Advert advice on selling a quirky horse

[flirtygerty]

Hi,
through no fault of anybody's, my horses loaner can't keep him and I cant bring him home, so have decided (not easily) to sell him.
He's a good all rounder, handsome, but quirky, as in, if he can get out of a field/stable he will, tries to undo farriers belts/chaps, likes twanging elastic on jackets while having feet picked out, pulls things into stables/field over doors/gates, pulls down, then pees on hay bales, very dominant with other horses, refuses point blank to lunge, sets his neck and off he goes, never far though and in 7 years, have never got this sorted, happy to long rein, oh, and he will test a rider who thinks they know it all.
Having given his minus's, there's not a bad bone in him, I just feel his new owner should be aware of what a lovely character he is, how do I phrase his add, any suggestions appreciated

 

[FfionWinnie]

Many people have horses who behave like this and think nothing of it. Advertise his good points and what he can do well (perhaps mention he needs a secure field) and leave the rest til later.

 

[AmyMay]

Many people have horses who behave like this and think nothing of it. Advertise his good points and what he can do well (perhaps mention he needs a secure field) and leave the rest til later.

Exactly. He's just your average Ned.

 

[Maesto's Girl]

Sounds like a quirky character that I'd love if I was looking! I love horses with personality! My mare will undo her leadrope and will lick my back when I pick out her feet...she'll spook at the same thing over and over and she is so fine (Arab) that there is nothing to hold on to! Make a mistake and you're off! Still the best thing that's happened to me though

 

[benz]

I would probably describe him as cheeky/mischievous/playful rather than quirky as I read quirky to mean dangerous or naughty. Regarding the dominance if he is aggressive with it I would say needs solo turnout or something, if he's well socialised just the boss then just say as much in ad. Regarding the lunging I probably wouldn't say in ad but on initial phone call state that you don't lunge him you long rein and he doesn't understand lunging or say in ad 'good to long rein'. Not 100% sure what you mean when you say tests a rider who knows it all so you would need to be more specific e.g. sensitive to the aids and does not get along with a strong rider. Or if he's a beggar in the school but a joy to hack market him as a hacker for example.

 

[KittenInTheTree]

None of the quirks you describe would bother me at all. I have one very similar and he's a delight to own; I just can't trust holiday cover to anyone stupid enough to mismanage him! Perhaps try focusing on his ridden career - what he's like under saddle, any competition history, whether he's reliable around traffic, etc. Could also add the phrase "Competent, experienced home preferred" but be prepared for some twit to find that offensive. Sorry to hear of your having to part ways

 

[flirtygerty]

Oh he's not your average ned amymay, this horse was actually jealous of my husband and my other horses, if I wanted to give the others attention, I would have to chase him off, if I was watching someone have a lesson on him, he would make a bee line to me, obviously novice riders, having an open barn set up, he would constantly pull things through from the storage area, I found kites, tools, cans to name a few, buried in their bed, hes amazing, but I am biased

 

[flirtygerty]

He tests a rider by pushing his luck,eg novice grandson riding, horse stopped to say hello to a strange pony in a field, this day I told grandson he had to use his legs to get him to go on, eventually, being very red in the face, he slapped the horse with the reins, at which point the horse continued on his way, another time, still grieving for his field mate, my experienced daughter took him out for a hack, having fought him all the way,he just wanted to be back in the barn, she had to phone for help, as he was being a total tit, backing up, going into gorse bushes, refusing to walk on and she refused to let him away with it, this is a horse that total novices rode, I ended up borrowing a friends mare for company for him, but have never seen a horse grieve like it, he was present when we lost his friend to colic

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Yours sounds just like my boy OP. He has his little quirks which, when you stop and think about them, are actually quite endearing in a funny sort of way!

Mine is fine with a beginner/novice up top, but Gawd Help anyone who Thinks They Can Ride. I've seen him with a novice, he's as careful as if he's carrying a basket of eggs on top, is a real plod and safe as houses even when a stupid death-wish cyclist decided to whizz past almost brushing his bum when a friend had her 6yo kiddie up top; but with anyone who thinks they're a good rider then he'll suddenly metamorphosise within minutes nay seconds into a total monster, and has a special little line in corkscrew bucks which he keeps up his sleeve for just such an occasion for dumping riders he doesn't like. I've seen the blighter do it.

When I did a loan advert for him a few years ago, I described him as a "fun cob with plenty of character who would best suit a rider who is able to think outside the box". Never was a truer word spoken.

 

[GirlFriday]

Exactly. He's just your average Ned.

This.

This thread almost looks like an advert for him in fact...

 

[flirtygerty]

Not at all, I have been very careful, not to give too many details, just looking for advice on selling a horse with a mind of his own

 

[flirtygerty]

just looked through these posts, in what way could this be described as an advert, no height, no breed, just descriptions of his behaviour, i haven't mentioned his good points, apart from not having a bad bone in him, so find someone else to pick on, letting him go is hard enough

 

[DabDab]

Just describe his good points and then put something along the lines of "has bags of character and needs an owner with a sense of humour"
Leave providing specific details to someone who's interested.

 

[GirlFriday]

His behaviour _is_ his good points, ie good fun family horse (not eg a competition horse).

