I bought a horse from Danna Findley of "Dances with Horses" which seemed like the right horse for us, but had some issues during the pre-purchase vet exam.
The horse appeared to gait and move well otherwise. Ms. Findley and her companion swore that they had taken this horse on all-day trail rides and this horse had always been sound. While at this animal sanctuary, I noticed a pair of wolves who were dripping blood from their ears. The owner, Ms. Findley, insisted these wounds could not be treated because the wolves would not allow anyone to touch them, and they would have to be tranquilized and this would be too traumatic. Yet they would not heal because of the flies constantly bothering the wounds. I wondered about the whole facility after witnessing this. In retrospect, I should have considered that more.
My vet scrutinized the horse, Patriot Tattoo War Chief, a pinto Missouri Fox Trotter, for osme time, but could not determine the reason for the horse's odd issue: occasionally buckling fetlocks. Still, the owner insisted that this was a horse ridden often on the trails and had even recently been on a weekend ride in an especially rugged nearby park. I bought the horse on Mrs. Findley's word that the horse was sound. And the horse did appear to be sound--that day.
Of course, when we got home the story was different. My daughter just could not ride this horse. He tripped constantly, wouldn't hold his gait, seemed like he was always falling, and was generally too hard to ride. She was often dumped by the horse refusing to move on. When we found a progressional gaited- horse trainer to help us, she explained that the horse was lame and called in her Vet, Dr Rymal. He diagnosed the gelding with "contraction of the Superficial Ligaments", a condition developed at a young age. The horse was six, so, this had happened years earlier.
Dr Rymal explained that this horse could not be safely ridden and was not stable enough to ride. There was no way this horse could have gone on a long trail ride, let alone on a ride with difficult terrain or an overnight ride. I have no idea how this horse looked better on the day he was scrutinized by the first vet. But he cannot maintain his gait for more than a few minutes, especially in a circular ring. When he is in pain, or pushed to far, he refuses to move on.
In short, we spent a lot of money on a horse that can't be safely ridden- and is actually unstable and dangerous. This horse should be in a sanctuary. However, currently, we are his sanctuary. We can't in good conscience sell this horse, so we are caring for his needs as responsible owners.
Unfortunately, Mrs. Findley, of "Dances with Horses," or "Lord of the Reins", the official sanctuary owner, didn't appear to see things the same way.
Dances With Horses Reviews
I bought a horse from Danna Findley of "Dances with Horses" which seemed like the right horse for us, but had some issues during the pre-purchase vet exam.
The horse appeared to gait and move well otherwise. Ms. Findley and her companion swore that they had taken this horse on all-day trail rides and this horse had always been sound. While at this animal sanctuary, I noticed a pair of wolves who were dripping blood from their ears. The owner, Ms. Findley, insisted these wounds could not be treated because the wolves would not allow anyone to touch them, and they would have to be tranquilized and this would be too traumatic. Yet they would not heal because of the flies constantly bothering the wounds. I wondered about the whole facility after witnessing this. In retrospect, I should have considered that more.
My vet scrutinized the horse, Patriot Tattoo War Chief, a pinto Missouri Fox Trotter, for osme time, but could not determine the reason for the horse's odd issue: occasionally buckling fetlocks. Still, the owner insisted that this was a horse ridden often on the trails and had even recently been on a weekend ride in an especially rugged nearby park. I bought the horse on Mrs. Findley's word that the horse was sound. And the horse did appear to be sound--that day.
Of course, when we got home the story was different. My daughter just could not ride this horse. He tripped constantly, wouldn't hold his gait, seemed like he was always falling, and was generally too hard to ride. She was often dumped by the horse refusing to move on. When we found a progressional gaited- horse trainer to help us, she explained that the horse was lame and called in her Vet, Dr Rymal. He diagnosed the gelding with "contraction of the Superficial Ligaments", a condition developed at a young age. The horse was six, so, this had happened years earlier.
Dr Rymal explained that this horse could not be safely ridden and was not stable enough to ride. There was no way this horse could have gone on a long trail ride, let alone on a ride with difficult terrain or an overnight ride. I have no idea how this horse looked better on the day he was scrutinized by the first vet. But he cannot maintain his gait for more than a few minutes, especially in a circular ring. When he is in pain, or pushed to far, he refuses to move on.
In short, we spent a lot of money on a horse that can't be safely ridden- and is actually unstable and dangerous. This horse should be in a sanctuary. However, currently, we are his sanctuary. We can't in good conscience sell this horse, so we are caring for his needs as responsible owners.
Unfortunately, Mrs. Findley, of "Dances with Horses," or "Lord of the Reins", the official sanctuary owner, didn't appear to see things the same way.