Forest Ridge Farm, Forest Ridge Horses Connie Wesley Tommy SmithAshleyAbigail BUYER BEWARE! Selling horses they really don't know as CHILD SAFE! Once they have your money, you will NEVER get it back!! Science Hill Kentucky

I have thought about this situation and really have been so very hurt that someone would do this.   To be so dishonest,  and hurtful with their statements.....just for revenge because they are angry.  I have attempted to copy and paste several TESTIMONIALS from families we have worked with over the past eight years.  I have been unable to do so.  I ask that you go to our website to view them.

We have one family in Florida with EIGHT of our horses ----six of which were purchased by phone - site unseen.  We have several families with 2 - 4 - of our horses!  I ask that you go to our website and read the many beautiful testimonials.  

The vendictive comments by Mrs. ____ in Ga. do not define who I am, our Forest Ridge Farm, and all that we do here -----these Testimonials - and all the families we have worked with ........for the past EIGHT YEARS!!!! -----they are who define me ----our integrity ----how we always strive to do the right thing......even with those who are unwilling to compromise.   We have sold hundreds of horses all over the U.S., Alaska Canada, - and Germany.  Most paid for by bank wire.....site unseen.   "That is trust".  And we have worked so very hard to "earn that trust".......only to have one person....one person.....!!!! -----"try" to destroy all that we have done and hope to do in the future for families who need help in finding a safe horse/pony for their family.  I ask that you  "Please"....see our Testimonials on our website: ---as well as!!  Please see the ad on the mare ("Sold Horses") -in question with all her photos and videos!  

I have home movies...taken...with small children riding this same mare! For over an entire year!!

forestridgefarm.com

(See:   "Testimonials" )

We are a family with compassion......several times over the years we have worked with  families that have a child at home ill...or single Moms ---all struggling to get their child a pony/horse.   I have several times sold at our cost -----paid the transport fee to get the horse/pony to the family - and financed it all - interest free - NO DOWN PAYMENT ------with low monthly payments $50- $75.   Not one family has let me down with paying their balance in full!   Their gratitude?  There are no words.   How it has Blessed my life?  There are no words.  Who else ---do you know ----would do this?  For total strangers!!!

***Note:   I want to stipulate that as of 2015, we are not members of the BBB of Lexington. Due to the accident -----and the fees being almost $500, we chose to wait to renew our membership.  Our BBB membership will be renewed in September, 2015.  At that time, if you wish, you can see our record and that we have held an A rating the entire time.  

Just breaks my heart that "one person" can be so hurtful....and they can get away with it.   I just couldn't let it go.   Life comes in circles....and it will come back to her ........ as it does everyone who intentionally hurts others out of anger and/or revenge.  I thank you for reading my replies......

By ConnieWesley - Forest Ridge Farm:

In my answer to Mrs. _____ complaint submitted on 4/9/15, I mis-worded a sentence stating - "I do not sell horses to make money" ------Of course we try to make money.  That is what any business does.   But I would NEVER lie about a horse just to make a sale. And for the 8 unhappy people, including Mrs. _____,  in the eight years of doing what we do, -----there are hundreds that I value and have bonded with that will be lifetime friendships.   With them as well as their children that I have been SO Blessed to have worked with.

Regarding my financial status, I think it was very mean-spirited of Mrs.____ to disclose something I shared with her because I wanted her to understand why - when Betty got hurt and we didn't get her sold immediately after returning back home as hoped, - I wanted to be totally honest with her as to why I could not send her another horse free of charge.  She has taken that and tried to ruin my reputation, my character, and everything our business stands for -  with her vendictive statements in her complaint.   I am not angry --- anyone would be - but I am not.  I am just SO grateful that I am the person I am - and not someone who does what Mrs. ___ has done.

