Test rode April 8th
Picked up April 10th
Moved him out to the barn April 23rd after a week and 1/2 quarantine
Has shoes done April 15th -this is going to go slowly due to severe cracks and splits in his front.
Vet appt for his teeth/sheath cleaning/update on vaccines 22nd.
Met his original owner (Sam-had him for 4 years) on the 16th of April-obtained vet records and had a long talk with him and his wife.
Emails: The bulk of my communication and notes are in email, I have left out names where appropriate but here goes.
(context: I was researching D as much as I could, and a soon as I got a straightforward answer from the owner's daughter, while obtaining a legal bill of sale, I began checking in on sources of potential information)
Hello Ash,
Sam is the past owner of Diamond he can be reached by phone at ......
and by email at .....
He got Diamond from a family in the Clear Lake area who had been using him for riding lessons
for their daughter. Diamond had bucked on her. Sam has owned him
for 3-4 years and my friend ----- worked with him for Sam.
I got involved due to Sam and his wife wanting something smaller to ride so they are leasing my haflingers
and needed to find a home for Diamond and a nice TW/TB cross gelding. They found a lady who decided to board him here at our ranch and
work with both him and our instructors but she had family issues that took away all her money she had set aside
for horse ownership. During the time she boarded here she worked with Diamond about once a week and had no
issues with him. My trainer ----- (insert horrible reigning trainer who tried to yank his face off) took him over so we could see what his abilities were in finding a new rider
and we had no issues with him. We have video and pictures of w/t/c and ----- found him well suited as a riding horse.
Before Diamond came to our ranch Sam took him to Cottonwood Vet to get his yearly shots.
We de-wormed him and had his hooves trimmed for his first owner/boarder and then de-wormed/
trimmed him again before ----- started working him.
He went from stall to pasture and back with no issues. Easy to catch, halter, bathe and tie.
Sam brought him over in a livestock type trailer. He rode in our 4 horse slant and was loaded into
----- friends slant trailer all with no issues.
The only potential issue I know with Diamond is being told he may buck.
-----rode him and (owner I got him from) rode him here with ----- and then with our other instructor
-----.
We saw nothing of that behavior. He was a very nice gentle riding horse and pasture horse.
He was pastured and turned out with up to 9 other horses. Both geldings and mares. All ages
(2-24 years of age).
I am very happy he has a new home with a person taking the time to get to know him!
I am very happy he has a new home with a person taking the time to get to know him!
I will be in touch with ----- and ----- as they have not finished paying for Diamond
and so don't have ownership of him at the current time. I do have a written signed contract with them
They don't have the right to take money for a horse they do not yet own.
Neither Sam nor I want anything but a great home for
him so don't worry about him not being yours.
In my opinion I know Sam would be happy to give him to you and he is still the legal owner unless
they pay for the rest of the contract.
.
Thanks
---- (seller)
(First contact with Sam)
OK,, Here's the continuing story of Big D.
Courtney sent me a check for $130.00, a few weeks ago, ( guess she paid ----- $20.00 down) post dated to the 10th of this month..
On the 10th we deposited it.. We are in the process of waiting to see if it cleared..
To say i am Upset with ------ and ----- would be a Gross Understatement..
A week before we got the check , i got an e-mail from ----- stating she would Never get up on a horse again and that she would phone me and explain why.. She Never phoned!!! I do not have her phone number and she does not return my e-mail requests.. Neither she or her mother have had the decency to call, e-mail or any other manner of communication explaining their behavior.. I can only hope that my horse is not suffering as much neglect and disrespect..
In conclusion, Ashley, i would like to know where Diamond is right now, and how he is being cared for..
----- has NO bill of sale for that horse.. VERY UPSETTING Situation.. Did she Sell him to you??
Please contact me and fill me in.. ASAP.. All i wanted is a good home for a good animal..
I will gladly bring him back here in a heartbeat.. ----- knows this.. It may be the best thing to do..
Sam
(btw: I might note that this poor guy is 71, still loves to ride and him and his wife are some of the kindest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Diamond became too much horse for them when they were out riding their halflinger and he got playful and kicked out.)
(My email back. This one details everything about me obtaining him, and sums up a lot of his story. Included is his track history and original name. NO LAUGHING!)
Dear Sam,
This is Ash, the current owner of Diamond. I spoke with you earlier this evening and promised an email, so here it is! First of all I want to convey to you my deepest sympathies. I completely understand your sentiments in regards to this situation and respect your agreement to have Diamond returned to you should the situation arise.
Diamond has a shoeing appointment with my farrier tomorrow at 1:30 at -----'s private barn, and he has a vet appointment with Dan Chapman on the 22nd of April. These are his greatest needs at the time and I intend on taking care of them asap to better his condition and happiness.
I first spoke with ------(owner) on April 4th, 2011, after viewing a craigslist ad titled: "thoroughbred gelding" $100. I talked with her for over an hour that evening, and finally arranged a time to come out and see him (the following day). She failed to fulfill that commitment, but said I could go out and look at him at------(boarding barn) in the city of ------. When I arrived the property owner, ------, was out watering and feeding. I got a chance to talk to her and introduce myself and she told me what she knew of the situation, including the fact that Diamond was not in competent hands. I handled him, lunged him, pet him and talked with ------ all the while. I looked at his teeth and his tattoo and showed her just how bad his teeth were. She said, that ------ told her he was vet checked and given his shots, and at the time the vet said his teeth were fine and didn't need a float. -------(seller to owner) informed me yesterday that at the time he was picked up she informed her he needed his teeth done. After assessing him I went home and talked with me husband, already knowing in my heart that he would soon be mine. Darn that nose of his!
