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.
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