Decision Made TY!

[IPEsq]

My chunky east keeper horse will drop noticeable weight in a heartbeat with any significant trailer ride. Just how he is. And the 5yo I imported last year showed up looking like a starving greyhound after that travel which was not especially long or difficult as imports go (and I had been to the place where he came from and was bred and raised and know how they care for horses plus saw video of him getting on the trailer when he left). He was also wormy and needed dental work and I’ve been around enough to know there’s a lot of variation in how fastidious people are about that kind of care.

And there are sooo many cases where 1 person says ready to show tomorrow that person 2 would totally not agree. If you like the horse and want to keep him, I would not rock the boat. I don’t think you are looking at a fraudulent situation, and a lesser fight won’t be worth it IMO.

[Bristol_Bay]

My TB lost weight on a 20 minute trailer ride to a horse show.

If you know for a fact that he was riding fit before he shipped to you, no reason to treat him like he’s lame. As long as you’re feeding him appropriately, why not (lightly) ride him? TBs like to have a job.

[vxf111]

How was this horse priced? Like a green TB with a little experience off the track or like a show horse?

If the former, I’d let it go. As others have discussed, some horse trailer poorly and some owners are a little less fastidious about worming and floating. All of those are easy fixes and should turn around quickly.

If this horse was priced like a going show horse and you needed/wanted to step into the ring tomorrow— I’d feel differently because the horse would no longer be a fit for you.

But it sounds like it was advertised as a green TB that didn’t know much but has the pieces and it still may be exactly that!

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

I’d have a conversation with the BNT. I wouldn’t make an accusation, just say, “my vet examined the horse, gave him a BCS of 3, his fecal count is high” (if it turns out to be) and anything else iffy about the horse’s dental care and ulcers. If this is a lease to buy I would want to make it absolutely clear what I started out with, in case none of these problems turn out to be fixable by the time you’re considering making a purchase or sending him back. From what you’ve said, there are a number of moving parts–the fact the horse was owned by someone else, not the trainer, his age, the long shipping time–that makes it hard to pinpoint one cause for his condition.

But the fact remains, his condition is still a fact, and I do think the leaser should be aware of what got off the trailer. It’s not like, “Pooky seems spooky and was advertised as an ammie-friendly horse,” which can be a very subjective assessment, but something health-related that was confirmed by the vet.

[Angela_Freda]

@AAHunterGal

Also should clarify that while it came from a BNT’s barn, the BNT didn’t own it / wasn’t representing it - one of his riders was selling it.

I would not involve BNT in any of this, then.
.

[AAHunterGal]

Thanks all! I will not rock the boat and will just stay the course and see how he does with a little more TLC and time.

[jaj]

I’m sure you are probably doing this, but just keep documenting, with lots of pictures too.

[findeight]

You might want to go back and edit your earlier information to clarify you dealt privately with a person who happened to be in a “BNT” barn and trainer did not act as agent for either party. Right now, it reads like you leased from a BNT acting as owner client’s agent who sent you a horse in borderline unacceptable condition.

If you choose to pursue renegotiation of the lease, you need to contact the private seller you negotiated with and wrote the check to.

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

I still think you should make note of this, so they’re aware, even if it was the shipper’s fault. The BNT might not be responsible, but telling both the owner and the trainer in an informational sense would be useful.

If the horse doesn’t thrive, you don’t buy him, and send him back and they claim you starved or mistreated him–or even if he drops weight again on the 12 hours back–you don’t want to be blamed.

[MadTrotter]

My big concern would be that this horse was underfed to keep him calm. I have tons of stories from my auction rescuer friend about “on death’s doorstep” pity cases that turn into kite flying basket cases when they have proper body condition.

I’d at least call the owner to prorate the time it will take to get the horse properly in condition, with the caveat that if the horse becomes a nervous mess, it’s going back!

[Mardi1]

I’d contact the owner directly to let them know the horse arrived, and say nothing to the BNT,
who could care less. Then I’d thank my lucky stars that this horse ended up with me
where he’ll be well taken care of for the next six months, or his lifetime.

There’s a reason he landed in your lap.

[anon29046226]

I am leaning towards the trailer ride was the cause especially if the PPE vet said he could stand to have a few more pounds.

BCS of 5 needing more conditioning (I hope you’re talking muscle) and bloom (I don’t know what that is) is running up towards fat.

Some TBs will drop weight like crazy over a trailer ride or the weather. He sounds like the stereotype of a hard keeping TB.

[anon29046226]

OP this thread sounded familiar so I saw I commented on your worming thread for this horse. Are the pics in another thread about this horse from when he arrived to you? If so he doesn’t look starved or in as bad of a condition as you say. He looks like a 5 year old TB that’s been out of work who had a long ass trailer ride.

If it’s pre-trailer ride, my opinion is the same with one addition. A 5 yo TB out of work in winter.

[AAHunterGal]

@anon29046226

BCS of 5 needing more conditioning (I hope you’re talking muscle) and bloom (I don’t know what that is) is running up towards fat.

He’s a BCS of 3 not 5…

[anon29046226]

Any comment on my second post about when the pictures were taken?

[AAHunterGal]

It was post trailer ride. But again, that’s why I got the current BCS in writing from the vet. Everyone has an opinion of what’s acceptable or not for a horse but the vet is impartial.

I’ve decided to just keep him and put the weight back on without reaching out to the owner or trying to renegotiate, so at this point I’m just moving forward.

[anon29046226]

He looks like an out of work 5 year old TB. I don’t think his owner/barn was neglecting him in the sense of “oh my gosh thank god you got him!”

If this is a paid lease I can see why you’d be miffed but for a care lease? Meh. I wouldn’t jump to throwing shade on the BNT or owner like you seem to be tempted to.

He looks really cute and I also wouldn’t rule out buying him.

[enjoytheride]

Where are you seeing pictures and where are you seeing that it’s a care lease and she’s not paying anything?

[anon29046226]

Here: What color is this horse? Step right up!

[AAHunterGal]

@anon29046226

If this is a paid lease I can see why you’d be miffed but for a care lease? Meh. I wouldn’t jump to throwing shade on the BNT or owner like you seem to be tempted to.

This is a lease to purchase and idk why you think I’m tempted to throw shade when I’ve said several times now that I’m just going to leave things as is and not reach back out to the owner.