Complaint Review: East Gate Farm (Dugald MB) - Dugald Manitoba

on June 5, 2010, we had our 2 horses moved to East Gate Farms on Sapton Road North of Wpg. We paid $250.00 per horse for the remainder of the month by cheque which brings the board on the two horses right to July 1, 2010. Current board as we were told was $300 taxes in for a standing stall for a full month. The horses were moved to this location on conditions that they were to remain together and were given their own pen. Now, as excited as we finally were to get our horse stable up at our residence, we attempted to move our horses home on July 1. We tried to make arrangements with John Muller (owner), he advised us that we could not take our horses due to the Stable Keepers Act unless we pay him $660.00 for the month of July for both horses. When we asked why, he responded that he required a 30 day written notice before moving any horse or we could simply pay the $660 and he would allow us to take them immediately. Also stating that he wanted cash not a cheque which obviously raised a huge red flag for us. So; I read the Stable Keepers Act which only stipulated that the boarding facility could hold the horse for monies past due. We do not owe anything and our bill for June 2010 was paid in advance. This has shocked us to say the least as we are not in the wrong or owe any money. Further to this, we were never informed of a 30 day written notice nor had any contract been signed even stating this. Our boarding was temporary as John knew because we were building our own stable at home. We decided to have the RCMP Oakbank Detachment show up with us but John had mysteriously removed the 2 horses from the property & even when the Police Officer asked him where they were, he refused to state their where abouts. Sadly at this point, the RCMP told us this was a matter to take up in Civil Court. Now if that isn't bad enough, one of our horses over the past 3 weeks has turned very head shy to which he never was before; as well we were called to attend the stable 2 nights ago because this same horse turned up lame on his hind quarter and could not walk. Again, for the time we've owned this horse he has never had an incident. To boot, we found out that night that our horses were seperated that day in different pens without our knowledge or consent as per John Muller's instructions. I have not seen my horse since that evening nor can I even get VET care to him because I do not know his where abouts. Our other horse had a VET appt on Tuesday to get her shots done and with her missing or being exposed to other horses that may possibly be sick, has our stomach in knots because she is obviously vonurable at this moment. Any boarders wanting to board there, I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO PROCEED WITH CAUTION. I have never seen or heard of anything like this happening before. And the sad part is our horses which are our family members are somewhere unknown, requiring vet attention, and being held ransome for what is now $660.00. As board is $300 each, I don't even know where the extra $60 came from. WE DO NOT WANT FUTURE SERVICES FROM THIS FACILITY BUT ARE BEING FORCED TO PAY FOR JULY 2010 ANYWAYS!!!!! Any additional moneies we had is now being paid into legal fees for a Civial Lawyer to fight for my horses back. How pathetic is it that the law cannot keep innocent people from getting screwed by someone like this without forking out more money to protect what is rightfully ours with legal fees. In the meantime, we can only truly hope that there is some sort of care being provided to our horses who are requiring vet care. I can't even imagine someone loading a horse into a trailer who cannot even walk.