Anyone ever refused to sell a horse to inexperienced buyer

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Polos Mum

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Wanted to avoid hijacking another thread. I've sold one horse in 8 years and that was to a lady who had him on loan for a year previously (and shared him for 18 months at my yard before that) - so relatively risk free on both sides!

Just wondering if anyone has refused to sell a horse to someone who claimed to be experienced but didn't look like it when they tried the horse? seen a few comments on threads like these (which sadly there seem to be quite a few of) when the ex owner has spotted that the horse was a bit much/ too big/ buyer couldn't do XYZ when trying but still went ahead anyway.

I'm sure people are nervous when trying a new horse but can those experienced sellers spot a novice handler in spite of that they are told?
 
Yes, I have a couple of times. Once a pony - I told the prospective purchaser that the pony wasn't right for the son (he sat like the sack of potatoes) as she needed a bit more help with jumping. He needed a machine that would take him.

Later a horse - considering that she was out in a field, with no arena, I had got on and showed her off at walk trot canter and gallop. Rider got on and kicked her in the ribs and I decided there and then she was NOT going to buy her. Another lady came for the same horse who was enormously fat and heavy. Considering that I was selling her as I felt underhorsed and too heavy for her and this lady really wanted to buy her, I had quite a tussle not to sell her to this lady. Luckily the eventual purchaser came along, so I had someone "who was already considering purchase" so I could put her off without saying "you are too heavy for her." Sold her after a long trial period, from here where she was settled and it was a success for the new owner and horse.
 
I most certainly have, my last filly was green lively and if handled wrong not an easy horse, i advertised her very honestly and at a low price becuase i wanted a perfect home and the right kind of rider to bring out the best in her. But at the end of the day she was a flashy looking pretty young horse fit healthy and the potential to do well in any sphere. Well i rejected 3 offeres the worst being from a young teenage girl who was supposed to be super experienced and when arrived to try my mare could barely manage a rising trot she turned round to daddy and demanded she wanted the mare coz she was so pretty and wouldnt she look goo at the next rs show. so daddy offered me the asking price and i said im sorry i couldnt sell to him in the intrests off both his daughter and my horses safety i advised she had quite some mroe lessons and they found her a well scholled been there and done it horse as i had visions of her and my horse having a horrible accident. He then offered more money at which point i made it clear iw ould not sell to him at any cost as it was the wrong thing to do for the safety of his daughter and my horse.
As far as i am concerned my horse my decision i was just very grateful i wasnt selling for financial reasons and was in no hurry to sell ym mare on i would of rather kept her as a pet than sold her somewhere where i thought she may come to harm or harm someone else. its been over a year now and i still worry about her but the new owner has given me updates and she is doing well so looks like i chose the right home in the end
 
Yup! Not me personally, but a friend.
A father and daughter rang up and he said the daughter was 13 or 14 (I don't remember) and had plenty of lessons, knew how to tack up/canter/etc and it would be kept at a riding school so she continue lessons. Friend thought this sounded great, so let them come to try her out.

Girl and father arrived and it was obvious the girl was younger. We found out she was 11. Friend tacked up (As girl didn't know how) and rode her first. Horse behaved VERY well and even popped a few jumps.
Girl got on and walked around, with reins like washing lines. She could trot ok, but when friend suggested she cantered, girl looked terrified! Turns out, she didn't know how to do that either.
Thankfully they decided they didn't want her, but friend wouldn't have sold horse to them anyway!
 
yes, i had a 16.3hh welsh cob cross tb for sale a few yrs ago, she was a very kind mare but needed a confident handler/rider to bring out the best in her-i was honest in the ads and said adults only. a lady phoned looking for something for her 16yr old daughter, i said come and have a look but that she really is a happier horse when people are calm and confident around her, i stated she was big. they came out to view and when i said to the girl she could lead her to the round pen to see her lunge she would not take the leadrein saying she is scary cos she is big:mad: i asked them to leave saying we are wasting their time and mine. they phoned me the next day offering the full asking price i said no. they kept phoning and offering more money but i still said no. the mare eventually went to a women she took a like to and i took a loss
 
Refused to sell our pony to a lovely novice home that wanted him. He was a lovely pony but needed regular work . Found him a more experienced home where they are happy with him. The first people even got their instructress to phone us but we knew he wasnt right for them.
 
