Bit of a rant... Sorry!

[TheQueenOfDiamonds]

Been looking for a loan pony/horse recently.. Seen quite a few that would be suitable.. Getting really annoyed at people who either don't reply to ads, Or invite you for a viewing and then never get back to you..

I don't mind if i'm not what they're looking for but would a text message saying so hurt?

I hate being messed around so much. When i sold mine i was always honest and replied to everyone.. Even if it meant a short message just apologizing and saying i didn't think they were right for what i was selling.

Sorry for moaning girls! Just really upset and fed up of being let down and messed around :(

I know how you feel.We've been looking for 7 long months and are getting pretty fed up with it.Twice now we've been let down on the night before or the day we were due to collect the pony,not to mention those who advertise a loan but when you ring,say they want to sell it really,don't ring you back,muck you about with viewing or those who don't take their ads down when the pony has been rehomed.

We were originally looking for an 11.2,but it is taking so long that DD2 has grown too much.

I hope that your luck changes soon.

I've only got experience of selling, but that is just as bad! We were selling a 11.2 welsh A as a first ridden/LR. The first viewer brought her tiny 4yo, who was frankly terrified, and could hardly hold her head up in her helmet. Mother wanted a pony to lead from her hunter, so she could take the child out hunting!! We had to hold he poor kid on the saddle FGS, she would have to tie the poor little sod to the saddle!
The second viewer wanted 'something with a bit more go'! Her horrid 8yo got on the pony, ignored everything we told it, and spent the whole time 'pony club kicking' the poor pony, and smacking it with her whip, resulting in the poor creature totally switching off, and ignoring the jockey! We told them to get lost in the end!
After 2weeks of this shit, we sold the pony for half the money, to a lovely family who we really liked, who thought she was perfect and didn't have any stupid expectations!

Saggy - I got messed arpund by a girl with my section D. He was a colt and i'd been completely honest about what he was and that if you knew what you were doing and were confident you were fine.

She came up, jumped six feet back everytime he moved (Even though i was stood leaning on his bum showing her how nice he was lol), she was soo nervous.. 9 years experience with colts apparently haha.

Then she asked if she could come back another day during the week so she could see how he moved (Despite the fact we had a floodlit menage i could have shoved him in for her there, and despite the fact shed chosen to come up in the pitch black freezing colt weather).

I was trying to find a gentle way to tell her i didnt want to sell him to her as she clearly didnt know what she was doing, when she rang me and asked if i could keep him for 3 months, geld him and then shed give me half of what i was asking for.

I just said no that wouldnt be possible and she sent me some weird message about having found an older mare for less including tack or something.

Id have kicked the 8 year old back ;)

Mirage - aww thats terrible when its for a kid aswell.

Something comes over people when they're buying and selling and it doesn't just apply to horses. Having said that I had a fantastic experience when I bought my horse last year, his previous owners have recently visited and it was good to catch up with them.

On the other hand selling our house has been a truly grim experience with the most awkward buyers possible. The last laugh will be on them though as my cleaning, whilst adequate, will not be as good as it would have been, and I shan't be mowing the lawn nor leaving nice long lists of information as I did when we sold previously. Tis a pity you can't do the same when selling a pony - it's hard enough without having to deal with idiots claiming far more experience and knowledge.

The problem is that everything seems to be a "buyers market" and they seem to think that they can do whatever they like because they have the money.

Good luck - the right person will come along eventually I'm sure.

My friend arranged a loan pony for her dd- everything went really well- all signed and sealed- pony settled in at re new yard, everyone happy. Then the next day the owner changed her mind, turned up at 7.00am with a box and took him away!

We've been messed around both ways - seems almost normal with ponies.

As sellers we've often had some strange things. One family wanted all 3 children to get a ride around on our pony - despite him being only suitable for the smallest as he was a lead rein pony. On another occasion people said they would buy him and the cheque was in the post. We stopped people viewing but the cheque didn't arrive - not only once but twice! Why waste peoples time?

As purchasers we once went to Shropshire/Wales borders from Suffolk (6 hour round trip) to see a lead rein pony for our then 5yo. We'd checked before hand that he was suitable for a small person. When we got there it was going mad in it's stable. They got it out and an older child (about 10) rode it round the school with it broncing. The lady shouted to the child "just ride him through it (the bucks)". She then expected our child to get on. We politely declined and drove home.

Something sometimes goes slightly wonky in people's heads when they are buying and selling horses. You see perfectly normal, rational people making the most bizarre decisions, and buying wildly unsuitable animals- very odd.

I include myself in this- we impulse bought dd's pony for cash- she was the first one we looked at, went to see her one Sunday, she was home with us the following Saturday. Then most insane thing we've ever done. But two years down the line we haven't regretted it for a second. Not a method I recommend- although we have been far luckier than a lot of people who did it the proper way!

