Trying to return a loan horse......ridiculous situation

I have a loan horse who has been lame virtually since we got it. (Posted about this last week!)

So, this week, I have tried and FAILED several times to get in touch with the owner about returning the horse. I have so far tried, texting (know she got it cos my phone returns a receipt), Email (ditto), Recorded delivery letter was returned by post office as 'Refused'. Tried phoning, voice mail all the way.....

What the heck do I do now?? The horse is still lame (though new problem now
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) We fix one thing and then something else goes wrong - my OH is going mental about the amount this is all costing - not to mention the frustration arising from not being able to get hold of her.

She has said previously that if the horse was still lame and I didn't want it then she would have to go to the ILPH or similar but since the passport is still registered to the owner (though I do have it) then presumably I can't just dump it on the ILPH (not that I actually want to).

All suggestions gratefully received......
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J

JessPickle

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Leave one more message say take your horse back or I am taking it to the ILPH, or just take the horse back to the yard and let YO know so they can contact the owner
 
ouch that does make it very difficult! do you know anyone that lives closer than you who could either go give a letter personally or tell her your returning the horse.
 
Phone, email and send a letter warning her of the date the horse will be arriving back.

Then drive it back to her yard.
 
I agree, leave a message to say if they don't get back to you in a specified time scale you will take the horse to the ILPH, for all you know the owner may be glad to get rid of the horse and is never going to get in touch with you.
The horses walfare is the most important and dumping the horse back at the original yard may not be the best thing for the horse.
 
send a Special Delivery letter....

stating what date time you are returning said animal...and just deliver it.
 
Totally agree with the above.

Take horse, load in lorry, drive to old yard, leave horse. If wont accept horse, put horse in (empty) field. Leave horse.
 
You could try leaving an answerphone message saying you got bored of the horse so you had it shot. If she then rings going ape you can tell her its still alive come and get it. If they don't get in touch then do have it shot, they're obviously not bothered.
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This near exact thing happened at a yard I used to be at...the loanee called the RSPCA who then got in touch with the owner along with the police. Basically the owner is disowning the horse when it needs veterinary care. I can't remember what happened after the owner was contacted though....
 
If you have given her notice of the end of the loan, then I would say that you are within your rights to bill her for any expenditure arrising from her not picking up the horse!!!

Not sure how you would enforce it though
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But you could try to put this across to her, if you could get hold of her
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The ILPH may not be able to take the horse , they can't take every horse that people want them to. Can you not ask if anyone in that area will pm you and check out the stables to make sure she is there and then you will have to give her notice that you are returning the horse , depending on your agreement [if you have one , which I hope you have]
I think it is very sad
 
I do have an agreement with her, which states 1 months notice is to be given, but the thing is she knows full well that I want to send the horse back as we have previoulsy spoken about it, that was when she said she didn't want it as 'she had no place for it to go'. I think this is why I'm getting no reply to my letters etc.

I don't want to dump it on the ILPH as I'm sure there are more deserving cases than this one.
 
Send her a courrier parcel. Package a letter into a small box so she doesnt know its a letter; use a different return addy from normal, stating the date by which horse will be collected, and that if its not collected she will be billed for livery at a set rate of £7 per day untill collection, and that if after a further 2 months it is still not collected you will take her to court for the full livery plus any other expences. If you ensure that she is aware 'time is of the essence' than this is all legally possible- currently she is breaching the contract as it is. If no responce then im afraid ILPH is your only option really.
 
First consultation of a solitor is usually free (but check) they will give you advice of how to proceed. If you need them to take it further shop around for one who will work no win no fee. If you are just claiming back cost incurred since end of notice you can propbably do it yourself it's just forms.

May be another free session with a diff solicitor if you have problems filling them in.

Keep receipts and proof from everything you spend inc stabling, if she lives at home reasonable rate of full livery around here p/m is £250-350.

Would also do as already suggested and speak to ILPH and RSPCA. Solicitor will help you with your side of the problem (financial) ILPH/RSPCA will help the horse.

Google the ILPH they are really helpful, and it doesn't hurt to speak to them.

All the best.

p.s. don't let her get away with it, people like that make me sick
 
As I said last time scotsmare.... load the horse up and just take it to the owner's yard and drop her off. The horse is not owned by you and as such, is not your problem. It's quite clear the owner isn't going to communicate with you so this is your only option - load her up and drop her off.
 
Thanks for all your help, have spoken to a solicitor this morning and have decided to get them to send a letter to them, he thinks that owner should now be liable for all costs including collection of the horse, bills for livery and anything else we can reasonably think of! I'm not looking for the money I just want her to take the bloody horse back and hopefully this will scare her into it!
 
HI, If you sent the letter recorded delivery and it is signed for, then you have proof that she/ someone at that address accepted the communication.

I would send her another letter, again recorded/ trackable giving her 7 days notice that you are returning the horse as unfit for it's purpose and see this as notification as to the termination of the loan agreement. Was there a loan agreement?

Make sure you put clearly this, and your intention to return the horse on the 8th day.

Book the transporter. State in your letter the transporter details.

I've known this to happen, she probably knows the horse is a walking vet-fee and is happy to have it somewhere out the way and being paid for!
Or, perhaps she is ill or away (hmmm) or something.

The 7 day period is more than reasonable to allow her to prepare for it's return.
 
Id just cut my losses, load it up now, and take it back. If no one around, put it in an empty stable or field or the school and go.
 
We have had two horses dumped on us - one that was chronically lame. It is abandonment and if the owner has no contact with you you have every right to rehome the horse, especially if the amount you have paid for the treatment is as much as the horse is worth - in this case if its lame - meat man money. I was able to rehome the abandones horse. Call the RSPCA by all means - I don't know how helpful they will be, otherwise make arrangements to get the horse into a rescue centre.
 
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