Viewing Horses

[cookster1975]

Just thought I'd share my experience of yesterday with you all.

A friend is looking for a safe, sound, happy hacker that she can take to pleasure rides and have some fun with. She has seen 14 horses so far and there have been nappers, buckers, rearers, bolters, you name it, she's seen it.

Anyway I went with her for the first time yesterday and it's been years since I was horse hunting as I got mine through a friend of a friend.

We'd spoken to the lady who was selling the horses, she runs a riding school and said she had a couple that might suit my friend. A 14.2hh pony club pony and a 15hh ex polo pony. Both were described as perfectly safe, good in all respects etc.

When we arrived, we saw the 14.2hh mare first. She did have a very pretty face and kind eyes, but was very headshy and looked pretty nervous. We found out she'd been bought from the sales 4 weeks earlier, so that probably explains the worried expression.

We asked for her to be trotted up, so the lady tied her up to pick her feet out. She spooked at something and reared up against the leadrope quite a number of times. She really panicked. Not a good start. We then asked if she hacked alone, which is really important to my friend. She hadn't ever BEEN hacked alone! Things weren't looking very hopeful!

Meantime, we were shown the ex polo pony. She was pretty but on watching her walk and trot from behind, it was obvious her back legs were knackered. That's the only way I can describe it. She couldn't stretch her legs backwards and rotated them outwards when moving.

Suffice it to say that neither were what my friend was looking for and she was asking in excess of £3,000 for each! I'm afraid you couldn't have paid me to take either away.

I was disappointed to say the least and find it very sad that people can't be honest on the phone and save everybody's time, fuel and energy!

I have my horse up for loan at the moment and he is anxious and naps on his own. There's NO WAY I would let anybody come to see him without making these two things VERY clear. In fact I was talking to a girl on the phone last night about him and when I came off my husband asked me if I was trying to put people off before they'd even seen him!:rolleyes:

No. Just being honest, which unfortunately seems to be something of a novelty these days.

[Portia]

Is you looking going for private sales or through dealers? Sometimes I wonder if dealers - and I'm talking about reputable ones who are careful in what they sell to who) aren't a better choice in this current market.

Also, have alook at this website:
http://www.projecthorses.co.uk/html/14_1_-_15hh.html
Don't be put off by the name, these aren't all sad-sack rescue cases in need of long term remedial help. What the site DOES seem to offer is owners who are honest about what issue their horse has (scanning through; sweet itch, COPD and cribbing amongst others), and are looking for a sutiable home. Without knowing what experience your firend has, nor facilites she has to offer, this might be worth a look.

[eml]

One of my clients had the opposite experience.

She showed me a dealers advert from the internet which I wasn't keen on, no land line, address etc, all the warning signs but three potentially suitable ponies. She went to see them and I was going to do a followup visit with her if any seemed suitable.

On arrival she described exactly what she was after, whole family pony including one very nervous novice child and the dealer said none on the adverts were suitable but showed her a saint. Unfortunately older than the client really wanted but 100% to the dealer for honesty.

[cookster1975]

Funny you should say that, we were having exactly the same conversation in the car on the way home yesterday. At least with a reputable dealer you have a warranty/comeback in most cases.

I think she may well go down this route. Does anybody know any reputable dealers in the south west?

I've got Basil listed on project horses and it is a brilliant website!:)

[x.Moomoo.x]

I think there are quite a lot of very honest people out there but there seems to be getting more who are just trying to be greedy and asking for a ridiculous price for the type of horse they are selling and mis-judging their ability.

Tell your friend to not give up, there will be something out there, it took me years to find my horse as there were none available for share/loan :( so at least she is looking to buy and at this time of year, there should be quite a few, you just gotta keep going :)

I'm always honest about my ability when looking for a horse, and usually say a bit I'm not as good as I am (not being big headed at all, just you know, so I don't over-estimate my ability) because that way if you view a horse and ride/come across better than you said, it's a bonus all round :)

[devonlass]

The horse world and honesty don't always go hand in hand I'm afraid,is very ***-heartening at times.

