Old owners - Grrrrrr!

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vivhewe

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I bought my 14.2 last summer and the girl I bought him off wanted to know where he was going etc. which was fair enough. It was about 6 months until I heard anything off her, by which time the little b*gger had broken my ankle, and she was asking where I kept him so I said. Fast forward to March and they arrived with no announcement to see him, which didn't bother me as I had nothing to hide, but I thought it was a bit sneaky.

Last month he went to keep a friend's TB company for the summer and do lots of hacking with my friend. His old owner asked how I was getting on with him and I said he was on loan. Since then she has been pestering me to find out where he is and even though I've said he is just on loan she keeps asking if I've sold him. When I said I hadn't she asked if I would (i.e. she wants him back) and asked whereabouts he was. I gave a non-specific location (nearest town to be exact) but her and her dad are quite nosey so will no doubt be driving around every night until they find him!

They obviously haven't yet because I keep getting texts asking about him and I haven't replied to them. I don't mean to sound awful but they sold him, it is my pony now and I feel that when he is on loan it isn't fair to have his old owners turn up on my friend who's loaning him unannounced. If I did sell him I wouldn't sell him back to them anyway, and chances are they are only worried that I sold him on for a profit rather than his welfare. They seemed to think by selling him that they got the money for him but could still do what they wanted with him
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Am I being a harsh b:tch by not telling them?
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No, it is your pony and she sold it... if she didn't want to lose control over him she shouldn't have sold him! She sounds a nightmare, and you are not obliged to tell her anything. She sounds quite an interfering sort of person.....
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I'd just tell them straight - you don't have to be nasty about it. Just say that you don't mind of they want to visit (VERY occasionally) while he is in your care, providing they make arrangements, but that he is your pony now and they need to let you get on with it. I agree they shouldn't be turning up on your friends doorstep and I would tell them so. Good luck - they sound like nightmare previous owners!
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Not at all. If they still wanted some say in where he is and what he does he should have been put out on loan not sold. He is your pony now and they have no rights at all concerning his future.

I'm very lucky - the previous owner of my horse keeps in touch out of genuine affection for him.. She only sold him because he didn't like jumping which is what she wanted to do. I consider her a friend now, and she comes to watch me at shows whether I have him there or not.
 
tell them to sod off!

if they continue tell them that if they don't stop texting and phoning you'll have your solicitor involved for harrassment. That should make them realise what they're doing.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I consider her a friend now, and she comes to watch me at shows whether I have him there or not.

[/ QUOTE ]

Awww that's nice
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i kinda understand where the old owner is coming from as I was devasted when i couldn't trace my pony. Although ihad no right to and afterall he was sold.

I would just call her, and say that you just want to put her mind at ease that he is staying with a friend of yours to keep her horse company and because she has more time to hack him out etc. Tell her he is in great form and very happy and has made good friends with the TB. say to her that you understand that she is worried about him but that he has settled in well with his new mommy and you are enjoying pony ownership etc (ham it up a bit). Say in the nicest possible way, that you are getting the impression that she doesn't think he is happy with you and thats not the case. explain you know its hard to let go but he is in the best possible hands and you have no intention of selling him. Leave it that if the situation changes, you will let her know but that you find it hard that she is constantly questioning his care and wellfare but of which are your top priority. Just ask her nicely to let you get on with giving him a good home and reassure her that you will contact her if the situation changes.

I understand how you feel and you are right but it is hard to let go and I think by not replying to the texts you are actually making her worse. Thats just my penny's worth
 
Well said - and if they get aggressive, you follow the legal route - it's The Protection from Harassment Act, 1997 you would need to refer to.
It's natural to worry about an old friend's welfare. It's not to pester their new owner.
 
thats a really shame as I want to sell my pony aftere long term loan and although I would like to keep in touch with the person I would let it fade out after time....
What a pain..I would just say im sorry but you did sell him to me etc....just be straight...
it sounds a nightmare cause you dont want to be rude.
 
They are a bit unreasonable there!

When we sold our 14.2 - we didn't want to but were too big for her. The new owners were fine about us keeping in touch, we used to exchange Christmas cards and I think we went to visit once a year but were invited as we'd asked if we could keep in touch (she was my 1st pony). We also had (supposedly) first refusal on her but they sold her on without letting us know so we've not seen her for about 7 years now which is a shame as I'd love to know how she is.

But these things happen I guess.

Maybe say to her you know she wants to keep in touch and you will but on your terms. Maybe say you haven't sold him and won't, or will tell her first, but she can't show up unnannounced as the yard rules don't allow strangers on the yard, only owners and nominated carers. Say you'll let her know if he's competing if she wants to go and watch.
 
I was in a situation like this with a loan pony. the owners were on the phone every single night, turned up unannounced at least once a week and would phone to ask why I hadn't competed at a particular show. It did my head in, they were very pushy and quite rude. They loan lasted a mere 80 days before my Dad said enough was enough and took the pony back to them.

When I loan my pony out it was the loaners that called me and invited me to visit and I saw her once or twice a year, as my experience had made me not want to be a pain in the bum to them.

My horse, I bought from someone local stay in touch, we swap xmas cards etc and on numerous occassions I have said they can pop in and see him, but they always say that if anything bad had happened we'd let them know and he's ours now so thats that.

I think you should very politely tell them to back off, it can't be any fun for you?
 
Sikaran My situation's like yours but the other way round! I've let my mare go on a 3 month trial with view to buy because she didn't like jumping and to me, her new home had to be the right one and I wanted everyone to be happy (primarily my horse!)
I've kept well away from them in fear of becoming a "nuisance owner" when infact it came to light last week that they would of liked me to of been more involved!
Moocow has said it right! - You ought to read her thread out to them!
 
Id politely call her and explain that the pony is yours and that you dont mind letting her know occassionally how he's doing but that they shouldn't just drop by unanounced (sp!). But on the other hand I can see where she's coming from to a degree - she clearly loves this pony to death and regrets selling him. I miss all my sold ponies and keep in touch with the owners, but then I do so with an email every few months and Id never ever drop in without asking!
 
Could be worse. My mare has turned out to be nothing like she appeared when viewing and trying (you don't get to see the WHOLE pictuer always).

Her owner said he was so upset and would miss her so much that he couldn't even be there when I picked her up. He also wanted to keep in touch and would I mind if he called me every now and then. He also wanted first refusal should I decide to sell.

I had major problems with her in the first month and rang him to ask a couple of questons, no answer, no call back. He hasn't been in touch...
 
Hi hun,

Sorry to hear that you are having problems with the old owner! I think you are right in what you are doing by not replying to her texts. Hopefully she will get the message and if she doesnt then you will have to be a little tougher and tell her that he is yours and you would like to be left alone to get on with things!
Good luck!
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