Some Short Stories
Nine Days
I bought a goat from a fella who also had a puppy mill. Along with goats and puppies, he also sold chickens and other types of birds. A few months after I bought the goat, this fella called to say he had a horse that the vet said was "depressed.” He had remembered that I had a farm. He asked if we would like to have “Champion,” because the horse needed TLC and a good home. He also suggested that my 10 year-old daughter would enjoy having the horse. Even though Champ was very skinny, he had nice conformation and seemed mellow. He also had a current Coggins certificate. I asked to see what he was eating and where he was kept; saw it was a tiny pen. There were square bales covered with a tarp outside. The owner said he didn’t have room for the gelding, and he cried when we left with Champion.
My daughter had always wanted a horse, so we were excited and happy to have one for free. We brought the gelding home and had a vet come the next day to check him. We had his teeth floated and vet said he was about 200 lbs underweight. The next day, a mushroom-like growth appeared on his gums. We called the vet and he came back out to look. He said he’d never seen this before. Champ had knocked the growth off, so the vet sent a sample to the pathology lab at the closest veterinary college. One day later, the growth came back, horribly huge, like a lemon. We had been giving Champ senior grain, probiotics, penVK and pain medication, along with lots of TLC. My daughter and I braided his mane with bows and spent many hours giving him gentle love. The horse was bleeding a lot because he kept bumping the growth in his mouth. He was also not passing urine. His side was becoming noticeably swollen, and I took a picture of his bulging abdomen. When the vet called a few days later, he told us the growth was a rare type of cancer.
When our vet returned, we discussed our options. Champ had deteriorated in just the nine days we had owned him. The vet thought the cancer had spread throughout his body, and he probably wouldn’t survive surgery. We made the decision to put him down that day. The vet said the horse didn’t even need the full dose of euthanasia solution; he was already leaving us.
We only had Champion for nine days. It wasn’t the money we spent for his veterinary care (although that was substantial); far greater was the cost in emotional pain when we had to let him go so soon. He broke the hearts of a mother and daughter who gave him kisses until he died. When Champion’s suffering was over and his body rested nearby, the vet took me aside and said that some people prey upon kind hearted folks like ourselves and we’d have to watch out. He said we were good people and we shouldn’t believe stories from animal trader folk.
We believe that Champion’s owner knew he was sick when he gave the horse to us. We also believe that Champion needed to be loved…if only for nine days.
Postscript- When we sent the edited version of this story back to Champion's owner for approval, this is what she said:
Thank you for editing the story~ It brought tears to my eyes. You see, our daughter Lindsey (11), was diagnosed with a rare condition called Ivemark Syndrome & my husband is disabled~ To us everyone needs love no matter what length of time you have left on earth. We enjoy each other and any and all animals that happen to us ~~for God has a way of knowing who needs love. Thanks again ~~ Lindsey's mom~~
My daughter had always wanted a horse, so we were excited and happy to have one for free. We brought the gelding home and had a vet come the next day to check him. We had his teeth floated and vet said he was about 200 lbs underweight. The next day, a mushroom-like growth appeared on his gums. We called the vet and he came back out to look. He said he’d never seen this before. Champ had knocked the growth off, so the vet sent a sample to the pathology lab at the closest veterinary college. One day later, the growth came back, horribly huge, like a lemon. We had been giving Champ senior grain, probiotics, penVK and pain medication, along with lots of TLC. My daughter and I braided his mane with bows and spent many hours giving him gentle love. The horse was bleeding a lot because he kept bumping the growth in his mouth. He was also not passing urine. His side was becoming noticeably swollen, and I took a picture of his bulging abdomen. When the vet called a few days later, he told us the growth was a rare type of cancer.
When our vet returned, we discussed our options. Champ had deteriorated in just the nine days we had owned him. The vet thought the cancer had spread throughout his body, and he probably wouldn’t survive surgery. We made the decision to put him down that day. The vet said the horse didn’t even need the full dose of euthanasia solution; he was already leaving us.
We only had Champion for nine days. It wasn’t the money we spent for his veterinary care (although that was substantial); far greater was the cost in emotional pain when we had to let him go so soon. He broke the hearts of a mother and daughter who gave him kisses until he died. When Champion’s suffering was over and his body rested nearby, the vet took me aside and said that some people prey upon kind hearted folks like ourselves and we’d have to watch out. He said we were good people and we shouldn’t believe stories from animal trader folk.