Yes. Horse was stunning (ex county level show hunter). Moved really well but was definitely quirky and needed someone on board who knew what they were doing. Not a professional but someone reasonably competent. Woman sounded great, we talked through his quirks. She turned up and wasn't comfortable on the ground (letting him walk over her), rode him and he didn't put a foot wrong but she was quite CLEARLY a much more novice rider than she had portrayed. I walked her down the road and then made up my mind that if pulled just one of his normal tricks she would be off. She was really peed off that I would not sell him but I said I could not in all conscience. I knew the horse really well and she clearly did not the experience to deal with him. I sold him to another woman who did know what she doing. He kindly demonstrated every single one of his quirks to her and she bought him regardless. Partly as she thought I had overstressed his painful bits! Original woman was not really stable in the saddle, relied on her reins and then turned out her entire riding was purely in a riding school for a couple of years. Nothing wrong with that but this was a quirky and quite well schooled dressage horse who could put most people on the floor if they weren't concentrating!
 
Yup! More than once! Trouble is we breed Shetlands and so you always get the usual - oh my kid wants a pony for christmas. Never had a pony before, sat on one once at the beach type thing.
 
Not necessarily inexperienced but have refused to sell to the wrong buyer for the horse. More than one buyer has remarked it seemed like an interview, hopefully in a nice way because its stressful enough for buyers.

I can usually tell how the horse goes for the rider and the rider's reaction whether it'll be a good match or not. I want to see the horse sing and the rider's face unconsciously light up with pleasure. Then I take into account how they will care for the horse, which maybe quite different from my management, but will suit the horse anyway.

The eventual buyers have not always been the best rider but when the horse goes well for them it becomes a sort of joint decision between me and the horse.
 
I've experienced this on both sides, bought my mare from a dealer and before seeing her I tried a stunning mare really the type I wanted but realistically I knew myself at that time I could not have done her justice and she probably would have knocked my confidence so dealer suggested looking at something else ( very politely I must add :-) ) and I'm soooo pleased we agreed to do that as I found my dream horse. As a genuine buyer I would be happy for an owner to tell me they didnt think the horse was suitable - I think it shows that the horse's welfare and contentment are priority and that the seller is genuine aswell as they are only seeking what is best for the horse in the long term.

On the flip side I refused two people who came to view my little cob lad when I advertised him for full loan a couple of years back.( now sold to amazing home) he was 100% in every way but only 5 and needed keeping on track as would push his luck and take advantage if he could get away with anything - just a cheeky chappy really. One lady struggled to know which end was which although was v v keen on him - I;m a softie and dont like to appear rude so had to make something up about him - can;t even remember what now!! and the other was just off riding school ponies and - even with a very pushy grandad!!! - I had to explain that he was unsuitable because of his age.

Think essentially most genuine people would rather the "gentle" truth
 
Yes, I used to buy cheap projects, put in the work & sell on. However as I never had longer than 6mnths tops, the ones bought unbroken were still green. Or if bought with a problem were still at a stage the wrong handling could have seen them reverting. So none sold to novices. And I would tell people that. One was a cracking second pony type, who was actually fine when the kid tried it. However previous bad treatment meant if the rider tensed, pony did too, & imo the kid wasn't at a stage where if pony had got excited she would have been guaranteed to remain calm, which would have caused problems further down the line. Felt a bit mean saying no because 95% of the time kid would have been fine. Others I had little remorse turning down, weeded most out before viewing.
I did once sell a green 5yr old I'd bought & backed 6mnths previously to a novice teen. However, pony had the most calm temperament going & was so genuine, a real one in a million. And I knew both the girls instructor, yard & friends, the owner of her outgrown loan pony & had super references from pc. So whilst not really experienced to school a youngster alone, I was assured they had the back up. And this was a pony so calm a toddler could ride it.
 
