An Upper East Side, New York, woman is suing a Westchester horse farm for $2 million dollars, claiming she was sold a defective show pony.

Barbara Tichner-Dildabanian bought Sports Talk, a 6-year-old gelding, last year for $175,000. The horse joined a stable of four other ponies owned by the family whose 12-year-old daughter is an award-winning equestrian. Tichner-Dildabanian alleges that the pony's health deteriorated after the purchase and that her horse broker, Heritage Farm of Westchester, failed to disclose a veterinary check that showed damage to the horse's hooves.  Veterinarian Christopher Miller is also being sued on grounds that he failed to alert the new owner to the alleged problem.

Peter Axelrod, a lawyer for Heritage Farm, said the lawsuit is misdirected and that the previous owner of the horse, not the broker and vet, should be sued.

“These are very expensive hobbies to maintain,” said the attorney. “You’re buying an animal. There are really no guarantees. Not every horse is going to be Secretariat.”

The previous owner denies there being any prior health problems, and defended the veterinarian as well.

“This sounds absolutely ridiculous to me,” Bibby Farmer-Hill told reporters. “I never had a single problem with that horse in any way.”

Another previous owner confirmed Sports Talk never showed any physical defects.

According to news sources, records show Sports Talk won several events earlier this year.

—Source: New York Post