I purchased a Paso Fino from the Stoney Fork Paso Finos in New Bern, North Carolina. My family drove over 21 hours because of fear we would lose our down payment of over $3000.00 due to non communication with the owners. I sent many emails that were not responded to. Over time I became deeply concerned that I was going to lose alot of money and I had looked forward to getting this particular horse. The contract for the horse stated the horse would not bit or kick. This is true the horse has not bitten or kicked at me and is well trained but, in poor physical health due to her nose being broken and causing severe breathing problems as well as a former hock condition. Upon arrival I met the owners who seemed disorinented like they were not expecting my arrival though I emailed continually. I felt a bit uncomfortable and little time was taken with me. I have never learned how to use the unusal tack that is not common to our area we have primarily quarter horses.
Upon leaving it took several men to get the horse in the trailer. They stated I was not to stop and drive straight through. I was concerned about this statement since our trip was almost 21 hours in a trailer. We received a clean bill of health from a local vet. Oddly we received a phone call as we were leaving from North Carolina and stopped to eat a meal asking us why we had stopped that soon and we must drive straight through.
My little horse's back leg was swollen and shaking the last several hours and we were extremely stressed about what to do and why the insistence not to stop. Several days after I returned home I immediately had my vet look over the horse. He was furious when he saw my horse and said I should return the horse immediately. He said I should sue. I was in dismay! My horse's nose had been broken and the cartlidge had grown thick causing her unable to breath properly. The serious surgery would cost no less than $4000.00 locally. My horse according to my vet who has a long lived reputation as the best large animal and horse vet in our area stated her hocks (2) were swollen from a condition that he could help with but it was not advisable at the price I paid for the horse to have kept the horse had I known. I did not return the horse. First, and initially because the trip was expensive and costly and time consuming as well as draining. Second, I would have to return the horse in a state I was not a resident or citizen of. Third, I doubted they would reimburse me. But, finally I came to love the little horse for a great personality. I am currently working with a specialist at Texas A & M in Bryan, Texas to get her a surgery that is affordable in order to eventually ride her. I have been warned by my vet to never ride her more that 20 minutes at time. Therefore I am simply waiting until the hopeful sucessful surgery of my horse. I have come to dearly love my horse and yes she if the horse for me. But, in retrospect the owners were abit deceitful and frankly I believe if I did not persist in going there I would not have received my horse or my money back. I would beware of the owners they are a bit unscrupulous and whoever their vet is according to my vet he downright gave his signature on a horse that he very well knew did not have a clean bill of health. According to my vet an experienced rider would have immediately picked this up. I would note when I asked about getting an independent vet to look at the horse is when I began to receive less correspondence from them. Lesson learned use your own paid vet to look at a horse before purchasing. If I had paid for this prior to signing a contract then I would not have purchased the horse due to her health problems. But, after knowing her I could never return her she is precious to me.
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