Indigo Irish Draughts - please read, a heads up.

[Cortez]

This sounds like a sad situation, being whipped up into a storm of misinformation and supposition by the usual Chinese whispers of the internet. I doubt that the true circumstances are known to most people commenting on it.

 

[SEL]

I was the beneficiary of horses in a will (owner is still alive, horses long gone) & it was explained to me that as property they would pass to me but after that it was my decision. The owner knew I'd make the right call even if that was PTS.

World Horse Welfare are probably the best charity set up to deal with this type of situation if anyone is worried about their own horses - but again, still the charity's decision as to their future.

I'm just sad Janet thought she had secured a safe future.

 

[equinerebel]

Requests concerning animals aren't legally enforceable in a will I don't believe, you can only express your wishes.

It's a weird one. Under English and Welsh law, pets are considered private property and you can therefore "gift" them to a named individual(s). Horses are considered livestock only if used in such a manner, so these specific horses would not be considered livestock by law.

That's why it's important to know exactly what was set out in the will before getting into the legalities of it all.

Morally, it's indisputably a sad situation.

 

[Rowreach]

I viewed some horses for a potential purchaser a few years ago and very sadly the yard and grounds were in a poor state, knee deep in mud and over crowded. Janet was very unwell at the time and obviously struggling. The quality of the horses was less than I had expected, with all four I looked at having poor conformation and all by the resident stallion. I am a huge fan of ID's and thought we would buy, but we couldn't.

Such a sad situation, but as we all know, with death comes vultures with hope of gain.

I am afraid this was very much the case.

And this is a salutary lesson for anyone with a horse (let alone a quantity of them) that are effectively not rehomeable, to make realistic provision for them.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

But you can in fact leave animals to a named person and the executor cannot change that?

Yes, just like leaving any property or money. They can contest the will if they really want, but their chances of success there would be outside of my knowledge to comment on.

 

[meleeka]

I am afraid this was very much the case.

And this is a salutary lesson for anyone with a horse (let alone a quantity of them) that are effectively not rehomeable, to make realistic provision for them.

I’m sure Janet thought she had done that. Sadly there’s only one solution guaranteed to ensure they don’t end up suffering.

 

[AmyMay]

I’m sure Janet thought she had done that. Sadly there’s only one solution guaranteed to ensure they don’t end up suffering.

It would seem from a bit of digging, that the buck well and truly stops (and starts) with the executor.

A sad situation, but as (as I’ve been reliably informed) no provision had been made for the horses - nothing illegal (or underhand) has occurred. Just morally objectionable.

Hopefully those who are genuinely interested in any of the horses that were put up for sale can track down the ones that they wanted.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

It would seem from a bit of digging, that the buck well and truly stops (and starts) with the executor.

A sad situation, but as (as I’ve been reliably informed) no provision had been made for the horses - nothing illegal (or underhand) has occurred. Just morally objectionable.

Hopefully those who are genuinely interested in any of the horses that were put up for sale can track down the ones that they wanted.

Just to add, in case they are using the same reg name, you can search by the horses name and it will bring up all posts with that phrase across public Facebook, whether you’re in the group or not. Use the search bar at the top left (on web version) and then scroll down the results and after the people/groups it will bring up posts.

I used it to occasionally search for Dex’s sire and see other horses of his lineage being sold

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Is the executor the solicitor who drew up the will?
What a shame that Janet's wishes weren't absolutely nailed down. A salutary lesson to us all.

 

[Sleighfarer]

Is the executor the solicitor who drew up the will?
What a shame that Janet's wishes weren't absolutely nailed down. A salutary lesson to us all.

From reading the Facebook posts it sounds as if it was in hand but Janet died before everything was dotted and crossed.

 

[equinerebel]

A very sad lesson. We always think we’ll have the time until one day we don’t.

I hope all the horses find suitable, safe homes or are pts with dignity.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I think that it is unfortunate to make comment on the state of the yard. It was indeed not the smartest, and some of the horses were not a saleable proposition, but the fact remains that currently a number of Indigo horses are out there being bandied about by various dealers, which is not what Janet intended to happen.

The plea is to try and keep track of them and notify the Indigo FB page admin if one pops up, so that those who know them can continue to try to do their best by them.

It IS a lesson to us all to make sure that we have our affairs tied up as tightly as possible, so as not to leave a potential muddle.

 

[DabDab]

On my part the size and muddiness of the property was only mentioned for balance, because when people say "farm" I think it is easy to imagine that there was 60+ acres of grassland that the horses could exist on without much support, but instead the cruel Charity threw them out and sent them packing to a dealer.

Not to say that I think what has happened to those horses is right, because it clearly isn't. And I think the post listing the names of the horses sold with a clear way to link back to the grooms who know the histories is excellent, and it should be shared as widely as possible

 

[ycbm]

On my part the size and muddiness of the property was only mentioned for balance, because when people say "farm" I think it is easy to imagine that there was 60+ acres of grassland that the horses could exist on without much support, but instead the cruel Charity threw them out and sent them packing to a dealer.

