Facebook Horse Seller Mis-sold Me a Horse That Kicked My Daughter in the Head
BBC News Wales investigates claims of horse mis-selling by Tasha Lee Hopkins, who regularly posts photos to Facebook of herself riding horses. Five women have come forward stating they were sold unsafe or life-limiting horses through her online operation.
A Mother’s Fear
Fiona, whose name has been changed for her daughter’s protection, bought a 14-year-old horse from Hopkins in December 2024 via Facebook. The horse was advertised as a "teenager’s dream" with a six-month warranty. However, during a riding lesson, it bucked and bolted with Fiona’s daughter partially on it before kicking her in the head, leaving her concussed.
For a moment, I thought she was dead. I thought she had broken her neck. – Fiona
Fiona later discovered that the horse had never been sufficiently trained to ride and wasn’t fit for purpose, especially for a child.
Horse Welfare Concerns
World Horse Welfare has warned of similar cases where horses unable to be ridden are given away or sold until they end up in poor conditions due to lack of industry standards for horse trading. They emphasize the importance of buyers doing their due diligence.
Allegations Against Hopkins
The BBC has found that Tasha Lee Hopkins, from Neath near Swansea, may have a history of mis-selling horses. Five women have claimed they were sold unsafe or life-limiting horses, while another two expressed concerns about her operation. One buyer alleged she was sold a horse with an undisclosed broken back.