Also, as for Betty's weight on arrival to her home in Woodbine, Ga.??? ---- I have VIDEOS and photos taken the very day we loaded Betty on the transport trailer as I do every one of my horses. when picked up, I take a video loading, - photos - and I text that to the family waiting on the other end and let them know what time they left.  I do this for the family waiting - they appreciate receiving these - it is an exciting time for them!!!   But also, due to ths situation?  I have proof that each horse was sound and healthy when put on that trailer!!!  I guess Mrs. ____ forgot about my doing this.  I sent her the v/p taken loading Betty the day she left!!!!!  As I do every family!!!

I have the proof that Betty was a beautiful mare - healthy weight - when loaded on that transport trailer - I still have the photos and videos when loaded on the transport trailer.  I will be happy to send them to anyone upon request.  This alone proves that statements in Mrs. ____ complaint were not the truth.   I can also give you the name and contact number of my transporter.  I thank each of you for taking the time to read my long reply.  This is SO hurtful.....and I hope each can see what is going on with this situation.

My name is Connie Wesley. Our website is:  Forestridgefarm.com.  For the past 8 years we have worked with families across the U.S., Canada, Alaska, Germany - with finding and matching them with the right horse for what they want and need.  We specialize in finding safe family horses for Special Needs Children and Adults.  We also sell to Beginner Riders - and the horses that do not work out for those type of riders, we sell to Experienced riders.   We have our own Temperament Scale - as well as, our own Type of Rider scale on every horse ad on our website to better describe each horse and to hopefully help each family decide if that horse would be right for them.

We do not buy from sales.  We buy from families.  We keep each horse here minimum two months! with extensive testing -------Betty had been with us for a year because the girls loved her and enjoyed her.  I have Many! photos and videos of my granddaughter and her friends riding Betty last year.   Had Betty been the horse Mrs.____described - my granddaughter, who is a timid rider, would never have been allowed around Betty - much less ride her with all her friends.

The woman in Woodbine, Ga., Mrs. ____, has filed a complaint stating that the horse in question was not as decribed.  We had Betty here for a year.  All that year, my granddaughter and her friends, as well as cousins, - ages 5 - 13 ---- (all of which have never ridden) would come to the stables and ride.  The two horses they rode would be my granddaughter's horse, Daisy, and Betty.   At times, they rode both of them double and sometimes 3.  

There are 14 videos of this mare on youtube.com.   Please type in:   conniesue0202 Betty.   The videos speak for themselves as far as Betty's behavior.   Many photos and videos are also on Betty's ad on our website. Click on "Sold Horses" ---- and scroll down to Betty.  On our website, we also have Many!  Many! Beautiful testimonials.  "Please" take the time to read them.  We were members of the Better Business Bureau, Lexington, Ky., until, I believe the last of 2014.  You will see that we had two complaints, both resolved - "and we have an A rating".

As far as the complaint that was filed by Mrs.______ of Woodbine, Ga., ---- in communcating with her prior to the purchase, she explained she had a very noisy, "unusually noisy" place to ride.  I felt Betty would be the best for her.  I am sure many of you who have experience with horess, - realize that many times horses can change due to the rider for many possible reasons.

I send an attachment to every family I work with called "on Arrival Of Your New Horse" explaining how family farm horses can be traumatized with transporting them.  It gives advice to do your ground work for 7 - 10 days with taking time to build the trust "for both the rider and the horses" - as well as the emotional bonding.   Suggestions are - go for walks with the horse......groom them...."just spend time with them".....allow them to get used to their new surroundings.   I have always told my families to watch the eyes.  They will have that fearful, cautious look on arrival and as time passes, the trust builds, and "the horse Feels Safe"! -----their eyes will return to the soft, humble, trusting look.

I do everything possible to try to make sure the transition for both the horse and new family is pleasurable.  I cannot help it if there are people out there who do not take the time to do their ground work.  Horses have emotions just like us.  "They have to trust and they have to feel safe" with the person they are with.  Whether or not this was the case, I do not know.  But I know Betty was Very unhappy for some reason because her behavior as described by Mrs. ___ was truly not the Betty we had here for over a year!

