New horse returned to previous owner after only 26 hours at new home!

The problem with all those who would take the horse back and refund the money as if the sale had never taken place, is that the old owner has to trust the new owner as to what happened. How does the old owner know the horse hasn't fallen in the field causing an injury that isn't apparent until after the horse is next ridden, eaten something poisonous that will cause it to develop colic, been ridden out on the road nearly run over and now scared of traffic, etc.? I wouldn't be taking some idiots (who doesn't even understand basic law applying to private sales or basic horse care) word for what happened. I also wouldn't get involved in providing selling livery for the new owner, since that person has already taken against the old owner it could get messy. I'd leave that between the new owner and yard owner.

That's not to say I wouldn't care about the horse, but if I was the old owner (pregnant, young child, needing cash) then I'd be refusing to involve myself in any after sales problems. If people want after sales care then buy from a business. You wouldn't buy a washing machine from the local paper free ads, see it working, then try to return it because it didn't work after you got it home. It's no different with horses. You pay more when buying from a business because you have the ability to return things and the seller has to account for that in their prices. Too many people these days want it both ways, the private bargain and the chance to return the purchase. Mickey-taking bleeps.
 
Could your friend offer to sell the horse on for the new owners? They will receive their money back (less livery and cost of selling) once the horse has been sold on.

That would seem fair to me and means your friend isn't out of pocket and the horse isn't left with someone who clearly can't cope!
 
If it was me I would take the horse back and refund the money however keep the deposit, and a percentage for the hassle she has caused.
I would also insist on a 5* vetting again before the refund is given & take the cost of that out the refund also. If the horse has an injury then insist the 'new' owner pays for the vet bills also! then give a refund and thank god the horse wasnt left with idiots!
 
Exactly the same thing happened to me 5 years ago, only I wasn't in a position to take the pony back so I was taken to court. Many bad sellers out there but some buyers are just as bad, muppets!
 
Goldenstar said:
Why on earth would anyone pregnant or otherwise threaten to return a horse in that sort of situation .
It's a sale that went wrong that's all lucky escape for the horse , OP i hope your friend has better luck with the next buyer.
I am not convinced either that being a private seller releases you from quite as many obilgations as some posters seem to think, the best thing the seller can do is return the money less an amount to cover any extra costs try to get the vets cert if possible and start again.
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I don't understand what you mean??

I meant that if the OP, who is the pregnant one, not the person returning the horse, took the horse back it would be under the conditions stated in my previous post, and that the returner had to not hassle the pregnant OP over the "discount" taken off the horse for livery and resale..

Many years ago I had my first pony returned after six months in his new home. They threatened to send him to the meat man if not and we were soft and took him back. We paid about 2/3 of what we sold him for..


ps. good points SugarandSpice. Its just difficult to do when you care for the horse..
 
Armas said:
I would offer to buy back the horse for half the sale price and vetting paperwork to be included with the return !
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This.

To refund the money just like that will let these buyers think they can do it again to someone else. They need to understand that they can't mess people about like that and that horses not only need company, but that they can take ages to settle in!

If your friend gives them all their money back, she will be at a disadvantage straight away. It's late in the year now and the market is very slow. It could take ages to resell the pony and she'll have to spend on readvertising as well as funding the upkeep until a genuine new buyer is found
 
The horse was sold, sale concluded so I would tell the new owners to come and speak to me about the horse and explain what they did was downright wrong and stupid.

Would also tell them that the decision to return the horse was there fore their decision and either they take the horse back and not leave It on its own or you keep the horse and refund them half the money from the sale. Also state that the amount you are keeping is for the resale of the mare and subsequent costs.
 
Years ago I rode a cracking pony for a relative, we decided to sell as he wasn't big enough for me. A woman bought him for her daughter & I had a gut feeling that they weren't the people for him, he wasn't naughty as such just needed a lot of work,plenty of turn out & a firm hand! However he was talented & up for a lot of money & these people were willing to pay the full asking price. 3 days later phone call to say that they weren't coping & couldn't get a saddle on him even with 3 people to help! We picked him up 1st the next morning,refunded full amount. Don't know what had gone on but he dragged me down the track to the lorry & ran up the ramp! We felt he deserved more than to be left with them as he was very genuine just a bit highly strung. He sold a few months later to a fab family who adored him & never had any issues with him at all.
 