We believe that Champion’s owner knew he was sick when he gave the horse to us. We also believe that Champion needed to be loved…if only for nine days.
Postscript- When we sent the edited version of this story back to Champion's owner for approval, this is what she said:
Thank you for editing the story~ It brought tears to my eyes. You see, our daughter Lindsey (11), was diagnosed with a rare condition called Ivemark Syndrome & my husband is disabled~ To us everyone needs love no matter what length of time you have left on earth. We enjoy each other and any and all animals that happen to us ~~for God has a way of knowing who needs love. Thanks again ~~ Lindsey's mom~~
The Husband Horse
I purchased a horse from a fellow who fit all your descriptions of a sneaky horse dealer (including a felony record). I never thought of checking him out on the web. I did have a complete pre-purchase exam (including X-rays and Coggins). I also should have had blood drawn but I don't think the horse had been drugged. Fortunately, the horse was fixable but it took 3 months to get him over his rotten habits. Thank goodness he was basically a good guy and had had a proper foundation at one time. It also helped that I have ridden almost daily and trained horses for over 50 years. He definitely would not have been the "safe husband horse" as advertised without a lot of re-schooling. The horse also is not a Quarter horse, nor is he 10 yrs. old, as advertised, and I cannot find the person who signed the bill of sale the dealer had. The quick fix he received in the round pen from the dealer's cowboy suppressed things only temporarily and they re- emerged when I got him home (with a lot of mistrust and fear added). That made him afraid at the same time he tried to spin, run off and buck. Not a good combination. None-the-less he seems to be a good guy now and my husband likes him very much. We were very lucky the horse could be rehabilitated because I was unprepared for, and had forgotten about, old style, crooked horse dealers. I had been breeding our own horses and hadn't actually bought a horses in many years. P.S. As an extra benefit, it was a weight loss summer because I had to work pretty hard to get the horse ready for my husband...a matter of pride since I had bought him!
The $50 Profit
Oh, I know too well how some will lie just to make a few dollars. The "trader" that had the horse I bought said he was broke for anyone to ride. The horse must have been drugged. Wish I had known the signs of drugging. My faith in humans was damaged greatly; how does someone lie like that? When I got him home, this animal "broke for anyone to ride." blew up on me. I jumped to the ground, luckily landing on my feet. He came after me and crushed me against a metal gate. I had surgery that night and again 6 days later. After that 2nd surgery, the doctor said it looked like I might keep my leg. I then had 6 months of physical therapy.
I’m just grateful I didn’t put my child on him, or even let her in the pen with him. I found out he made $50.00 from the sale. I was declared unfit for duty and lost my job. I hope he enjoyed his 50 bucks.
I’m just grateful I didn’t put my child on him, or even let her in the pen with him. I found out he made $50.00 from the sale. I was declared unfit for duty and lost my job. I hope he enjoyed his 50 bucks.
A Short Scam
I recently looked at a Craigslist ad for two "very broke, broke” horses for $2,000. I asked for pictures and voila, I recognized them as horses that boarded down the road from me. They are retired racehorses and looked a little ragged but that’s no surprise. The horses are in their 30s. The loving owner had been boarding them there for 14 years. They are NOT for sale.
I found out that con artists are taking pictures of horses and advertising them for sale on the Internet. They ask buyers for a deposit of $20-100 to hold the horses. Or, they claim they will deliver the horses for $20-100. Naturally, they give buyers false names and never show up with the horses, and buyers are out their deposit money.
I found out that con artists are taking pictures of horses and advertising them for sale on the Internet. They ask buyers for a deposit of $20-100 to hold the horses. Or, they claim they will deliver the horses for $20-100. Naturally, they give buyers false names and never show up with the horses, and buyers are out their deposit money.
The "Kid-Safe" Filly
I believe I was scammed by a horse trader when I purchased a "kid safe" 3 year-old filly for my son. Yes, I was stupid thinking that my 10 year old son would be safe on this filly, but the seller had me convinced, and she was soooo pretty and behaved so well for the test ride. Also, to be honest, I was sick of driving 3-4 hours each day to look at horses and only be disappointed and overtly lied to.
Shortly after we got her, she bucked my son off and bolted with my neighbor's daughter. She also bucked me off a couple of months later. Everybody was afraid to ride her. I decided to keep her for myself and work with her and I found a nice truly kid-friendly pony for my son.
