By Sara Israelsen
BYU students Ryan Wixom, Adam Marriott and BYU graduate Jeremy Hulse got to Hollywood on a horse.
And Wednesday, the world will see their 20 minutes of fame on Judge Judy after their small-court claim was picked up by a national television show.
Back in December, the three bought Angel, a ?well-broken? Palamino for $1,100. However, after she threw her rider, bit other horses and tried to kick anyone who came near, the owners realized the deal wasn?t as good as they first thought.
It all began when the men started looking for a horse gentle enough for inexperienced family members to ride. After seeing an online ad, they called Gregg Hummell of Payson to look at his 10-year-old Palamino, Angel.
Angel looked like a mellow horse and seemed gentle to riders, so the men handed over two checks. Hulse?s father wanted to help and provided $1000 and Wixom gave $100, but no contract was signed ? a decision Wixom said they later regretted.
?We were trying to be really careful and look for major health issues,? he said about the horse. ?We didn?t think to get a contract for disposition.?
And the disposition of the quiet, gentle horse was drastically different the next day when they went to load her in the trailer.
Hulse said Angel acted like she had never seen a trailer before. It took them almost two hours and handfuls of treats to finally get her loaded in.
Later in the field, saddling and riding wasn?t any easier.
Being confused with the attitude shift, Hulse called Hummell multiple times throughout the week to ask what they should do.
Hulse said the seller kept referring to Angel as a sweetheart and refused to give the men their money ? $1000 of which he had already cashed out. By now, Hulse said he was getting frustrated.
?A well-broke doesn?t buck,? he said. ?Period.?
When Angel kept getting worse and Hummell refused to give their money back, Hulse took action by filing a claim with Provo?s 4th District Court.
But before the local legal process started, Hulse got a letter from the Judge Judy show. Thanks to scouts throughout the country who hunt through court files looking for interesting stories, the horse case was seen as potential fodder for the Judge Judy docket.
The self-titled television show now in its ninth season has Judge Judith Sheindlin arbitrating cases, where both parties agree to abide by the outcome and forfeit their right to appeal.
At first, Hulse said he was reluctant to appear, knowing Hummell would also get some compensation for his part on the show. But in the end, the TV appeal won out and the men went to work getting video footage as evidence.
?I said to Adam, ?you ready for a rodeo??? Wixom asked. ?So he got his Wranglers, hat and we went to the pasture.?
Marriott walked around the horse, trying to decide which side would be safest. Despite Angel?s occasional stomping and pinned back ears, he eventually got the saddle on.
At the pasture, the ride started smoothly but when Marriott went to change directions, Angel started bucking. The bucks continued to get bigger and even the experienced horse rider couldn?t stay in the saddle.
?This is a well-broke horse?? Marriott said he thought as we went flying off the animal.
It was last time any of them tried to ride Angel.
For the Feb. 1 taping, the group headed to California ? with tickets, hotel accommodations and transportation provided by the show.
Both sides presented their case and Judge Judy ruled ? an outcome to be seen Wednesday night.
Even though they didn?t get to meet the judge, Wixom said her presence was demanding enough.
?She definitely makes you pay attention,? he said. ?You feel like you need to respect her.?
Hummell didn?t return calls at the time of publication.
Overall, the men said it was a positive experience. After all, they got a trip to California and made an appearance on a national television show. Plus they have a better idea about how to conduct equestrian business transactions.
?You almost have to be insulting when you question an owner or you end up in a bad situation,? Wixom said.
Their new buying policies include spending one to two weeks with a horse before buying it, having the animals checked by vets, signing specific contracts and trying to buy from friends or people already known to be responsible.
With this new knowledge, Wixom and Marriott want to be sure this horse doesn?t come back on the market, pulling in other unsuspecting horse lovers.
?I?m trying not to be vengeful ? not to have this desire to punish him,? Wixom said. ?I don?t want his life to ruined by a horse.?
But Marriott quickly jumped in to finish the sentiment: ?But we don?t want someone else?s life to be ruined by his horse.?
See the case, Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. on Fox 13.