Your June Feature Stevens Story

Your June Feature Stevens Story Dear VFH, I have read you June 08 feature  - Stevens Story with dismay as his story is all too familar. I bought a horse recently and thought I was taking all the right precautions - I followed all the advice, went to an alleged reputable BHS approved yard run by a BHSII, took a professional friend with me, I was totally honest about my situation and that I was not the bravest of riders and had the horse vetted.  Unfortunately, the BHSII lied to me and the vet on several counts and I am now left with a horse that has no monetary value, that refuses to hack out alone and in company and is difficult to handle.

Because the sellers described herself as an 'agent' selling the horse for someone else the only words I have been given is Caveat Emptor*. 

I have written to the seller on two occassions and tried to call her but she ignores everything - why should she care she has my cash.  I feel very sorry for the horse and even if I could find someone to buy her, is it be fair to subject her to a life of constant change and goodness knows what else, I feel totally traped  in a situation I did everything I could to try to avoid.  I would like to get another horse but my confidence is rock bottom and don't know  what else I could do to avoid a similar situation arising again. My situation is not unusual but what I find amazing is that people have been ripped off for years and continue to be ripped off and  nobody does anything about it to help.  Where are the official bodies/charities in these situations - they appear to be completly powerless to help.
G.L

Voices for Horses is runing a petition to licence equine traders and dealers. If you would like to sign it please click here

* Caveat Emptor  is Latin for 'let the buyer beware'. This implies a buyer must ensure that goods about to be purchased are free from defects and that he/she bears the risk. A seller is legally obliged not to mislead the buyer, but other than that the onus is on the buyer to satisfy himself that the property is in the condition he wants.

Read Stevens Story Here

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