Today, after about a year of working with her, she is actually a pretty decent horse. I wouldn't call her 100% kid-safe but she's pretty close and I know what pushes her buttons. My husband and son are only now starting to trust her enough to get on her. They used to think I was crazy for riding her. Fortunately I had the time and the patience to focus on her training, with the assistance of some great trainers who guided me along. Most people are not in this position. Thank goodness no one was seriously injured, especially my child.
Shortly after we got her, she bucked my son off and bolted with my neighbor's daughter. She also bucked me off a couple of months later. Everybody was afraid to ride her. I decided to keep her for myself and work with her and I found a nice truly kid-friendly pony for my son.
Today, after about a year of working with her, she is actually a pretty decent horse. I wouldn't call her 100% kid-safe but she's pretty close and I know what pushes her buttons. My husband and son are only now starting to trust her enough to get on her. They used to think I was crazy for riding her. Fortunately I had the time and the patience to focus on her training, with the assistance of some great trainers who guided me along. Most people are not in this position. Thank goodness no one was seriously injured, especially my child.
Mustang Sally
I am a horse trainer and also give lessons. I cannot tell you how many people call me asking if I will come show them why the horse that did everything for the previous owner, won't even come to them.
I even have a client who went with a trader last spring to buy a horse for his granddaughter. Sadly, they called me after they purchased the 3 year-old mustang filly from a local auction. Even after 30 days of gentling training this horse was still jumpy from previous abuse.
Almost a year later, and after many times trying to get them to buy a different horse, the girl is still ground-working her mustang. She has ridden my as-safe-as-a-horse-can-be lesson gelding, and now can handle her horse on the ground. But who knows how long before she can ride HER horse.
Now, whenever I get a call for lessons, I hope it is before they've bought a horse.
I even have a client who went with a trader last spring to buy a horse for his granddaughter. Sadly, they called me after they purchased the 3 year-old mustang filly from a local auction. Even after 30 days of gentling training this horse was still jumpy from previous abuse.
Almost a year later, and after many times trying to get them to buy a different horse, the girl is still ground-working her mustang. She has ridden my as-safe-as-a-horse-can-be lesson gelding, and now can handle her horse on the ground. But who knows how long before she can ride HER horse.
Now, whenever I get a call for lessons, I hope it is before they've bought a horse.
Hidden Aggression
I have been riding horses for 50 years and I got taken by a trader also. It was at a horse sale that I bought a mare. The trader said that this mare was ridden by a older lady and she was selling the mare because she broke her hip and could not ride anymore. The trader (who was also the auctioneer) said she did not break her hip being bucked off the mare. The mare was underweight and listless. That should have warned me right there, but I bought her for a broodmare. So I took her home and fattened her up. I was not told that she was a man killer. One day, she tried to take me with her teeth bared and ears back, but one of my other horses got in her way and she missed me. I called a friend of ours and sold her to him. I told him what she did and he did not care. This horse ended up in another home. The people that bought her called me because she was skinny again, and I told them that I had not owned her for a year and a half and that she is a man killer. I should have had her put down instead of selling her. I just hope no one got hurt from her.
This can happen to anyone, at anytime. Just like it happened to me. All I wanted her for was a broodmare and look what I got. A MAN KILLER. It was the trader who said she was a good horse. He said he knew the owner of the mare. This horse was 4 years old and registered AQHA. She was very pretty after I fattened her up. But dangerous.
This can happen to anyone, at anytime. Just like it happened to me. All I wanted her for was a broodmare and look what I got. A MAN KILLER. It was the trader who said she was a good horse. He said he knew the owner of the mare. This horse was 4 years old and registered AQHA. She was very pretty after I fattened her up. But dangerous.
The Fox Trotter That Couldn't
I was looking for a registered Missouri Fox Trotter. I called an ad from another state. The seller’s website said all his horses were 100% sound, current on worming, vaccinations, teeth floating, and hoof trimming. The mare in question had been DNA typed, trail ridden all over the state, and had foaled a beautiful colt 2 years before. The seller promised to send the mare’s vet records and registration papers with her. The horse sounded perfect so I bought her and had her shipped to my home.
The mare arrived 100 lbs. underweight, with horribly long hooves. She was covered in ticks, her entire body was scabby with rain rot, and she was coughing. Was that his idea of 100% sound and taken care of?
Her “vet records” had nothing written on them! The piece of paper I received that was supposed to be her registration paper was titled “The Fox Trotter Pleasure Horse Organization.” I’d never heard of it. Under the title was written the name of my mare, which was the same exact name as her dam. Of course, that can’t be possible. The granddam and grandsire’s names were also wrong, according to my research on Missouri Foxtrotters. When I rode her, she spooked at everything, and even reared up when a dog chased us.
