Bianca Berktold Berktold DressageBerktolddressage.com dressage horses for sale, bianca berktold, horse sales, wellington trainer wellington, lake worth. loxahatchee Florida

I want to thank Bianca for the great horse that she has provided me. Unfortunatly when dealing with live animals you must do your due deligence before hand or ask for a trial period. You can't complain after several months because who knows what you have done to the horse that may have caused problems.

In several occasions I have purchased fish at Petco for my aquarium and they died within a day. They have a no return policy on fish because who knows if I did something after purchase to make them die. It is the same situtation. This is normal when you deal with live animals.

You can see a pic of my horse attached.

I had a totally different experience than the person that posted this report. I just wanted to add my comments so people know how happy I am with my horse purchase. Unfortunatly, when dealing with live animals things like this can happen. An animal can get sick just a few days after purhase or it can get injured. There is no way to tell if the cause is from before or after the purchase, so the purchaser is always taking a risk when entering such a transaction.

The purchaser must do their own due dullegence and have the horse checked out by a professional. I do not agree with the complainer here that they should be refunded after they have had the horse for 2 months. Maybe one week would have been reasonable, but not 2 months!

I am attaching a pic of the horse I purchased. Enjoy!

My wife and I travelled down to Florida in the beginning of last year to take a look at a horse that Bianca Berktold had listed for sale. When we arrived I noticed that her facility was undergoing improvements. There was a new barn being completed and was already occupied by some horses.

I am a Lieutenant for the NYC Fire Department and work in the building inspections unit, so I am fully aware of any dangerous or unlawful conditions that would warrant inspection or enforcement. I found none at her facility. In fact, I noticed that she had fans placed in each stall to provide air circulation for the horses. The stalls and common isle areas were all clean and free of debris or dirt. There was fresh water and hay for all of the horses. 

There were about 10 horses that I could see at her facility at that time, and I imagine that these horses need veterinary care. With horses being boarded, sold and or exchanged, it is reasonable to understand that it is not uncommon to see a veterinarian at a facillity often, especially during the spring and fall seasons.  I live close to Belmont racetrack and I understand that they employ several full time equine veterinarians. 

I also noticed that the outdoor paddocks at her facility were all clean and well maintained. As well as the outdoor arena.  Nothing remarkable, dangerous or dirty noted. 

We ultimately decided to purchase the horse we were there to see. We were offered the opportunity to bring in a veterinarian of our choice for a full pre-purchase examination. And we were not rushed into the sale in any manner. In our experience, Bianca was totally professional and helpful with our questions and concerns regarding purchasing and owning a horse. 

It has been over a year since we purchased our horse and can report that she is healthy, full of life and is moving wonderfully. 

We have been down to visit Bianca a couple of times since our purchase and can say that her facility remains well maintained and is a safe and healthy facility.

Thank you Bianca for all of your help!

Satisfied Customer.

Bianca Berktold responds as follows:   

1.      The complaining party purchased the horse on April 2, 2013 in Florida after (as she admits) deciding not to conduct a full pre-purchase veterinary examination.  She was offered the opportunity to do so and declined.  That stated, I was not and am not aware of any issues with the horse at or before the purchase. 

2.      The new owner/complaining party picked up the horse and had sole possession of it for various periods of time.  At no time did she attempt to return the horse because of any claimed lameness or defect during the ensuing months. I have texts from the complaining party stating her enjoyment of and happiness with the horse                 

3.      On June 30, 2013, the complaining party showed the horse at a level 3.1 dressage test, where she achieved a score of 64.474 before a judge.  The complaining party sent me a copy of the score and test on July 1, 2013 to state to me how happy she was with the horse.  The complaining party rode the horse in that test and received a solid score;  had the horse had any lameness issues, the rider and horse  would have been excused by the judge before the test was complete and the complaining party would have expressed unhappiness then

4.      Horses are living beings - their condition changes over time and with use, depnding on their feeding, care, footing ridden upon, and likewise can be injured for reasons having nothing to do with fault or any pre-existing condition.  That being said, the horse is question was sold in sound condition and apparantly contnued that way even 90 days after purchase at the June 30 test.       

5.     In the equine industry, it is the practice that a buyer cannot return a horse purchased merely because it develops a problem later - unless the parties originally contract for that ability - because there simply are too many variables with a live animal and its care.  Here, the complaining party passed on an opportunity to fully vet the horse, purchased the horse "AS IS" (which she admits) and now complains of a problem with the horse 90 days or more after purchase.  Whether or not there is a problem with the horse, the time for the complaining party to look to me for solving that problem has passed.  Her demands simply are not reasonable.     

6.     The complaining customer is a repeat client of mine and by that fact alone has found doing business with me in the past to be acceptable to her, or she would not have repeatedly done so.

7.     The complaining party actually accepted the offer of the first owner to re-purchase the horse, but then the complaining party changed her mind.  She obviously is now frustrated with the entire situation, but that does not equate to any worngful or unethical conduct by myself.                                                                      

8.     Those who know me and have done business with me are aware of my high ethical standards.  If you are a potential, new customer reading the complaining party's statement and have any concerns, please contact me and I will be pleased to discuss it in greater detail with you. I am happy to provide references if you request as well.

9.     And yes, all barns contain flies.  We take great pains to maintain a healthy, safe and secure facility for all horses we own or are in our care.  But a fly or two might be around. 

10.   I wish the complaining party the very best for her future endeavors and hope she finds the horse she is looking for.