. I would be more than happy for him to stay at the rescue centre but i can not bare to see photos and hear the stories of what is going on. so please say what you wish about me but i am sure it would break your heart too, if i really didnt care i would of had him pts.
 
sgcoolchick. You should have taken responsibility for the coloured horse a long time ago. There are worse things than being put down - as you've now discovered. 15 owners tells you a story in it's own right.

I suggest you go to the 'rescue' center and speak in person to the owner to find out what the story is.

If you feel you can give both horses, now, a permanent home try and negotiate their return.

If you can't - learn your lesson, and don't 'rescue' yourself those which you can't keep.
 
Ceris Comet said:
Just read that thread too. Poor horse being passed from pillar to post.
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Why do you come out with that statement in response to this post? It's hardly a fair comment Ceris Comet. I haven't gotten the impression the OP was/is passing either of her older horses from pillar-to-post. She very naively had thought she'd found them a quiet retirement home for the remainder of their lives together. OP may have been very naive but your reply to her post is unhelpful and pointless. Sorry, but it gets my goat when someone posts something TOTALLY pointless and irrelevant!
 
Putting a horse to sleep isn't the end of the world, you know. If he doesn't have a home with you, and you can't find a suitable home, which in this climate is a long shot, I would think it is the best option - sadly an option you may no longer have any control over since you handed him over to this "rescue centre". If he bolts on the road and you couldn't hack him safely, I am surprised you thought you would be able to find him a home as a gentle hack. Better put down than over-jumped by heavy novices, surely?

Ultimately he is being passed from pillar to post, whether your motivations for that are well intentioned or not. The trouble with "saving" horses from being put down is that, often, they are being put down for good reasons :(
 
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Spyda said:
Why do you come out with that statement in response to this post? It's hardly a fair comment Ceris Comet. I haven't gotten the impression the OP was/is passing either of her older horses from pillar-to-post. She very naively had thought she'd found them a quiet retirement home for the remainder of their lives together. OP may have been very naive but your reply to her post is unhelpful and pointless. Sorry, but it gets my goat when someone posts something TOTALLY pointless and irrelevant!
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I take it you have not read her other thread regarding the coloured then? her comment was very relevent.
 
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