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Elite Veteran
Posts: 907
 
Location: a secret | I sent my horse to the trainer to consign and sell the trainer broke and started him originally I brought him for another year of just riding and following their directions to keep going to mature. In the meantime I sent two other horses to be broke and started so my experience with them has been more than once. My horse was always a favorite of theirs and when deciding to sell me they said probably within 30 days he would sell as their customer base is always looking for horses like him. So weekly I get updates he is doing great but now he is not ready to sell there reply just not quite there yet. The trainer promises to put up on their website and advertise never does I ask why ? The response I got was he is not ready so after three more months of this I finally say okay so he basically is started and needs to go on with his training so why isn't he a least being advertised as such next, month four finally gets up on site and advertised calls me frantically that she needs his papers a serious buyer. Owing he is basically sold next day buyer changed mind wants older horse?? Next reply okay I have few others interested meantime I call several times to ask to speak to the trainer that rides him directly and ask for update and I want to come see him they tell me I can't they are going to seminar ok so pick another day meantime tell me trainer that rides him is out sick ok have her call me back finally after multiple calls and emails to trainer I am told reluctantly by groom she quit. I get these ridiculous emails back and forth from barn mgr about how much interest she has in my horse however, it won't be until end of month before they can come try him. So with no trainer to ride him and god knows what's up at there barn I respond I am coming to get him. So she tells me again she has someone coming then23rd and most likely will buy him but must pass vet check no problem he has never had any issues so I'm fine with that but I said she is welcome to come try him at my farm you are welcome to come but I am coming to get him. At this point she has not been truthful with me and has I feel has basically strung us along and I have lost my respect and trust in her judgement. Best part.... I pick him up I pick hi up at bottom of farm hill as road up is bad I get hi home take blanket off go over him and he has a nice hot splint on his left front leg immediately I call and tell her he did not have this when he went he will currently not pass a vet check so how wshould we handle the potential buyer ??? I have never heard back from her??? Suggestions I am really angry with the whole experience this horse I feel we made a good investment in him to sell only to end up at this point sorry so long | |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
 
| I don't have much to add only that you made the right decision in going to get the horse. I would struggle to send one off somewhere that I couldn't visit on a regular basis - heard too many horror stories.
I also would have looked the horse over with a fine tooth comb while at the facility and their presence before I left with the horse so that any issues could be disputed then and there. Water under the bridge now though.
I'm not sure you have a legal case though if that's what you're considering. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 907
Location: a secret | Thanks for your reply lesson well learned is all I can say | |
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The Resident Destroyer of Liberal Logic
Location: PNW | I had a similarish situation. I sent a filly of mine to a cutting trainer to get started and have a nice handle put on her. The trainer was 3 hours away, this was my first time working with him, but I had heard excellent references (from friends of mine who cut).
Anyways, I was able to make it out once every couple weeks to see her. I would make appointments so I could watch them ride her, but every time I'd get there - they'd already be done and they would just say "oh, well, things went faster than planned today so we got to her sooner."
After some similar conversations like you mentioned that were just stringing me along and full of BS, I decided to pick her up.
I was at a barrel race that weekend, and I swung by and picked her up on my way home because I had to drive right past anyways. Their barn manager/hand met me in the barn, got her out of her stall, loaded her into the trailer, and we were on our way. It was 1 AM in the middle of winter so she was totally blanketed and it was dark. Should I have stripped her down and given her a once over? Absolutely. Did I? No. For $900 a month I assumed they were taking care of my horse.
I got her home tossed her into her stall with food and planned to check her/ride her the next day. I get to the bar and strip her blankies off and her KNEE WAS THE SIZE OF A CANTELOUPE. I kid you not. I have big hands, I can palm a men's basketball... I could not touch my hands around her knee. It was cold, hard swelling with no give to it - so it wasn't a new thing.
I called the trainer and he said "oh, no, we never saw any swelling... Maybe your barrel horse kicked her in the trailer? "
Yea, that's what happened - right through my stud panel - NOT
I had the vet come out, she had chipped her knee - probably from banging or falling on something hard. I called the trainer th this information - and he magically remembers that TWO WEEKS AGO, she did slip and fall on their concrete aisle after she spooked at something.
So, they never called me after the injury so that I could have it addressed by a vet, and they stopped working her for the last two weeks she was there - but still charging me.
So the mare is no longer with me, she is a trail horse for an older gal in our area because she wasn't going to be sound enough for barrels.
Lesson learned, and the last time one of my horses gets sent out to anybody but THE MOST REPUTABLE person.
You did good in going to get yours.
"Good judgment comes from experience, but a lot of experience comes from bad judgment." | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 907
Location: a secret | svincent, my concern is what determines reputable??? this training facitily is/was?? was it just bad timing did something happen?? I am a reasonable person if an issue occurs tell me dont lie to me or ignore the situtation. I have found its not what you pay as you can tell by my situation I was getting 1,000 per month bills for him. How can this continusoly happen and owners, and have to say oh well lesson learned.... | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 678
Location: Canada | Honestly it sounds like either they didn't have time for him, they had other horses they wanted to sell more, or they were stringing you along. When selling horses for clients you know you're going to have tire kickers and fits that aren't good so I never tell my clients the horse is going to sell before someone tries them and calls me back. How would I know, I've had horses tried that I thought for sure it wasn't going to sell and yet the sale goes through, and I've had others that had awesome rides but didn't want the horse. Saying it will sell before they meet someone just sets the client up for disappointment.
I'd be upset with the situation and speak with the trainer about your experience. If you've paid for them to put time on the horse, and to market and sell him I would suggest that once you're calm phone or drive over and ask for at least a partial refund, explain why, then market the horse yourself. Sounds like you'd be better off going it alone then going back to the trainer.
If they are good business people they will either give you a refund, work with you to make good, or at least offer some sort of explanation that helps you out.
Sorry this happened to you ---- best of luck!!!
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 535
| Been there, done that, two times. I no longer trust a trainer to do what they say. I make sure they do what they say. I check, see videos, pics and if no improvement in a month we have a talk and the horse will come home. Even the very best reputable trainer can have a horse get hurt; I know that, but communication is the key. Let me know if my horse is sick, hurt or having issues. I want to know if my horse needs their teeth done, shod, a trip to vet, etc. We now have a very good trainer who puts the first rides on and a super good barrel trainer who keeps us in the loop. I am sorry this happened to you. I wish I knew the answer to why people (not just trainers) cant just do what they say they will. The time when a persons word is as good as gold has slipped by me I guess. | |
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