I think I've been had :-(

Status
Not open for further replies.
Spring Feather said:
You've had great advice so no point in anyone saying any more but would like to query you saying his passport saying he was born in 2005 and you questioning him being sold as a 6 year old. Well if he was born in 2005, to 2011 would make him 6 and he'd be rising 7 later this year, so unless there's something else that's dodgy on the passport, it's likely it's his and correct.
Click to expand...

If he was born in 2005, he will be 7 rising 8 this year 2012!
 
Spring Feather said:
When I'm viewing horses I personally tell the seller nothing, or very little about what I'm looking for as it leads them to saying what you want to hear. It's better off letting the sellers mouth run away with them and pick through what has been said.

You've had great advice so no point in anyone saying any more but would like to query you saying his passport saying he was born in 2005 and you questioning him being sold as a 6 year old. Well if he was born in 2005, to 2011 would make him 6 and he'd be rising 7 later this year, so unless there's something else that's dodgy on the passport, it's likely it's his and correct.

He looks like he'll be a nice stamp of a horse once he's filled out and muscled up and you sound like you're going to give him the very best chance of succeeding :) I really hope it works out for you.
Click to expand...

This ^^^^^^ . . . totally agree with everything SF has said here :). Wish I had had this advice when I went horse hunting . . . next time (although I hope there is no next time - want Kal to live to a ripe old age), I will keep shtum.

P
 
not read everything but check the starch levels, some say low starch and are about 15%, which isn't low. Magnesium is also sometimes lacking at this time of the year so might be worth getting some magnitusde from equine america. also 4 weeks isn't a lot for settling in, remember it is a new place, new horses, new mum, new routine. That is quite a lot for a horse to deal with. Bear with him, he is beautiful and has such a kind face. You are obviously calm and sensible so the pair of you will work it out. spend time with him just bonding without putting him under pressure so he really enjoys your company. That's my tuppence worth lol You will be fine. I have the same story as a lot of people here, my girl was emotionally damaged and was really difficult, we worked her out and she really is my perfect horse now, wouldn't swop her for anything now.
 
MrsB said:
Here's Boris, taken 3 days after he arrived with me... he's looking much better now and I'll take another pic in the next few days :)

picture.php
Click to expand...

Oh he is going to be fabulous. However I would never pair up such an immature, big, underweight young horse to someone who was looking to buy their first horse.

I think you'd probably be well advised to ditch your current 'advisors' from the RS and get a more experienced instructor now, and one who is willing to ride him every now and then themselves. With the right work and management, and with help from the right people I'm sure you'll develop a great partnership, and have a super horse in the future :)
 
Can't add to what anyone else has said but he's a lucky horse and its often the ones we end up unintentionally having to work through things with that end up being very rewarding and having a great bond. Good luck I hope it works out for you both
 
OP, have you noticed that normally these threads are "take him back", "sell him on" and yet everyone seems to be rooting for Big Boris :D

I suspect you are stuck with him ;) - he has a fan club :D
 
Do we get stickers if we are in the fan club - used to be in the dennis the menace fanclub and got great stickers etc...............(i am not 7 ... honestly ...)

ps... some more recent pictures please of big (soon to be bigger) beautiful boris
 
Can't remember if I've said on the sugar/heating foods front:

Grey Mare is pretty lively anyway, but went explosive on Speedibeat (think 180 degree leaps in the air, cantering sideways the entire length of the school, and handstand bucks so big even D looked a little alarmed - luckily D1 sat it all and they stayed in the school :cool:).

It took us a little while to figure it out. I checked numerous times as to the sugar content of Speedibeat and was constantly told it should not be relevant. We tracked back the change in behaviour, cut it out, and now she's much better :D. We're very, very careful about what she gets to eat now - not so much as a carrot passes her lips (too much sugar).
 
My wife and I got a 5 year old Irish Sports X about 15 months ago, and he is a crossed with a thoroughbred...so can be more hyper then others. Not sure what type of cross yours is.

