Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The tack room

Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Original poster

Please someone share stories of idiots who enquire about horses

39 replies

lastqueenofscotland · 23/04/2019 12:22

Sadly had to sell my horses recently and finally they both went over the weekend. But the idiot enquiries, my god.

Both of them are ex racehorses, and were advertised super honestly and realistically priced
Had one enquiry from a man looking for a first horse for his 11 year old daughter currently getting lead rein lessons I’m not sure my 17.2hh thug is what you want there.

Someone who came to see one and loved him but didn’t want a full TB Hmm

Someone who came to see the 17.2 and said she wanted something no bigger than 16hh Hmm

And so many text messages along the lines of “how big can he jump” and asking no other questions

So glad it’s over

OP posts:
Fazackerley · 23/04/2019 12:24

It's a nightmare. I will have to sell one next year and I'm already stressed about it.

frostyfingers · 23/04/2019 21:43

On the flip side as a recent buyer sometimes it’s hard to work out if the person really wants to sell. Crap pictures, useless responses to queries (when you get a response) and when you turn up to try it the damn thing is at least a hand smaller than advertised..... There are time wasters on both sides!

Fazackerley · 23/04/2019 22:03

Buying is far easier than selling imo. I had so many idiotic questions about one pony I ended up keeping him and loaning to a friend because I couldn't bear having to be nice to people who couldn't read or ride.

Easterbunnyhashoppedoff · 23/04/2019 22:08

Glad I could never afford a horse as can't imagine having to sell one on...
Too much Black Beauty as a dc maybe...

frostyfingers · 24/04/2019 07:55

Not to mention the two that were lame, one of which I’d travelled 3.5 hours to view......

At least if you’re selling you don’t rack up hours in the car and god knows how much petrol!

FanFckingTastic · 24/04/2019 11:53

I would definitely say there are timewasters on both sides unfortunately. I inquired about a 9 year old 14hh pony for myself and my seven year old daughter to share. I spoke with the owner at some length about the pony - she told me it had a lovely temperament, was a great child's pony, a real schoolmaster etc. We went to see it and discovered that not only was it about a hand shorter but had only just been broken to ride....

Fazackerley · 24/04/2019 12:02

Glad I could never afford a horse as can't imagine having to sell one on...

That's because you don't have one. They are expensive to keep if they are not doing a job, and for me to keep a healthy 12 year old horse in a field with no job to do would be cruel.

Greyhound22 · 24/04/2019 12:03

I sold my ex racer.

I had a very experienced sounding woman saying she wanted something for her daughter to event on and for her to keep ticking over just hacking in the week when she was at boarding school - he would have been fine on paper. Asked if she could bring trainer etc no worries.

Rode him in for her - she got on him and started squealing - 'oh I can't I can't' turns out she had only ever been on a quiet cob at the riding school 🙄

Another elderly couple turned up and basically stood there slagging him off. It really upset me - he was a wonderful horse and they picked on every flaw he had.

Colbinabbin · 24/04/2019 12:15

I sold my 17 hh TB last year through lack of funds and time as a single mum. It broke my heart.
A woman drove 5 hours to see him, fell in love and promised me she'd have him forever, that she was competent rider etc. I gave her all his history, that he needed a strong leader as he was pushy and dominant. I was totally honest about his challenges as a OTT TB. She assured me she was well experienced to handle him.
3 months later she rings and tells me the big fella is out of control, kicked her in the paddock, had a breakdown, trainers couldn't help him and either I bought him back or he goes to the doggers.
I brought him back expecting a broken, out of control horse that may need to be put down. He strolled of the truck, licked my face and the transporter said, 'he's been perfect, stallion two bays down and he travelled like a dream, loaded on and off three times. He might have been too much horse for her!'
Apparently she was so terrified of Jack she couldn't even get him out of the paddock.
Now my old teacher owns him and uses him for lessons.

Fazackerley · 24/04/2019 12:50

I sold my pony to a local family two years ago. He taught two of my dcs to ride, my youngest dd won loads of hunter trial rosettes on him, he was a fab hunter, brilliant xc, could be a bit strong but never bolted, kicked, reared. Did a beautiful dressage test, they used to do little 60cm ODEs and always in the ribbons.

The child they bought him for has decided he doesnt like riding and apparently he's too much for the younger girl. He's been out in a field for a year doing nothing. Such a terrible waste. I have said I'll buy him back but they don't want to sell him yet. Wish I'd never sold him on and only did so because the buyers promised me they'd have him forever, he'd go through all three of their kids, they loved hunting etc.

Sarahlou63 · 24/04/2019 17:32

@Fazackerley - I don't think any pony, given company and good food, would consider their life a waste Grin

percheron67 · 24/04/2019 17:39

Why on earth do you describe your horse as a "thug"? I hope he has gone to a more pleasant owner||

Easterbunnyhashoppedoff · 24/04/2019 17:43

Not being goady just interested as has been said I don't own a horse - but why is mn shit hot on posters who need to rehome a ddog but it's OK to sell a horse on?

Fazackerley · 24/04/2019 18:24

I've just explained Easter. Horses aren't normally field ornaments and they like to have a job (the horses I have anyway). They can live 25 years plus and can bring a lot of joy to other families in that time. I'd like to think I'll never sell one of the horses I have now, we've had him from a 5 year old, but circumstances might change.

You can lose your grazing through no fault of your own, become injured or ill and unable to ride, run out of money, kids lose interest and leave home.

maxelly · 24/04/2019 18:35

Well I can't speak for everyone Easterbunny and particularly as I actually have no problem with someone responsibly re-homing a dog or cat they are no longer able to keep, but I think the difference is (most) dogs and cats are primarily pets, whereas (most) horses and ponies are primarily working animals, i.e. they are specifically kept and bred to be ridden. For most people it is a significant financial and practical outlay to keep a horse (more so than a dog even once you account for dog walker costs etc) and therefore the horse needs to do a job to justify it's keep.

