What an awkward situation for you Abi.
There doesn't sound like there is much that you can do apart from express your concern to the current owner.
Hopefully any prospective buyers get a vet to check the pony over first and that the vet discovers it and tells them.

I guess you can spread "the word" around your yard, gossip does travel....not the nicest way though.

I'm sorry I have not been much help, but I do commiserate with you!

Hi Abi

There is another aspect to this too. The girl is leaving herself wide open to prosecution/sueing for misselling a horse (in the UK it is an offence to deliberately hide material facts that would affect the sale/purchase of a horse)so you would be doing her a favour to point this out to her (whether she wants to hear it or not!).

There is a lot of information around on the internet/magazines etc about Cushings, but it is important to get the info from a reputable source. Heres one to start with.http://www.ed.ac.uk/polopoly_fs/1.18061!fileManager/dvepfactsheet-cushingsdiseaseandequinemetabolicsyndrome.pdf

It's awful. We have offered to have her back for free. She is 17 and deserves proper care - as do all horses. But she is set on selling her so that she doesn't lose money or the stable (rented). She said she would let us know once she has thought about it, as we offered to have her back today.
I couldn't see her being sold without the owners knowing that he has the disease. The site she is for sale on has a 'report' option. But I'm not sure one report will be enough and that you need to have more people reporting it.
Vicci, would you have any idea where I could find out more about prosecution for miss-selling?
Thankyou for your advice, I just feel so helpless and alone. I find it unbelievable that someone could be fine with it and be able to sleep at night!
Abi x

Are you in the UK Abi? If so you can go through your local authority trading standards department - if you are in europe the law is very similar I think. However, before you rush down this route I strongly recommend giving her an opportunity to 'do the right thing' once you have explained that she cannot sell her without telling people about the illness and not expect there to be repurcussions and to see if she is willing to give her to you. Good luck Abi, keep us posted.

Thankyou and yes I am. I will have a look into it as I like to research! But as you say it's a lasr resort. I have tried explaining to her about the disease. I bring her in on the yard in the day with soaked hay - all to keep the sugar down. I said it's a fine line, you don't want to cross, or else laminitus could be the consequence, but it seems to go straight over her head. She just hasn't researched into the management. Currently we have offered to have her back and to also have the stable as we have another pony there. So we are waiting for her reply. If she comes back and says no she wants the stable then it may be possible to have the yard owner build an extra stable (cross fingers). Sorry for the essay but I feel the need to share when I can't really talk to anyone else about it. Thankyou for your support. I don't know what I'd do without the like minded people on this uni! Abi x

Can you at least get this callous individual to get some prascend and regulate its diet? We know that there is no cure, but it certainly can be effectively controlled and managed with daily meds and proper nutrition. Weight gain is a huge factor as well of course. Can you drop off some literature with this person. Once it precipitates laminitis, it tends to become chronic, but can be staved off. Perhaps letting her know that its very common (1 in 7) in horses and that it can be lived with relatively easily?...I don't know, just throwing that out there...good luck....
I have done some research and regardless of the existing rules for selling livestock, oan certainly still sue her for fraudulent misrepresentation, if nothing else.

Thank you so, so much for your help.
I'm pleased to say that she has agreed to give her back to us and also give up her stable!
Prascend tablets have been ordered and should be here soon.
Her grass intake is being managed and her diet will be changed accordingly. (I have another pony who is barefoot so the diet that he is on - everything low in sugar and starch - will hopefully suit. I am also going to get a hay analysis so that supplements that are deficient can be dealt with appropriately.)
I'm also hoping that I can continue her exercise, as I have heard that it massively helps and get her moving about in the field and on the yard as much as possible.
I will also be booking the barefoot trimmer so that her feet can be managed correctly.
Thank goodness, thank goodness, we have got her back so that it can be managed and she has a chance of living a normal life for many years to come.
Thank you again for all your help!
(A very happy) Abi x :D

Yayyyy, so pleased for you Abi, and all credit to you for your care and tenacity, I applaud you loudly!!!! :-)

People who are in the horse game and don't want to lose money in it make me laugh...

Wait, lol, I want to edit that comment. Haha. Of course NO one WANTS to lose money: People who reckon that they can or shouldn't lose any money with horses- yeah those ones make me laugh! lol!

Good for you Abi! I'm so happy for the pony that it is now in competent hands.
It is horrifying when people try to sell poor animals and neglect to tell prospective buyers of the problems.

Hey Abi - what a great outcome for the pony and also for you - you will be able to sleep nights now. Best of luck and hope it all goes well for the future. Cheers Jan

Thank you everyone for your kind comments. I really appreciate all the support. I will definitely sleep well now! Thank goodness it all worked out okay. Now it's time to enjoy the time I have with my ponies.

Happy riding/training everyone! :) Abi x