The seller refused to tell me where he had gotten the mare. Finally, he gave me the name of the man who had raised her. I discovered later that he had lied; the previous owner was someone else entirely. The real previous owner told me the following:
I know now that her coughing was not simply a cold; she has heaves (COPD). It looks to me like the whole story was made up in order to get more money for this horse. Isn’t it easier just to tell the truth? Then, you don’t have to try to remember what you said so you can cover yourself later. But, the truth will always win out. Buyer beware!
The mare arrived 100 lbs. underweight, with horribly long hooves. She was covered in ticks, her entire body was scabby with rain rot, and she was coughing. Was that his idea of 100% sound and taken care of?
Her “vet records” had nothing written on them! The piece of paper I received that was supposed to be her registration paper was titled “The Fox Trotter Pleasure Horse Organization.” I’d never heard of it. Under the title was written the name of my mare, which was the same exact name as her dam. Of course, that can’t be possible. The granddam and grandsire’s names were also wrong, according to my research on Missouri Foxtrotters. When I rode her, she spooked at everything, and even reared up when a dog chased us.
The seller refused to tell me where he had gotten the mare. Finally, he gave me the name of the man who had raised her. I discovered later that he had lied; the previous owner was someone else entirely. The real previous owner told me the following:
- He had not raised the mare
- Her foal was actually born in July, not April
- The mare was not DNA typed
- The real previous owner had bought the mare as unregistered when she was two years old, and sold her to my seller as unregistered. All he had done was lead his 6 year-old granddaughter around on her. She had never been saddled, and certainly never been trail ridden
I know now that her coughing was not simply a cold; she has heaves (COPD). It looks to me like the whole story was made up in order to get more money for this horse. Isn’t it easier just to tell the truth? Then, you don’t have to try to remember what you said so you can cover yourself later. But, the truth will always win out. Buyer beware!
Not Just Horse Traders
It is not just the horse traders that lie. Individuals trying to unload their unwanted horses use the same tricks. Maybe they’ve learned from the traders! I currently have eight horses at my barn and seven came from people who were either over their heads from a bad purchase, or just wanted the horses gone. Their ads all described wonderful, safe horses but they were not. The eighth horse we bought at an auction. It is really sad how people lie, and have no regard for the horse or the purchasing family.
My first eye opener was at an auction when a small bay gelding was listed as a kid-safe horse ridden by a 6-year-old. I had been out at the auction barn the day before. I saw this horse flatten a man, and on the morning of the sale he bucked like the devil but walked in the auction ring stoned out of his mind and calm.
The lady next to me with four young kids started to bid and I told her what I had seen. She told me it must have been a different horse. I outbid her to save her children injury, and to stop the gelding from an inevitable ride to the slaughterhouse. It has been almost 5 years and he is still not safely rideable and never will be. We love him, and on a good day I ride him around the arena, asking for very little.
My next encounter was a woman who had an ad on Craigslist. She insisted she had the best Quarter pony in the state; 18 years old, kid-safe, and lots of life left. I drove out to see this pony and after exiting my truck I saw a black, swayback, half-dead looking pony with what looked like two heads. Her mouth was so full of infection it was huge. I offered $200, which the seller refused. I ended up purchasing the pony for $400, even though the seller was asking $800. It was disgusting. The pony lived, after many trips to the vet, and two surgeries. Our vet said the pony was actually in her late 30s. We love the old girl and hope she has one more winter in her. She does have lots of life. Now that she feels better, she runs and bucks in the pasture and chases off anyone who comes too close.
One week after getting the pony I came across a BLM mare on Craigslist that had been abused by a man who called himself a good old cowboy. He told me about his “training” techniques. He had put ropes around her neck with huge tractor tires attached and made her drag them to move. He put bags over her head to blind her so she would stand still. He had listed her as a true Mustang off the range; she was still a little wild but a quick learner and rideable. The poor mare was terrified of humans. It made me sick to see her standing in the 25’ x 25’ pen, full of her own waste and mud. He said she was a runner if he let her out in the pasture and that he could never catch her.
I took her home. It took almost an entire day to get her into the trailer, but I finally told her that if she wanted out of there, she’d have to get in the trailer. I believe, to this day, that she understood me. A few minutes later she jumped in and I closed that door as fast as I could.
