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RachelTaylor

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I have recently bought a 10yr old thoroughbred x. I went to see him around 5 weeks ago and he was perfect. Such a gent with a fabulous temperament. Great paces in the school and a nice powerful jump. I put a deposit down on him and continued to get him vetted. This all took place at a dealers yard in Wales. He passed the vetting and i went and picked him up the following Saturday (4 weeks ago). As soon as he arrived he was obviously excited etc. I saddled up the next day to which he decided he wasn't going anywhere. I managed to get him out for a short ride. The next day we had some problems catching him and then threw two shoes. They weren’t in the best condition. The farrier couldn’t come out till the following Monday which sent things over my warranty time. For the next couple of weeks I tried taking him out under different circumstances. Always napping at the yard. Anyway, saddled him up Friday last and he was shaking like a leaf. Obviously napping due to pain. Managed to get him out but he was feeling very unlevel. Popped him into a trot, which he didn’t like so got off him and walked him back to the yard. Untacked him and trotted him up. I noticed he was lame on his left hind. Got the vet out yesterday and flexion tests and nerve blocks later, ARTHRITIS. But I had him vetted? I had a lady round last night that practices the equine touch and she was able to say that because of his muscle tension and confirmation that it had been going on for years. “He’s in a right pickle”. He has obviously been in so much pain. Now, my question is why, how? I have my suspicions that he has been buted or something. Does anyone know how to help? I don’t want to get rid of him or send him back as he is my boy. I just want to know if there is any path I can follow to get some kind of compensation or just to stop them from doing it again.
 
If you had a 5 stage, did you ask them to take a blood sample? If you did, it would have been stored somewhere & you could now get it tested for painkillers.
 
If he had a full 5 stage vetting the vet probably took some blood which is kept in storage for incidents like this and can now be sent off to be analysed to see if the horse was in fact on bute when it was vetted.
 
Have been onto the vet this morning about the bloods. If they do come back positive then do i go to the vet or dealer? What if they come back with nothing. This problem has been going on a long time and i find it hard to believe that the dealer was not awear. He is far to experienced to have missed something like that. Sorry i'm a little angry about the whole experience!
 
Have you spoken to the dealer in question?
If not, I would tell him what the veterinary examinations have found and that they are being 'investigated through official' channels. In my experience he will come and pick the horse up, and give a full refund.
That said, im assuming you had some proof of sale?
 
If the bloods confirm the presence of bute in the horses system then you have a good case against the dealer. If nothing shows up - and I would be very surprised after what you have described that this horse would pass a flexion test unless on some sort of pain relief - then I'd speak to the vet that performed the vetting.
 
Sorry - but this particular dealer is soooooooo well known for the dodgy deals he pulls. I lived near there and saw so may people's dreams destroyed. Would also be concerned about possible strangles as he has had several horses with it that he keeps off his yard. Sorry to be negative but this guy really wants putting away for good.
 
You should contact your local trading standards department, if you can get a vet to diagnose the condition then it is up to the dealer to prove he didn't have it when he sold it to you, reverse burden of proof. However, if you don't want to send him back you will need to get him valued in his current condition and then seek the difference as a refund compared to what you paid for him.

If this dealer, as suggested by earlier post, is dodgy then trading standards may already be aware of him.
 
Did the vet verify his age at vetting? And that age written on deed of sale? Had an experience where a livery was sold an 8 year old gelding, had a basic vetting but no bloods, no doubt in our mind that he was buted and acp'd when she tried him as he was in horrific pain. Turns out it was arthritis, but he was closer to 18 rather than 8 - she went back to him on this and it was sorted out.

Just one more thing, did you use your own vet, or the dealer's vet?
 
Oh hun, I can't really add anything that hasnt been said already, But I would have thought that the blood test will hopefully show up something. In the meantime I would contact the dealer and advise him/her of this and see what they say.
Good luck and keep us posted.
 
see vet thread. Oh and don't accept a financial settlement from him - he has never paid a settlement yet. And if you don't want the horse - he will never give you your money back - he gives you another horse - equally unsuitable and so it goes on.
 
If you can demonstrate that the horse had a problem when it was sold to you then you can take action against the dealer. I would strongly recommend that you contact a solicitor that specialises in equine matters and also your local fair trading standard officer who may have already had complaints about this dealer.
 
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