People wanting to return horses 6 months later after buying?

LEC

LEC

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A friend sold a horse in February. The horse is a low level allrounder and was £1500 due to its sway back which doesn't impact it in anyway. The new owner sent videos saying how great it was going including riding in open fields etc.
This week the friend gets a message saying that the not so new owners want to return the horse 6 months later. Friend cannot have the horse back even if they wanted to as financially insecure at the moment.

This is not the first case I have heard of this happening several months later after buying a horse. Is this now a thing? How does anyone sell a horse now? You wonder if its ever worth the hassle.
 
All sorts of things could have been done in 6 weeks to make you question whether you should accept a return but six months !! Madness.

Any chance your friend said, off the cuff,that she'd like to know if he's sold again or even a vague 'keep in touch' which could have been misinterpreted.

If for any reason (likely over my dead body) we had to sell my youngster I would offer him back to the breeder - not because I'd expect her to have him back but because I think it's almost a curtesy to offer to previous owner. With the full expectation they'd say no.

We often get threads on here saying XYZ was sold on and they didn't even tell me - maybe this is the reverse of that.
 
One can do a LOT of damage to a horse in 6 weeks, let alone 6 months. They're free to sell the horse, but trying to return it and expecting their money back after 6 months of use? Morons!

Edit: Snap, Polo's Mum haha!
 
Equine_Dream said:
Then as far as I understand your friend is under no obligation to have the horse back. The old "sold as seen" chestnut and "buyer beware". What are their reasons for wanting to send the horse back after 6 months?
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That argument doesn't seem to hold up in a court of law anymore.
 
Polos Mum said:
All sorts of things could have been done in 6 weeks to make you question whether you should accept a return but six months !! Madness.

Any chance your friend said, off the cuff,that she'd like to know if he's sold again or even a vague 'keep in touch' which could have been misinterpreted.

If for any reason (likely over my dead body) we had to sell my youngster I would offer him back to the breeder - not because I'd expect her to have him back but because I think it's almost a curtesy to offer to previous owner. With the full expectation they'd say no.

We often get threads on here saying XYZ was sold on and they didn't even tell me - maybe this is the reverse of that.
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This is a good point. English is the 2nd language of my friend and he isnt European so nuances could have been missed even though he has been in the UK for a long time. He has had the horse since she was a 3yo and would be keen to know she was happy and getting on well. I like similar updates. It doesn't mean I want them back!
 
LEC said:
That argument doesn't seem to hold up in a court of law anymore.
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I'd be amazed if this even got to court. As it's a private sale the SOGA doesn't apply.

Do you know their reasons for returning the horse? If they are arguing there is something wrong with the horse I don't think they have a leg to stand on. It's been far too long imo.

Tell your friend to tell them to jog on.
 
Sadly i think this kind of behaviour is on the rise. They've clearly knackered this horse and now think they can send back. Poor horse!
 
Equine_Dream said:
I'd be amazed if this even got to court. As it's a private sale the SOGA doesn't apply.

Do you know their reasons for returning the horse? If they are arguing there is something wrong with the horse I don't think they have a leg to stand on. It's been far too long imo.

Tell your friend to tell them to jog on.
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I don't think it will go that far.
 
What nonsense. I don’t think I’d bother replying, and just block that number. If they don’t want the horse anymore, they can sell it on themselves and take whatever loss they‘re left with.
 
It's not impossible but there's a vast difference between 8 weeks and 6 months. They would need to prove any issues were there before they purchased the horse. So much can happen in 6 weeks let alone 6 months. In any case hope your friend tells them where to go!
 
I have found a lot of people buy horses with the throw away culture attitude anyway, but wanting to give the horse after 6 months us a joke!

I try to buy a horse that is going to suit as best I can because I don't like selling them on, but I know some people buy the first thing they see without any real though then think nothing of passing it on in a few months time when they realise it's not suitable or just not what they fancy anymore it does annoy me
 
I was actually gifted a horse back that I had sold 3 years previously for quite a lot of money. Nothing wrong at all with the horse, just owner's circumstances changed and she wanted to be sure it would either stay with me or I would find it a good new home. I took the horse back and did the latter for her as I really didn't have room for another horse, I managed to find a really good long term loan home.

But this one really is taking the mickey big time - I wonder what the reason is behind it?
 
I sold one, all getting on great guns, and then 6 months later she started having problems with her and started digging around thinking I had not disclosed issues etc. Very firmly told no, and lo and behold, she persevered and now getting on brilliantly again.
I think some people just automatically look to it being the previous owners problem, not theirs. But people like this can be dangerous, and want to drag reputations through the mud because they can't manage the horse in front of them. I hate selling horses, can you tell??!!!
 
'Sold as seen' does stand up in court in a private sale. It is only in breach of the Sales of Goods Act if it is misdescribed. In private sales the act only applies to title and description, not quality or 'fit for purpose' as it would for a trader.
 
If it's anything other than giving the previous owner first refusal then they're being ridiculous.
 
Hhmmm I decided Tom was the wrong horse and to sell him 5 months on. I did contact old owner to ask if she wanted him back. It was in a first refusal type thing rather than expecting them to take him back. They said no, that’s fine and I sold him on.
 
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