Horse buying etiquette??

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millieloulou

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Just wanted your advice on something.....when viewing horses, is it normal to put a deposit down to hold the horse whilst waiting for a vetting? If the vetting shows up problems and the buyer decides to pull out, is the buyer entitled to their deposit back???
 
Normally a verbal contract is sufficent to hold a horse until after a vetting. The fact that you are paying best part of 200 for a decent vetting usually means you are a genuine buyer. Occassionally you will get someone who will take a higher offer between agreeing to the sale and the vetting taking place but most people are decent and don't mess you around like this.
 
The owner and the buyer would have to agree on the point. From the buyer's point of view I would want a written agreement stating the deposit was refundable should the horse fail the vetting.
 
Oh dear. looks like I've been had over. I went to view a horse on friday eve and left a deposit (the buyer signed a piece of paper saying that a deposit had been left but nothing was on there about subject to vetting) and due to the bank holiday the earliest I could get a vetting was Tues.

Anyway, vetting showed up that the horse was 20 plus and not 10 as advertised and that it was knife-edge laminetic.

I rang the seller and said I didn't want the horse due to this and she told me the vet was wrong and I wouldn't be getting my deposit back because it was just my vets 'opinion'!!!!!

Any ideas in what I can do?? If anything!

I was so upset, I didn't think there were such awful people about.
 
I was offered a deposit on my mare to hold her until vetting - but I refused.

millieloulou - we can go round and do them over for you if you like???
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(Sorry no helpful suggestions...)
 
Oh how awful! Poor you
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If it makes you feel any better I've always put deposits down before vettings, subject to the horse passing. I've never had anything in writing, but will remember this in future. I think if someone said they wanted to buy my horse and would arrange a vetting, but didn't leave a deposit, I wouldn't be convinced they were coming back to me. There are so many timewasters out there - and people change their minds and don't bother to tell you. It's difficult to get it right think.

Maybe it would be worth sending them a stern letter requesting the return of your deposit within 7 days or else you will be taking legal action? You never know, it might work?
 
If you don't mind me asking, how much was the deposit? If it is a small amount, you may have to take it on the chin but if it is a larger amount it may be worth mentioning small claims court. I would speak to your vets and explain the situation to them as they are likely to be willing to speak to the seller - another person putting pressure on to return the deposit may work in your favour. Selling a horse as 10 when it is infact 20 is I believe illegal under the trade descriptions act. You may want to point this out!

Vettings are based on a vets opinion of the horse on the day that the vet saw them. However, remember that the vets word stands up in court and something like a 10 year difference in age doesnt happen over night. The fact that the horse is on the verge of getting laminitis would be a failiure for most vets as obiously this will mean the horse is unsuitable for the purpose for which you wanted to buy it for.

May be worth you talkign to the CAB and ask them to speak to the seller. Are you sure they are a private seller and not a dealer?
 
Ha ha! Thanks for the offer! I did feel like getting a mob organised I must admit! Think i'll write a letter and see how i get on....I'll keep you informed!
Please use my story as a warning though, would hate for anyone else to be robbed!!
 
Is this a private seller or a dealer? When you gave the person the deposit, did you say you would be buying the horse subject to vetting? The whole business of buying and selling horses with or without vettings is a nightmare. I have sold so few horses and the ones I own were all bought without being vetted. As a buyer, if you find a horse you like and want it vetted and don't leave a deposit there is absolutely nothing to stop the seller selling to someone else who comes along with the cash, and if you do leave a deposit - you can end up in your situation. A case of damned if you do and damned if you don't.
 
Sorry can't help on your legal position, but wanted to say how sorry I was that firstly you lost your deposit and secondly the seller was obviously deceitful in the first place about the horse.

I would chalk it up to experience as long as it isn't too much money and be thankful you had a vetting and a lucky escape!
 
So sorry to hear about your bad experience, we recently had the nicest horse buying experience of our lives. When we bought the new girl, her lovely then owner refused to take a deposit, but assured us that she would not let anyone else try her in the mean time. The horse is as genuine as the seller and I think we were all very happy with the outcome. The seller has now gone on to buy a horse who she thinks will tick all the boxes for her as well.
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[ QUOTE ]
So sorry to hear about your bad experience, we recently had the nicest horse buying experience of our lives.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have also been very lucky - Ella was exactly as described (only better), but I did pay cash then and there for her as I didn't want anyone else to have her. I have only sold two horses in recent years and again have been very lucky, probably because I haven't been desperate to sell them, have just wanted them to go to the best homes possible.
The person selling this horse obviously hasn't got any scruples whatsover, I just hope the OP is luckier next time.
 
oh no poor you, hopeyou are able to get your money back.

When I bought George I paid a 10% deposit but I got the owner to sign an agreement that said the money would be refundable if the horse failed the vetting was injured or died in the interim and everyone laughed and said I was being melodramatic! George's seller was as honest as anything and looked after him for 2 weeks after the vetting until I got back off holiday!!

I think we just assume that people are nice and honest and it is horrible when they're not.
 
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