Drugging horses before showing them to customers. Lying about medical records. Bait-and-switch tactics. These are all examples of horse dealer scams that operate all over the country, and the Internet has only increased the number of ways in which scam artists can bilk consumers.
Anyone who is in the equine market should understand horse dealer scams and know how to spot a scam artist when buying horses. Without this knowledge, it is too easy to come away with an inappropriate, ill, injured or otherwise unsuitable horse.
Drugging and Running
One of the most popular horse dealer scams involves drugging or running a "hot" or excitable horse for an inexperienced rider. Horses that are drugged with muscle relaxants, for example, are far easier to control and even a small child would have no difficulty controlling him. A scam artist knows this.
Similarly, horse dealer scams might involve a seller who runs a hot-tempered horse for several hours before showing him. If the horse receives a bath and grooming afterward, the buyer might not realize that the horse is exhausted and therefore not behaving normally.
Bait and Switch
As in other industries, the bait-and-switch is one of the most effective horse dealer scams. This happens primarily with unregistered horses, and occurs when a scam artist shows a buyer one horse and delivers another. As long as the two horses have the same coloring and markings, the buyer does not know the difference right away.
Failure to Disclose
It is important to realize that horse dealer scams do not always involve active attempts to defraud. In this case, the scam artist simply does not tell buyers about a horse's history of illness or injury, thereby selling an inappropriate mount. If the buyer does not order a veterinary pre-purchase exam, he will not catch the omission.
Failure to Deliver
Some horse dealer scam artists never deliver the horse to the buyer. A horse dealer might negotiate a sale online, via a bidding or auction web site, then request payment in advance with certified funds or cash. He or she might be located in another country or might have simply lied about his place of residence.
Either way, the horse dealer receives the money and never ships the horse. He might even request additional money for shipping costs to increase his take, and the buyer has no way to find the seller in order to sue for return of the money.
Falsifying Performance Records
Other horse scams are simply a matter of convincing buyers that a horse is worth more than he actually is. This is perhaps the most common, and it is certainly easy to miss. The seller will send a list of accomplishments or monies won or competitions that seem to justify the price of the horse. The buyer later finds out that none of the information is true.
Buyer Tips
Consumers who are thinking of buying horses in the near future should protect themselves:
- Ask to Try the Horse.When buying horses, the consumer should ask to try the horse for one week before finalizing the purchase. The contract should state that the buyer can return the horse for a full refund within one week if the horse does not meet expectations.
- Keep the Horse in Sight. It is never a good idea to purchase a horse, walk away, and come back to pick him up. Instead, load the horse on the trailer at the time of purchase to avoid bait-and-switch horse dealer scams.
- Order a Pre-Purchase Exam. Never buy a horse without ordering a pre-purchase exam from a licensed veterinarian. The horse should be checked for illness or injury that could decrease his value.
- Verify Performance. Ask for verification of any money earned or competitions won. If necessary, contact the performance or breed association to confirm.
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