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CALM Equestrian
The Stables
Wyke Champflower
Bruton
Somerset
BA10 0PP
Email:
erin@calmequestrian.co.uk
Telephone:
01749 814840
07730 035057
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Horse Scams
There have been a rash of horse scams recently on the internet so be vigilant. Here are some examples and some tips on how to avoid them
Example 1
Powerful black friesian stallion horse
We are booking a few nice mares to this gorgeous coming 2 year old stallion. He is correct and pretty enough for halter and is loaded with athletic ability! He is going into reining training this coming Spring and is loaded with natural talent and he has a phenominal mind. Very pretty, big boned and big feet. Photos shown at 16 months (not shed and not in show shape. Get in on him before he makes a name for himself. ** Live cover (*requirements) and shipped semen. Mare owner responsible for collection/shipping fees. **We have booked, so far, some exceptional champion mares, and daughters of some of the best stallions in reining. Still time to book your mare at this low introductory price. Once he starts showing (and winning) price will shoot up.
No booking or chute fees. Payment plans to approved mares...
Price: £600
Our Comments
This was accompanied by two photos of a ridden Friesian which we have not reproduced as we do not own the copyright to them and cannot trace the rightful owner to gain permission. The real stallion is a palamino quarter horse standing in America. The title has been changed, the photos taken from somewhere else and the fraudsters contact details added. The scam is that you pay for the semen and do not get anything. You are then left chasing your tail trying to get your money back. The only contact details are an email ending gmail.com
Example 2
intelligent friesian gelding
he is 8yrs old and 15.5hhs tall he is a full dressage horse with so many qualities of friesian
Price: £1000
Contact Name: thomason
County: Berkshire
Phone:
Mobile:
Our Comments
This fake advert is obviously written by someone that knows very little if anything about horses, 15.5 hh should hopefully make you realise that this is suspicious. A thousand pounds is also very cheap for a Friesian as they are usually around £5-8k this should set your alarm bells ringing! The email address was again ending gmail.com and no other contact alternative.
Example 3
Super looking 8yo 15.3hh baroque Friesian Mare
Details
Price: £900
Age: 8
Height (hh): 15.3
Sex: Mare
Breed: Friesian
Description:
Super looking 8yo 15.3hh baroque Friesian Mare with an eager-to-please attitude and a very sweet nature. Sensitive and rewarding without being silly. Easy to handle, biddible and willing. Has been ridden and driven in Holland, now being produced towards more established classical schoolwork in the UK. Balanced and uphill, with lovely onward paces and a light, responsive attitude, she is proving joyfully ‘Plug and Play’ and will learn quickly
Our Comments
Below is the email that was received when an enquiry was made as to why the Friesian was so cheap:
Hello
nice reading from you in regards to my Friesian mare .will come with all health papers and one year health guarantee. this Friesian {Corcia} is not only beautiful, completely healthy and sound, great,sane, trail horse deluxe! has awesome four beat gaits. will also canter if you ask her to. not spooky, forward moving and enjoys trail riding. lunges beautifully and listens to voice cues well. one of the best horses I have ever rode and will do what you ask of her when you ask.loves attention and grooming and is easy to groom, trim, shoe and handle in every way. has great feet but I keep shoes on her in the Summer and Spring just because of trail riding some rocky terrain. She would be a great horse for a man or a woman but I think, or like to think,Corcia will prefers women. :) I am only giving Corcia because i lost my husband in a gasty motor accident and so could not give the Friesian real love and care .My late husband was an experienced beginner and he really enjoyed riding where as I am an experienced rider and also enjoy riding Corcia.So therefore, I am sure that it will be great for just about any riding level from experienced beginner on up the scale. I also know that Corcia would make a fantastic field trial horse if someone was interested in her for that because Corcia has great endurance and listens so well. I want Corcia to find a great home and will only sell to such a home. Also, Corcia is fine with other horses or without them. She has lived in a boarding situation before and did just as well as she does in a private home situation.up to date on vaccines and dental care. I don't know what else I can say about Corcia other than if you are looking for a horse that will be the same everyday and bring you hours of enjoyment whether out on the trail or in the pasture then, it might be the horse for you! I thought I would go ahead and post her so that somebody could start enjoying her during the nice Fall weather that is soon approaching.I will like to know the particular breed of horse you are used with and you have ever had a Horse before .
The advert had been seen on a local professional yards website so we knew that the advert pictures and description had been taken from their site. On contacting the yard (Dovecote stables) they were shocked to hear that someone had been taking their horses details and changing the contact email to trick people into sending money to purchase a horse that they do not own.
See the real advert for the beautiful Friesian at www.dovecote-stables.co.uk. This example has been added here by kind permission of Fiona at Dovecote who had this to say :
“it seems it's quite common. The 'sellers' lift adverts for good quality horses and then put them on free sites for a fraction of the price - they then ask for a deposit by electronic transfer when eager buyers snap their arms off (at least that's the theory)
By all means quote us if that helps raise awareness of this sort of scam, plus promotes the service you offer which I think is a great one particularly for inexperienced and nervous buyers. We have so many calls about the Friesians from people who think they are ideal 'beginner' horses, which they're not - then some ignore our advice, buy a 'cheap' Friesian elsewhere pretty much over the Internet, and have a terrible time as a consequence; it's similar with Andalucians. We spend at least six weeks, usually quite a bit longer, with the imported horses acclimatising them, settling them and ironing or those 'driving' or 'pressurised' behaviour traits, getting to know them, sorting their teeth and feet, making sure they can hack out and be turned out, hosed down, tied up, boxed, competed in company etc etc. Yet all can all so easily be undermined by a free internet ad with a tempting price and an easy sale. Whether people just lose a few pounds deposit - or, perhaps worse, end up with a horse that is totally wrong for them - there are a lot of traps out there.”
On further investigation I have managed to get phone numbers, copy of registration documents and a whole website of stolen adverts including some of ours! It seems the scammers are getting more knowledgeable day by day. With further investigations and complaints the website has now been closed down.
So things to look out for - Badly worded English
- Scam ads usually have a yahoo or gmail address as a contact.
- 070 numbers are roaming numbers that are hard to trace, they are also charged at a much higher rate than a normal call. The person you are calling could be anywhere in the world.
- Never buy a horse unseen.
- Scam responses usually describe some ghastly accident to a family member. (just to pull you in emotionally and stop you thinking rationally)
- Buyers using the wording “best price” or “last price”
- Buyers offering above the asking price and you repay the difference.
- Scammers tell you the transport is included in the price so you need not do anything and they do not have to give a collection address.
- You are offered an immediate sale by email, be very wary.
CALM Equestrian would love to hear your stories and collect more of these scam ads, investigate and prevent people being caught out. Do let us know if you have anything of interest email Erin or call on 01749 814840 or 07730 035057 |
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