The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

What should I even do at this point?

31K views 57 replies 24 participants last post by  kitten_Val 
#1 ·
I bought an Oldenburg mare 4 months ago from a supposedly reputable farm (although at this point I have lost ALL respect for them). The horse was supposed to be bred to their stallion and then sent up immediately. I haven't been able to contact the seller in over 2 months. Before that she was making CONSTANT excuses as to why I couldn't talk to her...busy,lost phone,no service,lost phone again,etc. She is ignoring phone calls,emails,faxes,even certified letters!:shock: My lawyer is suggesting suing and forgetting about the horse and getting a refund.According to the bill of sale the losing party (which my lawyer has guaranteed will be her) will be paying all traveling expenses,lawyer costs,and court fees. I am not sure what this seller is doing. I know she has been getting online because she regularly updates facebook. She also signed the certified letter and I have her signauture. This whole thing seems ridiculous and I am wondering at this point if the whole thing was a scam. I have contacted the police,lawyer,etc. and they are all saying to take it to court. I really actually wanted the horse though! I have the horses papers and the bill of sale. Can I just go pick the horse up? I also have a LFG for the stallion she was supposedly being bred to.Gah...I am so frustrated and shocked that someone would have the audacity to do this! Should I go ahead and go to court or try to get the horse!? Also all the registry papers (oldenburg,ISR,and rheinland) were supposed to be in her name and ready to transfer and NONE of them are. Not only that,but they are in different peoples names...some from a person in canada,some from new york,and some from somewhere else I can't remember. I have tried to be very patient,but 2 months of ZERO contact despite my best efforts is just too much. I was expecting this horse to be delivered at least 3 months ago.
 
See less See more
#2 ·
Is there even a horse? Did you see the horse in person? If you have papers, do they match the horse 100%? can you be sure the seller (scammer?) hasn't either 1)scammed you or 2) made a relatively worthless mare seem like this great, registered WB mare? If you did pick her up, who's to say the mare was actually serviced by the stud you picked? Usually for transfer of ownership, you need a bill of sale - what worries me is that the seller's name isn't on the papers, so registries may deny ownership change 'till they have a record of ownership.
Personally, I would forget about the mare. I would be too worried she isn't who the seller claimed, and was actually bred to the neighbor's donkey - but I AM a self-admitted worrywart.
Posted via Mobile Device
 
#3 ·
I havent seen the horse in person. Normally I wouldnt buy a horse for so much sight unseen...but I really honestly though this was a reputable seller :( The papers do match the horse 100%...they are just in someone elses name. The foal would have to be DNA tested as soon as it was born...I do at least have LFG gyarabteed by the stallion. I did quite a bit of research before deciding to buy her and I am stilk shocked how it has turned out.....please view my original thread from 4 months ago and let me know what you think...thanks!

http://www.horseforum.com/horse-breeding/finally-getting-redwine-foal-83160/
 
#4 ·
How far away is it? The 1st thing I would do is contact the people who are on the registration papers and see what they have to say.

I am not understanding if the papers are now in your name, if they are have the sheriff meet you at the property and get your horse. Who cares if she is bred at this point, that is the least of your problems. You are way to patient, I would have been way more pro active and things would not have gone on this long. You are giving her too much time to cover her tracks. The horse may not even be there or getting taken care of.
 
#6 ·
She is about 6-7 hours from me. When I bought her I asked why she was cheaper priced (most of the horses were going for more towards $20,000) she said that the previous owner had died and that she bought the horses,but that the papers were in order. I do wish I had acted before...Paypal said they could have reversed all the oayments before 45 days...too bad at that point I didnt realize what was going on. I dont know where the horse is for sure,if it is sick,injured,dead....or possibly never existed? I hate driving that far without proof the horse is even there. I have a broken ankle and am only allowed to drive very short distances so that will be a huge pain. So so so frustrated. I did call the police in the town she is in and they said take her to court. I dont know if they would be willing to help me get her.
 
#8 ·
What a bum deal :( I'd think with bill of sale & papers you could pick her up with a sheriff or police officer meeting you there. Keeping my fingers crossed for you!
 
#10 ·
Thanks for the input everyone....I guess this is a bit of a rant. I am just at wit's end as to what to do. Going to court is just going to be time and money. I wish I knew someone down there that could just go look and see if the horse even exists...lol. I am guessing this will end in me getting someone to take me down and going from there whether to try to get her or file for court. I also have to file to go to court in her town which doesnt seem quite fair to me,but oh well on that. Phew....I guess the main lesson I have learned is dont ever buy a horse sight unseen...even from a bigwig seller. Bah humbug...
 
#12 ·
6-7 hours is not that far to have bought an expensive horse sight unseen. Something just doesn't add up. If you can afford that horse you can hire someone to take you there and go get it. I thought maybe it was across the country from you and then I would have flown to see it. I am assuming (going out on a limb here) that you had a vet examine her before purchase? Call the vet and ask him if he knows anything
 
#13 ·
You have a lawyer. I would discuss the whole issue with the lawyer and do as they suggest. No one here will know the ins and outs of the legal system where you and the horse are better than your lawyer.
 
