Anyone sold/selling/bought a childs pony recently?

[SophieLouBee]

I am putting my 12.2 section C up this week *cry*, It's been so long since I have had kiddies come and ride I've forgotten what to expect/do!?

She's 5, very well behaved but still 5, I have made it clear in the ad that I want an experienced home for her, with either a competent child or as a lead rein until the child gets to know her.

I'm worried that I will get really novice kiddies who's mums think they are gods gift and they will fall off! Not that the pony will do anything, she just turns in if rider is in doubt!

Anyone care to share their experiences?

 

[BonneMaman]

No experiences, sorry, but you are never going to be able to tell what someone is going to do with your pony once money changes hands.

You sound experienced though so would expect you could tell an "idiot" if they came along.

Best of luck.

 

[horsey_jo]

Maybe you could allow for a trial period? Take full payment but allow a month after for them to return her for a full refund if it doesnt work out?

 

[zxp]

No recent experience (been many MANY moons since I was in 12.2hh's!), but we are looking at the mo! But I think we need a little more experienced, as although we are experienced, niece is a bit windy!

Good luck though. I know it is heartbreaking, just filter the numpties!

 

[rubyrumba]

I sold a 5 yr old sec a back in April. He went on 2 weeks trial and they loved him! I sold him for a lot less than I wanted to though...

 

[SophieLouBee]

Yeah, I have had one horrendous experience with a trial period. The new owners had had my old pony for a week, and they rang saying he was fantastic and they loved him. 2 days later they rang again saying that he had decked the kid and bolted off. I had pony back because I knew there is no way he would do that unless something had happened.

Turns out the had shut him up in a stable with top door bolted, then when he went balistic, they turned him out with 6 tbs who chased him round THEN, they decided they could ride him out in the wind on an open field. Naturally pony freaked out as he was so het-up

He was sold on to a lovely home in the end (ex jockey for his granddaughter), but he was never to go off the lead rein until the child could manage him, which is such a shame as you could have put anyone on him until he went away the first time.
Just puts you off doesn't it.....

I'm quite confident that she will go to a nice home though, I am the seller from hell. She's safe, loves kids, but is still only 5! I feel like a mother hen haha

 

[Swift08]

I sold one last month He was (well is) a green 10yo as had never had any proper life experience and although a very good pony and 110% on the ground he was very forward going and very bright. I trained him to voice commands which he picked up very quickly and no matter what he did, the moment I said whoa and sat deep in the saddle, he would slow down/stop!
When advertising him we got a couple of people call up but just did not sound experienced for him (advertised him as a LR/second pony or 1st pony in experienced home), they just did not seem to understand that he had only been brought back into regular work 2 months before (he had a year off because owner moved away and left him on full grass livery until we took him and his companion on) so would not be able to go out that weekend for pony club. Also had a couple of people who sounded lovely on the phone but the children were too scared to actually do anything, not even come and say hello to him.
Eventually a family rang us and sounded fine but the age/size of child did worry me as she was only small. Well they turned up, the child got out of the car and I was so worried! But I kept quiet and took her to the field to get him, he was an angel, got straight up (he was asleep in the field!) and came over, let her put his headcollar on and take him in. She groomed him and helped tack up and then I rode him. He could not have been better behaved for me so I let her on, walked her round on the lead rein then let her off and really made sure she used her voice. He responded so well that they wanted to put a deposit down there and then but we told them to go and think about it then come back in a couple of days for another viewing. They came back and he was an angel on the ground but awful to ride! He was a sod for me and tanked off, nearly running the poor girl down before I had a chance to say whoa. I was convinced they would change their mind and say no but they asked for a 2 week trial and then they would buy him (and an agreement was drawn up etc)!
Well they did buy him, she has fallen off him once or twice but they are smitten, he worships her and she worships him. They are in regular contact with us and I could not be happier. He even went to his first ever show yesterday!
I guess you just have to go with your gut instinct. Many people will not be suitable and you have to be prepared to say no. Looking back I am actually glad the one I sold was naughty that day as they saw how he could be and how to deal with it and the fact they were not put off reassured me no end!