Complaint Review: Edwin & Jeri Bennett

We saw an add on the inter net, I have never bought a horse on line or out of state as I like a pre purchase exam, but this horse looked and seemed so great we made the 300 mile round trip anyways, only to find when we get there a horse that did not look like the picture, ribs showing, no pep just seemed he was doing his job, his highlight was his performance, very well behaved and quiet, I figured we could fix his weight, however when we get home the very next morning a huge mucus membrain is hanging in his nostril of a horrible yellowish color, I contact the vet, he may have heeves, or a upper respitory illness, so we start a course of antibiotics for ten days, where we will naturally bond with this horse since he needs extra care. For three days he is listless, eats very slowly, due to exhaustion for trying to breathe normal, plus he has his wolf teeth that are in horrible condition.We are told to keep him away from our other horses so we do not pass the infection. So our healthy happy horses are put on restriction for 10 days and we are inconvienced with extra work and sad that we might have to send him back to that horrible place, but I would not let that enter my mind. Our vet examined him and determined he was at least 200 lbs under weight. He was advertised as safe and sound. When all I asked him for was the 50.00 for medications he said he does not guarentee healthy horses. That proved my point as several of his animals showed their ribs, had gashes, sore mouths and probably had the same respitory illness. I called the Dept of Agriculture to report equine abuse and they went out there supposively because I recieved an email from the owners saying their farm and horses were 100 percent ok, I find this hard to believe as I know what I saw and I have a sick under weight horse he sold me with solid vet bills showing he is in fact sick.This guy is a horse trader and people should stay away from his barn or make sure the do a vet check on his property. I am praying their email was wrong as I am waiting to hear back from the dept of agriculture. If the inspector did not site them, he is either blind or does not care about his job. So far my vet bills aquired on a new horse are 300 and growing. He also has a skin condition that needs medication throughout the summer months. I am so mad, but glad I was able to save one horse from this awful farm where he has 30 head and only feeds wheat and bahai grass. I asked why wheat, his reply, when you have 30 head you do only what you have too.The barn is a metal roof garage not high enough for a horse to raise his head with ruts and a stench smell that is probably the reason the horses have respitory problems. I know what I saw and it was not healthy sound horses. These people are Horse traders who rip off their customers. They need to clean up their act!

Deborah
middleburg, Florida
U.S.A.