What would you do?

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ribena73

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I've had my boy for a few months, he's great, just what I wanted in a horse, but has had a few schooling issues (not wanting to work in an outline, unbalanced in canter). Few things had happened recently where I've needed the vet, and it turns out he has some kind of neurological problem, am waiting on an X ray, but most likely kissing spine according to my vet. This diagnosis would also explain a lot of his schooling problems.

Anyhoo, when I got him I didn't have all the money that his owner wanted for him so I paid her half the asking price with a view to paying the rest if I was happy with him when I could get it together. Obviously, now with his issues he may not be worth the money that I was going to pay for him initially. My husband reckons that as he's effectively on loan with a view to buy with a deposit paid, I should hand him back. I don't want to do that as I think he's great and as he's insured getting the KS treated won't be an issue financially for us.

But I am wondering what others would do in this situation. As I see it I have three options (whatever I decide I plan on getting him treated first):

A) keep him and give his old owner the balance of the full asking price when I have it
B) haggle with his owner over the money remaining- maybe agree to meet halfway?
C) Give him back as he is effectively on loan (and his owner does tell people that so she has no firm assumptions either way)

I should add that the owner is a friend of sorts, just to complicate matters! So, what would you guys do in this situation?
 
Depends on how badly you want the horse! Who currently pays the insurance?

I don't think I'd be forking out any more money for a horse with an undiagnosed problem.

If you handed him back would she return your money? Does she know that you've had problems / vet investigations?
 
My heart says B but my head says C........., wait for the diagnosis/prognosis but C is the sensible route and you should listen to your head in situations like this..... Difficult and emotional I know. Is it likely if you gave the horse back you would get your deposit back? If not you may have your hands tied anyway?
 
I've not spoken to her yet- I wanted the complete picture from the vet so I knew what I was dealing with. I currently pay the insurance, which is why I am happy to get him treated. Don't know if she will return the money, we have nothing in writing either way at the moment......

And how much I want the horse, well, it will depend on what his prognosis is I guess. He's a dream to ride, like I said a few issues but I think that if we get to the bottom of his neurological problem then they could fall away. He's never bucked or reared or bolted, jsut does the typical TB overexcited bouncing sometimes. He really had potential in ODE which is what I wanted him for but obviously until I know what is wrong I don;t know if that will be a possibility. One thing I do know is he needs the work so would make a rubbish field ornament, but my vet doesn't think it would come to that....
crazy.gif
 
If he is insured and you are happy to pay for his treatment and look after him through it could you not have a chat with the friend and say that you will look after him etc and if he does not come right then you will return him.

So maybe an extension of the view to buy? And i would ask for a discount on the rest of the money to be paid, depending on the value left and the expected time for recovery.

I would agree if i was the owner, she will not be able to sell him to anyone else and it would cost her money to treat him.

Thats my view if you are dead set on keeping him!
 
Presumably if you had had the money available, you would have paid for him outright when you took him on, so in effect he is not 'OLWVTB' but rather you are in debt to his former owner who kindly allowed you to take the horse before you had paid for him.
I am afraid that he is your responsibility and your problem. IMO your choices are
1 Get him treated
2 retire him
3PTS

I cannot imagine that his former owner would want him back.
 
I agree I'm afraid. Shame the owner didn't draw an agreement up with you, but she did you a huge favour allowing you to pay half and the rest when you could afford it. This is why I'd never let anyone pay in installments.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Presumably if you had had the money available, you would have paid for him outright when you took him on, so in effect he is not 'OLWVTB' but rather you are in debt to his former owner who kindly allowed you to take the horse before you had paid for him.
I am afraid that he is your responsibility and your problem. IMO your choices are
1 Get him treated
2 retire him
3PTS

I cannot imagine that his former owner would want him back.

[/ QUOTE ]


Given the problems I had with my last mare I wouldn't have bought him outright if I'd had the money available, the reason that I paid a deposit to his owner was because she wanted a commitment that I was serious and not going to mess her about as he'd been out on loan for a year and his loaner was supposed to buy him and backed out at the last minute due to financial reasons (which I know are genuine as she now shares the horse with me). On top of this, she is telling people that I have the horse on loan and so in her mind he is obviously olwvtb.

I clearly need to speak to his owner and see what is best, but there's no point doing that until I know what is wrong with him

Thanks for the advice everyone, it has given me something to think about
 
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