Brenda Estes -- Once bitten, twice shy! Brenda sold me a lame horse which I later confirmed with my vet. Unfortunately this was after I gave a $400.00 deposit which she refused to return. Internet

I was in the market for a horse and found Brenda Estes site through Equine.com.  This site directed me to Brenda's Facebook link which promoted her organization; West Coast Race Horse Rescue.  I contacted her via Facebook and explained that I was interested in "Our Man Luke."  She sent me a couple of videos of him that showed him in very good condition.  He was very young and running around his corral looking very cute and handsome. 

Naturally, I fell in love with him and wanted to see him as soon as possible.  When I asked Brenda for an appointment, we were able to get together right away.  I had to meet her at a friend's house since her house was 'under water", as she put it.  I noticed that "Our Man Luke" did not look as young as he did in the video and when I asked Brenda when the video was made that she sent me, she said it was only done a year ago.  It didn't seem right, but I am inexperienced at buying horses so I didn't push it.

When we were walking across the pasture with "Our Man Luke", I asked Brenda if I could ride him to see how he rode and make sure I liked him.  She told me that the people they were staying with didn't allow other people to ride their horses there.  She didn't offer any other alternative.  She quickly added that the owner's wife wanted "Our Man Luke" and that I might want to jump on the opportunity to get him before she did. 

Being naive, anxious and way too trusting of Brenda, I let what she said about "Out Man Luke" being a steal, being sweet-natured, being a good riding horse all influence me into buying a horse that may have been sweet, but was not a good riding horse.  She allowed me to groom him in the stall and I noticed that he was favoring his left, back hoof.  She simply said that he was recovering from an abcess.

I gave a deposit of $400.00 that day to hold him.  She insisted that she keep him another month to put weight on him since they "had to take him back from the previous adopters."  I agreed.  When she delivered him, I thought everything was fine.  However, when I went on my first ride with him I found out about his leg and hoof problems.  I took him down my road and when I tried to get him to come back to the house, he simply refused. 

At first I thought he was just being stubbord.  I had my neighbor take a look at him who has a lot more experience with horses.  He explained to me that my horse is showing blatant signs of lameness.  Upon learning this, I immediately called my vet who examined him and confirmed that my horse has difinate signs of lameness in both hind legs and recommends xrays in order to assess the extent of the damage to the hind legs.

I reported this back to Brenda Estes.  I was extremely troubled and upset to know that this woman had knowingly sold me a lame horse.  Brenda has 25 years of experience in the horse business and I only have a few years of which none include owning a horse!  She clearly took advantage of my good nature and good will.  She was furious when I told her I had stopped payment on the balance of the payment for "Our Man Luke."  I ask you this, was I to add insult to injury and let her rip me off all the way?" 

I have since asked Brenda to return the money and make things right.  I have offered to give her proof from my vet to show her that the horse is lame, which she already knows with her 25 years of experience.  She absolutely refuses to call me back even though I have repeatedly attempted to contact her.  I would hope I could get my money back since I have nothing to show for the $400.00 I gave her and I also hope no one else ever gets ripped off by this woman.