Leasing is a common practice in horse rescue... It allows the horse to be placed in a prequalified home and returned to the rescue if things don't work out.... however there are cases....and I have had them where I need to get a sherrif and my supporting documents and retrieve my animal after a sale. I do of course offer to stand up in court against the person who sold my animal illegally. Usually a lot of publicity and well placed mail with the laws circled and send registered is enough to make the new owner stand up and take notice. I have been able to retrieved every horse. The real crime here is her not being able to get back her property after showing supporting documents. The sherrif should have been able to do a stand by while she went to retrieve Max. The whole thing shouldn't have taken more than a week to sort out... two if someone was napping. I retrieved my animal out of state this way just a year ago when I leased a pregnant mare for a dollar to a very well known city official. He was to keep the foal... Since it wasn't ever mine and under my care. He was to return the mare if he was ever done riding her. He resold her for a very large sum of money and I saw her on CL. I call the ppl selling her and showed supporting documents and some well stated laws regarding the matter in her state as well as mine. She wanted to get all nasty at first but within the week I imagine after talking to her lawyers consented for me to pick up BOTH animals she had bought from this fellow... not just one animal....I got another one as well because she was afraid of the law.... I believe she sued him, however I was never called to testify, which I told her I gladly would. I still have that horse. The lease thing... pretty binding... This isn't the first time I have had to retrieve a horse.... The law should be on Ropo's side.... I haven't seen her documents but if they are not too loose, she should prevail...