Problem with adoption centre (Sorry long post)

[Myhorseeatsmoney]

A friend of mine wanted to re-home an ex-racer, she has worked in a racing yard previously so has plenty of experience but wanted one that had received the basic retraining. She went to a small rehoming centre in Oxfordshire that is well known by other larger adoption centers.

The woman at this centre introduced her to a 12 year old mare who had a very sweet temperament and although she wasn’t in the greatest of condition no alarm bells rang. My friend then went to see her a couple of times and rode her each time. The mare seemed fine and went quite well but did put in a small buck when she went into canter but popped over a couple of jumps without any problems. The woman there stated she was established in all 3 paces and that she was just a bit fresh.

An adoption fee of £500 was paid and the mare went to the livery yard my friend is at. Since the day this mare arrived she has been extremely sweet until she is ridden. A new saddle was bought and a trainer was found who would help my friend continue her education enabling the mare to become a good allrounder who could as the woman from the adoption centre stated become a horse suitable for all riding club activities. No expense was spared.

Now 3 months later the vet who took xrays and did many tests and has years of experience with racehorses has declared the horse has had a lot of pain for several years due to advanced kissing spine, has the beginning of bone spavins in both hind legs and her neck has the worst case of permanent muscle damage he has ever seen. He has written a report saying that she should never be ridden again as it would cause her horrendous pain and he feels that pts would be the kindest solution.

Why did she get the vet out? Because every time she tried to put her into canter the mare literally exploded so badly that my friend on one occasion was thrown off against the ménage fence and broke all her fingers on one hand. She does not blame the horse at all and is very worried about her.

When she contacted the woman at the adoption centre she was told that she was a liar and that she should return the mare immediately. The vet has sent the report to the adoption agency and clearly said that this mare should never be ridden again.

What should my friend do as she would love to find her a home for the rest of her days as a non-ridden companion but because the mare is not owned by her she realizes that she cannot do this but she is also worried that the woman at the centre will pass her on to another unsuspecting person for loan which could be disastrous for both horse and rider?

My friend has spent over a £1500 on a mare that was loaned out as a horse that was fit to ride and she was clearly mislead. But this woman is refusing to return her deposit of £500.

Has anyone been in this situation? Can anyone help with advice please?

 

[rockysmum]

Is your friend sure this is a reputable adoption centre. Loads of these so called charities spring up. Basically it could be a scam. I bet your friend could easily have picked up an ex racer to buy for £500, and certainly a broken one.

Terrible situation to be in and sounds like a good money earner for someone. Charge £500 adoption fee for something you know will be returned then rehome it again.

Has she done an internet search on this place. Try trading standards it might be braking some law or another. Check whether its a registered charity.

Cant think of anything else at the moment. Good luck to your friend, hope she sorts it out.

 

[WelshD]

Was it loaned though or purchased? An adoption fee normally means a change of ownership so maybe a vetting would have been in order

If it was on loan I would be asking the adoption centre what the £500 was for

 

[touchstone]

As the horse is on loan then I suspect she has little option but to return it. I would be inclined to notify the other larger agencies of the vets report and the centre's reaction if they are recommending it; if loaned out again the horse as well as being in pain could potentially kill somebody.

The BHS legal advice line might be worth trying.

 

[wench]

How do you know that the previous owner knew it had KS? The only sure fire way of diagnosis is an xray of the spine...

 

[annaellie]

I would contact bhs legal advice line, some rehoming places are awful. One I had dealings with that has been mentioned on here as being good makes me want to scream when I see it, was awful and I hate the place with a passion.
I was on livery and there was a sec a from the rehoming centre the girl outgrew her and got another from the centre. The sec a went to another adopter on the same yard, they just abanded her after a few months. As I was thinking of getting a pony I approached the centre and they let me take her over without any checks on me
I knew she had lami but was confident I could manage it but the mare was getting worse do I called the vet out. It was arranged for x rays on her. Part of the rehoming was to pay a monthly fee this was before online banking but as I was as yard waiting for the vet with the x ray machines I couldn't get to centre to pay till next day. I informed the lady of the centre of this and the state the pony was in.

Vet stated that the navicular was showing signs of rotating/dropping and that we should put her on box rest with medication for two weeks then she would re x ray but she stated that in her opinion there was not much more that they could do so expect PTS.
I had this pony for one week at this point and informed the lady of the outcome, she came that day and dragged the pony down the block to load him and refused to take her medication and all the stuff that the first people had bought her.
She then called my vet screaming at her, the pony was rehomed to another child and was I believe PTS in the end.
I was so angry

 

[navaho]

I would contact bhs legal advice line, some rehoming places are awful. One I had dealings with that has been mentioned on here as being good makes me want to scream when I see it, was awful and I hate the place with a passion.
I was on livery and there was a sec a from the rehoming centre the girl outgrew her and got another from the centre. The sec a went to another adopter on the same yard, they just abanded her after a few months. As I was thinking of getting a pony I approached the centre and they let me take her over without any checks on me
I knew she had lami but was confident I could manage it but the mare was getting worse do I called the vet out. It was arranged for x rays on her. Part of the rehoming was to pay a monthly fee this was before online banking but as I was as yard waiting for the vet with the x ray machines I couldn't get to centre to pay till next day. I informed the lady of the centre of this and the state the pony was in.

Vet stated that the navicular was showing signs of rotating/dropping and that we should put her on box rest with medication for two weeks then she would re x ray but she stated that in her opinion there was not much more that they could do so expect PTS.
I had this pony for one week at this point and informed the lady of the outcome, she came that day and dragged the pony down the block to load him and refused to take her medication and all the stuff that the first people had bought her.
She then called my vet screaming at her, the pony was rehomed to another child and was I believe PTS in the end.
I was so angry

Sounds a bit like one i had dealings with, horrible woman who runs it, a real scam artist. I took in a TB gelding from her in appalling condition, it looked like an RSPCA case, she said it had come into her in this condition, it turned out it had already been out to one home & had been returned to her looking well, but asides from that it had also been returned as it was a rearer. I hate the woman with a passion & if i could get her closed down i would.

I think when taking anything from a rescue, especially horses, you need to do as much research into the rescue as you possibly can, Google is your friend.

 

[wellsat]

Sadly its not uncommon. My friend returned an extremely dangerous and disturbed horse to a very well known rescue centre and they told her they had had the mare put down.

Not long after the mare was readvertised for loan as suitable for a novice owner/rider.

Sadly it seems rescue centres sometimes have no more morals than the worst dealers. I would advise anyone taking a horse on loan to have a vetting done and be as thorough as you would if you were buying. Don't assume they are telling you the truth.