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  Discussion on Have contract to pick up mare, but foal is sick
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Posted on Friday, Jul 13, 2001 - 8:27 am:

Greetings,
Back on May 5th I signed a contract buying a mare. She had a foal by her side and the contract states that we could pick up mare on July 13th....today. In the mean time it was agreed that the seller would keep her insured and have vet out to get her bred for us.
Well her foal got sick and they were both moved to a vet hospital twice without notifying me. Now the vet hospital said the foal would do best at home and (now here's the kicker) the people who bought the foal took mare and foal to their home. Once again I wasn't consulted and found after I called seller.
So now they want the mare for another month so the foal isn't stressed. After $800 in vet bills she is still not pregnant. Now there is a 4th vet trying to get her pregnant.
Anyway, we were looking forward to getting this mare home and starting her training etc....
Of course I don't want to be responsible for the death of the foal.....
Any ideas, suggestions.
I just feel that I have no control over MY horse

Thanks for listening.
~Barbara

Posted on Saturday, Jul 14, 2001 - 5:50 pm:

Barbara,

Obviously it sounds like your main problem is poor communication. I think you have to decide what's most important to you. If they had called you BEFORE they moved the mare and foal and explained the problem, would you have been willing to change the pick-up date to accomodate the foal's illness? (not saying that you have to accomodate them, but that would have been more reasonable on their end, IMO).

If that's the case, then maybe you need to communicate to them that they need your PRIOR approval before they do anything else with the mare.

The date on the contract has passed, is the mare "yours" even though you haven't picked her up? I'm not sure either way, actually. I think it would depend on how the contract is worded. But no matter what they have "violated" the contract....

I would also think that you could ask for a "rent" fee to be paid for as long as they need the mare to help the foal.....

Just some thoughts,
Daisy

Posted on Saturday, Jul 14, 2001 - 7:42 pm:

Hi Daisy
Thanks for responding. You are right if they had just let me know what was going I wouldn't be so upset. I finally had a useful conversation with the owner of the foal. She was complaining to the seller how much my mare ate etc... I let her know that legally I had the right to pick up the mare anytime. She seemed to appreciate the mare a little more and stopped complaining about her.
My concerns were that she was getting shipped all over and the contract did not include that she be moved. Also three vets have been involved in breeding (all whom I don't know) and she has not gotten in foal after 2 tries and mucho $.
I finally spoke with the 4th vet and explained how important it is she gets a fair shot at catching this time. The last two times she was NOT checked to see if she ovulated after they bred her with fresh cooled semen. DUH!
The contract is worded that I have the right to pick up the mare anytime between July 13 and August 1st. The mare is insured by the seller until I pick up.
I am thinking that if they need her past the 1st of August I will ask for a fee. We bough her early May and can't wait to get this girl home.

I am hoping everything will work out; I get my mare soon and the foal survives.
Thanks again
Barbara

Posted on Sunday, Jul 15, 2001 - 1:20 am:

My concern would also be getting this mare in foal with all the moving around..different vets and different people handling her and her foal. Mares know when their foals are not well and with all the changing around she could become very stressed. If you are doing AI couldn't you wait to get her home, when the foal is well, let her get comfortable in new surroundings and then do the breeding. You may be wasting your money right now and upsetting your mare unnecessarily. I also would be watching to see my mare was fed correctly, since this person whose hands she is temporarily in is worried about how much she eats.Mares with babies need a lot of feed . It is a shame the people you bought this mare from were not more thoughtful. I think they should have kept the mare and baby on their property until the problem with the baby was resolved and then each go their own way...That would have been fair, to you and your mare as well. Not to mention the little foal. Best of luck to you, your mare and the baby...

Posted on Sunday, Jul 15, 2001 - 8:03 am:

thanks Lynn,
You are right it is very stressful for the mare as well as the foal, all the moving and different handling and knowing her foal is sick. Luckily, the mare has a wonderful, quiet temperament. But I realize the continuted changes in location, feed, vets, sick baby etc... can not be good.
I am going to try to breed her one more time this week; for me breeding season is over here in FL. My plan was to buy a mare to breed and I have signed the contract for breeding her. Funny how plans can go down the drain.

~barbara

Posted on Sunday, Jul 15, 2001 - 1:07 pm:

Hi..We all know the best laid plans story..it goes with owning horses! Actually, I think it just goes with life...I really hope it all works out for you..the foal gets well, and your mare gets in foal and gets home to you. That would be a nice ending to your story..right... Lynne
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