So the wife and I have been looking at a horse over the past month to buy for her to ride and scout off of for field trials. The guy(Ernie) selling the horse is Amish and we’ve been using him for years to shoe and trim the horses up. Horse(Troy) was a 3 ½ yo TN walker gelding, black roan with 3 white socks and a white blaze, really flashy and a very sweet personality. Ernie knew we were planning on buying the horse yesterday and picking him up on Friday.

So this past week I’m down at a championship and a Pro handler I’ve known for 10 years and considered a friend was complaining about his scouts horse being a problem and that they needed to find him another horse. So I directed him to Ernie and let him know he always had good field trial horses and they were very reasonably priced. The Pro was on his way back north to Canada and said he’d stop in and do a swap with the guy. I told the Pro just do NOT buy Troy that I was buying Troy for my wife when I got back.

Showed up last night at Ernie’s place to pay Ernie for Troy and guess what…the “friend” bought Troy from Ernie and is on his way back to Canada. So now I have a very upset and Very Mad wife with no horse.

Just needed to vent and trust me I have a lot more “choice” words but this is a family friendly site.


Cliff Notes:
Dude that I considered to be a friend goes and buys the horse my wife had picked out after being told not to and so now the household universe is all out of sorts cause the wife is ticked.

 

with friends like that, who needs enemies?

 

I've been involved in draft horses since I was in my early teens, but in the last 5 years or so we've started boarding light horses here at the farm. We don't have any boarders that participate in what I call 'working events' like rodeo stuff or field trials, but some of them do that dressage stuff and I have to say, most of their attitudes towards other riders and people in general are embarrassing. It seems like they'll stab someone in the back just for the sport of it to see what will happen. I've never run into this in the draft horse community tho I'm sure there are people of the same mind-set. We got rid of one boarder because of the way she was treating several other boarders. I told her why too and she didn't like it one bit.

I think I'd be calling that guy in Canada just to see what he has to say for himself, then to warn him to watch his back because I'd be gunning for him in the future.

chaikwa.

 

"Blame Canada! Blame Canada! It's not a real country anyways." Call him and ask him what its all aboot. Sounds like the wife is ready to invade? Good luck in the situation.

 

I'm waiting till 10am and then I'll be calling...but knowing this guy he's not going to do the right thing and sell the horse back to me. If he does offer to sell the horse back I'm sure he'll try and double the price. I have a few folks that will call him up and shame him, but I dont think he'll care.


Screw the friends thing...It seems anymore that you can't trust or help anyone or they will backstab you. I've always made a point to try and help folks out and give back to the sport. Everytime I have its come back to bite me.

 

What did Ernie have to say?

Did the Pro double your price or something?

 

Just got off the phone with the Pro and his claim is I never "clearly" explained that I was buying the horse. Whatever...I guess "Don't buy Troy I'm getting him for my wife" wasnt enough. Also I guess Ernie did not state the horse was being held for us. So its my problem I guess.

Long short I'm waiting for a call back from the guy the horse was actually bought for (the Pro's scout) and he and I will talk tonight and decide what to do with it. But the cost has already gone up as apparently they have already incurred expenses. Apparently the horse is still in New York right now and having his shots and stuff updated, also awaiting cogins to come back.

So we've gone from $1200 that Ernie was going to charge me to the Pro paid $1500 for him and I guess there are about $300+ in vet expenses. Not really happy right now.

 

There's a saying:"Don't loan money to a friend until you decide which one is more important to you."

When you give information/money or what ever to someone you have to think in terms of they will probably take it to their advantage. And if/when they do, can you live with it? If you can't, you better not loan the money, or give the information.

You can let him know you don't appreciate him taking advantage of the information you gave him. But, that only makes you feel better. He could care less. He already has what he wants, and you weren't important enough to him for him to show you any respect or thanks. Don't expect it now!

Best to go out and find another horse. And as good as the one you had located, you'll probably find one much better for your needs, just because of the way you handle the situation.

There's Something greater in life then the horse, and now you'll find It!!!!

 

I would like to know this too. Sounds like you were shafted by Ernie just as much as the Pro handler. Ernie didn't keep up his part of the deal either. Sounds like you two had an agreement and in my opinion, it shouldn't matter if somebody else made a better offer, he promised the horse to YOU.

 

That pretty well sums it up I think, part of the blame lays on you for not putting a deposit down on the Horse or committing to it in some legal manner as well.

I have a bro in law that I think the world of but he has gotten me in a similar manner a couple times due to my own actions. I go to a lot of gun shows with him and twice I have found something very unique and before purchasing it, I showed them to him. Both times he snatched them saying that was exactly what he was looking for

He doesn't do it on purpose and in fact probably had no idea I was showing them to him because I was going to purchase them myself. I learned that next time I will purchase the item and THEN show him the good deal I BOUGHT

The moral of the story is, don't let a good thing slip through your fingers by telling someone else where it is located

Good luck I hope things work out for you

 

I'm getting conflicting stories on this. When I talked to Ernie yesterday he told me that the pro was referred by me and that he traded in a big ugly walker. Ernie didnt give him anything in trade. But then told me that the whole time they were at his place the Pro didnt mention anything about Troy until they went to load him up and at that point they asked what his name was. Ernie told him it was Troy and the pro stated "Thats the horse Matt told me not to buy...oh well I'll send him an e-mail and explain it." Ernie said he was a bit confused at that point but he had cash in hand and the horse was loaded.

The Pro tells me Ernie pulled Troy out to begin with and when they asked Ernie his name They asked over and over if I was buying the horse and apparently Ernie said that he was for sale.

So what I'm thinking happened is the Pro went up there said I referred him. Ernie thought I sent him up there to look at the horse went and pulled out the ones he and I went through. When they got to Troy I'm sure the Pro immediately took a liking to him, rode him and decided to buy. But when he found out the name of the horse and made the comment to Ernie to not buy him it through Ernie for a loop and he didnt know what to do. The pro took advantage of the situation and instead of backing out of the deal like he should have, he ran with it.

I've known Ernie a very long time and what Ernie says is usually what Ernie does. Two weeks ago when we were up there to look at the horse and work with him I offered Ernie a deposit to hold him till I got back from the Championship. Ernie has never taken a deposit from anyone he trusts their word and expects them to do the same. After talking to Ernie yesterday I know he was frustrated with the situation.

I'll talk to the scout (who actually owns the horse now) and see what he wants to do about it but I have a feeling will be looking for another horse.

 

Sounds like you definately had an agreement, even if it was just verbal; as you have done in the past. So much for cowboys, horses and what a "man's word" means. Yes, very disturbing that now you'll always have to second guess a friend and their thoughts but what goes around, comes around. In this case, don't settle for second best and go finding something better even if from someone else.

 

Ernie wants just a dollar, period. You should of never said a word about a good horse, if you do some folks will break their neck to buy it out from under you. It may have been a harmless mistake on your friend but Ernie should of never sold the horse. God help you dealing with your wife, I feel for you.

 

IMO, the pro is at fault for being the screwer. ernie kind of got caught up in the pro's scam it sounds like to me. some friend. id make sure he knows ur mad and then just start looking for another horse. i wouldnt let him make a profit off of your mistake (or his friend make anything off of you)

 

thanks....