How awful but I can see the point of both parties. In your friends yard where the horse is settled am sure its ideal but any horse leaving can turn into a complete idiot in new surroundings and many of us forget what we had to go through to settle them in. If brought for a child then as a parent potentially there is a loss of confidence in the horse if its behaviour has been bad and in all honesty if it were me I am not sure I would be putting my son on its back. Best course of action is return to the original owner.

The money side of things well thats difficult and I think you need to check the legal status yourself with a solicitor rather than just the advice off here which will be at worst personal opinion and could land your friend in a lot of trouble.
 
Selling horses really is a nightmare. Years ago I sold a lovely jumping mare and stupidly took a cherque. A few days later after they had already taken her to a show even though I suggested being quite sensitive they should give her a bit of time to settle in first, I had a note through my door saying they had returned her and cancelled the cheque. I went straight to the padlocked field to find that they had cut the fencing shoved the horse in and tied it up with string. There really are some horrible people in the horse world.
 
If the people that were buying the mare are that ignorant and unknowledgeable about horses and horse care I wouldn't really be wanting my beloved animal going to them. I'm sure if the mare is as genuine as she sounds your friend will find a better home for her than with these people.
 
Sounds like the usual tail. Buyers turn up talking a good game, go home with the horse and do stupid things. And, take no account of the horses feelings and fears.

I'd give the money back, less any expenses I ran up.
 
Pale Rider said:
Sounds like the usual tail. Buyers turn up talking a good game, go home with the horse and do stupid things. And, take no account of the horses feelings and fears.

I'd give the money back, less any expenses I ran up.
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I agree I couldnt be bothered to argue and legal etc. I would give them the money and take off any advertising loss etc(I would actually insist on the vetting report too). I would also give them a note with the money to say that bought as seen etc and that clearly are not ready for horse ownership as you dont just shove a horse out on its own etc
That you are only giving them money back as you value your horse and do not want to see it fall into the wrong hands.

Or something like that. That horse had a lucky escape.
 
Been thinking hard about this one. If someone bought a horse in good faith and it turned out a wrong one and after being asked to take the horse back and ask for their money back. The seller refuses and the purchasers took the horse back and tied it up at the bottom of the sellers drive would they get into trouble?
 
bobajob said:
Been thinking hard about this one. If someone bought a horse in good faith and it turned out a wrong one and after being asked to take the horse back and ask for their money back. The seller refuses and the purchasers took the horse back and tied it up at the bottom of the sellers drive would they get into trouble?
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I know someone that tried to do that, the pony was a total s**t, the buyers were going to leave it in the yard but the police were called and they had to leave taking the pony with them. I suppose they could have gone back later and left it tied outside but it could have got loose and caused an accident and they would have been liable as they were then known to the police.

In the OP I think it is always best to take a horse back if things go wrong so quickly, for the horses sake if nothing else, if I had owned one for years I would want to try and ensure it went to the right home even if it meant losing out financially.
 
If I was her friend I would say that the lady is not entitled to her money back, BUT for the sake of the horse she will sell her, and provide the lady with the money less costs of readvertising, agistment etc

I think that would be more than fair, and make sure the horse is ok as well.
 
keepmeinmind said:
It just angers me that people can be so selfish, inconsiderate and plain stupid!
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Absolutely correct. The woman sounds like a nutcase! What new horse doesn't gallop about when its first turned out at a new place anyway, let alone with no other horses around! Sounds like the horse is better off being back with your friend TBH. Personally Id give her her money back, just to have a quiet life - and I have done this with a horse I sold a few years ago, he was returned to me within 4 days and I gave her a full refund as I had my horse back so I hadnt "lost" any money.

My new horse has just this morning cantered straight through my wire fence destroying it, I'm not about to return him... I've just made the fence higher ;)
 
Lucky escape for the horse, wherever she was keeping the horse doesn't seem to be helping her so best off finding another home.

This is why vetting new owners is as important as vetting the horse.
 
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