Prior to seeing Grace, she sent pix and a video, told me she's thin due to having a foal pulled a month and a half ago. When I arrived, they got her out of the pasture very easily, the horses were all at the gate. Tacked her up in the round pen, she was ridden, all went well. They pointed out girth gall "due to having saddling her wet a few days ago, set the girth behind the sores. She stood to mount, all that. She was sluggish in the pen with me, with the heat and sun, understandable. Another mare was out of my price range, they pulled out a pretty chestnut for me to try. Typical redhead (no offense Lytha), she had opinions, I'd done that route before. There was something about Grace demeanor that kept pulling me to her. I asked to ride her out of the pen, she perked right up, I was asked if I'd like to go on the trails with her and off we went. She did awesome, calm, responsive...
I believe I mentioned during the ride we chatted about why I wanted gaited and Camryn's rough trot came up. She was so excited I had a Haflinger for sale, as she had one and wanted another to drive as a team. Even brought her Hafy out, showed me her cart...Didn't hurt that we both showed dogs and had mutual friends. The people were older, downsizing, but really wanted another Haflinger so she'd simply sell Grace 8 yr old son to make up for adding another...I wanted to sleep on it. Next day, I knew I wanted Grace, sent pix of Camryn...arranged to take Cam to them, and I'd pick up Grace.
A few days ago, guess who I see for sale on Dreamhorse with a name change, not even two weeks after they get her. CAMRYN! Horse traders of the worst kind. I had to stew on it a bit before posting.
Thankfully, they have her priced to high for slaughter. But, they've got her as a former lesson horse, great with kids, yada, yada, yada. She is great with kids, adores them, she did give lessons for three whole weeks "to my ballzy 10 year old neighbor girl." She's far to pushy for a child with no hutzpa to manage on the ground, and she merely tolerates arenas. I'm so praying she goes to good people, that she doesn't end up as a normal child's horse only to be resold once again. I would've bought Grace without the trade and had let them know that. I so feel that I let her down. Poor Camryn.
And Grace, well from my posts you can tell she's not the horse I trail rode. Her personality is the same and getting even better. The galls were more than likely from having the shit rode out of her earlier in the day. The foal was more than likely very recently pulled, she'd quite probably been being underfed to get her dried up faster, shit they'd probably only had her a week! she is on the ground the sweetest thing, she understands a lot of groundwork and/or picks up quickly what's she doesn't. I spoke with my trainer today, she feels that as Grace is so great on the ground with a steady personality, we can most likely work with her. I'll be working on trailer loading this week (mine is claustrophobic) next month we'd already planned to work with her there weekly. If after a month, she's not progressing, she'll board there and undergo daily training. After that, we'll wait and see. I've really been growing to love her, so don't plan to give it up without giving her every chance I can.
Poor, poor Camryn, I was only her second owner as I'd gotten her from her breeder. Now, she may begin a life of being passed around like a six pack.
I am sorry to hear you stumbled upon yet another dishonest horse trader...have no idea how these people live with themselves. It is so wrong at so many levels to misrepresent a horse. Truly hope Camryn finds a forever home. Perhaps the breeder can help since they know other haffie lovers & (ideally) care where their offspring go. Sounds like you've got a good plan of action with Grace.
ReplyDeleteNot the breeder as they've been out of horses for a while now, I do have someone on the side checking about. While I'd soooo love calling the trader out, I know it won't do Camryn any favors if I did.
DeleteAgreed, that never ends well when broadcast publicly.
DeleteOh no how awful. Sadly all too common.
ReplyDeleteNot letting the Grace part get me down. It's the Camryn part that's so upsetting
DeleteSome people just truly suck ass but I believe in bad karma. Those kind of people will get it stuck to them some way. I learned my lesson with goats a few years ago when I sold some to a shady guy who I thought was legit. Don't let it eat away at you and I too hope Camryn finds a good home. I had to have the "fat" talk with Dixie the other day.....almost 42 lbs!!
ReplyDeleteI was in your neck of the woods this afternoon. Hadn't realized I would be or I'd have called & maybe visited. Give Dixie hugs & less cookies
DeleteDo you have to have your horses passported?
ReplyDeleteApparently not, I've heard the term on various blogs but, have never known actually what it means.
DeleteEuropean horses are required to have passports. My Baasha came here fully without passport. His brand, quarantine docs, and AHA papers allowed him to be imported without extra stress, but the customs agent came to my barn on arrival to be absolutely sure it was the horse it was supposed to be, and not a disease-carrier.
ReplyDeleteSince it was Autumn and his hair hid his brand, we had to wet it down to see it. The customs agent accepted it.
From what I observe, my donkey and horse passports contain medical records regarding immunizations, and then there's a long section for transport stamps over country lines, like my American passport. The passport also is my horse's pedigree (stated within), identification marks, including whorls, and registration (stated within).
All equines in the UK are required to have one. It must accompany the equine whenever travelling, for all vet visits and be available for inspection whenever asked for by the powers that be. I think you must produce it within 3 hours if asked for. I've never been asked. Zoe's has her breeding, she is registered with the Dales Society. You have to sign to say whether you want them to enter the food chain or not. If this isn't signed then there are limits on medication the vet can prescribe. It contains details of all previous owner, her microchip details (now a legal requirement for all equines and dogs) Details of all vaccinations and all medications she has had prescribed. It's a way folk get to contact previous owners, just thought Camryns new owners might contact you but if you don't have them that's not going to happen that way.
DeleteInteresting. Wish the US did similar...
DeleteWow, that would simplify things so much. Wonder why we don't do this in the states? Camryn's new people can find me via her coggins test. Since I had it done the results ( required in most boarding barns) have my address. I'm hoping they contact me, would really like to know where she goes.
ReplyDeleteSorry to say it's very doubtful a trader would care enough to contact you, but hopefully the new owner would. Is she registered? Maybe you can track her that way? Truly hoping this all has a happy ending.
DeleteI'm gonna guess the reason we don't have them in the states is because horses cross international borders less often? Or, oh, I know! Cuz Americans are anti-bureaucracy.
ReplyDeleteMara's passport was a replacement, meaning at some point it was lost or perhaps never ordered. So I had no way of tracing her history with it. Mag's only has the entry of his first owner in Poland, the dealer I bought him from is not listed. I'm technically supposed to do an official transfer of ownership but that costs money and they can't force me to, as long as I have a bill of sale and the passport it's OK. And I'm anti-bureaucracy: ) (But no worries, if I were to sell him I'd tell the buyer where I got him.)
Here in the UK you have 30 days to change the ownership details on the passport or risk a heavy fine. A vet can refuse to prescribe medication if the passport isn't available. Transporters will not transport without a passport but can in an emergency to a vet hospital with the vets consent. Interestingly passports are not considered proof of ownership need a bill of sale for that. Horses in the UK rarely cross international borders. They were introduced by an EU directive to stop various medications entering the food chain and a way of dealing with potential outbreaks of disease.
DeleteI am so, so sorry about your Camryn; I truly feel for you on this. I hope to God that Camryn does go to someone who really wants her, & that they DO contact you. At least you'd get some peace of mind from knowing.
ReplyDelete