PLEASE READ - RECENT ISSUE WITH HORSE DEALER - NEED HELP

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cavalier718

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I recently purchased a horse for 4,500 pounds and need help and advice on problems I am encountering since purchase.
To give a brief account - I am a very novice rider and wanted to purchase a horse to improve my riding skills and because I have had a strong passion for horses all my life. The horse dealer I purchased my horse from guaranteed me that this horse would be suitable for my ability and was safe to hack and ride etc; I thought the horse dealer was very nice and trustworthy at the time so I took the dealers advice and bought the horse suggested for me.
However ever since purchase I have had lots of trouble from this horse, he keeps bolting off from me and has damaged property and wont hack alone at all, He is very dangerous and is not safe for me at all. The dealer had promised to replace the horse for me but I have not been contacted with any suitable replacements and I have been refused a refund although I have been waiting over 3 months now since I brought the issue up with the dealer.
I feel at a loss now in what to do and would really appreciate any offer of help or assistance with this issue please.

I would really like to hear from anybody that has been in a similar situation and if they can advise me on what course of action to take now and possibly some legal advice.

Thanking you in advance
 
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Perhaps it is that they just havnt had a suitable horse in yet?

Maybe take an experienced rider/RI with you when you do look again, its very easy to get over horsed first time around.

Perhaps contact them again and see what they say?
 
I dont think you shouldnt have waited past 30days to return the horse, you should have insisted that a refund was given for the return of the horse.

After this timescale i dont think there is anything you can do but others are more knowledgable on this than I am so bumping for you.
 
Make one last call to the dealer to find out the current situation.

If you are a member of the BHS they have a legal helpline who may be able to help. Otherwise I would contact Trading Standards and get advice from them. As you bought your horse from a dealer you can claim that the horse is not fit for purpose and try claiming compensation in the Small Claims Court.

I would write to the dealer by registered post explaining your problems and that if you don't hear from him within seven days with an acceptable offer you will take legal action.

Keep a note of all calls and paperwork from the dealer and always make sure you have someone with you when discussing matters with him.

It's a shattering experience to have your dreams destroyed like this - I really hope you can sort this out.
 
Have you sought help from an instructor or do you have an experienced yard owner ?
Without knowing you, your horse or how he's kept, it may just be that you need some help. Even the safest horse can display challenging behaviour with a novice owner.

If you have been mis sold and the dealer won't exchange, the are equestrian solicitors who could help.
 
horserider said:
Have you sought help from an instructor or do you have an experienced yard owner ?
Without knowing you, your horse or how he's kept, it may just be that you need some help. Even the safest horse can display challenging behaviour with a novice owner.

Definitely!
Click to expand...
 
Thanks so much for all your kind advice. I can’t name the dealer at this stage even though I would like to in order to help the public be aware of this dealer.
As the dealer has been ignoring me I have contacted local trading standards and they have sent officers to come to see me and the horse.
They advised me to go to the small claims court as I don't have the original written advertisement for the horse so they can’t criminally prosecute the dealer. Apparently trading standards was going to prosecute the same dealer last year for a very similar case but because of a lack of evidence they couldn't go ahead.

I am now wondering if I take it to the small claims court, will the judge be able to favour on my side considering that on the receipt the dealer put sold as seen and tested (even though I only saw the horse twice and in total less than 15 minutes before I bought him.) I trusted the dealer too much being a novice.
Or should I look for the specialist equestrian solicitor straight away? Could anyone recommend any reputable equestrian solicitors please?


Thank you so much for all your support and advice and I will keep you informed of any updates in my situation.
 
Join Epona Stars on FB for more advice.

Google all the info you have on the dealer and look in your computer's cache. Sometimes long dead adverts show up.
 
PeterNatt posted a list of equine solicitors on one of his recent threads, might be worth you looking at his threads to find it.

So sorry to read of your experience, so distressing for you with your first horse.

Do you have an experienced instructor/rider who can help you with the horse if you are going to have to resell yourself. It might help you understand what is going on with your horse.
 
Firstly:

Where was the dealer? Kent? Mrs B will help you with a naughty dealer in that area.

