|
Post by julie on May 16, 2007 13:06:24 GMT
Further to another thread of mine about missing ponies I have today heard that one of them has been tracked down. Apparently it was sold at a market to a dealer who then put it through the ring. A woman bought it for £300 and the market has a policy that if the buyer is not happy with the passport they (the buyer) can have their money back. A passport apparently issued by the Gypsy Pony Society (??) was given claiming the pony was a 4 yr old 12.2 Sec C pony. The animal is in fact a 6 yr old 11.2 Sec A. There were crossing puts/various marks on the passport so the buyer complained and the pony was put back through the ring when it was purchased for £200. The second buyer thought there was a chance the passport wasnt correct but carried on with the purchase.
My point is this - what is the point of us all trailing around with original passports to prove what animals we have on board or at shows when it is blatently obvious that markets up and down the country are turning a blind eye to obvious fraud? The police have been told and are doing nothing - I have suggested that the true owner rattle the cages at DEFRA as it was their idea of forced passports wasnt it? Its a mockery to decent law abiding citizens. I cant believe that the said market cannot or will not not provide names and addresses of these dealers who are selling ponies they have no legal right to! Arent you appalled? What would you do if this happened to you? How come there is no right to police action?
|
|
|
Post by another on May 16, 2007 13:42:19 GMT
I know someone who "lost" the passport that her warmblood had after it measured about 162cms (eventually). Got another from another "society" naming it as IDxTB (she felt that people would be biased against it as a warmblood) and has now had it (corruptly-cost her £1000 ) measured for 158cms and is showing it as an ISHT and Riding horse. Oh yes, she is showing it as a novice aswell, funny how the horse was doing opens last year and has won a fair bit...
|
|
|
Post by dun4u on May 16, 2007 16:09:56 GMT
Passports are definately a waste of time.
Two years ago, someone I know sent five horses including a TB stallion, and 4 mares, to Potters, the slaughterers. The stallion and two of the mares had 'old' passports, the other two mares (which incidentally were not his) did not have any passports at all. The driver (local) didn't question any of this and neither did Potters. Two of these horses were 'stolen' and yet nobody queried it at all. Apparently those which arrive without passports are put in a holding pen while a vet issues them with a 'passport'.
I said right from the start that it was never going to work and it certainly hasn't. It must have been a real money-spinner for all the 'societies' which sprung up and charged exhorbitant fees just to issue 'dreamt up' passports in cheap plastic covers. They must have made a bomb!!!!
|
|
|
Post by skint on May 16, 2007 16:12:20 GMT
I can vouch for that. when I bought or rather rescued my two year old colt from derby market, when I paid for him they didnt have a passport and said that the seller had forgotten it and would send it in the post, after two weeks of ringing we still had not had the passport so we threatened them and siad we would report them to DEFFRA it did the trick the passport was there that afternoon. It just shows that markets are letting them go thro sales without passports. It is just a mockery
|
|
|
Post by pippin on May 16, 2007 20:30:32 GMT
As a matter of interest, has any one ever been asked to produce a passport while out and about with their ponies? I never have and our passports are at home , where I know they are safe
|
|
|
Post by lolly on May 17, 2007 11:20:34 GMT
I think all passports should be accompanied by either a freezmark or microchip mark or number . Horse sales should not put any horse through without a passport, I know Derby for one definately does. At one point you could even take a horse there and there was a man from farmkey and the Horse passport agency actually doing passports at the sales. Defra really should get its act together, its dispicable. I for one would never buy a horse unless its passport had history. I know of some people, they bought a coloured mare cheap with a full passport history as a companion (she wasnt suitable to be ridden), then took her to derby, had a new passport made, then sold her as a childrens riding pony. Its shocking
|
|
|
Post by viking on May 17, 2007 11:46:31 GMT
Defra getting its act together? That'l be the day!
|
|
|
Post by tigger on May 17, 2007 12:32:51 GMT
Hi, I quite agree that it makes a mockery out of us 'law abiding' citizens that markets can get away with this. However it is TRADING STANDARDS that would/can take action not DEFRA. DEFRA helped to write/bring in the law but its up to trading standards to enforce it. Much like it is politicians not the actual police that makes laws!
I have found trading standards in my area (kent) to be very helpful and take these matters seriously. Our local auctioneers will not put through the ring anything without a passport, even proof that one has been applied for is no longer accepted unless it is actually present on the day! And they definitely dont allow agencies to issue passports on the day!
Can I suggest you contact your local trading standards office - hopefully you will find that they will take action!
|
|
|
Post by julie on May 17, 2007 12:39:47 GMT
I've just sent off an email to Defra but now I have read this I'll try the Trading Standards - something must be done!
|
|
|
Post by tigger on May 17, 2007 12:57:58 GMT
good luck Julie, and good for you for doing something about it! So many people 'complain' but dont actually report it to the authoritys.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 22, 2007 22:19:46 GMT
I bought a catologued registered pony out of a sale complete with passport, Trading standards say I haven't a case, even though I have a court judgement saying the seller sold a pony with the wrong passport!his has all been proven by dna tests. What do you make of that??
|
|
|
Post by julie on May 24, 2007 8:40:05 GMT
Disgusting and it just goes to prove my point that that passports are in the main a total waste of time - and guess what, I STILL have not had a reply from Defra!
|
|