S&J Horseshoeing Sold us a lame horse. Said it is sound and would make a great gaming horse for 4H. He told us at first that he would trade her in for another horse. Then His wife changed thier mind. She said they have no horses to trade and our vet is crazy. Chandler Minnesota

I have been looking for a 4H gaming horse for my 9 year old who is a fair rider. We went to a horse auction this winter just before xmas and cam across this couple that had several horses at the sale. The horses they had there were young but looked good and he told us that they were only green broke, and he had a beter horse at his house for us to look at.

WE followed them home and took a look at her and rode her around it was a very cold day but she seemed like a good horse. My daughter fell in love with her and we talked to a couple of other horse owners and came back to this horse. So for xmas we went and bought her.

We were told she was ridden for a bible camp and was a great horse. She is very mellow and this we liked. She is only 4 years old and very quiet. So we figured this would get us many good years of 4H out of her.

About a month later one morning she had a swollen fetlock and would limp to the water and just stand there. So we had a vet come out and look at her.
He came that day and sent us to a large animal vet in Harrisburg S.D. So we took her up the next morning. The diagnosis is not good. He said there was much arthritis in her fetlocks and that this horse was lame for years. it was a developmental injury and it would have taken surgery at a young age to correct. She was bone spurs on the joint and torn ligament from the bad growth of her bones. The vet thinks maybe with care she could be used for a therapy horse for children. She will only walk slowly and never run.

We contacted the sellers and they told us that they would trade a gelding for her. When we called baack to set up a date to trade the wife Jenny told us that they would not trade or buy her back. That the horse was fine when they sold her to us. They told us she was a perfect kid safe horse and was a good trail horse. I told her we were not looking for a trail horse that I told her we were looking for a gaming horse. In all the conversations we had with then they knew this. We gave themn the Vets name and they told us that he was crazy. They never had any problems with her. The vet said they did because he could tell by the x-trays that this was a disease that was going on for a lot of years. He ligament gave out fron the years of the bone being off center. There was many bone spurs telling him this is an old growth.

He told us any good horse breeder could have seen this without an xray. She had many bites on her body because of the other horses being mean to her and her being unable to runaway. I only hope that these people do not abuse any more horses. Or sell any lame animals to little girls or boys who need a great horse to grow up with. this is just a shanme.

My daughter fell in love with her and we just hate to think that there are 32 other horses over there that will get only mediocer care. This horse could have been usesd in their bible camp for little children who are frightened by horses so they cold have gotten use out of her. but to us there is none. We will try and donate her to a reputable therapy stable or keep her for a companion. although she is not liked by our other horses and needs to be kept alone in a pen to stay safe. She will get lots of love here but My little girls will not be able to be in games with her.

We spent all the money we had saved up for a horse on this one and now it looks like we are stuck with a big bill for medical and still no games for my daughter.

If a person won't let you take the horse to a vet before purchase for a once over then keep looking. We found out the hard way.

I geuss you take test drive and mechanic why not the horse???? Please do this before paying $$$$ for any animal.

Laurel
marshall, Minnesota
U.S.A.