He was lacking in the conditioning and for the first few months was quite a lively ride, and had to be lunged first to get the pep out of his pants.

As well as riding him ourselves, we had him schooled a few times a week for about 4-6 weeks in the early days.

We have gone through a few stages with him, he was fine with feet when we got him then went through a stage of not wanting his feet picked up, but we kept doing it and ended up having to have be a bit persuasive and not give up for him to realise he wasn't going to win. He's perfect with his feet again now and has been for some time.

Just recently he went through a spate of swishing his tail or stamping a foot when doing up his girth for a few weeks. He never changed his ride, and tightening the girth was not a problem, or mounting or riding. I think he is still being just a teenager and trying to be stroppy. When he was being silly I gave him a gentle slap on the shoulder and used my angry voice (not shouting). He seems to be getting better at it again now.

He is lovely to ride, but he can be rather spirited, and if I try and hack him for over 30 minutes in walk he seems to start throwing his head a bit in frustration. Nothing really nasty...he just seems to get bored walking.

If he has stable rest due to bad weather, or not ridden for a week then he can be more fresh than normal.

When we got him his balance was poor, and he would trip quite a bit, and we couldn't hold a canter for more than a few strides...we were born again riders again (early 50's), so quite the novice.

He is 7 now, and although much calmer than his initial skittish behavior he can still get excited and sometimes pops into a canter when trotting, or can get a bit excited when cantering and starts rushing.

I don't think any of his behavior has ever been spiteful, but as I said being crossed with a thoroughbred he tends to be more of a sports model then some of the other Irish sports horses I've seen.

I think it just takes time to get to know each other, and I think they do change quite a bit when young. I also think, the younger they are the more they feed off the rider, so if your nervous then they feel it and get nervous themselves.
 
Hi Everyone :)

Unfortunately Boris is still lame :( The vet was out with him today and I think he's going to them next week to find out exactly what's wrong with him - she did say something, but I can't remember what it was (syntis something?!? not sure!). He's got a very short range of movement on his front which isn't how he was when I first got him, he had lovely extended movement and now hasn't. Bloods came back clear, but I still have my doubts...

Anyway, he is much, much more settled now. We are forming a lovely bond, he nuzzles me softly when I groom him, doesn't faff about or stamp his feet as much when being groomed, is much better at picking up his feet and is more pleasant to feed too. He's a very affectionate boy and I really really hope that his lameness isn't too serious.... fingers crossed!

I've attached another pic of him, this was taken 2 weeks ago and today you can't see his ribs and his coat is looking gorgeous too.

Also, he was shod with incorrect shoes, the previous farrier (from where I bought him) shod him with the same size shoes, even though his front feet aren't the same size - this made his foot sore and gave him a corn... unbelieveable, pure muppetry!

Thanks again for all your lovely and positive replies, they're much appreciated!

picture.php
 
Last edited:
Just read through this thread again - when did he go lame? have I missed a thread? He certainly looks like he's put on some condition since the first pic you posted which is great as shows he has no health issues causing him to be that underweight. Imagine what he's going to lookj like once the grass comes through properly and he sheds his coat!!

Hopefully, like most lamenesses it'll be something easily treatable - I have had my horse off lame for 5 weekls before with an abscess that was never actually found but that's what it eventually turned out to be. More often than not, lamenesses are short-lived so hopefully this will be the case with Boris
 
The vet did a series of blocking/numbing jabs, but unfortunately I had to go and pick up my daughter before she had finished the treatment. I'll find out tomorrow from my instructor/YO with what her findings were and what the course of treatment is.

His foot isn't sore from the corn which is positive and the physio has cleared his back, so it's something else, hopefully, like LadyT says is can be resolved.

Yes, he's certainly looking ten times better than when he first came to me. I groom him everyday to help his coat, plus it's helping the bond between us and he's a pleasure to be around!
 
I really feel for you.

But just think of the happiness you have given Boris, looking after him and caring for him properly after buying him from this silly dealer.

I wish you luck with him however much he is able to improve
 
I am sorry to hear you have been through all this. Please keep us updated on your progress too.

