ridecamp@endurance.net: Re: What would you do? S.O.S.!

Re: What would you do? S.O.S.!

Becky (hrt0632@tsufl.edu)
Tue, 03 Jun 1997 00:35:23 -0500

S.O.S.!
I in all my infinate wisdom have purchased too much horse for my 12
year old daughter. It is a 7 year old Arabian mare from fine lineage.
Here's the kicker. The mare was pastured in the boonies with one other
gelding since she was two. No cars, no other horse interaction, etc.
This was misrepresented to us by the seller. She was calm, vetted out
clean, and no problem to ride on the 45 acres he kept her on. We now
have her at a nice boarding facility where she is turned out on pasture
daily and has adjusted well, but she is so preoccupied with the other
horses and/or her stall, she does not want to be ridden. This has
declined steadily over the last month despite careful training on my
part. She is so panicked about being away from the other horses, she ran
me over two different times when I tried to lead her away to graze a
good distance from the road to gauge her reaction to traffic (he claimed
she is not afraid of cars....she is). To ride her is nothing more than a
fight to slow her down approaching the barn, and paddling her away from
it. We have spent weeks just circling trying to get a consistent walk.
She is trainable, but I later found out she displayed the same behavior
at his farm when someone else "test drove" her. She spun with them,
spooked, and would try to jig back to the other horse. I'm wondering now
if she wasn't sedated during the pre-purchase rides. He was in a
financial bind and was selling the two horses and property under duress.
Here's where I'd like to hear from you. He stated the horse was child
safe, trail safe, and push button. She is none of the above. I could not
even catch her in the pasture today without food and a lot of walking.
He has financed the horse and I have already made a $400 payment with
the next payment due this month. The terms of the contract that we drew
up are that if I fail to make payments on the horse, he can "repo" her
and I lose all monies paid. I don't want the horse due to the training
hours I will have to invest to get her anywhere near safe for my
daughter. Should I just call him and say, "keep the first payment and
come get your fruit-loop"? I don't think I could re-sell her for months
the way the market is here. I phoned him today to get more specifics on
her training, and was told that he doesn't believe she would would act
that way, and that we or someone at the barn is abusing her, or it might
have been lightning (?!?!). I suppose it never stormed during the last
five years in the pasture she was in 40 miles away. I'm at my wits end,
and any suggestions would be appreciated. I think I have been
swindled....I just don't know what to do from here.
Thanks,
Becky the Sucker
Florida

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