Gold Eyes, Part 2
On the way back, Anna stopped by the store and bought a 2 lb. package of peppermints so she could welcome Cowboy to his new home the next day. Anna was a little concerned when Bob didn’t call that evening with the requested phone number, but decided not to call him again. She had genuinely liked Bob and felt confident that she had made a good choice.
As soon as Bob unloaded Cowboy the next day, Friday, November 6, Anna asked for the horse’s former owner’s phone number. Bob smacked his forehead,
“Damn, I forgot! It’s still sitting next to my phone at home. I’ll have my wife email it to you tonight, I promise.”
Then, they went into the house so Anna could pay Bob the balance. She gave him $1,075 in cash. Anna asked him for a bill of sale, and he said he didn’t usually do that. She grabbed a pad of paper and pen and wrote out a very simple bill of sale, with a description of the horse and some of the details they had discussed. He signed it and added, “Paid in Full.”
Anna was very excited to have Cowboy. He was a pretty gelding, with a sweet face and placid demeanor. When Bob left, Anna went out to the small pasture to see him. He was standing near the fence, and as she approached, she thought something was odd. Cowboy was shifting his weight from leg to leg. As she curried him, trying to remove some of the sticky, sweaty mess from his coat, Anna watched him carefully. He almost seemed like he was cramping. She also examined the raw area across his nose from the cavesson’s cruel strap. She offered him a peppermint, but he spat it out at once. Anna walked him to the ring and jumped on him bareback, trying to determine if he was lame or just a little stiff. He seemed fine once they started moving, and Anna was relieved.
Several times that evening, Anna phoned Bob for the original owner’s number, but he didn’t answer.
David had no idea that Anna was looking for a horse for him. When Anna mentioned she had purchased a new horse, a pretty palomino, David was excited to come over to meet the horse, but doubts had begun to creep in for Anna. On Saturday, Sunday and Monday, Anna rode the horse in the ring at her house, concentrating on walk/trot transitions. He seemed to be changing from the mellow horse she had met to a far more forward moving animal. Cowboy had bitten her twice during grooming, so obviously the horse needed serious ground work training. One evening when Anna went out to feed, Cowboy approached her, wheeled around, kicked and thundered off into the pasture. Anna had a painful, hoof-shaped bruise on her leg as a reminder that David wouldn't be playing with Cowboy anytime soon. She tried to reach Bob by phone many times over the weekend, but failed to talk to him.
Anna discussed the situation with her husband, Jack. She was feeling uneasy, looking back at some of Bob's contradictory statements. Just because Bob was erratic didn't mean her new horse was a mistake, did it? Jack suggested that if Anna had any hope of talking to Cowboy’s former owner, she best not anger Bob with any accusations. She sent the following email to Bob on Tuesday, November 10:
Hi Bob. Cowboy is doing very well. I've been riding him English, and have been so pleased with his willing attitude. I would love to send pictures of him to his former owner; I would also like to hear any details about his youth from them...my nephew, being 9 years old, is fascinated by horses' stories, and especially Cowboy's.
Thanks, Anna
Bob responded with a return email late that evening:
I am glad to hear you are doing well with Cowboy and he is at a good home!
Thanks
Bob
Over the following days, Cowboy became more and more spirited. He was difficult to keep in a walk; he struggled and tossed his head in an effort to trot or canter. While alone in his small pasture, Anna often saw Cowboy galloping from one end to the other. He was obviously an energetic animal. Anna continued to leave emails and phone messages asking for Cowboy’s owner’s number. Finally, Bob called Anna on Friday, November 13. He was aloof and defensive, and hurriedly gave Anna the phone number for the elusive owner, Donald Jennings. When Anna dialed the number, it rang twice and went straight to a recorded message telling Anna that her party was unavailable and no mailbox had been set up. She tried repeatedly for days, with the same result. An Internet search for Donald Jennings revealed nothing.
