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| Muirhead Farms O'Neil Muirhead, Deceiptful Horse Broker Northville, Michigan |
| 5th of Dec, 2011 by User238144 |
| On Friday, October 28th, "Dopey" was purchased from Muirhead Farms on Angle Road, Northville, Michigan. Lucie, employee of Muirhead Farms, informed us that the horse had been putting on weight and was coming along under their care. She also had paperwork from a previous purchase earlier in October, wherein the horse had been vet checked and Coggins tested, but that seller returned said horse due to an alleged conflict between husband and wife on the purchase. In hindsight, we are wondering if the vet check had been falsified due to the condition that the horse was in. Dopey was found dead six days later on the morning of November 4th in our pasture. Subsequently, the horse was sent to Michigan State Equine Veterinarian Offices for an autopsy. Autopsy revealed that horse had severe liver damage and it was inconceivable that the horse had been putting on weight during the 3 months at Muirhead Farms. The horse would have been deteriorating. Not only was the ad misleading "calm disposition." The fact that he "usually will doze off on you while you're grooming/tacking," and the fact that he was underweight should have been a clue that he had a very serious underlying condition. Even the name "Dopey" confirms that Muirhead Farms was aware that there was something seriously wrong with this horse. Since there were other extremely thin, lethargic depressed horses on said property, it would lead one to believe there are other horses under their care suffering as well. Liver damage can be caused by poisonous plants on property, polluted water, which the depressed and uncared buildings/fences/pastures, general conditions of the farm was definitely something to be considered. We felt that by taking Dopey from this property that we were saving him and putting him at a good proper home. The price of the horse was $1,000 and Muirhead Farms has been contacted and Mr. Muirhead will not refund any funds for Dopey. We feel due to the misrepresentation and fraudulent statements that he has breached said contract for Dopey and our money should be returned. Any decent horse broker would realize that this transaction was not a good-faith binding sales agreement and would make amends for our loss. At this time, we are requesting the return of $1,000 for the purchase of this horse. Additional expenses were incurred regarding this horse, and feel that 6 days does not constitute a good faih sales agreement between a buyer and seller, and that were fraudulent practices committed during the sale, that further breaches the contract between us. |
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| BUYER BEWARE! This is the rule of thumb when purchasing any type of pet - livestock or household pet. I have personally purchased horses from private owners as well as from Muirhead Farms. It was MY responsibility to have a vet check done from MY vet, then decide to purchase or not. One of your first mistakes was not having your own vet in to check out the horse prior to purchasing it. If a vet checked out the horse and said it was alright, then it seems the vet is where your complaint lies, not with a horse dealer who has a constant turnover of livestock. There is no possible way any dealer can know every health issue of every horse UNLESS 1, the previous owner is truthful and forth coming with the animals health history; or 2. the horse has a vet check and it reveals a health issue. Sometimes we make mistakes and have to "take it on the chin". Seems your mistake lies with purchasing a horse from a livestock dealer and not with a private owner who has raised the animal on their own property. I guarantee anyone who purchases horses from ANY licensed dealer - if that dealer KNOWS an animal has a terminal illness, it would NOT be sold to the general public as a "pet" / "rider". I have empathy for what you are going through as I too purchased a horse (but without a vet check) from a lady dealer. $7, 000.00 and 2 months later, I lost him. An expensive life lesson! Be thankful you only lost $1, 000.00 and learned some "horse sense" to boot. |
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It is sad to read such an article of attack on Mr Muirhead! I first met Oneil in 1991 when I hired him to transport my horse to another farm. Over the years I found Oneil to be one of my best connections in the horse industry. He is very knowledgeable and always professional. Prompt with appointments, and has always given me good advise. After hiring Oneil several times over the years to help me with moving my horse from farm to farm, I finally said it us time to move my horse to my own home. Again Oneil helped me. But then I realized I needed to get him a buddy. I had trust in Oneal and I went to his farm to purchase a horse from him. This was now 1997. I did purchase a horse from him and did