Of course we all love and care for our animals very much and have responsibilities towards them (I don't think anyone would deny that), but if for whatever reason (outgrown by DC, change in owner's health or aims/abilities) the horse can no longer do its job, it is usually better all around that the horse moves onto a new home where it can be ridden at an appropriate level. Although as SarahLou says some horses (particularly older ones) are happy enough to mooch around a field all day and eat, many horses do not cope well without regular work and ridden exercise and start to have behavioural problems or become depressed when their work is taken away from them. This can be particularly the case for warmblood/hot blood horses like the OP's thoroughbreds who are particularly inclined to need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation. So I don't think it's far to suggest the owner should keep them indefinitely if she can't provide this, providing of course the owner is responsible about who she sells them to and vets the new home appropriately rather than selling to a gormless father who wants a lead rein pony etc!

That being said, my ponies are rescues and would be very difficult to find an appropriate long term home for, so I'd probably never sell mine (plus I am soft hearted!).

homemadegin · 24/04/2019 18:40

My old retired horse comes to mind when I see these stories, albeit for different reasons.

He landed here completely by accident age four, a rescue case. He's a beautiful fell pony cross. Suits adult or teen. Did a lot with him, then work and back injury took over. My niece was to small, he was wasted.

The horror when I tried to sell him. He bolted, he bucked, he reared. I was that seller stood there going eh he's never done that before.

BIL jumped on him after learning of this, he was fine.....he's stayed put. Niece grew up and rode him for years, now he's grass cutting on the hill.

I'm sure he did it on purpose. The poor people who came to see him must have thought I was at it. I still blush thinking about it!

spottyponylover · 24/04/2019 18:53

I had a cracking driving pony up for sale a few years back. 12hh bay hackney. Two ladies tried him and gave a deposit, went away very happy. The next day they messaged to say he was too small and the wrong colour! Needless to say they didn't get deposit back! Time wasting day trippers!
Sold him a week later to the most super home where he still is and doing very well.
They did him and me a favour.

DiseasesOfTheSheep · 24/04/2019 21:48

I've seen a few who have miraculously shrunk a hand from their advert, and more who're not remotely sound. Plus a few who thought their common cob was a quality sports horse - annoying when the only photo they provide is from an odd angle, in motion, that makes the horse look a lot more athletic than the reality!

I don't sell, so I don't tend to see the idiot buyers, but I can definitely attest to idiot sellers.

Original poster
lastqueenofscotland · 25/04/2019 23:23

@percheron it’s tongue in cheek... you know like some people call their kids shits occasionally.
The horse was adored and kept like a king. He however also raced for many years and was kept in a stressful environment and had some behavioural hangups. Mainly being very territorial around food.
He could be ridden by virtually anyone and took my ex who was a shite rider round a cross country course, he was tricky on the ground.
Get a sense of humour.

OP posts:
DiseasesOfTheSheep · 25/04/2019 23:27

I call mine all manner of offensive names. Doesn't mean I don't love them to death (literally, since I don't sell, and I believe in doing the right thing by all the animals in my care).

NameChangerAmI · 27/04/2019 16:31

@percheron lighten up - definitely too much Black Beauty! Grin

Belenus · 28/04/2019 11:15

Not to mention the two that were lame, one of which I’d travelled 3.5 hours to view

Friend of mine travelled a similar distance only to be told the horse had lost a shoe the day before. And the owner knew this and still let her travel.

I call my old boy variously: mummy's best boy, most handsome boy, thug, git, what ARE you doing now and if he's really bad, his full show name. I love the old boy dearly but he can be a grumpy old thug. He is now retired and happily out with his herd buddies eating grass. He injured himself last year and there's too much wear and tear for him to recover fully. I gave him the summer out in the field to see how retirement suited him and he's never looked better or been happier. I'll keep caring for him until his quality of life deteriorates beyond a certain point.

Reading this thread I can understand how I got loaned an ex racehorse free of charge by someone who knows me. Much easier to loan to someone who you know to be reliable than to try to sell, by the sounds of it.

MyNameIsFartacus · 30/04/2019 18:45

I was very lucky and sold my old mare to the first person who came to see her - she actually lost a shoe on the day of the viewing, I did let the lady know but she said she'd like to come anyway (2 hour drive!), she came back again a week later and rode her out, loved her and she went to the most wonderful home where I know she is treasured.

Ploppymoodypants · 30/04/2019 18:56

Had two women turn up to see horse offering on loan. 14 year old eventing school master, who needed to do smaller tracks, but loved his work. This horse was 100% in all aspects, but obviously not for a complete beginner. As per the advert.
Anyway they took one look and said, yep we will have him. Refused to ride him. So we refused to let them them have him. They then got aggressive and accused us of lying in the advert and that obviously he wasn’t as good as we said 😩. Needless to say they didn’t get him. We had a list of 15 people who wanted him, and it was the potential home that was under scrutiny not the horse. We couldn’t believe the amount of cheeky inexperienced people who clearly just wanted a free horse 🤷🏼‍♀️

countrygirl99 · 30/04/2019 22:13

Diseasesofthesheep we had one turn up to see a lovely irish sport horse when my son moved away. 3/4 TB and looked it. 3 generations of breeding on the ad as well as 8 photos and 4 video clips. Drove 2.5 hours to see it and then complained it wasn't a cob so couldn't be Irish.