Update on new horse w bronked me off -how do i get my money back?

S

sfward

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 June 2007
Messages
1,214
Location
York
Visit site
Hi - some of you may remember I posted last week about my new horse of 2 weeks which whipped round, bolted and bronked me off with no warning or provocation whatsoever, putting me in A&E with a severely bruised shoulder. Well as suggested I got the previous owner to come and ride him on Friday - he tried to buck with her in the yard, although she managed to ride him through it. Saturday I managed to stay on although he was threatening to go up with me in the yard. Then I got on him yesterday and within 2 minutes he had reared with me then stuck his head between his legs and bronked until he dumped me. So my sore shoulder which was getting better is now sore again, plus I have bruised ribs to add to my woes, despite wearing a body protector.
I have now decided that he is not having another chance as clearly he is not the genuine horse I bought him to be, and I can't afford to get hurt again as I have a baby son to think about. So I am trying to send him back. Only of course the woman I bought him off is extremely unwilling to give me my money back, not least because she sold him on behalf of her ex-husband, so I've got to get the money back off him, not just her.
It is all a complete disaster. Am absolutely gutted. And I hate the implication that it's something that I've done to make him behave like this; that I'm useless and he was perfect before so therefore I'm not entitled to a refund. The more I think about it the more dodgy it looks - broken as a 4 year old and then left in a field for 3 years, I bet he did it as a youngster. I feel like such a mug and am terrified I'm going to lose all my money
frown.gif
frown.gif

Sorry for the moan but I feel absolutely terrible today!!!
 
Hi, I remember reading your post. Stick to your guns! Lunge him if he is safe to keep him ticking over. Presumably, he's not in pain anywhere? Anyway, if she acted for her husband (and this is where it gets a bit woolly), she is therefore dealing and you should be covered under the 'Sale of Goods Act'. Did you get a warranty or receipt? What happened when you tried him - did you have him vetted and a blood test? Get the vets to run the bloods if you did. I have heard of so many of these scenarios, but the only way to succeed is to be bloody minded about it. Best of luck!
 
Poor you

I think this is a common scenario and I have been in the same position as have many of my friends.

I don't think there's an easy answer except to speak to a Solicitor or get legal advice through one of the Riding Associations if you are a member and find out how you proceed.

The dangerous horse I bought many years ago, the dealer refused to take it back so I ended up selling it via the other dealer who had come with me to buy it.

I was lucky to lose only £1k on the sale and the horse went to someone who was fully aware of his issues and enjoyed being bolted with on a regular occasion!!
 
I don't think he's in pain no, I had his teeth done and new saddle fitted as soon as he came. I've felt all over his back and he is not sensitive anywhere, but I'm not spending any more money getting a physio out, as I don't trusth him any more and wouldn't get on him again if you paid me!
I didn't get receipt or warranty no (how stupid am I, but never have before, you rely on people's good nature don't you?), but bank have record of money transfer. Will get the vets to run the bloods as you suggest - thanks for reminding me about that.
 
I wish you luck this is not going to be easy. If you are a memeber of BHS you can get legal advice [ might be worth joining]
I had this with a horse I bought for my daughter , the dealer came out after it bucked both me and her off and said we were too kind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She beat it up and got it down the road and said drop its feed and get on and trot straight away. I wish I had been firm and said no but we battled on . A couple of months later we went to a show , I legged her up and he bonked before her feet were in the stirrups, she broke her leg. We then sent him to the vets who did tests and said it was his back we spent a fortune on it [ with help from the insurance]. He came back into work but couldn't be trusted ,I part exchanged him with a dealer and lost a lot of money. He turned him away but he started to lose weight , he died and there was a post mortem which showed liver damage . Poor horse we tried our best and wish I had sent him back in the first place.
I wish you luck you have a battle ahead.
 
im sorry you have all this trouble
frown.gif
we had a problem like this a few years ago when we bought TB for my sister when she was 13..perfect to try etc but after about 2 weeks she went crazy - dangerous. owner wouldnt take her back, and so we had to go to court etc. we eentually lost and had to sel her on for a fraction of the price we bought her for
frown.gif


but hopefully yours will be ok, i agree about running bloods, encase he was sedated or anything (unfortunatley we couldnt do this as our tb was a few years ago and she was only a grand and a hack so we didnt bother (silly i know but...)

good luck with everything. i would also suggest lunging (if safe to do so) until you figure out what to do. do NOT get back on, the horse is clearly danerous xx
 
Forgot to mention as well, write everything down - keep a diary. Do you have her address? I think that the procedure is to write to her (not just a telephone call), stating that the horse is not as she described and that you wish to return him and require your money back. If she accepted the money from you on behalf of her ex-hubby then its up to her to get the money back from him. I dont blame you for not wanting to spend any more money on him but keep a record of what he's had done recently as then its more power to your elbow.
 
very sorry to hear this seems like you have been had
frown.gif
Even though you don't have a receipt as such if the bank transfer and previous owner name on the horse's passport match that might act as proof of sale as such. If you are a BE or BHS member I would get in touch with them for some free legal advice, also do you have witnesses at the first ridden trial and after to back up your claims.

Stick to your guns people who miss sell should be made to be accountable it's bloody dangerous and irresponsible imagine if that was a pony clubber or older rider he had been sold to! gggrrrr it makes my blood boil
 
You are not useless and are not a mug. The horse could have been sold to you like this or he may have a problem that needs investigation. Its not your fault or anything you have done. Getting your money back may be difficult - i know because ive been there. Good luck !
 