On Sunday, November 15, 9 days after Cowboy had arrived, Anna sent Bob the following email:
Hey Bob- the number you gave me for Donald Jennings only goes to a voice mailbox that has never been set up. No one answers. The number originated in Oak Grove, Illinois. You mentioned that his owner was in XXXXXX, Illinois. I found a Donald Jennings near Chicago but he's been in Guam for three years, and his brother (Dan) says he's not the Donald who ever owned Cowboy. I cannot find anyone else who may be Cowboy’s former owner.
I posted Cowboy's picture on Craigslist and also a few other horse sites, asking for anyone who might recognize him, but no one has responded yet.
I bought Cowboy on the strength of being able to talk to someone who had owned the horse for many years and could describe his training and background in detail. When I started looking for a horse for my nephew, I talked to one of my father's colleagues. He strongly urged me to buy a horse from a private individual rather than a horse dealer, but I convinced him that this situation would work because I would have contact with Cowboy's former owner. He was worried when you forgot to bring the number with you when you delivered the horse. I have made several requests for the information during the past week, both as phone messages and emails. I told him you would take the horse back and refund our money if it didn't work out.
My father has a copy of your ad and does not think that Cowboy is as "Broke as the horse at Wal-Mart." which implies a horse a small child could safely ride. He sited several examples of people getting hurt on horses that were purchased as safe and very well broke, and turned out not to be as advertised. My father's friend has not handled these cases himself (he's an attorney) but is familiar with them from his colleagues.
Cowboy is very spirited and doesn't seem to relax while being ridden. It is difficult to keep him from breaking into a canter while I am trotting him in the ring. He will not walk on a loose rein. In the eight days I've had him, I have worked with him daily. He is willing to learn (for example, he will now stand still for saddling and mounting), but will immediately move into a faster gait if I relax for even a moment while riding. Perhaps the day I came to look at him, he was a little worn out from his morning of checking fences with you? He jumps at every new thing he sees, which is strange, considering he used to carry the flag in rodeos. When I told you I was looking for a horse gentle enough for an 9 year old child to ride, you described being able to ride him in from the pasture bareback with a piece of twine around his nose. You obviously are far more expert a rider than I, but I am having doubts about ever feeling safe letting a child ride him. I like him, and had considered letting my nephew ride my horse instead, but the whole point was to find a horse my nephew could call his own.
Unless I am able to talk to his previous owners and verify that he belonged to them from the time he was a yearling until last year when you purchased him, I think it would be better if you would come get him at your earliest possible convenience. I cannot take the risk of my nephew being hurt while riding or handling this horse. I would like the refund in cash, because by now, our $250 deposit check will have cleared your bank. We paid $1,250 for him, plus the $75 delivery fee. As an act of good faith, I will pay the cost of his delivery to us, so our cash refund would be $1,250 only.
I haven't roached his mane, either, just so you know...only trimmed his bridle path a little bit.
Thanks very much,
Anna
That evening, Bob left a message on Anna’s phone:
Hey, Anna, this is Bob Roberts. Um, you know, you bought the horse with the fact that you didn't even have to know anything about the previous owner.
I gave you, I gave you the guy's phone number and I can't help it if that's not it, maybe he's got a different number, maybe he's moved. Or, I don't know. Like I said,
It's been 3 months since I talked to him last, he worked for me as a rodeo announcer, to be honest with you, I haven't talked to him, so I really don't know.
And uh, the only thing I can tell you is if you want his phone number, I will try to help you get it.
The last time I talked to you the horse was doing very well, you was really satisfied with him.
So, if you're not getting along with him now, I can't really help that. You know my phone number, if you've got a problem with that you need to call me.
Later that evening, Bob called again and left another message. He sounded very angry and told her that he had finally reached Donald himself. Donald was in the midst of a nasty divorce and wouldn’t allow Bob to give his new phone number to anyone. However, Donald offered to call Anna directly and give her a history on Cowboy.
Anna quickly realized that Bob could ask any of his own friends to pose as Donald. “Donald” could tell Anna anything, but of course the information would be totally unreliable.
Finally, the penny dropped for Anna. She immediately posted ads on as many sites as she could with photographs of Cowboy, asking if anyone recognized the horse. The text explained that she’d bought the horse from Bob Roberts, who had purchased Cowboy from Donald Jennings, who had owned the horse for 10 years. Since she was unable to reach Donald, she was now seeking information about the horse’s background. She had a plan.