You set the thread up like you were going to say bad things.. and then said lovely things! (Albeit not the demographic stuff that needs to go in a real ad). But a cut down version of what you describe as 'quirks' would sound good in an ad. Like DabDab said.

 

[dominobrown]

You need to be honest. Even if someone rings up you need to mention all the faults you are aware of otherwise you are liable.

 

[Luci07]

My horse would pull anything over if in distance of his giraffe neck, be it cups, full barrows or bales of shavings. He would untie himself (including the quick release note) as soon as you walked off. A friends horse lets himself out of his box (you only forget to use the kick bolt once!) another's will not stay tied up after being ridden. It's just horses...!

 

[SpringArising]

Agree with others who say he just sounds like a normal horse. I thought you were going to say he bucks for England and kicks anyone in sight.

 

[KittenInTheTree]

Fun things mine has done...

Undone the farrier's apron mid trim
Undone the belt on my gilet whilst I was picking out a wind knot from his mane
Untied himself whilst being groomed and then thwacked me upside the head with his leadrope
Raided grooming kit whilst tied up and chucked random items to opposite side of yard, the better to repeat the untying himself episode
Picked my husband's pocket and taken his phone
Chucked his empty feed bucket at random person
Chucked his half full feed bucket at me, because it was the wrong consistency
Improvised kite flying with empty hay sack
Picked former YO's pocket, taken their cigarettes, and eaten the packaging
Tipped over the round bale feeder and rolled it at his field mates, before pawing down part of the bale and weeing on it
Opened the electric fencing using the handle to let himself and his field mate into the better grass whilst I was strip grazing their paddock
Chucked his mostly empty feed bucket at his field mate's head
Chucked his field mate's empty feed bucket at the electric fencing to make it rattle, thus spooking field mate - that will teach the human for sharing their attention equally with other horses then
Pulled his haylage right across to the opposite side of his stable and then pooped on it
Chucked his headcollar at head of random person passing by his stable
Let himself out of his stable to go and play with the wheelie bin
Picked my pocket and taken my keys
Popped over the four foot high fencing surrounding his paddock from a standing start as and when he feels like it
Marked the boundaries of whatever field he's in as "his" by pooping along them
Attempted improvised kite flying with plastic half barrel used for water - not windy enough, result one very disappointed horse and soggy looking field mate
Snuck up behind me whilst poo picking to dribble water down my neck - water barrel was at the opposite end of the paddock
Reached out over his stable door and borrowed the yard brush to wave at people
Very carefully placed one of his front feet into the wheelbarrow and waited for the humans to start panicking - looked mildly irked when we just sighed
Reached out over his stable door, chewed through the throatlatch clip of his own headcollar and swallowed part of it - to be fair he was teething at the time
Picked up a rock he found in his paddock and chucked it at his field mate
Chases rabbits

He's very good with the vet though.

 

[Rupertthebear]

Just describe his good points and then put something along the lines of "has bags of character and needs an owner with a sense of humour"
Leave providing specific details to someone who's interested.

Perfect description dabdab, I have to admit id be more likely to view a horse if it said this in the advert! His bad points aren't that bad, he just has personality! Its not the end of the world if he wont lunge etc, just make potential owners aware so they dont put themselves in a dangerous situation. If they like him and are serious about him they wont mind and will work around it.

 

[Sophire]

I honestly don't think any of those points you've listed are bad traits of your poor horse, and certainly wouldn't be what I'd describe as 'quirky' at all. Full of character, yes. Quirky, no. I've known many horses who would also get themselves into anything and everything and be nosy!

 

[Tiddlypom]

I wouldn't take on a horse that was a serial escaper from its field. I expect mine to stay put.

 

[flirtygerty]

His behaviour _is_ his good points, ie good fun family horse (not eg a competition horse).

You set the thread up like you were going to say bad things.. and then said lovely things! (Albeit not the demographic stuff that needs to go in a real ad). But a cut down version of what you describe as 'quirks' would sound good in an ad. Like DabDab said.

apologies then GirlFriday, to me, his behaviour is part of his charm, his escapism can get wearing, especially at 6am, rounding up four horses in the dark, with a 16 2 tart madly in love with the landlords gelding, but he's honest about it, will try and undo a gate in front of you

 

[flirtygerty]

I am honest, it needs to be the right home and he hasn't got a bad bone in him, just a weird sense of humour, his new owners will be fully aware of his behaviour, it's no hardship padlocking a field gate

 

[flirtygerty]

no, in 8 yrs he's never kicked or bucked, but the other 3 didn't have these quirks

 

[flirtygerty]

my boy has a twin, I spent an afternoon in the barn worried sick, when he raided the food store, couldn't move he was so stuffed, he picked a fresh egg up and spat it at my daughter, now that was funny

 

[flirtygerty]

so do I but he gets bored, he needs more work than he gets

 

[Frumpoon]

He sounds flipping brilliant, if he was a big stroppy warmblood to boot then I'd be all over him

 

[Sags_Deer]

Just be honest that's all

 

[flirtygerty]

Thanks everyone, for all the sound advice, advert now composed, just need to put it about, thanks again

 

[Pc2003]

I would take quirky as unpredictable, prone to outbursts, overly sensitive etc. Yours just sounds like it has a massive personality and sense of humour. It's not a bad thing.
My lad can be a royal pain in the ass. Does most of the things you mention full of his own self importance but an incredible personality to be promoted I think