I too have a young ISH having said I would not do this again. Circumstances dictated as did finances and the fact I have a very healthy albeit elderly mare so could not take on an older horse. Mine also went out over night, had done little and was on basic food. And then my story changes from you. He has come from a well known local event rider. Has had everything done properly and my vet took 2 hours to vet him. He was put on build up but came off that quite quickly...might be low energy but it's high starch.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you...
 
So sorry to read this is terrible for the horse, for you etc.

Sorry blooming horse people tell some right porkers. That is dreadful and when I went looking last year met many mini dealers. I even had one lady(a riding school big yard) who snapped back I am not a dealer, yet advertises as trade and has website with horses she has sold.

But equally met mum/daughter set up selling from back garden! The horses were not the family pets etc and had obviously being passed along after a bit of work. Urgh. Nice little earner.

I hope you have good insurance and at least its per horse so whatever can be done can be done for Boris. It might not seem it but in a way he is lucky he has someone interested in his well being.
 
If he's also got sus. damage in his hinds he'll be PTS, they are not happy operating on hinds as well. If it's only his fronts, they can operate however, the rehab will be extremely difficult for me to handle.

He will have to have 3 weeks box rest, 2-4 weeks of walking in hand and then bringing back to work very, very gently, all in all taking approx. 6 months. What will make things hard is that he is very difficult to turn out, he can be very unpredictable, there is no consistency to his behaviour when being turned out either. He can be fine one day and a raving lunatic the next, he has dragged my YO across the field before and only she will handle him. He is still aggressive when feeding him, although this has improved slightly.

And now he is feeling better and in an improved condition, he really is difficult. This is not a horse you can handle easily...

If all goes well, I have a contact in the Met Police who are very interested in him where they could do the rehab for me and he will stay there until he is retired from work. He is way too much horse for me, I don't have the experience to ride or handle him and he really is a man's horse. I also know some good hunting homes where he could go to as well, but of course this all depends on his hind legs coming sound.

It infuriates me beyond belief that this woman has done this to me, she doesn't give a flying crap about the horses or who she's selling to, all she cares about is the money in her pocket. Sad thing is, I'm not the only one she has conned :mad:
 
MrsB said:
If he's also got sus. damage in his hinds he'll be PTS, they are not happy operating on hinds as well. If it's only his fronts, they can operate however, the rehab will be extremely difficult for me to handle.

He will have to have 3 weeks box rest, 2-4 weeks of walking in hand and then bringing back to work very, very gently, all in all taking approx. 6 months. What will make things hard is that he is very difficult to turn out, he can be very unpredictable, there is no consistency to his behaviour when being turned out either. He can be fine one day and a raving lunatic the next, he has dragged my YO across the field before and only she will handle him. He is still aggressive when feeding him, although this has improved slightly.

And now he is feeling better and in an improved condition, he really is difficult. This is not a horse you can handle easily...
If all goes well, I have a contact in the Met Police who are very interested in him where they could do the rehab for me and he will stay there until he is retired from work. He is way too much horse for me, I don't have the experience to ride or handle him and he really is a man's horse. I also know some good hunting homes where he could go to as well, but of course this all depends on his hind legs coming sound

It infuriates me beyond belief that this woman has done this to me, she doesn't give a flying crap about the horses or who she's selling to, all she cares about is the money in her pocket. Sad thing is, I'm not the only one she has conned :mad:
Click to expand...

:eek::eek:, please don't consider a hunting home for a horse with significant suspensory damage!!
 
I am taking Boris' future extremely seriously. I am not going to send him somewhere that I don't know. I am well aware of the consquences of the damage he has and I am also taking advice from my vet and YO.

I will do what is best for my horse and whilst I appreciate your input xxMozalarxx, I am exploring every option for him and if, IF a hunting home is a viable option for him (horses can still hunt and jump with sus. damage if it is managed well after the operation) and I know exactly where he is going and he can receive a fulfilling and healthly life, then that is where he will go.
 