Gold Eyes- Part 3, Click here
As soon as Bob unloaded Cowboy the next day, Friday, November 6, Anna asked for the horse’s former owner’s phone number. Bob smacked his forehead,
“Damn, I forgot! It’s still sitting next to my phone at home. I’ll have my wife email it to you tonight, I promise.”
Then, they went into the house so Anna could pay Bob the balance. She gave him $1,075 in cash. Anna asked him for a bill of sale, and he said he didn’t usually do that. She grabbed a pad of paper and pen and wrote out a very simple bill of sale, with a description of the horse and some of the details they had discussed. He signed it and added, “Paid in Full.”
Anna was very excited to have Cowboy. He was a pretty gelding, with a sweet face and placid demeanor. When Bob left, Anna went out to the small pasture to see him. He was standing near the fence, and as she approached, she thought something was odd. Cowboy was shifting his weight from leg to leg. As she curried him, trying to remove some of the sticky, sweaty mess from his coat, Anna watched him carefully. He almost seemed like he was cramping. She also examined the raw area across his nose from the cavesson’s cruel strap. She offered him a peppermint, but he spat it out at once. Anna walked him to the ring and jumped on him bareback, trying to determine if he was lame or just a little stiff. He seemed fine once they started moving, and Anna was relieved.
Several times that evening, Anna phoned Bob for the original owner’s number, but he didn’t answer.
David had no idea that Anna was looking for a horse for him. When Anna mentioned she had purchased a new horse, a pretty palomino, David was excited to come over to meet the horse, but doubts had begun to creep in for Anna. On Saturday, Sunday and Monday, Anna rode the horse in the ring at her house, concentrating on walk/trot transitions. He seemed to be changing from the mellow horse she had met to a far more forward moving animal. Cowboy had bitten her twice during grooming, so obviously the horse needed serious ground work training. One evening when Anna went out to feed, Cowboy approached her, wheeled around, kicked and thundered off into the pasture. Anna had a painful, hoof-shaped bruise on her leg as a reminder that David wouldn't be playing with Cowboy anytime soon. She tried to reach Bob by phone many times over the weekend, but failed to talk to him.
Anna discussed the situation with her husband, Jack. She was feeling uneasy, looking back at some of Bob's contradictory statements. Just because Bob was erratic didn't mean her new horse was a mistake, did it? Jack suggested that if Anna had any hope of talking to Cowboy’s former owner, she best not anger Bob with any accusations. She sent the following email to Bob on Tuesday, November 10:
Hi Bob. Cowboy is doing very well. I've been riding him English, and have been so pleased with his willing attitude. I would love to send pictures of him to his former owner; I would also like to hear any details about his youth from them...my nephew, being 9 years old, is fascinated by horses' stories, and especially Cowboy's.
Thanks, Anna
Bob responded with a return email late that evening:
I am glad to hear you are doing well with Cowboy and he is at a good home!
Thanks
Bob
Over the following days, Cowboy became more and more spirited. He was difficult to keep in a walk; he struggled and tossed his head in an effort to trot or canter. While alone in his small pasture, Anna often saw Cowboy galloping from one end to the other. He was obviously an energetic animal. Anna continued to leave emails and phone messages asking for Cowboy’s owner’s number. Finally, Bob called Anna on Friday, November 13. He was aloof and defensive, and hurriedly gave Anna the phone number for the elusive owner, Donald Jennings. When Anna dialed the number, it rang twice and went straight to a recorded message telling Anna that her party was unavailable and no mailbox had been set up. She tried repeatedly for days, with the same result. An Internet search for Donald Jennings revealed nothing.
On Sunday, November 15, 9 days after Cowboy had arrived, Anna sent Bob the following email:
Hey Bob- the number you gave me for Donald Jennings only goes to a voice mailbox that has never been set up. No one answers. The number originated in Oak Grove, Illinois. You mentioned that his owner was in XXXXXX, Illinois. I found a Donald Jennings near Chicago but he's been in Guam for three years, and his brother (Dan) says he's not the Donald who ever owned Cowboy. I cannot find anyone else who may be Cowboy’s former owner.