Not to say that I think what has happened to those horses is right, because it clearly isn't. And I think the post listing the names of the horses sold with a clear way to link back to the grooms who know the histories is excellent, and it should be shared as widely as possible

I was certainly misled by it being called a farm, I had no idea most of the horses were on rented land, it changed the picture completely. From greedy beneficiaries we are now on unwittingly cruel executors who know nothing about horses. What a crying shame for the horses that their future wasn't secured.
.

 

[wills_91]

What a sad situation for these horses to be in. I only have my 2 minis at the moment, should anything happen to me they will be pts.

 

[AmyMay]

I was certainly misled by it being called a farm, I had no idea most of the horses were on rented land, it changed the picture completely. From greedy beneficiaries we are now on unwittingly cruel executors who know nothing about horses. What a crying shame for the horses that their future wasn't secured.
.

The photos on the charity’s website show a property that looks pretty substantial

 

[Tiddlypom]

I do not know what was owned or what was rented, but there was a reasonably substantial amount of land to both sides of the long entrance drive, leading down to a modest property and the main yard and arena.

It wasn't tiny.

The staff must be given full credit for continuing to care for the horses in the difficult period after Janet died.

 

[Lexi 123]

It sad what happened to these horses but the reality is she didn’t have her will completely sorted out and it ended up in awful story. In saying this she could have idea in her head but nobody might not have agreed to it hence horse being shipped off to dealer. I think it’s unfair for people to be left with lame old unsellable horse instead of doing the right thing and pts .

 

[Dexter]

I'm going to get legal advice on my will now. I have specified where my animals are to go and what happens with them but at no point has it ever been mentioned to me that this is optional and it was drawn up by solicitors! This thread has been eye-opening on several levels.

 

[DabDab]

I do not know what was owned or what was rented, but there was a reasonably substantial amount of land to both sides of the long entrance drive, leading down to a modest property and the main yard and arena.

It wasn't tiny.

The staff must be given full credit for continuing to care for the horses in the difficult period after Janet died.

I just measured off Google maps out of interest...I make it about 25 acres incl house etc. So at a push she might have had them all there I suppose. She had downsized a fair bit from years gone by.

Yes the staff really seem to have gone above and beyond. Seeing the horses in unsuitable homes must be really difficult for them

 

[Xmasha]

We may never know the full facts of why/what happened
But we do know Janet didnt want her horses to ended up in a bin end dealers yard .
Im sure the aim of this post was to raise awareness and for everyone to keep their eyes out for any indigos and make the relevant FB admin aware .
The condition of the fields / size of the property isn’t relevant . It’s the welfare of Janet’s horses that’s all important

 

[AmyMay]

We may never know the full facts of why/what happened
But we do know Janet didnt want her horses to ended up in a bin end dealers yard .
Im sure the aim of this post was to raise awareness and for everyone to keep their eyes out for any indigos and make the relevant FB admin aware .
The condition of the fields / size of the property isn’t relevant . It’s the welfare of Janet’s horses that’s all important

Of course, you’re absolutely right. I only mentioned the size as I was trying to understand why the horses were off loaded before the Charity moved in.

 

[Xmasha]

Of course, you’re absolutely right. I only mentioned the size as I was trying to understand why the horses were off loaded before the Charity moved in

My comment was aimed at you Amymay , I know you wouldn’t have meant it that way .
Just wanted to get the post back to being about welfare and not quality of stock/muddy fields

 

[Xmasha]

I’ve just been contacted by someone who went to view the ex breeding stallion . He’s at a dealers in Yorkshire . From what the lady said he’s not In Good shape .

 

[AmyMay]

 

[paddy555]

The following are facts .

Amanda Weston is the exor who obtained probate.
She is a legal executive and a will writer
she is the owner of Weston Wills

the will was written 21 April 21 and JG died Nov 21
probate dated 17/11/22

estate value net £4,494,558.45

a trust was created and AW the trustee

the will does say that the trustee can add to the beneficiaries.

on the face of it it seems as if AW's comments may/ could be correct, JG didn't put sufficient in place and AW was left with a mess to sort out. I think JG was posting on here in the period Apr - Nov 21 and it is simply possible that she didn't do enough to secure the situation.

 

[AmyMay]

£4 million estate, and the horses were sold off

 

[Xmasha]

£4 million estate, and the horses were sold off

It doesn’t add up does it .

 

[irishdraft]

Hmm I have now read the thread on the Facebook page & Bruce Thorpely has commented & said he offered to take some broodmares & a young gelding at a meeting of some sort. He was told to put his offer in writing & never heard back. I'm afraid I would be believing his version, it sounds a total mess & the poor horses are the ones to suffer.

 

[criso]

I would still ask the question who were the people who advised that this was the best way to sell off the horses. Were they suitably experienced and did they have nothing to gain from emptying the yard?

And if the charity is a rehabilitation centre and some horses are still at the farm, were they not able to spend some time assessing and finding homes or selling the others individually from the farm.