I think try a bit of treatment but if its not really going to make a difference??only your vet can advise but just make sure its really in the horses best interest(my vet is great but I would need to be reassured that surgery is 100% going to have a positive outcome) and then I suppose the next thing is will he make a good companion if retired? ie leading him already sounds bad?. Maybe the pain etc is why he has been difficult horse in first place?
If the Met can help you and he is already difficult I would just grab that option for him.

Then as you say PTS might be the long term best option.

Very experienced horse people do get caught out at some stage. I hope you can get redress with the seller. Wonder where they got him from? ie if you can contact a previous owner etc.
 
That is such a shame. Did you only have a 2 stage though? (Haven't read all replies, sorry) if so I don't think you will have any comeback.
I hope it works out for Boris.
 
Clodagh said:
That is such a shame. Did you only have a 2 stage though? (Haven't read all replies, sorry) if so I don't think you will have any comeback.
I hope it works out for Boris.
Click to expand...

I was just thinking this too, unless you've had the 5 stage vetting done, I don't think you'll have any comeback on the vetting.

Sorry to hear about what you've been going through - Boris looks a nice sort, and I hope for the best possible outcome for you both.
 
xxMozlarxx said:
:eek::eek:, please don't consider a hunting home for a horse with significant suspensory damage!!
Click to expand...

I agree with this my OH is hunting mad and I have been involved since childhood hunting is not a job for a horse who has had suspensory surgery.
I just retread the beginning of the thread and realised it was only a two stage vetting this may get the vet off the hook you need good advice.
 
Yes it was stage 2, but the vet is as dodgy as a 9-bob-note, has a terrible reputation and has previously been struck off, all unbeknown to me until after.

Yes, I will have comeback, I know I will, I have evidence on this woman.

Boris has been through a series of dodgy dealers in Kent as I've traced his history and his life has been quite traumatic.

Yes the police is the best bet, only if his hinds are sound - if not, he will be PTS as it's the kindest and most humane option for him. At least I can give him some peace in his awful life that these bastards have given him until I found him.
 
I think you are being great by him, and all the best for making this woman pay.
There are two horses at the yard I work at who came from dealers in Kent, both are lame in more ways than you would think it was possible for any one horse to be. So sad.
 
Just remember when talking to the trading standards etc, you need to strip out horse speak and make no assumptions as to their level of knowledge about horses. People can't follow the conversation ...

So it's down to the ...bought horse off person who said was private. This means they were trying to avoid the protection you would get if they were deemed to be a business. I appreciate trying to get money from a dealer is not great but you legally have more comeback than against a private individual. The it's, goods were sold and not as described. Finally, you paid for a professionals opinion. Now I would ask your own vet to look at the vetting details and ask what their thoughts are. Its a long shot but still worth it. The point of taking out equine speak is that it might not mean anything to a non horse person and you won't be able to,clarify your position.
 
I'm confused as to why having a two stage vetting lets the vet off the hook - a two stage still involves a full examination of the limbs and soundness of the horse, and more to the point, the certificate was falsified.
Poor Boris, and poor you. I think the Met would be a great option for both of you, fingers crossed for a happy ending.
 
MrsB said:
Yes it was stage 2, but the vet is as dodgy as a 9-bob-note, has a terrible reputation and has previously been struck off, all unbeknown to me until after.

Yes, I will have comeback, I know I will, I have evidence on this woman.

Boris has been through a series of dodgy dealers in Kent as I've traced his history and his life has been quite traumatic.

Yes the police is the best bet, only if his hinds are sound - if not, he will be PTS as it's the kindest and most humane option for him. At least I can give him some peace in his awful life that these bastards have given him until I found him.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you have the best course of action and realistic one. Good luck. If you dont get anywhere just let as many people know what these folks have put a horse and now you through. Even though its a nightmare sorting this out one way or another it needs to be. I still think Boris has been lucky to find an owner who is getting to the bottom of his troubles. Shame the others are not so caring. Should be banned from having horses.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top