Dances with Horses

This past November, I bought a horse off of the internet. I trusted the person selling this horse to be honest with me, especially as this company claims to sell 99% of their horses sight unseen and out of state. The following is a basic summary of my problems with buying this particular horse (Dances With Rain) from Danna Findlay of Dances With Horses, Inc. , and her reply.

http://www.equinenow.com/horse-ad-332906

Dear Danna,

I am writing after several failed attempts to reach you by phone. Possibly you are out of town and not getting phone messages at the moment.  My husband, August, and I purchased a Tennessee Walker from you this past November, Dances with Rain.  We had made this purchase via the internet based on your phone description of the gelding.  We were told that he was sound and safe, trained to ride western (among other disciplines that we weren't concerned with), loads to trailer easily, as well as hundreds of hours of trail experience.  His sale listing describes him with a temperament of 2/10 and you had described him as a "puppy dog".  Also, you explained to me that Rain was one of your primary horses for the past 4 years and you rode him year-round.   

I called you the same week he was delivered and described my first riding experience with Rain, which included him tacking up with no issues but bucking me off as soon as I first settled into the saddle.  You assured me that he had never acted this was before and this type of behavior was out of character for Rain and that it must have just been a "change of environment" causing anxiety in the horse.  We agreed to hire a professional horse trainer hoping that a little time on our farm and some training would allow us to see this sound and safe behavior you had describe when selling him to us.   During the training, Rain has displayed aggressive behaviors including charging our trainer when he was working on loading him on and off a trailer, dragging him while attached to a lunge rope, and nearly running him over when being led out of his stall.  All of these instances I witnessed myself, I am sure there are more. 

The final straw was last Saturday, when Rain once again began violently bucking and threw me to the ground just as I had mounted him, exactly as he did the first time I rode him.  This time his actions sent me to the hospital for three days.  I have bruised ribs, a broken ankle and a broken right leg.  It took four hours in surgery... seven screws, plates and a latter to fix my injury.  I am unable to walk or drive for the next month minimum.  

Furthermore, I have found out that this horse was delivered to you from out-of-state just 3 months prior to you selling him to us.  I can't imagine anyone would purposely sell any rider a dangerous horse so I can't very well in good conscious sell Rain to another.  You need to take this horse back and refund our money.  

Clare Adams

Reply:

Your issue is very unfortunate and certainly something we never experienced.  Your email failed to mention that when you spoke to me about the issues you were having, you informed me your neighbor trainer would work with him and you would contact me with an update.  That was precisely 5 months ago.  Obviously, five months later, you contact us to say you had a bad incident which nobody could predict or explain without having been present and handling the horse for the last six months.  We presumed that because you did not contact us back, your trainer worked through YOUR issue and all was well.  

Also, we are happy to have you ship him back to us at your expense and we will work with the horse and happily resell him for 25% of asking price.  We charge 100 per month for board and will make every effort to resell him quickly.  We are currently in the Netherlands.  We do not provide refunds on any horse as you are aware based on the contract you signed, whether the horse has been with you five minutes or five years, we do not provide refunds since animals behave based on their handling.

danna

“Never Happened Before”

What are you experiences with www.DancesWithHorses.com?

Let us know: Clare@danceswithhorses.net