flaxen
Well-Known Member
I took a horse on loan in August with a 3 month trial in a view to buy loan for 5 yrs, I travelled to view said horse before hand and took a friend with me, I asked all the relevant questions about farrier, loading etc, she stated the horse doesnt like being on his own but I didnt realise that it had to have a horse with it at all tiimes even for grooming. I was told that he wasnt the best loader but only took about 10 mins to load, I stressed that the horse had to load into a trailer as had to load him myself with no help from anyone else, was told horse more used to load in trailer and was only about 10 mins.
The owners delivered the horse themselves in a lorry and I signed a hand written contract ( looked to be written on route) which was a 3 month trial and stated horse was to be insured and what equipment he had with him, I was told that I would recieve a typed copy to sign and send back which I never did. I never recieved the passport.
I had to move him and my others off the farm on which I was living as landlord said they werent allowed any further turnout, I had arranged to use a field a couple of miles up the road so I took my mare and dropped her off as she will load and travel for me on her own. I then returned to pick up the the pony and the loan horse to find it wouldnt load even with the pony already on board and the ramps down, 3 hours later with 3 people still couldnt get it on and was kicking out when lunge lines put behind him. Aborted as went dark and horse put back in field.
The next day after work, the horse was sedated and with 3 people and lunge lines and we even tried a blindfold it still took 3 hours to load with said horse even sitting down on one of the helpers and squashing them.
I am now moving up north and rang owners the next day and explained that couldnt load him and that I was now going to be moving and wasnt prepared to take the risk of keeping him as if he was sick then then he couldnt get to a vets as couldnt load it and I cant have a horse that wont load and he wasnt even scared.
Due to the loading issue I am taking the pony companion with me instead of the riding horse.
Owners said they would come and pick the horse up this week, I have had a call saying that they want the horse to go by transport without a passport which is illegal and I said that the transporters round by me state in their terms and conditions that horses must travel with passports and that they are not obliged to assist in loading.
I have had had a bill for sedation for loading and am loathed to pay for transport for owner to collect horse when it clearly doesnt load and have witnesses to prove it.
Because I am moving and the nights are drawing in my mare and her pony companion are going to my friends stud the next day and will share a foaling box ( she wont normally have geldings on the stud but is helping me out ) til the lorry picks them up the week after.
Does anyone have any ideas of where I stand? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