I posted Cowboy's picture on Craigslist and also a few other horse sites, asking for anyone who might recognize him, but no one has responded yet.
I bought Cowboy on the strength of being able to talk to someone who had owned the horse for many years and could describe his training and background in detail. When I started looking for a horse for my nephew, I talked to one of my father's colleagues. He strongly urged me to buy a horse from a private individual rather than a horse dealer, but I convinced him that this situation would work because I would have contact with Cowboy's former owner. He was worried when you forgot to bring the number with you when you delivered the horse. I have made several requests for the information during the past week, both as phone messages and emails. I told him you would take the horse back and refund our money if it didn't work out.
My father has a copy of your ad and does not think that Cowboy is as "Broke as the horse at Wal-Mart." which implies a horse a small child could safely ride. He sited several examples of people getting hurt on horses that were purchased as safe and very well broke, and turned out not to be as advertised. My father's friend has not handled these cases himself (he's an attorney) but is familiar with them from his colleagues.
Cowboy is very spirited and doesn't seem to relax while being ridden. It is difficult to keep him from breaking into a canter while I am trotting him in the ring. He will not walk on a loose rein. In the eight days I've had him, I have worked with him daily. He is willing to learn (for example, he will now stand still for saddling and mounting), but will immediately move into a faster gait if I relax for even a moment while riding. Perhaps the day I came to look at him, he was a little worn out from his morning of checking fences with you? He jumps at every new thing he sees, which is strange, considering he used to carry the flag in rodeos. When I told you I was looking for a horse gentle enough for an 9 year old child to ride, you described being able to ride him in from the pasture bareback with a piece of twine around his nose. You obviously are far more expert a rider than I, but I am having doubts about ever feeling safe letting a child ride him. I like him, and had considered letting my nephew ride my horse instead, but the whole point was to find a horse my nephew could call his own.
Unless I am able to talk to his previous owners and verify that he belonged to them from the time he was a yearling until last year when you purchased him, I think it would be better if you would come get him at your earliest possible convenience. I cannot take the risk of my nephew being hurt while riding or handling this horse. I would like the refund in cash, because by now, our $250 deposit check will have cleared your bank. We paid $1,250 for him, plus the $75 delivery fee. As an act of good faith, I will pay the cost of his delivery to us, so our cash refund would be $1,250 only.
I haven't roached his mane, either, just so you know...only trimmed his bridle path a little bit.
Thanks very much,
Anna
That evening, Bob left a message on Anna’s phone:
Hey, Anna, this is Bob Roberts. Um, you know, you bought the horse with the fact that you didn't even have to know anything about the previous owner.
I gave you, I gave you the guy's phone number and I can't help it if that's not it, maybe he's got a different number, maybe he's moved. Or, I don't know. Like I said,
It's been 3 months since I talked to him last, he worked for me as a rodeo announcer, to be honest with you, I haven't talked to him, so I really don't know.
And uh, the only thing I can tell you is if you want his phone number, I will try to help you get it.
The last time I talked to you the horse was doing very well, you was really satisfied with him.
So, if you're not getting along with him now, I can't really help that. You know my phone number, if you've got a problem with that you need to call me.
Later that evening, Bob called again and left another message. He sounded very angry and told her that he had finally reached Donald himself. Donald was in the midst of a nasty divorce and wouldn’t allow Bob to give his new phone number to anyone. However, Donald offered to call Anna directly and give her a history on Cowboy.
Anna quickly realized that Bob could ask any of his own friends to pose as Donald. “Donald” could tell Anna anything, but of course the information would be totally unreliable.
Finally, the penny dropped for Anna. She immediately posted ads on as many sites as she could with photographs of Cowboy, asking if anyone recognized the horse. The text explained that she’d bought the horse from Bob Roberts, who had purchased Cowboy from Donald Jennings, who had owned the horse for 10 years. Since she was unable to reach Donald, she was now seeking information about the horse’s background. She had a plan.
Gold Eyes- Part 3, Click here
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