Update on problems with new horse

I'm back with car in once piece once again - hooray! I have been doing some more research into horse's past history and have spoken with a legal advice line.

The dealers haven't offered me a swap because they actually sold the horse on behalf of a livery client (even though she is only listed as owning him for a week before she decided to sell - bit odd?) so I don't have any rights. I am not sure what to do but I don't honestly think I will get anywhere even if I take legal action against the actual owner. I know that I was duped because the horse isn't fit for purpose etc but there is no comeback against a private seller so it would be my word against hers in the small claims court and I assume that the judge could find against me, even though I am 100% sure that I am the victim.

No, the horse didn't buck when I tried him out but I am wondering if he had been ridden hard that morning before I got there and he was too tired to object?

I am going to speak to my trainer tomorrow and see if she if she thinks he could be successfully re-schooled although I don't think I want to keep him for my OH. Either that or maybe I should think about Project Horses? I still can't believe that we have ended up in this situation so a million thoughts are currently whizzing around my head.
 
Hmm, that is a dealer trick 'sold on behalf of client' so you have no come back.
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I would still threaten legal action, maybe go as far as send a solicitors letter to them, it may be enough to scare them into a refund?

Unless they have done this before.

It might be an idea to put up a new post asking if anyone has bought from 'that dealer' to PM you, that way its not slagging them off on the forum.

If you find others who have been duped, you might have more luck getting somewhere.

What do YOU think the problem is?

Trying it on?
Pain?
Bad schooling?
Nervousness?
Dangerous/nasty?
 
Ok, good idea, I will post later about anyone who has bought a horse from a certain place because I won't be making any bad comments about anyone on a public forum.

I definitely don't think he is trying it on because he is such a genuine horse on the ground. It may be pain but two vets and a physio have now told me that they think he is 100% sound so I don't think I can go much further with that. I wondered about a scan/xray but that idea has been discounted by vet.

He is actually well-schooled. When I first got him and could get on him he worked really well for me. He has good paces and works very well in an outline. His transitions are good and he always strikes off on the right leg etc so he has been schooled well by someone in the past.

He's not nasty in any way and I think it is nervousness which is causing his problem. I believe that I am a sympathetic rider but it is just the fact that you are on his back that seems to scare him. My trainer said that he appears to be a nervous wreck so think someone may have ridden him badly? He does have a soft, snaffle mouth, good brakes and is forward off the leg so I am totally confused if I am honest.
 
What you should do is to instruct a specialist equine solicitor to act on your behalf. The horse was bought from a dealer and therefore you are covered under the appropriate legislation. Even if it was a private sale you could take action as the horse is not as described.

If you require contact details of equine solicitors then please pm me.
 
It really is confusing!

Im tempted to say its not just nervousness, because he was so good when you tried him, and if Im right he hadnt been with the dealer long (if his previous owner had only owned him a week), so its not like he has come away from a happy long term home?

did you have bloods done? Or have you already gone down the route of making sure he wasnt doped?

I really feel for you, I know what an emotional strain it is ending up with a horse like this, espec as you start to get more attached, its difficult. I imagine your hubby isnt feeling as happy about horse ownership either, espec as this was to be his first horse.
 
Hmmmmmmmmmmm well I would write a letter and make it clear to them that they HAVE duped you, you believed you were buying from them, NOT a third party, and that you have absolutley NO qualms in going public with this. For sure they will not want their reputation damaged. It is worth a go - they are total swines
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I don't think it matters that the horse was from a clients of theirs I'm sure I have read it somewhere before that it is still treated as if they 'owned' it.
 
I could be completely off the wall here.....but 2 things immediately sprang to mind - is it possible that he could be going blind? Or could he have a trapped nerve, sciatica?

I don't really know what to say; I feel sorry for the horse, but I also feel dreadfully sorry for you ending up in this predicament.
 
If I can get a solicitor specialising in equines as Owlie suggests then I might be able to find out if I do actually have a case against the dealer.

Tia, your guess is as good as anyone's tbh. He does have a "funny" eye which has a lot of white around the outside rather than inside the eye itself like a wall eye. The vet says it is developmental and should have no effect on his eyesight but I guess it could?

I still think he may have a back problem but nothing has showed up when the vets have poked and prodded his back and he is 100% sound even after trotting on concrete on small circles etc. If a physical problem was discovered I wouldn't exactly be happy but, assuming it was something curable then I would be relieved to have found the answer.

I feel very sorry for the horse too because my OH, daughter and myself have grown fond of him over the last 6 weeks but I can't afford to keep him if I can't ride him. I have spent a lot of money on him already with two vets bills, physio, dentist, saddler, rugs, shoeing etc and now, if I can't send him back, will have to fork out for re-schooling and see if that works.
 
The reason I mention blindness is that this is the sort of behaviour I have seen in other horses who were subsequently diagnosed with impaired sight or were in fact blind in one eye. I went to see a horse similar to this and on closer inspection I could see that the eyes were cloudy and just by running a couple of quick tests, I knew that the horse was almost totally blind.
 
What sprang to my mind was sacroiliac strain. My horse was lovely but got very tense the more she worked. Fine out hacking but in the school she bucked horrendously. Particularly on one rein.I got the vet out who said she was fine. I honestly think he thought I was being neurotic and was just a crap rider. Physio found the SI problem fortunately. She had bone scans and these identified a multitude of issues related to SI. She has had cortisone treatment and the tension has disappeared as has all spooking and bucking.



It is difficult to diagnose. One sympton is that they dont track up well when ridden. They can even be considered lazy! Until they throw you off!!

M horse is now in a WOW and undergoing treatment with steroid injections and touch wood is rideable again. I might even compete her again soon!! Look out everybody!!!I think my vet was quite amazed at how well she is now going and has perhaps changed his opinion of my ability to ride my horse!!!

SI is far more common than people realise, not a lot is known about treatment as it has only really been diagnosable since scintigraphy has been more widely available.

Having said that I would try to return the horse first. If it is SI you dont want to be dealing with it if you dont have to. But if you are unsuccessful this could be worth investigating.

Unfortunately SI seems to present in different ways and can be labelled as bad behaviour or poor rider skills. But bucking, tension and spooking were definitely symptoms. My horse was never lame and passes flexion tests etc.

I hope it isnt SI but dont dismiss it as a possibility.
 
Thanks Dozziesmummy. He was tracking up well when I could ride him so not sure if it could be SI problem. In other respects he does sound similar to your mare. I am going to ask one final time re xrays/scans and I have a different vet in mind that I'm going to call. I will probably be labelled neurotic too but I don't really care. Glad to hear that your mare is so much better now. Good luck with the competitions!
 
She will never be cured! But at least i know what Im dealing with! And I wouldnt sell her as she is the sweetest natured horse I have ever had! Despite being a 16.2 chestnut mare!!!
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I will just work around her problems! I never wanted to go to Badminton anyway! Them jumps are scary!!!!
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I hope you get to the bottom of your horse's problems.
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