Returning a horse to dealer - URGENT PLEASE

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anniedoherty

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Has anyone had any experience of returning a horse to a dealer? I won't say too much on here but my new horse seems to have a back problem and I don't really want to send him back because he is lovely. What I would like is to keep him and try and get him better but I wondered if there was any way of getting a partial refund from the dealer. Please PM me if you have any advice. Many thanks. Annie
 
I've never returned a horse to a dealer. But suggest that you look up the Sale of Goods Act 1959 which suggests that anything you buy must be fit for the purpose you stated.
If you are a BHS member, you also have access to free legal helpline advice which will tell you what to write/say in order to get your full rights.
The trouble with returning a horse is that you have to prove that they KNEW it had a back problem before they sold it to you....this is really difficult to do, and often it is Caveat Emptor (buyer beware) particularly if you had it vetted (as your vet should have spotted it).
Sorry not to have better solutions for you
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Thanks everyone who has messaged me. Yes, I had him vetted but only a 2 stage so I don't think I have any comeback from that. I will look up the Sale of Goods Act now, thanks. My BHS membership has lapsed I'm afraid so I can't ring the helpline. I am going to join again a.s.a.p. though because you obviously never know when you are going to need advice.

To be honest, even if I could send him back I am not sure that I could because I want him to have a chance of getting better and I think they would just sell him on again and who knows where he would end up? He is a lovely boy and it is not his fault. I spent half an hour with him this afternoon, just resting my head on his stable door whilst we were waiting for the physio to arrive and he gently rested his head next to mine the whole time, that's how sweet he is.
 
Have you had a vet confirm there is a back problem? there is no point in treating the back with a physio (its also illegal without a vets ok) until you know for certain that its a back problem and not lameness.
 
Thanks Daphnelia. The physio was recommended by my vet. She (physio) won't be doing any treatment and has advised me to contact my vet because she feels that he needs to investigate the problem further. My vet is away until Sunday night but will come out on Monday. I am still hoping that he will say that everything is ok but having seen my horse's legs buckle when he was touched by the physio I don't think we will be that lucky. Please keep your fingers crossed for him though.

p.s. My vet didn't do the vetting by the way, in case you are wondering. I used a vet in the area where the horse was sold from.
 
i bought a horse who was supposed to be 19,after the sale i noticed the passport had been doctored,she had become stiff over the weeks i had her so called the vet,it turned out she was 29!even the vet couldnt tell by looks teeth etc,she also had a heart murmur hot spots all over and was non rideable.as id bought her as a "riding horse",the dealer had to pay vet fees and agreed to take her back.i wouldnt send her back so made an agreement that she gave me back my money and rehomed her as a companion,shes happy now in a lovely home,i did it on point of principal really,basically made her sign to admit what she had done or i would make sure no one ever bought from her again.if you buy a riding horse it should be fit for riding or it is an illegal sale,depends how big your balls are but if you love him(i did her but couldnt afford a companion),i would battle to keep him and get at least half of your money back.most dealers offer to give you back 75% of price paid after 21 days.the problem is they get them mark them up and sell them on,its not always a good idea to fall out with a dealer but there are a few good ones.why not try to discuss the situation,you might be suprised!
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Thanks horsymum73. That is encouraging. My horse is supposed to be 8 and I think that he definitely is, according to vet and dentist. I think it is harder to gauge the age of a horse from its teeth as it gets older isn't it?

I do love this horse and I wouldn't like to think that he had gone back only to be sold on again. I am going to try and get things sorted out as well as I can. At the moment I haven't got a diagnosis of the problem but there is definitely a problem. My other horse is naughty about standing still at the mounting block but he doesn't put his back up once you are on or become tense at all so I am almost certain that this is a pain related issue and not naughtiness, especially since he is so good in all other ways.
 
I bought horse from a dealer did not hav him vetted.When he came out of stable next morning his leg locked. Phoned dealer and she said get a vet.Explained to vet on telephone and she said it was delayed release of the patella.(locking stifles). She cam out to see him and confrimed it and spoke to dealer on phone who agreed to take him back and give me my money back. Horse was to be picked up in essex travelled to Scotland then back over to Ireland from her supplier. I could not do this to im so kept him.Vat said he could be okay or in two years he could be unrideable. I took a chance and kept him. dealer gave me some money back.three years later he is fine. Leg just locks very occasionally. Wish you luck
 
hi.please pm me if you want at any time.it could be anything from not doing as much as you have been told to a back problem,i took drastic action as i had been lied to and messed around so much,and she was a good old girl,but the dealer had done it once too often.if you have a bond with him keep talikng to people and trying....but i would recommend you open communication with the dealer incase you end up with a well loved companion instead f a riding horse.i will help any way i can,im desperate for a mum daughter share,got a great home etc but limited funds and have often thought of just giving up,sold my daughters 12.2 in sept and now she wont even tell me how he is,i put him on loan for 3 months trial,wrote a note book on what he likes,and if he does this it means that etc,still heartbroken now.some horsy people are very hard faced,and the more liars exposed the better.stay in touch and let me know what happens.x
 
Oh no, you poor thing. I have a pony who I have only owned since december who started to have a cold back a couple of months into my ownership of him. After a second vets opinion (the first said there was nothing wrong!) He has been permanently retired because of chronic lameness which is causing the bad back. He's only 9... I am now so over fussy about horse's backs and just wanted to make sure you did not make the same mistake i did - months of physio when it wasnt even a back problem. Really hope it is nothing serious, sounds like you're a wonderful owner for him. Keep us updated wont you

xx
 
Any dealer with integrity should happily take a dud horse back and exchange it for another horse or refund money if an individual was not happy with their purchase.

If I had just purchased a high maintenance horse with problems that required expensive treatment, I'd be going back to the dealer for a refund.

Remember a 'squeeky door always gets oiled'. If you are looking for a refund take someone with you who has a bit of conversational clout!
 
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