I’m so glad you were able to get your horse. It must have been a relief.
ETA: Social media (especially Facebook) is a real double-edged sword.
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Argh at no update but I understand why.
As the horse tested negative before the flight. I would fight the insurance that there was no pre-existing condition.
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I’m rather embarrassed to say this, but I did finally see the trainer’s public post on Facebook pop up in my feed. There was an update by the family as a comment, saying that they were able to negotiate a return to the original per diem rate and they’re going to compare the costs between the two main options they have, once they get final quotes on both and discuss things as a family. It sounds like it’s slowly coming to an end. They didn’t say anything about the horse’s condition, and the impression I got is that they are going to be much more muted on social media after this. I can understand why. They didn’t say if the horse has been re-tested or what his current medical condition is. Since they only updated after a number of people were inquiring, I don’t know if they will post much more.
Oh well, this has been, I must confess, a very educational drama, although a very, very sad one.
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Most recent update from fb post:
UPDATE!!!
As of today, 1/22, we have paid $28,420.94, not including his original import. We have an outstanding invoice of $3,380.94. We have been told to expect an invoice tmrw around the $10,000 mark…will let you know tmrw what it is. We finally got numbers on euthanizing and shipping back to Belgium. To euthanize him it will cost approximately $6500. To send him back to Belgium, that will cost approximately $15,600 but does not include his two day Quarentine hold on Belgium, and the ground transport to a place we don’t know yet! The other bad news is, if we get the funds together to send him back, that won’t be until Jan 30, so most likely another $3500 or so to keep him at LAX for the next week! We purchased this horse for $36,000 and that included his original transport to the U.S. if we send him back, we will have spent over $58,000 to save his life…all on credit cards! Do you think we have any chance of raising $20,000 by next week? I am at a total loss…and Gabby has no horse and Hireno (waffles) has no owner…there has to be a better way…
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Ouch. Shoulda, coulda, woulda, yada, yada.
Regardless, that’s a very unfortunate situation.
So, they’re fundraising?
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That latest update…wow. The constellation of personalities, laws, finances, and biology has really become a perfect storm of crazy.
I guess they’ve stopped testing the horse, since even if it’s a false positive, it keeps triggering a reading?
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Because the topic of insurance has come up repeatedly, as well as whether or not the horse will be euthanized upon arrival in Europe…
Somebody replied to that comment from the trainer that was just quoted by Appaloosadressage and asked if the seller was going to take the horse back, and whether or not the horse was insured… the trainer then replied with the following…
“the insurance company says this is a pre existing condition since the first blood test that showed suspect was upon arrival to the US. So they have denied everything. The seller will not give us anything back. I will have to find a place to send him to, pay board and training, and hope they can sell him. Mind you he has been standing in a stall for two months…so a little time and conditioning will be necessary for the poor guy!“
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Just saw a GoFundMe for this horse.
And quarantine isn’t even spelled correctly.
At least check your spelling if you are going to ask the public for $$$$$
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The mother’s post (referenced above) is very well written. Sad but not all the screaming drama that the trainer is doing. She states that they should have done things differently and that they did not know what they were doing, etc.
This whole situation is sad. The poor young lady.
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@Impractical Horsewoman I saw the family update you mentioned, it’s a few comments ahead of the trainer’s update.
I was confused when they said “Once we were notified about this horrific disease we should of shipped him right back(but we didn’t because we were not aware or I wasn’t smart enough to think of that)” Maybe I haven’t been following this thread closely enough but did the trainer not say on her facebook that she was advised to return him the day the first positive showed up? Originally by the Jetpets owner and then from lawyers.
After reading the latest update, if euthanasia is only $6500 that seems like by far the best financial option.
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Maybe I am taking things to literally but @BlueBobRadar I read that to mean that the owners did not know that was an option that the trainer never gave them that choice.
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If that’s the case I’d be finding a new trainer and sue them as my agent and NOT providing me with all the financial options.
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I do not KNOW it is the case. I was just putting the comments together like some other people have. Likely it is probably some where in the middle (they knew but did not understand, the trainer thought they did understand, blah blah blah).
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I didn’t read that as you stating a fact. And I agree it’s probably somewhere in the middle.
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Yes, mom seems to be more realistic here. And has realized in hindsight that shipping back immediately was the right thing to do, but I can’t blame her for not doing so - even in the anecdotes where people importing ran into an issue and shipped the horse back, they were either experienced importers or they relied on the (strong) advice of their experienced trainer.
The owner/mom was relying on !!! trainer who doesn’t seem super experienced with importing and what to do when that runs into difficulties. In her shoes, with no experience myself, I’d have probably done the same.
I would have a lawyer review the insurance paperwork. The GFM seems pretty dead, I see no reason why it should suddenly start bringing in loads of money. The trainer, for some reason (at least how I read her update) seems committed to keeping the horse one way or another, inc shipping back and trying to sell; the euth option is much cheaper and is getting comparatively cheaper with every passing day.
But the insurance option might still be viable. If it tested negative before boarding, and positive on arrival, when exactly does the insurance kick in? Had an accident happened in the air, say a fall, broken bone - would the insurance have paid out? Because if yes, shouldn’t they accept the horse being ok based on the testing that was legitimate to the origin jurisdiction?
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That is weird on the insurance and maybe worth looking into more. Though I think most policies wouldn’t cover unless they do euthanize. And then it would need to really be the only viable option, which it’s not (even with the other options being more expensive). I can see a policy helping to pay for treatment but not USDA fees or board during this time.
At any rate, the policy I got started in Europe where risk of loss transferred to me and included transport to the US. Negative tests in Europe were a condition of sale and obtained prior to the policy start. So if it were me, I’d at least argue against the pre-existing condition thing. However, if their policy was only effective upon arrival to the states, maybe it’s different. I don’t know why they would do that even if the sale price included transport. Doesn’t seem to have shifted the risk any later in the transaction according to this seller. Otherwise they might have a contract claim as well, on which a Belgian lawyer could advise them.
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I’m sure I’m going to sound like a big meany poopy head, but GFMs for purposes like this really rub me the wrong way. I feel terrible for the horse and the kid, but IMO it shouldn’t be socially acceptable to ask for hand-outs to fund your “large, expensive pet” (to quote another thread).
Poor horse.
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I really hope that the horse can be saved somehow, It’s unfortunate that business writing is not the trainer’s strong suit…
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That was my gut reaction looking at the public Facebook posts a few days ago. Hence my post saying these owners need to get their OWN lawyer who has zero connection with the trainer.
The mother’s most recent sad post about all the things she wasn’t aware of going into it, and then the trainer’s follow on update saying that they may be shipping the horse back… but have yet to identify a dealer on the ground in Europe who would be willing to resell this horse for them…
Uggh. I can see the freight train that is called “expensive lessons in terms of what it means to own a horse” continuing to just CRUSH this naive family because they have not yet gotten advice from someone competent who is TOTALLY independent of this trainer.
Look folks (meaning the actual owners)… if you are out there reading this thread… call up someone different (a well regarded horse professional) in California for advice. Today. Yeah… it’s not loyal. But per your own posts… you are funding this bleeding using credit cards. Call someone else, and get yourself competent professional advice. Talk to a trainer who does do A LOT of importing and has good contacts and experience. And get your own lawyer. Not because of the vet treatment thing from back in December. But because of the ENTIRE situation. From start to finish.
And please, try and wrap your head around the likelihood that the horse might need to be put down. It is VERY sad. But there are worse things than putting a horse down painlessly and humanely when the animal and owners are stuck in an impossible situation like this.
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