Hedwards
Well-Known Member
I'll start from the very beginning (seems sensible to start there!), in June 2009 I took Connie on loan from a friend of a friend, it was a bit difficult to get sorted as the friend of a friend was occasionally difficult to get hold of (all becomes clear later), however eventually, loan contract signed, and we picked her up. Her condition wasnt the best, but we had been told she'd basically been turned away for a few years, she wasnt a neglect case, and was basically a happy little mare that required a bit of TLC (her feet were the worst bit about her). The owner was very pleasant, and showed us all her other ponies, some really cracking show pony types and more shetties and mini's than you could shake a stick at. We saw photos of her and Connie when she was out competing (showing), champion on many occasions I understand.
Everything was great, Connie was fab, I was happy, the owner didnt make any contact. Last June the contract basically expired, the owner was un-contacable, no matter how hard we tried, her house was empty, but the ponies still in the fields, all looking a little less healthy, but not bad by any means. A bit more digging, and we found out Connie's owner was in trouble, an alcoholic, had been arrested for numerous alcohol related incidents etc etc.
We tried and tried to contact her, until one day, by fluke we happened to find her in her village/town (we were there for something else), anyway we had a chat, and she said she would come and see Connie two days later, we gave details, swapped numbers again and all was great - she was completely lucid and frankly looked a lot better than when we had last seen her, married to a new man who seemed ok, so we thought all was ok again.
Two days later, the owner didnt show, we tried calling, line was dead. Again, she was AWOL - we were wrong, apparently both she and her new man are big drinkers!
This continued, until about 2 months ago, when my friend happened to bump into someone who had previously kept her ponies with Connie's owner.
Now I have to say the following is all anecdotal - second hand information, but so far has proved to be true.
The lady said that Connie's owner had moved all the ponies, to two separate yards relatively locally, the minis and Shetlands to one field at a private livery yard, and then 3 show ponies to another livery yard. However in February the RSPCA seized the ponies (I understand no care was provided at all through the terrible winter we had, one pony passed away, and I can only imagine the state of the others), the show ponies were signed over to the livery yard in lieu of payment to be sold on (cracking ponies, anyone who got them will be lucky!) - Sadly I dont know what yard this was. The minis & shets were all taken by RSPCA and the owner banned from keeping horses (dont know what kind of ban, i.e. life or 5 years etc) - I've tried calling this livery yard owner, however no luck so far...no voicemail mechanism on the number.
So now, I have Connie, I love her to pieces and she will stay with me to the end of her days, however I have no legal responsibility or right to her (although I believe if I took the owner to court she'd be mine due to me paying for her for over a year after the contract).
The owner is (reportedly) banned from keeping horses, and yet, she still owns Connie. I've called the RSPCA 5 times and each time a 'message' has been passed to the local inspector to call me back, but their main piece of advice is to speak to CAB - which makes no sense to me, as per the court action etc etc. which is all I think they'll tell me. Still no word from the local inspector (Ive been calling for 1 and a half months now!)
So... what would any of you suggest. I have Connie's passports and registration forms, I have Connie, and she is now a picture of health - but she's not mine!
Photos of the girl:
Day she came home (Cant believe I didnt see how poor she really was could kick myself now for not doing something for the other ponies!)
Our first ever competition, walk and trot test we won!!
Later on we did some fun eventing we won!! We went on to dabble in SJ/XC and were happily competing at affiliated Novice dressage.
Trec competition we won!!
Then after diagnosis of concussive lami in her offside fore (see the 1st photo!!) she was out of work for a loooong time, and I nearly had to have her pts. However weve battled on and shes back in work now (steady easy stuff) and were both happy! Oh and maybe I should add that this horse is 20 years old!
Most recent one of us, I love this!!
Everything was great, Connie was fab, I was happy, the owner didnt make any contact. Last June the contract basically expired, the owner was un-contacable, no matter how hard we tried, her house was empty, but the ponies still in the fields, all looking a little less healthy, but not bad by any means. A bit more digging, and we found out Connie's owner was in trouble, an alcoholic, had been arrested for numerous alcohol related incidents etc etc.
We tried and tried to contact her, until one day, by fluke we happened to find her in her village/town (we were there for something else), anyway we had a chat, and she said she would come and see Connie two days later, we gave details, swapped numbers again and all was great - she was completely lucid and frankly looked a lot better than when we had last seen her, married to a new man who seemed ok, so we thought all was ok again.
Two days later, the owner didnt show, we tried calling, line was dead. Again, she was AWOL - we were wrong, apparently both she and her new man are big drinkers!
This continued, until about 2 months ago, when my friend happened to bump into someone who had previously kept her ponies with Connie's owner.
Now I have to say the following is all anecdotal - second hand information, but so far has proved to be true.
The lady said that Connie's owner had moved all the ponies, to two separate yards relatively locally, the minis and Shetlands to one field at a private livery yard, and then 3 show ponies to another livery yard. However in February the RSPCA seized the ponies (I understand no care was provided at all through the terrible winter we had, one pony passed away, and I can only imagine the state of the others), the show ponies were signed over to the livery yard in lieu of payment to be sold on (cracking ponies, anyone who got them will be lucky!) - Sadly I dont know what yard this was. The minis & shets were all taken by RSPCA and the owner banned from keeping horses (dont know what kind of ban, i.e. life or 5 years etc) - I've tried calling this livery yard owner, however no luck so far...no voicemail mechanism on the number.
So now, I have Connie, I love her to pieces and she will stay with me to the end of her days, however I have no legal responsibility or right to her (although I believe if I took the owner to court she'd be mine due to me paying for her for over a year after the contract).
The owner is (reportedly) banned from keeping horses, and yet, she still owns Connie. I've called the RSPCA 5 times and each time a 'message' has been passed to the local inspector to call me back, but their main piece of advice is to speak to CAB - which makes no sense to me, as per the court action etc etc. which is all I think they'll tell me. Still no word from the local inspector (Ive been calling for 1 and a half months now!)
So... what would any of you suggest. I have Connie's passports and registration forms, I have Connie, and she is now a picture of health - but she's not mine!
Photos of the girl:
Day she came home (Cant believe I didnt see how poor she really was could kick myself now for not doing something for the other ponies!)
Our first ever competition, walk and trot test we won!!
Later on we did some fun eventing we won!! We went on to dabble in SJ/XC and were happily competing at affiliated Novice dressage.
Trec competition we won!!
Then after diagnosis of concussive lami in her offside fore (see the 1st photo!!) she was out of work for a loooong time, and I nearly had to have her pts. However weve battled on and shes back in work now (steady easy stuff) and were both happy! Oh and maybe I should add that this horse is 20 years old!
Most recent one of us, I love this!!
Her feet needed tidying but that's about all. She looks tidied up and smart in your showing photos and she looks overweight in her laminitis lying down photo. She's a pretty girl 
