What would you do?

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pinkie.pie

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An ex-colleague of mine (we still keep in touch) started taking weekly riding lessons several months ago – a complete beginner with zero prior equine knowledge or experience. He’s kept the fact he’s started riding very close to his chest and asked me not to mention it to anyone else at work – I’ve recently left the company - I’m not sure why he wanted it kept a secret as didn’t like to ask but imagine he may be concerned about what others think and only told me because I’ve got a pony of my own and we got on pretty well. There was also another lady in the office with horses – older and more knowledgeable than me I imagine! The two of them were also quite friendly so she knew he was riding as well.

He’s a really nice guy, very intelligent, incredibly reserved and apparently but somewhat naïve when it comes to people sometimes. I started a new job a few weeks ago so haven’t heard a great deal from him until last night. He messaged explaining how he was really enjoying riding and wanted the opportunity to learn more that he wouldn’t be taught in a riding lesson. Fair enough. I’ve offered for him to come and spend time with my pony (he takes lessons at the same yard I keep my horse so ideal really) and although he’s too small for him to ride, I was happy to teach him how to muck out, grooming, rugs, picking out feet, putting a head collar on etc etc so he could start to pick up some of the very basics. He’s been intent on actually buying a horse and I told him I didn’t think he was ready to own a horse as a riding lesson once a week gives no insight to what it’s like to own and keep a horse and if he was really intent on doing his own thing to perhaps keep an eye out for someone looking for a sharer with the appropriate horse… To which he responded “So, an 18 month part bred Arab isn’t a suitable choice?”… Long story short, the lady in the office who I mentioned earlier has sold her 18 month homebred youngster to him. Clearly, this has backfired… he’s had the youngster 3 weeks and has asked the lady to take him back to which she said that she wouldn’t, that he was ruining her relationship with her new partner and she couldn’t move house if she took the horse back – she has several horses. I’ve not seen the text messages yet but they have naturally fallen out big time, have been texting from across the office to each other arguing etc. She’s now agreed to take the horse back this weekend – in theory. I think they are both to blame in their own right as the lady should have known better, in fact I’m sure she did, but carried on regardless and my colleague who purchased the horse should have had enough common sense to know it wasn’t a sensible idea – he feels like an idiot obviously, I don’t know what he was thinking but hopefully gives an impression of how inexperienced he is. He’s fallen in to the “I thought we could learn and grow together” trap.

I’ve told him what I think which is apparently the same as what the yard owners of the yard he’s keeping this horse on have said. This youngster also sustained quite a substantial head injury last year and he wasn’t vetted prior to purchase. I don’t think the guy is convinced he’ll get his money back off her for which he paid – just wondering if he has any leg to stand on at all? Given his lack of knowledge I can’t imagine any paperwork was signed for the purchase and I’m not sure where the horse’s passport is at but will ask him about it.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thank you for reading if you’ve made it this far!
 
I doubt he has a leg to stand on. The older colleague totally saw him coming and palmed off her injured youngster. It's an odd World.
 
He sounds like a really nice person who has been duped by someone who should know better and someone who he has to work with too. What a shame. The outcome will probably depend on whether this lady has any concscience but it doesn't sound as if she had.
We all make mistakes with horses and learn from experiences, good and bad.
 
I came across this guide to buying and selling the other day and although most will relate to ridden horses the interpretation of missrepresenting may cover this case, if the seller has taken advantage of someones inexperience, she knew he was a novice so should not have encouraged the purchase, it may be worth him taking legal advice as it is going to cost him money whatever he does and a solicitors letter may be enough to resolve this.

http://www.bowcockpursaill.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/BP_Buying__Selling_Horses.pdf
 
chestnut cob said:
I doubt he will get much back for the horse but TBH it might teach him to be more careful and listen to advise next time around!!
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Unfortunately he did listen to advice, from the experienced person who sold him an unsuitable horse, by the time he spoke to the OP it was too late, he has been conned to all intents and purposes by someone who should have been more decent to both her colleague and the poor young horse .
 
I am pretty sure even private sales now have to be fit for purpose so he should get his money back but he will need to dot the i and cross the ts with consumer law. I am not sure but the good old EU has some pretty stringent consumer laws that we are still tied in to
 
I would be shocked if he had a leg to stand on. She didn't sell the horse as a riding horse suitable for a novice. She just sold him a horse.

What a jerk though; poor bloke.
 
If yours is any sort of regulated profession then the woman could be seen as bringing the profession into disrepute, by selling an unsuitable animal to a colleague, suggest to the bloke that he look at this avenue.
 
Even if he looses his money if she takes the horse back it's still the cheapest way for him to get out of it .
The horse world is full of nasty low life's .
 
I guess there are two sides to every story. I'd like to hear hers because from this side her behaviour sounds pretty reproachful. What sort of morals does she have, I'm very glad I dont work with her..... or with all this secrecy around perhaps I do and just dont know it hmmm.
I think your company is inevitably involved - were it not for work your friend would not have met this woman who has fleeced him. Can it be raised at work? She should certainly be shamed, as she certainly doesnt seem ashamed.
 
He won't have a leg to stand on for being stupid. What a wicked woman though, clearly saw a fool and took him to the market.

That said however, someone eager enough and presumably competent enough to learn could have gotten a life long friend. What exactly is he finding difficult with the horse?
 
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I don't think he has a leg to stand on either given the horse is obviously going to be unbroken so "not fit for purpose" isn't an option to go with. Is there a chance he could throw the horse out on grass livery till the time comes it's suitable to break and can be either worked with or sold? My MIL was duped in the same way (whilst we weren't on speaking terms to guide her and she knew nobody else to ask) she sent the pony for proffesional breaking and they failed miserably/gave up/also took advantage of a clueless novice, it was disgraceful that someone would sell her such a pony knowing she had no experience nor the support needed to deal with the mare but luckily once we started talking I put her in contact with a friend (teenager which given the recent case of paralysed girl wouldn't likely happen again) who sorted the crazy mare out for free within a week! OP would you be in a position to help with breaking once the horse was old enough? And in the meantime teach him all the ground work?
 
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