Definitely. As the seller you owe it to the horse you are selling to find it a home in which it will be suited. Whether you've owned the horse 2 weeks or 10 years IMO.
 
I had someone call me about a horse I was selling, she said she needed to make sure he was a total saint as he was for a total novice and when I said I didnt want someone like that for him she gave me a little mouthful and slammed the phone down....charming :rolleyes:
 
We used to loan my stepson's first pony out, she stayed on our yard, but the people didn't really pull their weight, and we got fed up a year later, so gave them a month's notice, saying that some very experienced friends with their own stables had asked if we would sell her. The numpty family asked if we would sell her to them and I had to say no, stating the other home would be so good.. The mother pushed and pushed, repeatedly asking if I didn't think they were good enough, and in the end I said they weren't experienced enough and didn't put enough in. The woman has never spoken to me since, walking past me in the village with her nose in the air several times. Ironically the child does.
 
Lovely to hear this go well from 'turned down' buyers point of view as well. clearly with some tact you can turn down a buyer that isn't suitable and avoid the phone call 3 weeks later demanding a refund for you 'dangerous' horse.
Not commenting on anyones fault here, I'm sure a horse could easily turn apparently 'dangerous' when really unsettled and in management conditions that they aren't used to.
 
Have definitely refused on "crazy" grounds.

Before I left the USA, I had my three-year old greenbroke project up for sale, hoping he'd sell before I left the country. He didn't. So I put him with a professional trainer to keep him going and get him sold. The trainer and my non-horsey mother were now in charge, as I wasn't going to be selling horses from 8000 miles away. Trainer was using my horse in some of her lessons and one of her adult students fell in love with him and offered to buy him. All seemed great. Except that the woman, before she laid any money down for the horse, started treating him as "her" horse. Then the barn had a strangles outbreak around the time the horse was meant to be vetted, and my horse caught a mild case. The vet said there was no point in vetting the horse if he had strangles, but the woman had him come anyway and vet the horse, who failed (duh). The woman would also come up and doctor the horse, which was nice of her, except that neither my mother nor my trainer knew about it (we learned this later). Then the strangles madness died down, at which point my mom and trainer learned that this woman had been coming up and taking care of the horse without their knowledge or permission. Then, she demanded that my mom cover the cost of the failed vet check. Just like in the UK, US practice puts that cost on the buyer. So this did not go down well. Mom and trainer decided this was the last straw and they didn't want to sell the horse to her. She went a bit bananas and said that as she had bought grooming supplies and some other things for the horse, my mom should compensate her for that as well. My mother told her where she could shove that idea.

Luckily, she went away. Next we heard of her, several years later, was when the local paper ran a brief story about her porn star career. Really.
 
yes i have refused a few times, but in a nice way. young green horse even though really quiet, still has to learn, cant do that with a novice that is still learning themselves.
 
Yes. When I was selling my first horse, girl came to try him out in the school - she managed to walk trot perfectly well in the school but made an excuse for not cantering, cant remember now it was so long ago, but she wanted to try him out hacking as she wanted a horse for hacking (on her own may I add) - so I invited her back the following weekend and borrowed another liveries horse so that we could hack out together - when we turned on to a path where the horses usually canter, the horse I was riding got a little prancy fora few strides which I stopped immediately - my horse did the same but stopped as soon as he realised we were not cantering - queue woman throwing her arms around his neck, adopting the fetal position, death gripping with her legs and screaming blue murder into his ear that she was going to come off while my horse stood there like a lamb too scared to move with a very confused look on his face. She hung on to his mouth the entire way back and called me a few days later to say she had decided not to buy a horse after all - just as well really because I wasn't selling him to her.
 
Very strong explosive cob sold with full explanation eventually. Selling as too much for me, experienced novice/plus adult. Old bias rang wanting something for his grandkids to learn on. I listed his issues in the advert including 'will run away with you if possible'! I explained price was not the only thing he should consider.
 
