Mike & Kathryn Smith, Trail Horse Training, The Shire Farms, Blue Ridge Riders, Blue Ridge Outfitters, Dixie Horseman Transport Sold green untrained horse as totally trained beginner trail horse Vale North Carolina
Immediately after returning home with my newly purchased horse from the Smiths, his behavioral problems started. I called Kathryn for help numerous times and she offered advice only. One month later he was evaluated by a professional trainer who described him as "knowing nothing,".
The trainer said that he had obviously been tacked up and was willing to accept a rider on his back and follow another horse at a walk, but that was it, he had not been trained any further than that. This horse was described to me by the Smiths as like "riding a sofa". He was and is still a highly reactive horse who spooks often and at nothing. I called Kathryn back and asked if she would trade him for another older horse, and she said she did not have anything right for me at that time, and was very reluctant to trade him because she said all horses behavior changes when they get to a new place, etc.
At that point in time I found out about the other victims and dropped any thought of trading knowing I would get the same thing back. I also looked into starting a lawsuit but the bankruptcy was filed and Kathryn Smith listed me as a potential creditor hoping to make me unable to sue in the future. I paid the Smith's $3500 for a completely trained beginner horse. I then had to pay a professional trainer $600 for one month of intensive training.
Even then, I realized I was not skilled enough to be riding a young, green, spooky horse so I tried for 5 months to sell him. I was finally able to sell him for $1750, half what I paid for him, minus the training fee, and the new advanced and well-seasoned owner is still having problems with the serious spooking. I lost well over $2000 on this horse, and was almost seriously injured and trampled while simply leading him through the barn by one of his spooks AFTER he had completed training. This horse's nature is such that he would never be suitable for any beginner in all likelihood.
Christine
Jacksonville, North Carolina
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Hb
Libertyville,Illinois,
U.S.A.
Advice-take it or leave it.....
#4Consumer Suggestion
Fri, February 22, 2008
I do realize that having your instructor/trainer travel with you to look at a potential horse may seem expensive-but doesn't that expense pale in comparison to what you end up paying by purchasing a completely unsuitable horse for yourself? The extra training you might have to have done? The time you spend trying to re-sell the horse, only to end up losing money? Not to mention the frustration and possible heartache you put yourself through?
I am in no way defending these people that sold you the horse, but do yourself a favor-take someone who knows what to look for, and what to have you do when you try a horse so that you know if it is going to work. By the way, a blood test should have shown any tranqualizers-most of those drugs stay in the system from 3-14 days after they are administered.
Training horses is a tough business-if it was easy, wouldn't everyone do it!
Good luck in the future!
Christine
Jacksonville,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
I rode the horse 3 times.
#4Author of original report
Thu, December 14, 2006
I rode the horse 3 times, and had a unbiased vet check. The vet was certain that the age was incorrect, that the horse was younger than advertised, but it could not be proven exactly. My trainer told me that the mistake I made was riding the horse under the same circumstances all 3 times (following behind on their trails only). It is also possible that the horse was drugged, that is what most people think who know the full details of the story, based on the described behavior of the horse there and at home. Mrs. Smith told me that their horses were not allowed to trot or canter on the trails, so we didn't.
I didn't think that meant that this horse had never been trained to trot or canter, but that was exactly the case. I was too inexperienced and trusting to question to do it anyway. Some people can't afford to pay their trainer to travel 6 hours away to try a horse out, you are quite lucky to be in a position to do that if you are. I however, was not. I trusted horse traders and I got burned, and so did A LOT of other people.
Kat
Aberdeen,New Jersey,
U.S.A.
Did you bother to even ride the horse before purchase?
#4Consumer Comment
Thu, December 14, 2006
Seriously?
Everyone is blaming this barn (*and I'm SO not defending them) but, truth be told, none of them actually rode the horses, it sounds like, before they purchased them.
It's rule #1 of buying a horse for riding. RIDE IT.
Rule #2 Vet check!
Rule #3 If you are not an experienced rider, sound and comfortable enough in your own ability to judge if this horse is 100%, without a doubt, perfect for you.... have your trainer/instructor check it out, too!
Otherwise, honestly, it's your own fault for getting saddled (*no pun intended) with a horse that isn't a good match. Would you buy a designer gown without trying it on? No. So why didn't you essentially try the horse out?