If it wasnt Kent:
Did you take an instructor/very knowledgable person with you?
Did you have the horse vetted? Did you have bloods taken?
When did the horse start playing up?
Has your instructor seen the horse now - what do they say about it?
Does he misbehave with other people?
Have you had saddle/teeth/back checked?
 
So sorry to hear you are in this position.
I did the same, i went to an infamous irish dealer in a brand new car and handed over £2500 for a lovely calm (probably doped) 10 year old idx.
When the trailer door came down he had changed into a total nob. He was extremely stressed and during the 1 1/2 hour journey had according to my vet aged at least 6 years.
I tried trading standards and eventually arranged to send him back to the dealer..but backed out at the last moment.
I turned him out and then just got to know him. As my confidence grew on the ground his trust grew and eventually after a year he became a nice steady happy hacker.
The dealer was wrong to do what he did and i was wrong to buy him without a vetting or any help from someone with suitable knowledge. Out of the three of us , me the dealer and the horse the horse was the only inneocent. I ve had him four years and have many a time felt that ok i was ripped off, but its the best rip off ever. I would buy my horse back for the same amount now if i had too.
You really need to see how this horse behaves in the hands of someone more experienced.
If you put rogue horse dealer into google you may find that people have been succsesfull in getting their money back.... but its not easy.
good luck!
 
Agree Trading Standards. Did you have a 5 stage vetting done, if so, blood should have been pulled. This blood is stored for 6 months and at any time in that 6 months you can ask to have it run. You have to state which drugs you want them to test for such as NSAID (non steroidal anti inflammatories, bute) or anti psychotics which would calm the horse down.

How soon after you had the horse home did the behaviour change. Were you given any food by the dealer for the horse?

I am very sorry that you have found yourself in this position and do hope this works out for you. You may well need to speak to a solicitor, there are several advertised in the back of Horse & Hound or someone on here may be able to give you a number for one. Also as someone else on here said Epona Stars has some information worth reading. Also speak to the vet who/if did the vetting for you.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.
 
Nothing is ever deleted forever from the Internet
- a cached version of the advert must exist somewhere so perhaps do some research on how to find cached pages!
 
MissTyc said:
Nothing is ever deleted forever from the Internet
- a cached version of the advert must exist somewhere so perhaps do some research on how to find cached pages!
Click to expand...

I agree I can find old adverts of my horse on the internet from 18 months ago type in the name of of horse / breeding/ dealers name and have a look on google images something normally comes up on there good luck x
 
Had a friend in this position recently. Specialist equine lawyer told her that you have recourse for up to 6 years!

Call trading standards, become a BHS gold member and call the helpline and make sure you take a reputable instructor with you next time you look at a horse. Not as a favour, but as a service and they will then not take any chances.

Good luck.
 
Sadly even the most experienced people have been caught out, its not always the inexperienced ones. Dealers sometimes drug horses and even with an experienced person there riding it the problems would not necessarily show up. That is why it is so important to have a full vetting and bloods taken.

Good luck OP you have my sympathy.
 
Lots of lessons learned from the purchase but no one can turn back the clock.

I'll dig out the list of solicitors but IMHO it will be time, hassle and grief for which only the lawyers will get paid

Sell the horse (at a big loss) to a suitable home so you stop running up livery costs and when you have saved up again take lots of advice on how to buy a horse before you do it again (vettings, instructor, trial periods, research seller etc.).

Very sorry but this is an expensive lesson learned, and you'll be hard pressed to get your money back given the evidence in writing available to you.
 
This is a list from Peternatt referred to above.