#18 ·
All the lawyer is saying is to take them to court....I would...but my point is I actually wanted the horse and I was just wondering if I legally had the right to pick her up without notice.
Churumbeque- I never said that I couldnt afford someone to take me down there? I said it was a REALLY bad time. I am having 2 screws and bone grafts put into my ankle anytime. In fact I have the last pre-surgery CT scan today. I am going to be really busy and recovering with that.

The vet did examine her,but after a couple emails the seller said she switched to a cheaper vet whom she is refusing to give me the name...I dont even know for sure if there is/was a vet involved at all.

Coffegod- no...it isnt that long of a trip..I too have driven a LOT LOT further for a horse. Im just not sure I could work out going.

Bah...thanks again for the different views. I need to make a deciscion soon I guess. I could try to run down before the surgery. Or I could just go ahead and file the court papers and forget the whole thing :(
 
#22 ·
All the vet bills from her vet checks were supposed to be given to me. They never came. I asked what was going on with the original vet and she said she switched to a new vet. I asked what the vet bills would be to see if she would send them to me. They never arrived and I havent heard from her since. No she didnt have an "official" pre purchase exam. She was checked right after I bought her for breeding,though. She was also sold guaranteed sound and once again the only reason I ever did this was because I thought Jill Burnell from Gray Fox Farms was a reputable seller. I obviously was wrong and made a mistake...now I just need to clean it up....
 
#24 ·
OP--

I'm so sorry this happened to you.

This has ALL the hallmarks of a scam.

The scam works because the unwitting victim (ie: you) really, REALLY want the product (ie: the horse) and because you want this SO BADLY, you ignored all the warning signs before getting into this deal.

You found the horse of your dreams at a discounted price....did not go in person to investigate....allowed the seller to handle all the vet checks...allowed the seller to make all kinds of promises until she had your money...

and now *poof* the seller and the magical horse are essentially gone...with no way to contact them....no way to prove that the sale was legal (what with all the paperwork in various other names)...

For all you know...this scammer was trading on the name or impersonating the reputable seller that you THOUGHT you were buying from.

Your lawyer is right. Sue for your money back - IF you can even prove your case against this scammer - and then go buy a REAL horse....that you personally view and have your vet inspect.
 
#25 ·
Oh my! Is the seller still on facebook? I would contact her immediately & tell her if you do not hear from her ASAP, you are proceeding with a lawsuit, if she is in fact legit, she'll contact you back. If not, I have a feeling you got scammed. You can't sue someone who doesn't exist.
 
#29 ·
Question....is the broodmare "Sequel" ever going to be sent to the person who purchased her? Your farm's reputation may be at stake here and many people are watching to see what is going on here.
  • Your post on FB makes it sound like it isn't even your horse.
  • I think you could have been more professional in your inquiry and maybe get a reasonable response from them
 
#30 ·
Question....is the broodmare "Sequel" ever going to be sent to the person who purchased her? Your farm's reputation may be at stake here and many people are watching to see what is going on here.
  • Your post on FB makes it sound like it isn't even your horse.
  • I think you could have been more professional in your inquiry and maybe get a reasonable response from them
That is because it is not her horse. The original poster is Piaffe.
I don't think there is anything wrong with her facebook post, the barn took this girls money and now are not responding to her inquires as to when she can pick up her horse. According to the website she paid $8,000 for the bred mare. If that was me(well I don't have that kind of money, so hypothetical me lol) I would be pounding on their door with the police behind me demanding to get my horse and getting a vet check as soon as I got her home to make sure she was bred. The price was over twice as much for her to be bred to the stud the original poster wanted.
 
#32 ·
I think this is a scam... Owner died, bought horse, decided to sell.For all the OP kinows, the papers are false. Not traveling to see horse or find someone to go see horse for that amount of money is not real smart.
If the lady won't answer, what about the farm owner/manager? What about the registry? Call them and explain what is happening and maybe they can help with information.I would be calling the farm, the farm owner, the farm manager, any contact named over and over until someone answers. With the internet, it is so easy to take a photo, put up and ad, make false papers and sell said horse without anyone actually even looking at the horse in person. Happens alot .
Unfortunately, if it sounds like a good deal, then its probably false.
I am not sure you can even go to court if there is no contact with the lady who sold you the horse, she will have to be served before you can go to court. You will have to have a physical address for her to be served and she probably even lied about that.
 
#35 ·
It may be a scam, but I would be surprised. This is a well respected breeding operation that stands to really suffer from this kind of PR. No 8,000 horse would be worth that, IMO.

However, there may have been a problem that they did not expect that may require them to return the money. Big farms are expensive and they may not have the money at hand anymore.

Reminding them what may be at stake (their reputation) may encourage them to make things right.....or not.

Unfortunately, the horse world is forgetful. So many people have forgotten some of the things the Ward family did and the son is the jumper darling again.

Oh, well........
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top