Is quite ironic but the most honest seller I have bought from was a dealer in Cornwall,David Stephens,has a website called properhorses.Bought my Jack off him and although he'd only had him a short time,was as honest as could be about him,and have to say he has turned out to be everything he said he was and more.Have to say I was sceptical,simply as have never bought from a dealer,but would go to him again.He even delivered him for me as part of the price we agreed!! Another lady I know of has just bought a horse off him,wanted something suitable for a novice,and again he has sold her a really nice,kind sort who she loves already.

I have heard not so good things about him,but nothing specific and I think TBH that sometimes people just assume the worst about dealers,and there isn't always any substance to the rumours.

Don't get me wrong most of the private sellers I have bought from have been pretty honest,but there have been little issues that have cropped up,where as with my current lad who I got from dealer,there have been no surprises.

[Trewsers]

I think I put a dealer off selling to me once, simply because I over-played being a novice - I guess he thought "well, there will be no suiting this customer"! I really was a novice in every way, but what I ought to have been clearer about was that I had a good yard owner who offered me tons of help and advice and that I was also having regular lessons. So I wasn't likely to give up that easily - in the sense of sending the horse back after a short while (like some people do when they are inexperienced and don't give it a fair chance).
I viewed some horses from private sellers, and I just wished that they would be totally honest with me - fortunately I took my riding instructor with me and she saved me from a couple of mistakes.
I would much rather somebody give me the warts and all description / truth about a horse then I could judge for myself.

[fairlady]

Its an absolute minefield out there looking for Horses. I too have been
along with this friend to look at several.

She is far from a Novice, in fact I would say the opposite, however she has done all the difficult time consuming Horses, done the 'injured' horses, done the Youngsters, in fact owns one, but is now looking for something that is reasonably sane that she can just go hack out on in relative safety, do some fun rides/pleasure rides and HAVE FUN, with almost no worries about anything;) She has more than a 'healthy' budget to spend on the right Horse, especially in the market as it stands at this time.

We looked at one last week, and to be fair the Owner was absolutely lovely
and had been totally honest, which seemed to make a refreshing change, trouble is he was more suitable for a beginner as he was a real 'kick along' ride but had the potential to take the 'mickey' out of a total beginner, in fact, he was a bit of a Character:D However not what said Friend is looking for, she does want something thats a bit more forward going;)

Two weeks ago she was about to have one 5*vetted when a phonecall
from a friend of a friend warned how nappy the Horse was unless certain
things were done beforehand. Sure enough she went and tried the Horse
the day before the Vetting on the spur of the moment and she was the
Napper from HELL:D

Its just sooooo frustrating. Especially when we were 'bitten' with the
Horse with the stifle problems, then almost 'bitten' again with the 'Napper'.
I am sure, the right Horse is out there.

We just all wish we could FIND IT:p

[Dark Storm]

Always vet the dealer before buying, I have friends that have bought ponies that were, doped, potential life ending illnesses (youngster with liver disease), and hidden injuries (one had a suspensory ligament injury and recurring absesses in his feet), please, please, be careful!!

[cookster1975]

This morning, I phoned about a horse that was put on the web last night at 9.03pm. He is kept just up the road and is a Welsh Sec D, which she loves. He's 13 and has done a bit of everything.

She had already rung at 9.15pm last night!

She's going to see him Saturday at 2pm and I've got a funny feeling he is the one! Don't ask me why, just got a feeling.

The family love him to pieces and want to loan him initally as they can't quite bear to let him go yet! Fingers crossed.:D

[lynnemh]

hope it works out for you. i think its ussually best to get one "just up the road" so to speak, as you can be fairly sure of who or what you are dealing with, and a local pre- owner who is willing keep in touch is ussually a caring, honest one.

[cookster1975]

hope it works out for you. i think its ussually best to get one "just up the road" so to speak, as you can be fairly sure of who or what you are dealing with, and a local pre- owner who is willing keep in touch is ussually a caring, honest one.

My sentiments exactly! Thanks.:)