Looking for a Hail Mary solution to try

[fivestrideline]

@enjoytheride

If this trader is the only option because he has the OPs 10k then I’d pay to have the trainer go out in person and try everything he has. That might be easier than shipping back and forth.

Fabulous idea!

Sorry for assuming your experience level, OP, I was just getting very different vibes about your time in horses than you have stated. I did not mean anything by it.

ETA: this whole thing has just been wild. Buying high end or green horses isn’t any different than low end or “packers” (which NONE of these horses have been, sound or otherwise). As a buyer or a seller you gotta be smart, pragmatic, and a bit ruthless and untrusting when it comes to money and time.

@arabiansrock

it is actually cheaper to have him bring horse here

How much have you spent shipping these horses? It’s the TRADER hauling them?? He’s just taking you for all you’re worth. Free board, free remedial training, free bodywork and farrier!! Horses come back in better condition than he sent them! He can now charge more, plus take you to town on the shipping costs. You’re currently padding his wallet on top of the outrageous purchase price.

[Angela_Freda]

@arabiansrock

But while I wait for him to find another horse for me to try, I plan on riding this one and trying to have some fun. If I can get a good picture I will post it. While I have him, I am going to try and build up top line muscle, for the horses sake not for the seller.

I guess that’s nice of you, but I wouldn’t.
What if you get hurt?

@arabiansrock

I wish I could get my money back, but that just doesn’t happen in this business, at least not very often.

Why can’t you?

@arabiansrock

Back in Dec-FEb when I started this saga, we were looking at relatively local horses that were advertised in the 15 to 20k range

@arabiansrock

We saw the half friesian half qh (truthfully my trainer wanted me to look at a qh he had at the same time) for 10k

So why not take the other $10k you had, buy a decent, local horse you can vet and try…
While working on getting your $10k back from dealer?

If this were my boarding barn I’d be leary of sales horses being dropped off, left for a month, to infect my other horses, too

[candyappy]

@Angela_Freda

So why not take the other $10k you had, buy a decent, local horse you can vet and try…
While working on getting your $10k back from dealer?

Sadly I think that extra $10k went to try and get the first horse sorted out.

@arabiansrock I am not experienced with KS but is it always the death of a riding career for the horse? Some horses manage to continue being ridden and do fine ( read on this bb somewhere). Your vet didn’t discuss possibilities?

I just wonder if you like him so much, he is sound and rides well why not just keep him and start putting new horse shopping $$ away for the future?

[arabiansrock]

well the other 10k went to bills and the IRS in Apr

My husband and I have started discussions on how mad would he be if I had to pull money from my 401 k (no penalty, I’m overage) to just walk away and try again. I thought I was being smart shopping WITH a trainer this time instead of on my own. oh well.

I like new horses personality, have no idea what he is like under saddle. Hopefully trainer will ride him today or tomorrow. Yes some horses never have deficits from KS, Others go down very quickly and as of now there is no way to tell which course an individual horse might take. And yes, my vet did discuss the different possibilities.

[enjoytheride]

I thought you were sending this one back?

[Paint_Party]

@arabiansrock

Plus when we went we hit Disneyland (he was only 45 min away, kind of had to go.

I think I’m about the same age as you, although I never took a break from riding and competing. But I do understand how, at a certain age, a quiet, sane “packer” type has grand appeal.

I also was born and raised, rode and showed, bought and sold many horses in SoCalif. Ironically, I also worked for years at Disneyland! Using your geographical clues, I’m going to figure that I’m familiar with this dealer guy. If it’s not him directly, it’s one of his “peers”. These are not in any fashion $10,000 horses. He’s getting them out of dusty backyards and from riders who cruise the riverbed, and/or from charros and the low-end auctions in the inland area of SoCalif. Then he’s trying to make a buck re-selling them to you.

I’m so very sorry that you’re mired in this mess. I truly really do understand your want-- your need– for a horse, and how you view riding as mental health time. But you’re being used. When this horse goes back, this guy will scrounge around and dredge up another poor horse that he can shove in your direction. And on and on.

In my opinion (and I could be totally wrong), I think you have three options.

1. You can pay your trainer to personally visit and see what’s on the dealer’s lot, keeping in mind that this guy is apt to have a revolving door of new horses to offer every few weeks. He’ll probably string along your trainer with, “Didn’t find something today? Come back next Wednesday.” Thus, you’re spending more $, because you’ve got to compensate your trainer for this potential goose chase.