I contacted ------ that evening to let her know what I thought, and attempted to make arrangements to come out and test ride him. She again broke arrangements and it wasn't until Friday that I got a chance to actually meet her and come test ride him. I brought along my friend ------, a wonderful horsewoman who has rescued many a horse and knows a great deal about TB's and Off the track TB's. I asked her to be my logical side because I suffer from bleeding heart syndrome and at this point couldn't rationalize anything past how adorable and kind hearted Diamond was/is. I groomed him (spectacular and patient despite my nerves) tacked him up (spectacular) in a dressage saddle I own, bridled him (spectacular), and then lunged him. I got one little buck out and then it was smooth sailing. ------ led me around initially because I was concerned at his response to the bit (I have very quiet calm hands, but you never know especially with his teeth) and then we went around walking and did a little trotting. Two trot steps, TWO, and I was SOLD. I worked with him some more, talked with -----(owner) and -----(friend) and told -----(owner) I would call her that night letting her know my decision. ( Normally I would wait...but she said she had a lot of people interested in him and it sounded like she was ready to dump him on anyone) All the while I NEVER GOT AN HONEST STRAIGHTFORWARD ANSWER OUT OF THIS WOMAN. I never even knew about the bucking incident in his past.
I tried to arrange picking him up on Saturday and again she piled on the excuses hand over fist. Sunday I finally got things arranged after a long debate and discussion regarding obtaining a bill of sale. She left me a "bill of sale" underneath the release waver I had signed and gave me the excuse that she couldn't be there to see him go because she had family in town and she couldn't cope with watching him go. I picked up the bill of sale and proceeded to load Diamond into my friend's two horse slant load- extra tall- and he was extremely hesitant. I put on a helmet for him just in case and we tried again. Ultimately he loaded, without incident, and we drove to -----'s (friend's) and dropped him off. I turned him out into the open area in the event that he was going to blow up with excitement like tb's do. He didn't. He waited at the gate for me like I was going to abandon him. I grabbed some grooming supplies and began working on his winter woolies in which case I discovered the rain rot on his back and loin. I started working on his disheveled, uneven mane and was pulling it dressage style to even it up, he was so funny tossing his head around. I stopped, and he turned and looked at me "Dressage ponies have pulled manes Diamond, I'm not hurting you and I know it!" I told him, at which point he put his head all the way down to my knees and let me even his mane out without a single fuss. We bathed him in betadine surgical scub and then blanketed him in a nice clean blanket. He ate well that evening, devouring his two + flakes and grain.-----requested that I contact her to let her know how everything went, this is what I received in response: "Sounds so good. Thank you. And we want to see u show him. Talk to u tomm.". (text message)
The next day I had -----(friend) take some photos of him moving as well as some of him standing with me, while I was free lunging him. I told you this story on the phone but it was so cool to have him come up and stand by me, that's the photo with my hand out. That evening I got a hold of ----- and arranged to meet her at the local grocery store to give her a check for $50 and sign a legal bill of sale, She sent ----- instead and so I ultimately have two bills of sale, one from each of them. -----(owner) cashed the check the next day and since then I have not heard from either of them. Thankfully -----(owner's daughter) was a bit more upfront about the situation and gave me a direct answer about where he came from. This is how I got a hold of (seller) and ultimately you.
So Sam, I just want to say THANK YOU. Thank you for being honest, responsible and understanding. I can see how this could have gone really bad but thankfully you and (seller) both have been nothing but considerate and kind. I am so happy to find out about Diamond. So many times you run into major roadblocks researching these kind of situations and I am happy there are still good people in this world to help you along. Know that Diamond is in capable hands, and that there are many happy days to come. He is truly safe and sound and soaking it up! Talk about a love, not even my 22yr old arab can suck up this much. Also, he is very smart! And a cookie hound....and just plain sweet. Thank you again Sam. I have attached a ton of photos. Some sad, some happy. But everything is being taken care of. He'll be a butterball in no time!
-Sincerely,
Ash
Feel free to call me anytime! And let me know when you would like to come out and see him!! I would love to meet you and I'm certain he would be happy to see you too!
Please send me back your address so I can send you paperwork in regards to our agreement. I will print them out and sign them for you so that you may feel confidant in his care and situation. And like I said before, I truly understand and I swear that in the event something happens you will be the first I call!
Thank you again,
Ash
The ad on Craigs:
Thoroughbred Gelding Date: 2011-04-04, 3:49PM
Some of you have already looked at this big guy, and were interested in him. If so he is avail. He is approx. 16 to 18 years old. My daughter is too afraid to ride. Or if someone is interested please call. To a great home only. He deserves it. Im just asking back what we paid. His blanket we paid 50.00 for but will sell with him for 25.00. If interested please email or call ----- and leave a mess. This was only within the last month. Thank you.
- Location: -----
- it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
His tattoo: A07941
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Irregular star and connected broken line of white hairs, widening to left on bridge of nose, becoming flesh colored between nostrils, into left nostril, ending to left between nostrils. Left fore: three-quarters pastern white, lower on outside, higher on inside. Left hind: ankle white, higher on inside; dark spot on coronet on inside. Right hind: ankle irregularly white, higher on inside. Right fore: pastern white, lower on outside, higher in back. Double horizontal cowlick above eye level in star.
Only one horse matched his marks and so therefore he's Lunch Money!
http://www.equibase.com/
That's the track history
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We kept in touch and wadded through all the bull with the previous owner, I paid her the other whopping $50 to avoid dispute and have moved on. Sam and his wife have been out to my barn to see their old boy and are very proud of his progress. I know at times that I was a little shall we say animated in my responses but man was I stressed! and aggravated!
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