Horse riding holiday complaint

[exracehorse]

Ok. I have photos I can send anyone But I won’t post. Friend booked a holiday in France. Riding holiday. It’s a company where you can go to Mongolia. Africa etc. 5 days. You’re in the saddle for approx 6 hours a day. Friend arrives. Horse looks awful. Plus the others are not much better. Guy running the show says nothing wrong with your horse. She says I’m not riding then. She’s still over there. Had to leave the horse trip. She’s rung company. They said sorry. No refund. Surely it’s not right ? She’s back this weekend. It was her birthday present to herself. And wasn’t cheap either.

 

[Tarragon]

I think that some of the standards are not very high. I have often ridden in France, though only for day rides, and most have been good. One wasn't though. I was grooming my horse before we saddled up and I found a raw wound on the pastern, hidden from view by the feathers, but I pointed it out and was given another horse. I don't know if they were cursing me as they knew it was there and was hoping to get away with it, or whether they genuinely didn't know it was there, but either way it wasn't good.
What was awful about the horse? I think that some horses might "look" badly made conformation wise, but are more than capable of doing the job.

 

[JenJ]

@HollyWoozle may be a good person to advise here

 

[Jenko109]

Did she pay by card?

If she can sufficiently evidence that the service is not as described, she could do a chargeback.

It would help if she could get an independent report from a vet or similar who will comment on her pictures and confirm the animals are not suitable to be ridden.

 

[exracehorse]

I think that some of the standards are not very high. I have often ridden in France, though only for day rides, and most have been good. One wasn't though. I was grooming my horse before we saddled up and I found a raw wound on the pastern, hidden from view by the feathers, but I pointed it out and was given another horse. I don't know if they were cursing me as they knew it was there and was hoping to get away with it, or whether they genuinely didn't know it was there, but either way it wasn't good.
What was awful about the horse? I think that some horses might "look" badly made conformation wise, but are more than capable of doing the job.

I’ll send you photos. Too see if you think that the horse should be working 6 hours a day. She said it was practically dead. Head low. And underweight.

 

[sarcasm_queen]

The problem is that different countries have different levels of legal animal welfare. What we might see as being unacceptable, it might ‘technically’ be acceptable somewhere else.
Went to a stables in the Caribbean several years ago. Horses were in a horrific state, but legally there was nothing we could do, and so no refund because the stables hadn’t broken any rules. (Obviously didn’t go through with the ride).

 

[exracehorse]

The problem is that different countries have different levels of legal animal welfare. What we might see as being unacceptable, it might ‘technically’ be acceptable somewhere else.
Went to a stables in the Caribbean several years ago. Horses were in a horrific state, but legally there was nothing we could do, and so no refund because the stables hadn’t broken any rules. (Obviously didn’t go through with the ride).

I understand that France do have animal welfare rights?

 

[sarcasm_queen]

I understand that France do have animal welfare rights?

Rights? Yes. Strong rights? Not really. And the way that bureaucracy is there, you’d have a battle getting someone higher up involved.

 

[ROMANY 1959]

My mum treated me to a days riding in Malta many years ago. I was picked up and took to the stables at Golden Bay, with intentions of treaking along top of cliffs. Horses were skin and bone. Saddles had huge blankets underneath to make them fit. Bits were horrid cowboy style ones. I declined to ride. So did another girl. So we went to a cafe and awaited transport back. I complained but never got anything back. That was in 1998,

 

[Tiddlypom]

Did she book through an agent? If she did that would be her best bet of getting some recompense.

I wrote off £600 for a two day UK riding holiday earlier this year after bailing early on. I had booked it direct. I had ridden with them before without issue.

Turned down first horse as it had a sore back, plus additionally skin was very sore and lumpy to touch on lower hind legs, think probably CPL under feathers. Horse continually stamping hind legs.

Second replacement horse was lovely, but got very upset half an hour into the ride when kicked without any provocation by one of the other horses, which had carted its rider along the road behind mine to kick mine as she stood at the side of the road. The other rider was mortified and kept apologising. My horse never settled after that, I stuck with the ride til we’d had a couple of canters hoping she’d settle, but she was terribly anxious and I was sitting on eggshells. I bailed before I got decked.

I felt that the whole shebang was unsafe what with having a kicker on the ride and a horse with a sore back, so I got my stuff and scarpered.

Did write them a de brief email later, but never heard a squeak back.

 

[Jenko109]

Did she book through an agent? If she did that would be her best bet of getting some recompense.

I wrote off £600 for a two day UK riding holiday earlier this year after bailing early on. I had booked it direct. I had ridden with them before without issue.

Turned down first horse as it had a sore back, plus additionally skin was very sore and lumpy to touch on lower hind legs, think probably CPL under feathers. Horse continually stamping hind legs.

Second replacement horse was lovely, but got very upset half an hour into the ride when kicked without any provocation by one of the other horses, which had carted its rider along the road behind mine to kick mine as she stood at the side of the road. The other rider was mortified and kept apologising. My horse never settled after that, I stuck with the ride til we’d had a couple of canters hoping she’d settle, but she was terribly anxious and I was sitting on eggshells. I bailed before I got decked.

I felt that the whole shebang was unsafe what with having a kicker on the ride and a horse with a sore back, so I got my stuff and scarpered.

Did write them a de brief email later, but never heard a squeak back.

Was this a particularly well known welsh guided trekking holiday?

 

[snowangel5]

My mum treated me to a days riding in Malta many years ago. I was picked up and took to the stables at Golden Bay, with intentions of treaking along top of cliffs. Horses were skin and bone. Saddles had huge blankets underneath to make them fit. Bits were horrid cowboy style ones. I declined to ride. So did another girl. So we went to a cafe and awaited transport back. I complained but never got anything back. That was in 1998,

Glad you and the other girl saw and i hope you were able to keep in touch with the other girl

 

[HollyWoozle]

As someone who sells riding holidays I’m always sorry to hear that someone has had a bad experience, particularly when it comes to horse welfare. Of course it does crop up as an issue from time to time and it can be a difficult issue to resolve, particularly as we all have different ideas about condition, fitness and so on. Having said that I am surprised that the agency she booked with haven’t investigated.

I would suggest that she emails them a copy of her thoughts, in detail, with the supporting photos she has and invites a response from them. Sometimes it is difficult to fully understand the gravity of a situation over the phone. Feel free to DM me to discuss further.

 

[SEL]

‘Our first family holiday in years was a massive disappointment – can we sue?’

Ask A Lawyer: our reader feels they were misled during their ‘four-star’ getaway

www.telegraph.co.uk

Not sure if you can access this article but it is about taking legal action with holiday companies for loss of enjoyment

 

[exracehorse]

As someone who sells riding holidays I’m always sorry to hear that someone has had a bad experience, particularly when it comes to horse welfare. Of course it does crop up as an issue from time to time and it can be a difficult issue to resolve, particularly as we all have different ideas about condition, fitness and so on. Having said that I am surprised that the agency she booked with haven’t investigated.

I would suggest that she emails them a copy of her thoughts, in detail, with the supporting photos she has and invites a response from them. Sometimes it is difficult to fully understand the gravity of a situation over the phone. Feel free to DM me to discuss further.

I’ll send photos over. Horses had saddle sores. Were very underweight. And no life at all

 

[lynz88]

This is sad to hear. I did a ride on ponies in Cambodia years ago who were extremely well taken care of and I was incredibly impressed. I also did a ride in Scotland on very well schooled, well taken care of, but advanced rider horses and was impressed. I'm surprised to hear about these rides.