It took two weeks to touch her and another couple to halter her but she is now a wonderful, loving mare. She is a one-person horse, though. She knows when a stranger is in the barn; she disappears or watches from afar.
I was still in search of a kid’s horse for the barn and watching Craigslist and other horse sites daily.
I ended up with yet another horse from Craigslist. The seller said the horse was 15 years old, a super beginner’s horse, and great with kids. When the poor old mare showed up she was more like 28 years old, 300 lbs underweight and lame. This poor horse had hocks that were huge, and the joints were destroyed. She had been reined and gamed really hard in her life and was all used up. The seller gave me the horse and she will live here until her day comes, but she was being advertised as a riding horse. Did the seller think I wouldn’t notice that the mare was so lame she could hardly walk?
Let the buyer beware; that nice little old lady may not be as honest as she looks.
Thank you for this website.
Check Scam and Ground Manners
On rare occasions you actually get a good horse from a trader, usually by accident. I had spent months looking for a gentle horse for my boyfriend’s son, and like many, I had a budget. Most of the local horses for sale were being advertised honestly by their owners as needing intermediate or experienced riders. I decided to look at a nearby horse trader’s facility because he always had an assortment for sale. I told the trader I needed something for an inexperienced child. He showed me a few horses, including a grade bay gelding. The gelding was taller than I wanted, but he did not appear to have been worked much that day, judging from the condition of his coat. It wasn’t freshly washed nor was it sweaty. I rode him and tried a bunch of goofy stuff on him to see if he'd spook or react badly but he didn't. Then one of the trader’s riders rode him with no problem. Mind you, this was a large enough area (about 120 feet long by 75 wide) that the horse could have acted up easily if he’d wanted to.
The trader agreed to a short trial period. I put a cash downpayment on the bay gelding and my boyfriend gave the trader a check to hold and deposit later, when we’d made a decision on the horse. We took the horse home that day. Unfortunately, my boyfriend’s son had recently seen a friend get hurt in a horse riding accident. His friend had been riding a horse that had been sold as “kid-safe” and it frightened the child enough that he didn’t want to ride the bay. Looks like I had a new horse for us, which was okay because after a few days with the gelding, he was still an easy-going riding horse.
I went back to the trader to give him cash for the balance of the horse’s asking price, in return for the check that he was holding. I was surprised when the trader said he had already deposited my boyfriend’s check and it had bounced. I paid him the value of the check and considered us even. Later, we discovered that my boyfriend’s check had cleared. Instead of paying $1,000 for the horse, we ended up paying $1,500. We decided to just not do any more business with this trader, and to warn others about him when asked.
I think I know now why the bay ended up with a trader. While he is an easy fellow to ride, he wouldn’t let us pick up his back feet; in fact, it was dangerous to even try. He also shook like a Chihuahua when the farrier handled his feet, and it took me months to retrain him. I assume he had been sedated by a vet whenever the farrier needed to work on his feet, before we got him, because it wouldn't have been possible without some kind of calming drug.
The happy ending is that we still have this gelding and he is still a good beginner’s horse. He will stand untied outside of the tack room waiting to be tacked up. He will wait 30 minutes for someone rusty to try and mount. Put a scared kid on him and he'll walk at half speed, but put an experienced rider on him and he's a great all-around trail horse.
I can only imagine what would have happened if a novice had been first to pick up those feet, though! So we paid more than we agreed to and he wasn't beginner safe on the ground, but all-in-all we feel we got a much better horse than the trader probably knew he had.
My first eye opener was at an auction when a small bay gelding was listed as a kid-safe horse ridden by a 6-year-old. I had been out at the auction barn the day before. I saw this horse flatten a man, and on the morning of the sale he bucked like the devil but walked in the auction ring stoned out of his mind and calm.
The lady next to me with four young kids started to bid and I told her what I had seen. She told me it must have been a different horse. I outbid her to save her children injury, and to stop the gelding from an inevitable ride to the slaughterhouse. It has been almost 5 years and he is still not safely rideable and never will be. We love him, and on a good day I ride him around the arena, asking for very little.
My next encounter was a woman who had an ad on Craigslist. She insisted she had the best Quarter pony in the state; 18 years old, kid-safe, and lots of life left. I drove out to see this pony and after exiting my truck I saw a black, swayback, half-dead looking pony with what looked like two heads. Her mouth was so full of infection it was huge. I offered $200, which the seller refused. I ended up purchasing the pony for $400, even though the seller was asking $800. It was disgusting. The pony lived, after many trips to the vet, and two surgeries. Our vet said the pony was actually in her late 30s. We love the old girl and hope she has one more winter in her. She does have lots of life. Now that she feels better, she runs and bucks in the pasture and chases off anyone who comes too close.
