Kate88
Active Member
Apologies for the long post but its a long story, and would be grateful for any advice or even to hear anyone's story of a similar situation.
Here goes.. I started up horse riding again last summer after a 12 year break. Really enjoyed it and decided I was ready to buy my own horse. Was having regular private lessons & hacking out on a horse at a livery yard that the owner didnt ride with my friend and her horse and gaining experience looking after them etc.
On same yard the owners daughter brought 2 horses back from UK with her (we live on iom) saying that her friend had given them to her for her to bring on for her and sell on her behalf. (Looking back now I think she had already purchased them on leaving the UK for a minimal sum)
They knew it was my first horse and said That one of them would be suitable. It was a 5 yr old TB mare (knowing what i know now I realise this is not a suitable first horse for anyone really) who they said would be perfect for me.
I tried her twice and hacked her out although was told not to canter her on hacking out as she'd always presume she could do this.
I was inexperienced and believed (naively) everything they said about said horse as the girl who brought her Over was a very experienced rider, taking her exams to become an instructor and did a lot of competing in UK. I stupidly did not have the horse vetted as was told for the price I paid it wasn't worth it as she wasn't "expensive". I was massively over charged (I paid £3,000) for a horse that had been left in a field for the previous two years after being trained to race and was too slow, came with no tack, and had only been schooled and lunged again for a month.
Within two weeks they called me up telling me she had started weaving and I must have done something to cause this! They had her stabled in old stables (not the main ones where her other horses were) and I've since realised they must have known she did this and didnt want other horses copying her behaviour and also kept her well hidden so I wouldn't know about her vice. 2nd time I hacked her she bolted and I came off and hurt myself. She was very rushy and I noticed she had poor balance. They (girl and her interfering mother) made out that her balance was very good and there was no issue. I lost my confidence riding the horse and refused to hack her out as became apparent she had no brakes. The girl agreed with me we were not a match and I put her up for sale. Her mother went ballistic at me saying "how dare I advertise her as not a novice ride! You will give that horse a bad reputation!". I was only being honest in my advert saying she was not for a novice as was forward going.
I noticed when tacking her up she would throw her head in the air. I mentioned this as was concerned she had a sore back and was told no she was fine.
I had her back checked by a lady who uses the Bowen technique who noted she drags her feet, has poor balance and was definitely tender and uncomfortable in her withers (this was 2 months after owning her). She treated the areas said to give her a month off and would see the horse again in a month. The horse showed improvement and was told to long rein her to improve muscle tone and help her balance. After more check ups and eventually given the go ahead to ride her again I had an instructor ride her gently and she seemed to be ok. Within a week she went downhill again and was uncomfortable again, I consulted my vet. He examined her and said she was in acute pain, give her bute and said to ride her again. She was ok but once coming off painkillers could not be ridden and went lame also. I told the girl who sold her to me about back problems and the mother was extremely rude to me said her daughter would have known and rubbished my back specialist as someone who likes to con money out of people. My vet referred her to Leahurst which horrified the mother who said before I go to the expense of sending her I should have their back specialist come look at her. I said no as had two opinions already with my back specialist & vet agreeing to send her. In the end I caved just to humour them and was told to rest her (she'd been rested for months on and off!) and then hack her and also that her flexions were fine & she highly doubted the horse has kissing spines.
I sent the horse to Leahurst and she was diagnosed with Severe kissing spines, navicular in both front legs and stifle pain in her hind quarters. As soon as my horse left that yard to go to UK they turned nasty, asking me to completely clear her paddock and my stable so that another livery could use it whilst I was away (even though I had paid in advance for another 3 weeks!). My local vet since told mr they have tried to interfere with her referral saying she was fine and didnt need to go and my vet told them I was the owner and he was acting for the owner. I'm disgusted they would do this. I have since had to put my horse to sleep (yesterday) which was heart breaking and very distressing. I now want compensation for this horse and want my money back, the expenses I've endured with trainers/vets/livery costs whilst in UK etc.
they conned me on price and I have a text which states if the girl continued to ride the horse for another month she would be worth £6,000 and that I needed to decide quickly. I also have emails from the mother saved saying I shouldn't send her and that she doesn't need to go. Taking all this into consideration I really think they need to do the right thing and would appreciate any thoughts on this. I only owned the horse for 10 months and was unable to ride her by 2 months in. They have a lot of money and think very highly of themselves, trying to make a reputation bringing on and selling horses. It's a very small community where we are and I really think if this gets out their reputation is ruined. Not only did they sell me a horse that wasn't fit for purpose, they sold me a weaver and did not disclose this information. If she was working I know now shed be worth about £1,000.
Your thoughts on this would be most appreciated and thanks for bearing with me reading this long winded post. I am sending them a full vets report with invoices and if I do not receive a response they will be receiving a lawyers letter.