Yes I have!

I have a PRE who is VERY sharp and difficult to ride. In fact I wont even ride him anymore after many falls from him.

He is however a super talented boy! who does very very well dressage and breed showing. Amazingly well really.

Lots of people have offered me very good money for him. But it isn't even that they are inexperienced, it is in fact that they are just not the right type of rider for him (even though most are very experienced!).
 
Polos Mum said:
Agreed - perhaps I should have used 'unsuitable' rather than inexperienced in the title for the thread!
Click to expand...

:D

There are a LOT of people that would not care as long as they got a sale. I have not read the rest of your thread. I have always done what was right for my horse. He is now happy, healthy, enjoying his work and getting more confident everyday :)
 
Definitely! The last prospective buyers sounded lovely but said "No" when I asked if they kept any other horses. I suggested the pony I had for sale had been in a herd environment all its life and would need a companion. My mind was made up when, in reply to my suggestion that they might get a Shetland as a companion, they said they did not want to go to "that expense"! Companion Shetlands expensive? I felt quite pleased I was able to save them even more money by not selling them the pony who eventually went to a very good home!

These days I make sure I have thought up a reasonably plausible excuse for not selling a pony even before it is advertised. A few carefully aimed question usually reveals whether the enquirer will suit the pony (and vice versa) before I've even put the phone down. Just getting a post code and looking their address up on Google maps can reveal a lot!;)
 
I havent had to refuse to an inexperienced buyer, rather the opposite. I was selling a very special 4 year old and a lady viewed him who wanted him for endurance riding as her own 8 year old had sadly broken down. She tried him every which way she could, he didnt put a foot wrong, and she declared she wanted him and didnt quibble at the full asking price.

She then asked if I had any objections to her arranging her vet (2 hour drive away) to do a 5 stage vetting. I assured her this was no problem at all and would wait to hear from her when it was arranged.

As we walked out to her car, she pointed at the large concrete yard and said she wouldn't be able to look when her vet 'worked' the horse on there as she had seen him vet before, and it was as painful as pulling teeth from a baby.:confused:

I asked her what on earth she meant as I was rather bewildered. Apparently her vet would lunge my young horse around and around at a gallop on the hard concrete until he was dripping sweat and almost on his knees! WTF??? If he was still sound after that she would go ahead with the purchase.:eek:

Needless to say I had her off the yard and on her way in minutes, and she was still protesting loudly that this is how you vetted an endurance horse? I wonder now exactly why her own horse had broken down at the early age of 8?:mad:
 
I guess it would depend.

If they were novice with a good instructor and on a helpful yard and the horse would cope and teach them then I'd sell. One of the best things I had done as a kid was being put on a pony that taught me to stick to it's back and learn to ride properly!

If it was a horse who would be dangerous with a novice then no way, equally if it was a horse that wouldn't cope with a novice then no.

Equally if the family knew nothing about horse care and were chucking it in their back garden I wouldn't sell the safest horse in the world!
 
Yes, someone messaged me the other day asking if I'd back my two year old (purple papered) kwpn x tb and sell him to them with tack for his daughter who thought he was pretty. Then couldn't understand why I wouldn't do all that and give him to them for £300, as surely a baby horse is only worth that?!

Maniacs. I politely told them to p.I.s.s off.
 
I'm glad the owners of my horse didn't do this. I am actually relatively experienced but seriously lost my confidence with new horses after breaking 4 ribs, when I went to try mine I completely lost my bottle so just wandered him round their school and barely tried him out at all. They probably thought I was a complete moron, thankfully they didn't stop me having him and now I couldn't trust him more if I tried! I really panic when nervous and especially if I'm being watched. Although I did once go to try one horse, who turned out to be unavailable so tried another at the yard, a 17hh ex show jumper, I'm only 5ft3 so looked like a pea on him, after helping out on the yard occasionally for some rides I was eventually steered in the direction of my beautiful 15.3 warmblood x.
 
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