Mrs.____ purchased Betty in June.  She then called me describing her experience with Betty and wanting to return her in August.     "Mrs. ____ ask if I would sell Betty for her".  I explained in detail about not being sure how long it would take.  That I would have to charge boarding   as we treat every horse here, sold or not, the same. We continue riding them every other day - (paying riders by the hour) -----as well as 

worming, shoeing, etc.  I explained to Mrs.___ that it doesn't take long to mount up in expenses.  I advised her to try to sell Betty herself because I reminded her she only paid $1800 for Betty, and if we did not get her sold soon, the expenses would surpass her $1800.00.  She insisted on returning Betty to us.  I explained to her that I would try to find what she wanted.  She expressed that she wanted an older horse. I told her I would try to find one - that it could take time.  

I explained I was not going to buy a horse today and ship the horse to her next week (which is what most people out there selling horses would have done).  That we keep our horses minimum two months to find out if they have any problems.    Betty arrived back to our home in August.   After about three days of being here, Abigail and the girls saddled and rode Betty.  She did not show any of the behaviors that Mrs. ___ described.  It was unbelievable.  We were expecting something totally different with what Ms.___ described to me.  I could not help but wonder ---about - what "really happened".........

Betty did hurt her shoulder.  We spent So much time! Daily!!! ----walking her slow - leading her - massaging her with linament - plus the vet bill & meds - and I was paying Abigail and others by the hour to help me with her care.  She did get well and I sold her for $2500 which can be verified.  With all of the above care, boarding, 2 x shoeing, 2 x worming, hours of 

therapy - The amount Mrs.____ owed me was over the $2500.00.  I explained that we charged $400 month boarding prior to her shipping Betty back home.   With "all of the above care" - It doesn't take long to eat up $1800.00.  I did recoup my loss - but with doing that - I could not just send Mrs. ____ another horse for nothing.  That is what she expected.   And to be honest?  The day we rode Betty after her return?.....and she was the same ole Betty we had for a year??   I felt that if she could not ride Betty......whatever horse I sent to her, she was going to be unhappy.

As for my fianancial situation?  Yes, Tommy was almost killed by a drunk driver - (driver was arrested that night) -driving a semi loaded with groceries on I-75 ----on 2/27/12, when the drunk driver crossed three lanes (according to several families following behind) and ran over our dually and six horse show trailer - with two horses on it -----totally destroying the truck and totaling the trailer.  

It is by God's Grace that Tommy lived.   Tommy lives with excruciating pain due to his injuries.   He has been unable to work since and a lawsuit is pending.  It has now been 3- 1/2 years since the accident and trial "has finally!!!!" been set for this coming Sept. 1st.  So yes, things have been difficult.  But I would NEVER!!!!! sell a horse "just to make money".   I was brought up by my parents that you always do the right thing even when it hurts.  Yes, we have been hurting, but I would never inflict our pain onto someone else "just to make money".

The only thing I can say to her accusation regarding this,..... is to ask each of you to "Please" go to our website and read our "About Us" page.   "Please" read all of our beautiful testimonials  - !!!! ---and I have So Many that I have not taken the time to post!!!  I have lifetime friendships - families that I love.....and we continue to stay in touch over the years.   I am sorry that Mrs. ____ is not one of them - but sometimes when a person does not get things "exactly as they want" - they turn mean-spirited and vendictive.  I am sorry this has happened.........but I stand by my decision.

With all of this being said, - again - you can contact the BBB of Lexington or bring up their site.  We have an "A" rating with only two complaints - both being resolved - in the entire 8 years of doing what we do here.

And "Please" - I am sure when you read the Many!!!  testimonials (one family has--- !!! Eight--!! of our horses - all but the first two shipped site unseen) !   And Several having two to four  -  all purchased over the years - hopefully --------you will understand what is going on with this situation.   

Respectfully Submitted,

Connie Wesley

Forest Ridge Farm, Science Hill, Ky. 42553

(My contact information is on our website....  "thank you"