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glad2survive
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2000 - 1:23 am: |   |
We just purchased a 2 year old "green” mare from a couple that trade horses on the side. They are both professionals in the horse industry: a vet and a farrier. The sellers described her as “a green sweet mare". They went on to say that being green was her only vice and we should lunge her before letting anyone ride her. They said they did not and would not tranquilize a horse to sell, but her eyes were not wild when we saw her initially. After we brought her home, within 24 hours, they became wild, showing the whites frequently.
2 days after bringing her to our barn, she broke into another pasture. While trying to move the older herd away from mare, she without provocation, turned and kicked my 6 foot tall husband in the face; causing serious damage and near fatality. Seller denies fault and will not take back horse. We moved her to another boarding facility and she, in front of witnesses tried 2 times to kick another man in head, also unprovoked. The man was holding her lead while talking to a boarder, no commotion prior to the kicks.
Because of their experience, and the fact that they “saddle broke” her and shod her, the sellers had to have known she was dangerous. They also misrepresented a few other "minor vices", but my largest concern is her danger to any man. Is there any legal action we can take? |
Gerald P. Goulder
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2000 - 9:23 pm: | |
MIsrepresentation? Not fit for the particular purpose?
Depending on dollar amounts inmvolved call your attorney opr call EDRS 1-877-zero lit |
Sigrid Christensen
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 10, 2000 - 8:22 am: | |
Just a comment that might not be relevant.
From what I've read of recent studies on behavioral science and horses, moving home and being sold is very stressfull for a horse. Some horses are more sensitive to stress than others, and may react with severe frustration, which normally means kicking, biting, breaking out of paddocks and start showing the white in their eyes etc. This may be an at least equally realistic explanation, if not more likely, of this youngsters behavior than your interpretation of the horse as intrisically dagerous to any man. If it felt safe at the former owners place, it may not have displayed these signs.
All green young horses needs to be treated as potentially dangerous if they are exposed to stress and new situations, and this takes skill and experience on the handlers side.
I'm not skilled in the legal matters of this, but my experience with horses, especially problematic horses tells me first to look at the handling and environment when a horse displays vices. Have you tried getting help from someone skilled with youngsters, preferably someone using gentle methods like Natural Horsmanship? |