get my OWN VET check. However the horse I purchased was not for me. So I contacted Oneil and traded this horse for another. Again same thing, I did the research at my own expense and even had my horse farrier check this horse out. This horse I had for roughly 4 years. I decided to trade her for a gelding horse in 2001 with Oneil. Same thing, you ALWAYS do your due dillegance. This gelding horse I had for 5 years. I still had not found ths horse I was searching for and had given three horses a good try. ALL from Oneil! This time now in 2005 I went to Oneil and asked him distinctively, "what is your gutt feeling of which horses is best for me?". Oneil pointed out in the pasture and it was an extremely thin and ugly horse! To be honest, I never noticed this horse because I was only looking for the pretty horses. All of which in the past gave me problems! I took Oneils advice and rode this horse. I fell in love with this horse when I got on him! This horses was one of my best horses and it came from Oneil! Of course I did my own vet check as the others I purchased from Oneil. Then the following year my very first horses which was the only horses I did not nut from Oneil horoldies a 32 years old. My husband contacted Oneil and he gave me a reference to take the horse away. Now in 2006 I needed to find my latest horse I bought from Oneil a buddy. The horse i asked gutt feeling. I trusted Oneil and asked again gutt feeling what horse is for me. He recommended a mare. I still have her today, however the horse I purchased in 2005 died on me as he was old.
Now this August 2011, I purchased another horses from Oneil. This time I did not get a vet check. Something I always did in the past. This horse I took a chance as it wasn't even 24hours since it came from auction. However I gave it a whirl.
My point to this long story is you have to do your own homework when buying from a horse dealer. While I did not get a vet check on this last horse, I knew I was taking a chance. However I have two wonderful young horses I bought from Oneil! Oh, and when you mentioned other horses suffering on Oneils's property, those are horses he rescued. Maybe you should tag along with where he gets his horses. I did one day. You'd be surprised what these private people do with their animals. He gets so many horses that people are not caring for. He gets many that are well cared for also. You just never know. G He turns over so many horses and many he just finds good homes or sends to a day camp.
If you wanted a guaranteed horse then you should have purchased from a private seller. Even with that there is no guarantee. Oneil is a trust worthy or I wouldn' t keep coming back. Take your own responsibility on this one! Deena |
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| Any reputable horse dealer would have returned my call and discussed the issue with me and made some type of compromise for a horse not surviving 5 days out of his pasture. You make it sound like he is so wonderful in rescuing horses, but he is profiting off of the misfortune of these horses. He is turning around and selling these lethargic and thin underfed horses for cash that he puts in his pocket. I too felt that this horse needed a better home than what it had on his farm. Again, if he is as caring as you say, he would have called and discussed this issue with me instead of ignoring my contacts and having his young female employee do his dirty work. The mistake made was accepting the vet check that they provided on this horse done two weeks prior and to believe that his employee was above-board and wanting to believe in the good of others. |
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As a followup to Kaylee and Saber responses in favor of O'Neil Muirhead -- as well as other unsuspecting buyers hoping to give horses a better home.
On July 12th, 2012, a judge at the 14th District Court in Ann Arbor ruled against Mr. Muirhead and for the plaintiff in the full amount of the price of the horse as well as court costs. Stating that Mr. Muirhead is a merchant selling a product. Therefore, "as is" does not apply and under the Uniform Commercial Code whatever he is stating that his product (horses) is good for, then there is an implied and express warranty attached to that sale. So the Buyer Beware and as"is" does not apply in purchasing even pets. I would strongly suggest that you both, as well as others, know your rights as a buyer. Do not let merchants sell inferior products and this includes animals. Mr. Muirhead has been in this business long enough that he knows what he is doing and how he is trying to play the games to get around the law. Well, this time he lost. The Court ruled in plaintiff's favor. I think that says volume! |
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| Muirhead farms is believed to take trailer loads of horses into Canada to slaughter. Please don't sell or give your horse to them. |
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