Abu Dhabi court orders man to pay Dhs91,000 for selling racehorse with serious injuries

The Abu Dhabi Court for Family, Civil, and Administrative Cases has ordered a seller to refund a horse’s purchase price of Dhs91,000 and pay an additional Dhs3,896 after a veterinary examination revealed significant injuries and defects.

The parties had agreed on the price, with the seller requiring payment before the examination.

According to the case details, the buyer filed a lawsuit seeking to rescind the sale contract and restore both parties to their pre-contractual positions.

He argued that the seller had sold him a horse belonging to a third party, making the sale invalid. He also maintained that the horse had a concealed, pre-existing injury that made it unfit for its intended purpose: competing in horse races.

The buyer asked the court to order the seller to refund Dhs91,000 as the purchase price, pay an additional Dhs1,396, and reimburse Dhs2,500 in stabling costs. He also sought legal interest at 5% per year from the date the lawsuit was filed until payment in full.

The claim stated that the seller had advertised the horse as an excellent racehorse, free of injuries, defects, and illnesses.

Relying on these assurances, the buyer paid the agreed price in installments through bank transfers, on the understanding that a veterinary examination would take place later. However, examinations conducted after the horse arrived revealed injuries and defects.