Thank you for starting this thread! I very nearly started one for the very same reason yesterday. I have been looking for a horse on loan for over 2 months now. I must have enquired about roughly 20 horses, arranged to go and see about 10 of them. So far I have managed to see 3, due to people changing their minds, or the horse suddenly going lame, in fact I think I have had every excuse/reason possible!

One I drove for 2 hours to see a few weeks back, she was lovely, I said I'd have her, we made arrangements for her owner to come down and see where she would be kept, she then rang me the day before and said she had changed her mind! I was starting to think there was something wrong with me, and had been trying to think what the problem was. I am sooo relieved that it is not just me having these issues! Yesterday I had arranged to spend the day seeing 3 different horses, and they all cancelled on me.

I have been to see a gorgeous boy this morning, and right now I am desperately trying not to get too excited. He is exactly what I want, and his owner seemed very genuine and said she would be willing to let me have him, but until he is here I don't think I will believe it!

I'm starting to think theres something wrong with me too tbh lol!
I thought maybe one of them thought i was lying about my daughter and had ulterior motives because i didn't take her (The reason i wont take her is because its damned hard explaining to her in sign language when something doesn't come off, She still hasn't got over the fact that my friends horse who is named blue isn't actually a blue horse and wants to know when she can see a blue horse).

I was speaking to the lady who has the colt i solt though and she has assured me there is nothing wrong, She has liked me since she met me and would love to have me on a yard with her haha. He might be coming back for a bit next year yet, As she mentioned she was considering putting him on loan but is worried about him ending up in a show ring and made into a showing robot, So i said i'd happily take either of hers (She has a lovely 2 year old coloured cob too) and she was really pleased as she'd not wanted to ask me outright incase i didn't want to (TBH i'd have the colt back in a heartbeat, Even my OH has said to me if she ever sells him he'd want us to have him back).

Seeker - We were very lucky in a similar situation - My first pony was very much an impulse buy. I hadn't ridden him as i wasnt able to walk after an accident 4 days previous. We weren't looking for a horse we were looking at livery yards as my mum had promised me one but not until i was better and able to ride and have one on a trial/full loan with view to buying after 2 months.

He turned out to be excellent but i agree - We were extremely lucky to say we saw him on the sunday and went back the next day with cash and took him!

My colt was another quick buy aswell and he is turning out lovely. He is being backed in western tack at the moment. Hes ace. I spent the first week shitting my pants though thinking 'What if hes drugged and i go up there and they've worn off'. As i'd never seen a colt behave like him!

How sad that they did that though. I think people mustn't think properly before advertising.

The most shocking one ive had as a buyer was a colt i went to see. TB X Cob. Lovely little thing but it was so weird.. The woman kept pointing at this other horse and referring to it as a mare.. And i was stood there thinking 'Oh how nice, I've never seen a mare with a dick that big...' lmao.

I just left in the end as they really messed me around and seemed to have no idea.

We bought Dds yearling on a whim, saw her on Dragon Driving, went down to visit, bought her there and then, and shipped her home a few days later. She is gorgeous, and will be even better when we can actually catch her!

What are you all looking for?!

Saggy - Oh dear, lol. I like catching miniature shetlands. Thats always fun in the pissing down rain!

Horseylady - Just looking for something quiet for me to enjoy really. Doesn't have to be fantastic looking and i dont mind green as long as not dangerous/constant bolting and rearing. i'm 5ft6 (7 depending whos measuring me) and weigh about 9 stone. Something that can go unshod would be brilliant.

Would probably be looking to do hacking, a bit of schooling and the odd local show here and there for a bit of a day out (Im not massively into showing though, but sometimes pop along but not a necessity).

So an older horse would suit too.

TheQueenOfDiamonds, I'm quite good at catching minis, I'm bigger than them, I just grab a passing mane and hang on. Unfortunately Skye is a 10mo gypsy cob cross, and is 11hh already. We will catch her eventually, we're playing softly softly catchy monkey at the minute. We figure we have 2.5 years until we need to actually touch her, so we can play the long game! and eventually her feet will grow so long that she won't be able to escape!

oh, I had a really weird experience as a buyer. Was trying to buy ponies in South Africa to send to Mauritius. Was working with a dealer in SA, went all the way there as she said she had loads of ponies for me to look at. Met up, looked around at loads of ponies (taking up most of her week), selected 3 ponies. Went back to Mauritius, dealer was then supposed to get ponies up to date with vaccines, passports and into quarantine (for a sizeable fee). Never heard from her again despite months of chasing - to that point hadn't paid her a penny, the deal was payment as soon as each pony reached quarentine. Why do all that work for nothing. Really odd and such a waste of everyones time. Had a nice holiday though :)

Saggy - Haha love it.

Dappleton - How weird!!!