2. Or you can ask for your 50% return of purchase price, using the services of a lawyer and a terse letter if necessary. But I wouldn’t hold my breath on that working out, either. He’ll argue that he’s been willing to find you a replacement horse. He just hasn’t, darn, been able to satisfy you yet.

3. It sounds like you have a supportive husband. Cut your losses, dip into the savings and take your time finding something cute and safe that you can TRY SEVERAL TIMES and VET before paying and taking possession.

(Personally, I’d go for option #3)

Good luck and please know we’re rooting for you!

[arabiansrock]

Paint Party - he may be one of the peers. He seems to get most of his from people he knows and off the track (ex pony horses). #2 is out,. I am just not the suing kind. #3 supportive hubby wellll yes and No. He HATES me doing horses but since I have told him for 35 years they are not going anywhere he is mostly accepting. And he is honestly trying harder now to be nice about it than he ever has been. $#1 is what is most likely going to happen. Neither my trainer nor I wanted to go back down, but I told her I think we have to this time. At least it means another D-land trip.

enjoytheride - I am 99.9% certain he is going back, but if my trainer rides him and he is absolutely perfect for me in all ways, then I would have to think real hard about it. But he would have to be perfect, no just ok. I don’t think she will ride him today, turns out she is getting a root canal right now! Maybe tomorrow.

[Night_Flight]

Is he nice enough in all other ways besides the kissing spine that you could potentially try to resell him yourself with full disclosure about the x rays to a light riding home?

At least that way, you could recoup a portion of your initial investment while getting away from future interactions with this dealer.

[outerbanks77]

If you can’t get some money back, you could either ride him and do the work to support his back, or look into KS surgery. OR sell the horse for a few K with disclosure. All of these should cost less than taking the horse back and walking away without any refund. I’d probably talk to the vet in more detail and maybe see if you can get a consult with a vet that specializes in KS and see what the prognosis might be.

[ShenanAnna]

Yes, selling the horse yourself will get you out of financial bondage to this deceitful, faraway dealer. That’s got to be worth something in itself…

[Warmblood1]

@arabiansrock

My husband and I have started discussions on how mad would he be if I had to pull money from my 401 k (no penalty, I’m overage) to just walk away and try again.

Rather than this, I think I would personally try to resell to recoup a small amount of money and find a lease. I think the only reason you are choosing this option is because you are in a crappy situation, not because it’s a good decision. I’m sorry you are going through this OP.

[Angela_Freda]

I couldn’t, in good conscience, sell a horse with KS.
While I know some do fine with exercise and maybe surgery,… Some don’t. And some experience unpredictable episodes that make them reactive, explosive, and/or dangerous.
That’s why I wouldn’t be riding one either.

[outerbanks77]

@Angela_Freda

I couldn’t, in good conscience, sell a horse with KS.
While I know some do fine with exercise and maybe surgery,… Some don’t. And some experience unpredictable episodes that make them reactive, explosive, and/or dangerous.
That’s why I wouldn’t be riding one either.

I’d feel better about selling it with disclosure than giving it back to the dealer who is going to sell it without disclosing, and ripping off another person in the process. It’s a no-win situation, unfortunately.

[Ambitious_Kate]

Who would pay money for a horse wirh kissing spine?

[Mondo]

@arabiansrock

I am 99.9% certain he is going back, but if my trainer rides him and he is absolutely perfect for me in all ways, then I would have to think real hard about it. But he would have to be perfect, no just ok. I don’t think she will ride him today, turns out she is getting a root canal right now! Maybe tomorrow.

What was the final decision, OP?

[JB]

If the horse has KS, and he’s not ridden correctly and kept in regular, impeccably managed work, he’s not going to be rideable for long. Consider that, because it means a few great lovely rides are not telling you the longer-term story.

[arabiansrock]

Hi all, this horse is going back. We are trying to schedule a visit down to Trader Joe to see more horses hopefully next week. Our goal is if we can’t find one that is good for me, then we find one that we think has some decent resale value, bring it home, I ride it for awhile while we market it to recoup some money and start over. Planning on getting xrays from someone down there before horse heads up to me.

hopefully this plan will get me out of this situation in the end. It might just take a few more months for full resolution.

[Ghazzu]

Good luck!

[SuzieQNutter]

Good Luck from me, too.

[VodkaRedbullx2]

Be sure to post it here before you bring it home.