One week after getting the pony I came across a BLM mare on Craigslist that had been abused by a man who called himself a good old cowboy. He told me about his “training” techniques. He had put ropes around her neck with huge tractor tires attached and made her drag them to move. He put bags over her head to blind her so she would stand still. He had listed her as a true Mustang off the range; she was still a little wild but a quick learner and rideable. The poor mare was terrified of humans. It made me sick to see her standing in the 25’ x 25’ pen, full of her own waste and mud. He said she was a runner if he let her out in the pasture and that he could never catch her.
I took her home. It took almost an entire day to get her into the trailer, but I finally told her that if she wanted out of there, she’d have to get in the trailer. I believe, to this day, that she understood me. A few minutes later she jumped in and I closed that door as fast as I could.
It took two weeks to touch her and another couple to halter her but she is now a wonderful, loving mare. She is a one-person horse, though. She knows when a stranger is in the barn; she disappears or watches from afar.
I was still in search of a kid’s horse for the barn and watching Craigslist and other horse sites daily.
I ended up with yet another horse from Craigslist. The seller said the horse was 15 years old, a super beginner’s horse, and great with kids. When the poor old mare showed up she was more like 28 years old, 300 lbs underweight and lame. This poor horse had hocks that were huge, and the joints were destroyed. She had been reined and gamed really hard in her life and was all used up. The seller gave me the horse and she will live here until her day comes, but she was being advertised as a riding horse. Did the seller think I wouldn’t notice that the mare was so lame she could hardly walk?
Let the buyer beware; that nice little old lady may not be as honest as she looks.
Thank you for this website.
Check Scam and Ground Manners
On rare occasions you actually get a good horse from a trader, usually by accident. I had spent months looking for a gentle horse for my boyfriend’s son, and like many, I had a budget. Most of the local horses for sale were being advertised honestly by their owners as needing intermediate or experienced riders. I decided to look at a nearby horse trader’s facility because he always had an assortment for sale. I told the trader I needed something for an inexperienced child. He showed me a few horses, including a grade bay gelding. The gelding was taller than I wanted, but he did not appear to have been worked much that day, judging from the condition of his coat. It wasn’t freshly washed nor was it sweaty. I rode him and tried a bunch of goofy stuff on him to see if he'd spook or react badly but he didn't. Then one of the trader’s riders rode him with no problem. Mind you, this was a large enough area (about 120 feet long by 75 wide) that the horse could have acted up easily if he’d wanted to.
The trader agreed to a short trial period. I put a cash downpayment on the bay gelding and my boyfriend gave the trader a check to hold and deposit later, when we’d made a decision on the horse. We took the horse home that day. Unfortunately, my boyfriend’s son had recently seen a friend get hurt in a horse riding accident. His friend had been riding a horse that had been sold as “kid-safe” and it frightened the child enough that he didn’t want to ride the bay. Looks like I had a new horse for us, which was okay because after a few days with the gelding, he was still an easy-going riding horse.
I went back to the trader to give him cash for the balance of the horse’s asking price, in return for the check that he was holding. I was surprised when the trader said he had already deposited my boyfriend’s check and it had bounced. I paid him the value of the check and considered us even. Later, we discovered that my boyfriend’s check had cleared. Instead of paying $1,000 for the horse, we ended up paying $1,500. We decided to just not do any more business with this trader, and to warn others about him when asked.
I think I know now why the bay ended up with a trader. While he is an easy fellow to ride, he wouldn’t let us pick up his back feet; in fact, it was dangerous to even try. He also shook like a Chihuahua when the farrier handled his feet, and it took me months to retrain him. I assume he had been sedated by a vet whenever the farrier needed to work on his feet, before we got him, because it wouldn't have been possible without some kind of calming drug.
The happy ending is that we still have this gelding and he is still a good beginner’s horse. He will stand untied outside of the tack room waiting to be tacked up. He will wait 30 minutes for someone rusty to try and mount. Put a scared kid on him and he'll walk at half speed, but put an experienced rider on him and he's a great all-around trail horse.
I can only imagine what would have happened if a novice had been first to pick up those feet, though! So we paid more than we agreed to and he wasn't beginner safe on the ground, but all-in-all we feel we got a much better horse than the trader probably knew he had.
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