Here goes.. I started up horse riding again last summer after a 12 year break. Really enjoyed it and decided I was ready to buy my own horse. Was having regular private lessons & hacking out on a horse at a livery yard that the owner didnt ride with my friend and her horse and gaining experience looking after them etc.
On same yard the owners daughter brought 2 horses back from UK with her (we live on iom) saying that her friend had given them to her for her to bring on for her and sell on her behalf. (Looking back now I think she had already purchased them on leaving the UK for a minimal sum)
They knew it was my first horse and said That one of them would be suitable. It was a 5 yr old TB mare (knowing what i know now I realise this is not a suitable first horse for anyone really) who they said would be perfect for me.
I tried her twice and hacked her out although was told not to canter her on hacking out as she'd always presume she could do this.
I was inexperienced and believed (naively) everything they said about said horse as the girl who brought her Over was a very experienced rider, taking her exams to become an instructor and did a lot of competing in UK. I stupidly did not have the horse vetted as was told for the price I paid it wasn't worth it as she wasn't "expensive". I was massively over charged (I paid £3,000) for a horse that had been left in a field for the previous two years after being trained to race and was too slow, came with no tack, and had only been schooled and lunged again for a month.
Within two weeks they called me up telling me she had started weaving and I must have done something to cause this! They had her stabled in old stables (not the main ones where her other horses were) and I've since realised they must have known she did this and didnt want other horses copying her behaviour and also kept her well hidden so I wouldn't know about her vice. 2nd time I hacked her she bolted and I came off and hurt myself. She was very rushy and I noticed she had poor balance. They (girl and her interfering mother) made out that her balance was very good and there was no issue. I lost my confidence riding the horse and refused to hack her out as became apparent she had no brakes. The girl agreed with me we were not a match and I put her up for sale. Her mother went ballistic at me saying "how dare I advertise her as not a novice ride! You will give that horse a bad reputation!". I was only being honest in my advert saying she was not for a novice as was forward going.
I noticed when tacking her up she would throw her head in the air. I mentioned this as was concerned she had a sore back and was told no she was fine.
I had her back checked by a lady who uses the Bowen technique who noted she drags her feet, has poor balance and was definitely tender and uncomfortable in her withers (this was 2 months after owning her). She treated the areas said to give her a month off and would see the horse again in a month. The horse showed improvement and was told to long rein her to improve muscle tone and help her balance. After more check ups and eventually given the go ahead to ride her again I had an instructor ride her gently and she seemed to be ok. Within a week she went downhill again and was uncomfortable again, I consulted my vet. He examined her and said she was in acute pain, give her bute and said to ride her again. She was ok but once coming off painkillers could not be ridden and went lame also. I told the girl who sold her to me about back problems and the mother was extremely rude to me said her daughter would have known and rubbished my back specialist as someone who likes to con money out of people. My vet referred her to Leahurst which horrified the mother who said before I go to the expense of sending her I should have their back specialist come look at her. I said no as had two opinions already with my back specialist & vet agreeing to send her. In the end I caved just to humour them and was told to rest her (she'd been rested for months on and off!) and then hack her and also that her flexions were fine & she highly doubted the horse has kissing spines.
I sent the horse to Leahurst and she was diagnosed with Severe kissing spines, navicular in both front legs and stifle pain in her hind quarters. As soon as my horse left that yard to go to UK they turned nasty, asking me to completely clear her paddock and my stable so that another livery could use it whilst I was away (even though I had paid in advance for another 3 weeks!). My local vet since told mr they have tried to interfere with her referral saying she was fine and didnt need to go and my vet told them I was the owner and he was acting for the owner. I'm disgusted they would do this. I have since had to put my horse to sleep (yesterday) which was heart breaking and very distressing. I now want compensation for this horse and want my money back, the expenses I've endured with trainers/vets/livery costs whilst in UK etc.
they conned me on price and I have a text which states if the girl continued to ride the horse for another month she would be worth £6,000 and that I needed to decide quickly. I also have emails from the mother saved saying I shouldn't send her and that she doesn't need to go. Taking all this into consideration I really think they need to do the right thing and would appreciate any thoughts on this. I only owned the horse for 10 months and was unable to ride her by 2 months in. They have a lot of money and think very highly of themselves, trying to make a reputation bringing on and selling horses. It's a very small community where we are and I really think if this gets out their reputation is ruined. Not only did they sell me a horse that wasn't fit for purpose, they sold me a weaver and did not disclose this information. If she was working I know now shed be worth about £1,000.
Your thoughts on this would be most appreciated and thanks for bearing with me reading this long winded post. I am sending them a full vets report with invoices and if I do not receive a response they will be receiving a lawyers letter.
I don't think you stand much chance with the time that passed and recovering any money. You deserve some.
