Complaint Review: Sandy Hill Stables - LaPorte City Iowa

We replied to an add on CL for a paint mare for $850.  The seller stated that she was a 4H horse and was ridden by a 16yr old.  I was going to travel to look at the mare but then we decided that we needed to purchase a trailer first and not get another horse.  I called the seller and said we were sorry but we decided to get a trailer before looking at horses and we wouldnt be able to afford a horse for awhile.  The seller J.J. said, well we have trailers too! He later called me up with a great deal.  A combo deal with a horse trailer ($900) and discount the horse to $700 for a total of $1,600.  What a deal!  We said we wanted the trailer but not really the horse.  He seller said he was bringing a load of horses to a city near us (Palmyra) so he would bring the horse by so we could see her.  He said if she didnt work he would guarantee her and would trade her with another horse. We decided to look though we were set to not get her because we already had a horse and needed a trailer. 

We told the seller we didnt know the time line on a horse but would look.  We met the seller at a (Flying J) truck stop. The horse was so incredibly calm and steady when we first saw her.  Then the seller hopped right on her and rode her in the truck stop without a saddle or bridle. I could tell she didnt like the semi trucks driving by her but she was still so calm with her ears pinned forward. We decided that a horse that calm was a safe buy.  We accepted the combo deal and we drove 15 minutes South to where we board and Johnny let the mare out and we paid with a debit card swiped through a Smartsquare app.  Johnny said we should have an adult ride her a few times before putting the 12 yr old on her. He said he would be bringing our trailer in 2 or 3 weeks and that he would replace a board in the floor.  He offered to give him a post dated check and he wouldnt hear of it, he wanted us to pay when he delivered the trailer.  Due to bad weather, we could not ride the mare for a week.  She had diarrhea but that went away after the first week. When we went to ride her she immediately bucked and reared (in the first few minutes).  We put her in the arena to calm down and she tried to jump a 6 ft fence placing her chest right in the fence.  She stable owner said that the mare was not scared at all.  She didnt shake or freeze like a scared horse, she was an angry mare! She dented the most heavy duty paneling at the stables. She reared up constantly at noises, water, etc.  We realized she was very dangerous and angry. We had witnesses to her behavior and the stable owner said she is very unstable at feeding time.  Paws and the ground more than what is typical of a horse and climbs at the fence.  Needless to say the mare was nothing like the first day we saw her.  During this time the seller wouldnt receive our calls about the trailer.  He previously agreed to replace a board in the floor so we were waiting on the delivery of the trailer.  A blue 3 horse stock trailer.  When the seller finally called he said the speaker went out in his phone and the at the floor supports in the trailer were rusted out so he couldnt sell us the trailer.  The picture we received looked like the trailer had little to no rust.  He said he would look for a different trailer and trade out the horse.  We waited a week then called and said we found a trailer.  If you can make a deal on this trailer we will buy it from you and salvage this relationship.  Johnny never called back. We waited some more.  J.J. said he would have his someone in the area come pick up the horse on Wednesday or Friday.  No one called or showed up.  So I sent a txt to Tom the owner and he was angry that I dared to bother him. Said he didnt make the deal with us, J.J. did.  I said we made the deal with SANDY HILL STABLES.  He replied, Thats me. I informed him that the horse was unstable and J.J. was not keeping his work. He said he would talk to J.J. and call me that night and we would all conference and work this out.  That was April 12th,  they never called back.  After 3 weeks of trying to contact the seller and get the situation resolved, he then said he made no combo deal with the horse and trailer and he brought us the horse directly to us as a convenience. We understand now that the horse was transported across state lines, misrepresentantly sold without a Coggins or health certificate required by law.  We received no documentation, no help, just lies and deceit.  The horse has caused injury to one individual, damaged property and is not what they stated on the hand written receipt. The cc payment went to a woman who is not even involved with Sandy Hill Stables. To top it off, the receipt says that the horse was $600 and $100 for gas and trades are welcome.  How do they WELCOME a trade but not actually do it or even try. LOL HA!  Every single thing these people say are lies.  The fact is that there are signs the horse was drugged and we knew nothing about this.  The seller had no intention of selling us the trailer and is in the business of scamming people with bad horses.  We are glad nobody got hurt more that they did.