KEN'S COLUMN
Scams revealed!
When I was first heavily involved in equestrianism – more years ago than I care to remember – most of the dodges relating to selling a horse were largely confined to taking a few years off the age by judicious – and doubtless very knowledgeable – attention to the animal’s teeth! I assume that had been going on for many, many years – hence the advice to ‘never look a gift horse in the mouth’!
I guess a certain manipulation of ages still goes on - but this scam has been overtaken by others. The other day a client – a Pony Club instructor – was telling me about a scam she uncovered by chance. She had been to see a pony that was being sold as a ‘proven eventer’ that had been in numerous teams. The pony performed well when he was tried. He had nice temperament and good manners. He jumped well and tackled water and ditches confidently. He had nice paces and was well balanced – and he had an admirable competition record. Perfect in every way!
The asking price was just outside the budget stipulated by the parents whom my client was advising but she had been assured by the vendors that offers would be considered. As it was, the pony was so exactly right that the parents decided to offer the full sum – subject to vetting et cetera. Then the blow! The vendors said that three other prospective buyers had been to see the pony, liked him a lot – and had made offers – all of them way, way, way above the asking price quoted in the advertisement.
My client said that her client’s daughter was absolutely devastated because she knew her parents simply couldn’t afford to up their offer. The family had driven all the way from Kent up to Warwickshire to see the pony – which they definitely would not have done if they been aware that the sale was going to become an auction. Apparently the pony was sold for three thousand pounds more than the price originally quoted.
Every vendor, whatever is being sold, wants to get the best price possible but - although what had taken place wasn’t against the law - surely it smacked of the dishonourable? The twelve-year-old rider was bitterly disappointed, the child’s parents were disillusioned and my client said she felt embarrassed because she hadn’t been able to protect them from a very unhappy situation. Surely it would have been fairer had the advertisement stated ‘offers in excess …’ or similar?
I was repeating this story to a friend who couldn’t wait to tell me about a scam-type situation she had come across. Another story involving a pony, this time a Pony Club type: when the parents, instructor and child arrived, the pony was already tacked up -headcollar over bridle – tied up in the stable An attractive skewbald, he was led out of the box and the child’s instructor popped on him and rode him in a manege and then an open field. Perfect. The child did the same. Perfect!
A deal was struck and the pony was delivered. He had been kept partly in - partly out - and so the instructor suggested he was stabled for a day or two to give the child opportunity to handle him and get to know him. Not much later the child appeared in floods of tears. She had gone to see the pony and, she said, ‘he lunged at me with his ears flat back and his mouth wide open’. Surely this couldn’t be true?
The instructor went to the stable and the pony repeated the performance. She decided they would work through a process and she turned the pony out in a very small paddock. They left him there for several hours so as to give him time to settle but, when the instructor went to bring him in, the pony rushed at her with mouth open, ears flat against his head.
Apparently, once tacked up, the pony changed completely – well mannered, apparently kind – and very willing. The instructor said the pony was so perfect to ride that, had the parents been ‘horsy’, she would have suggested they keep the pony and work around the problem. But no way were the circumstances suitable - first pony – nice little rider but not that experienced – parents had ridden as children - but that was a long time ago. You can see the full scenario!
The dealer from whom the pony was bought – who supposedly dealt only in children’s ponies – refused to take the pony back. The child’s parents sought legal advice and the matter was going to court. In the meantime the solicitor undertook some investigations and it became clear the pony was well-known at the local Pony Club where his quirkiness was legendary.
The case never reached court. The dealer settled out of court the morning of the hearing – and not only returned the money paid for the pony but also covered every single out-of-pocket expense involved. A real admission of guilt!
In the long term, the real sufferer in all this was the pony itself. I have no idea why he had adopted such extreme behaviour but it was a situation that, with infinite care and patience, an experienced family could have handled. The dealer had shown no compunction in finalising a deal that could have resulted in a very serious accident. As it was, the child’s confidence was shaken and the pony ended up back with his original owners. It transpired that they had not sold the pony to the dealer but had made a commission arrangement with her – emphasising that prospective purchasers were to be fully warned about the pony’s strange behaviour!
The child’s instructor felt guilty because she had not asked to see the pony un-tacked and loose in his stable when they went to the dealer’s yard. But she had trusted the dealer from whom she had bought some good ponies in the past.
As it was, the unscrupulous dealer lost a good client because the instructor said her faith in the woman’s integrity had been completely destroyed and she would never take clients to the yard again!
KEN LYNDON DYKES is an ex-international level three day event rider. A qualified Society of Master Saddlers’ saddle fitter, his specialities include competition horses and ‘difficult’ fittings. KEN CAN BE OBTAINED AT HEAD OFFICE (01622 844440) OR ON HIS MOBILE: 07973 501873