SOLICITORS – EQUINE

Actons
Tel: 0115 91002200 Caroline Bowler

Mark Carter
White Bowker Solicitors
Tel: 01962 844440
www.wandb.co.uk
mark.carter@wandb.co.uk

Helen Niebuhr
Darbys Solicitors
52 New Inn Hall Street
Oxford
OX1 2QD
Tel: 01865 811 7000
01865 811712
Fax: 01865 811 777
www.equine-law.net
E: equine@darbys.co.uk

Jaqcui Fulton Equine Law
Tel: 0121 308 5915
jf@equinelawuk.co.uk
www.equinelawuk.co.uk

Hannah Campbell (Specialise in compensation cases)
Tel: 01446 794196
www.horsesolicitor.co.uk
info@horse solicitor

Elizabeth Simpson Senior Solicitor at law firm Andrew M Jackson
Tel: 01482 325242
www.andrewjackson.co.uk
enquiries@andrewjackson.co.uk

David Forbes or Belinda Walkinshaw
Pickworths Solicitors
6 Victoria Street
St Albans
Hertfordshire
AL1 3JB
01727 844511

Mark de-villamar Roberts
Langleys Solicitors Equine Law Group
Tel: 01904 683051
E: mark.Roberts@langleys.com
www.equinelawyers.co.uk

Elizabeth Simpson
Senior Solicitor
Andrew Jackson
Yorkshire
Tel: 01482 325242
www.andrewjackson.co.uk

Richmond Solicitors
13-15 High Street
Keynsham
Bristol
BS31 1DP
Tel: 0117 986 9555
Fax: 0117 986 8680
enquiries@richmonssolicitorsco.uk

Jacqui Fulton
Giselle Robinson Solicitors

Knights Solicitors
Tunbridge Wells
Tel: 01892 537311
www.knights-solicitors.co.uk
Work with GRC Commercial Bailiffs
Senior partner very good on equine matters

Horse Solicitor
Tel: 01446 794 196
info@horsesolicitor.co.uk
www.horsesolicitor.com

www.laytons.com

Mary Ann Reay Charles or Chris Shaw
Shaw and Co Solicitors
Equine Law Specialists
Tel: 0800 019 1248
info@shawandco.com
www.shawandco.com

Arnold Thomson
205 Watling Street West
Towcester
Northants
NN12 6BX
Tel: 01327 350266
Fax: 01327 353567
www.arnoldthomson.com
enquiries@arnoldthomson.com

Tozers www.tozers.co.uk

Eleanor Temple Barrister from Kings Chambers in Leeds
Tel: 0113 242 1123
www.kingschambers.com
 
Have you had other opinions (instructor, BHS qual person, experienced yard owner) on the horse? How 'novice' are you? Ive had people describe themselves as novice when theyv ridden 3 times in an indoor arena at a riding school. And Ive known a lot of very quiet 'novice' rides change when the horse realises he is now in charge.
Even the quietest horse is not a machine- he has a brain and his own agenda.
Make sure the problem isnt you yourself before you blame the dealer.......
 
There are a few things that can affect how you will be able to play this. Firstly, hopefully you got a receipt stating what the horse is and isn't suitable for as this will certainly strengthen your position with the dealer. I think the first question that sprung to my mind is how much have you changed his regime since he was with the dealer? A lot of things can affect even the safest horse including the amount of work, type of work, feeding and turnout regimes etc... Also, if you are a novice is it possible this horse is trying it on with you? No disrespect, it's happened to most of us at some point certainly my second ex-racer thought I was his own personal doormat for several months before finally overstepping the line and being put firmly in his place! Perhaps an experienced yard owner/manager or riding instructor can give you some help and further his education a little?
 
You should be able to find an 'expired' ad for the horse online - get a screen shot and go back to Trading Standards! And kick up a stink! I will BET your local office knows these dealers are crooks - and they should be acting! At the same time, start a Small Claims action (if you leave it until after TS gets its act together you may be waiting a long time!)
 
onemoretime said:
Sadly even the most experienced people have been caught out, its not always the inexperienced ones. Dealers sometimes drug horses and even with an experienced person there riding it the problems would not necessarily show up. That is why it is so important to have a full vetting and bloods taken.

Good luck OP you have my sympathy.
Click to expand...

Love this reply. I don t know about the op but it means such a lot for someone to say this,
Thankyou.
 
Have PM'd you. If you send me details of horse/seller/whatever you can etc., I am happy to try and see what can be found in the cache and the like. As others have said, having a copy of the original advert is obviously a good thing as it can work in your favour to prove horse was mis-sold. I do like a good internet hunt for old adverts- you'd be surprised what you can find. ;)

Depending on which dealer it is, I may have some information against them already... ;)
 
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