I remember your post too. Best of luck.

Your story sounds remarkably simialr to mine when I got my youngster - he was a psycho to put it bluntly! The woman I bought him off would no way give me my money back and the vet that vetted him was extremely uncooperative and wouldn't run the bloods he took at vetting. It was a complete nightmare so I know how you feel.

Keep going with them though and make sure you write down EVERYTHING that happens with the horse and any contact you have with the previous owner/her husband.
 
if you haven't got a receipt or warranty you may find it extremely hard to recoup your money as she may say you were aware of his issues when you bought him.

keep all emails/texts/voicemails from the previous owner as well as a copy of the advert if you have it
 
Well not surprisingly yes that is what she is saying - that he never did anything like that with her, and was perfect for the two weeks he was with me before all this started. But surely 2 weeks is a short enough time to justify a refund? It's not like I've had him 6 months or something. Or does this not matter in law?
frown.gif
God, what a mess. I think I'm going to give up horses altogether; what with my mare getting bone spavin and now this, I've had enough!
 
Yes, a lot of money to pay for a bruised shoulder and ribs, plus considerable upset and stress.
Was there a particular reason you wanted to know how much I paid for him?
 
Sometimes it's good to know how much you paid - partly so you can judge whether the legal fees are going to be greater than the value of the horse (easily done!) and also partly to give an indication of whether the seller was trying to pull a fast one by offloading cheaply. In your case, I think you paid enough to warrant legal fisticuffs and £6K ought to buy you a decent sensible horse..
 
Yes, purely because if it wasnt much you could have stuck him in a sale and prob got a bit back, but not that sort of money im afraid. Malvern sales is next month, you can get a cracker from there usually for not alot.
 
omg, that's awful and a lot of money to pay for a horse that has done you damage and that you will never get on again.
I agree, stick to your guns and if necessary get a lawyer to write to her.
I had a similar thing when i bought my ex racer. She seemed fine for a week or so and then it was like she had a nervous breakdown. The person, who was supposed tro be a friend, said she would take her back but would have her shot. She was the type that would have. I kept her although i was really scared of her by that time. We have worked through the issues and is now a brilliant horse and i have had her 6 years.
I am not saying you should persevere, i was just lucky it turned out well.
Do you have BHS membership as you get free legal help. If not, maybe you could call them and ask for the name of an equine solicitor.
It is so irresponsible of the people who sell on dangerous horses just to rid themselves of a problem.
You just wonder what has happened to this horse in the past to make him act like this.
 
I called the legal helpline number on the BE site as I'm a member, the person I need to speak to is away until tomorrow though, so will have to call back then.
Glad it worked out for you; I'm not normally one to give up easily, and I don't mind the odd bit of pratting about - of my last two youngsters one reared to begin with and the other was a bit nappy and I persevered with them - but this horse is not just being green and silly, he's genuinely trying to dump me, and that is scary, particularly when you have a little baby to look after. I bought him to have some fun on, not to feel sick with nerves at the prospect of riding him - and I'm a pretty confident rider normally so that tells you what he's like.
 
Thank you - just make me feel even worse!
I know how it sounds, but they made it sound like there were genuine reasons for it. And obviously I am very gullible
frown.gif
To be fair though he seemed so genuine for the first couple of weeks and has bags of talent, and he was exactly what I was looking for so I didn't mind paying that.
 
I think its really hard to send a horse back when its a private sale as the seller doesn't have to accept the horse back. Personally I would (and have!), but thats only because I want my horses in the best home. Do you have an advert of the horse? Does it say anything as hard proof it should be fine? Was he vetted? It's weird he was fine when you tried him out, wonder if he was doped or something?
 
Well the woman I bought him from is a professional event rider! And I'm sure she must sell more than 3 horses a year, so I reckon she would count as a dealer. Not sure though. But I would have thought she would value her reputation enough to not want a big fuss over this.
PS. don't have an advert, as I found him through word of mouth.
 
You poor thing,ive been there(still going thro courts a year on ).Pm me and ill try and give u some good advice!!! Makes NO difference that you didnt get a written receipt tbh.As long as you can prove you brought the horse from her(bank statement)then its unfit for the purpose you brought it for(unless you wanted to buy a dangerouse horse!). Do you have the ad you got it from?!Plus the fact that prev owner has been out and she saw it bronk/rear !( Will she refuse to admit this in court? )Best of luck and keep on at her to take horse back&refund.DO not give up even tho you feel you get no-where! May take ages but stick to your guns!
 
The exact same situation as me, although my horse used to spin and double barrell you if you went in the feild or stable with him aswell, breaking someones leg and someone elses ribs.

i turned him out for 4 weeks and did nothing bar feed/water/pick feet and check he had 4 legs .. then i began doing things very slowly just brushing him bringing him in the stable for a few hours a day etc. etc. and after another month got on him and starting from scratch basicly, he is now my perfect horse

He is still very spooky and not what i bought ( he was supposedly a ready to go horse who i was planning a bit of everything with but wants to affiliate bsja)
But after spending time with him i wouldnt swap him for the world and still going to affiliate but just going to take longer than planned!

Sorry for the long ramble, but sometimes if the horse is what u wanted then you should stick on in there.
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Thank you - just make me feel even worse!

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh, I'm sorry donadea, I wasn't having a go, just a bit confused as I thought I'd missed part of the story or something.

I know how you feel as I have been through the same thing. I didn't have the money to fight a legal battle so I was stuck with it for a while.

It is so hard but keep perservering, you will get there I'm sure.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top