What would you do?

[Lonesome_Dove]

I was having trouble backing my horse (fine in every other respect and very laid back) so I sent him to be professionally broken. Five weeks later, all he can do is lunge and long rein (which he could already do when he left). He started rearing and lashing out when he was with her, he had never done this before and hasn't done it since being back, he put a hole in the back wall of her stable (he loves being in), pulled his mane and tail without asking me (I've never touched it), threw a bucket of water over him to get him to walk on and he came back to me half the size! He left looking like a spotted QH and came back a mini-thoroughbred. He has lost so much weight I am having to rug him up early and am now having to get him completely retrained because he has become so nervous.

We have asked the original trainer for a refund (but didn't ask for it all back) but she is refusing. I have a feeling this could get nasty. Would you try and pursue it and at least get a bit of money back or would you leave it and count your losses?

 

[Tia]

Personally I would chalk it down to experience. I'm not sure how legally you could pursue any claim against the trainer unless you have a written contract stating what the horse should be capable of on it's return.

Next time you send it to a trainer - vet them, vet them.....and vet them some more!! Try to get references from people who have already had their horses trained by this person - go and meet them and their horses - visit your horse whilst at the trainers and turn up when not expected. Don't believe everything they tell you - a lot of them lie!!

 

[Lonesome_Dove]

I think you're right - I don't want the hassle. It was the first time I had sent a horse away and I shouldn't have trusted her so much!

He's starting to go back to his old self now, so I think I should just be grateful he isn't completely messed up!

 

[burtie]

Very little you can do, although as your local I'd love to know who it was!

Backing horses is such a subjective thing, it is impossible to prove they did anything actually "wrong". As Tia says all you can do is vet them really well and ask around before sending.

I looked at a lot of locals who offer backing as I'm going to need my 3 year old done soon and have to say none of them came up to my idea of capable as most really only had experience of New Forest ponies!

A couple of local people I know and would trust are either not doing it at the moment or would have to come to me and that would not be practicle!

I have now found someone and he is going in Jan, but they are not on the Forest and specialise in producing young Show Jumpers so would not be everyones "cup of tea"

 

[flyingfeet]

Oh good grief!

I'd threaten to expose her training techniques to the press so that she wouldn't be able to do this to another horse.

I would horrified and on the warpath.

I love Monty Roberts techniques and you have possibly described the worst possible treatment and start you could give a youngster. I hope he manages to forget everything she has done to him.

 

[AmyMay]

Did they give you a reason for the horses behaviour???

 

[Lonesome_Dove]

She thought it was his wolf teeth, which he had removed during the second week. He is now being trained by someone who uses natural horsemanship techniques and he seems to be responding well.

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
He is now being trained by someone who uses natural horsemanship techniques and he seems to be responding well.

[/ QUOTE ]
Well long may it continue.

Such a shame to have gone through your nightmare experience though.