Argh cheap horses and tack - {RANT}

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flyingfeet

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Why is it that everyone thinks that horses should come with tack?

I have 7 horses and use various saddles on all of them, I have one for sale at not a lot (1.8k) and when numpties have come to try they have asked if the saddle (a WOW cost £1.5k) comes with her - urm no !

I get the distinct impression that if I bought a cr*p saddle for £50 and chucked it in (regardless of whether it fit) the vast majority would be happy

Is this just the market sector?

Also the amount of people that cannot ride and are buying horses is astounding

Getting really fed up with this hassle now!
 
I agree, put tack not included in the add.
Quite a lot of people will sell the saddles to the new owner if asked - maybe thats why they are inquiring?
Maybe they don't know the saddle is that expensive? I couldn't tell a £500 saddle from a £1500 one! Lol.
But yeah, if you clarify in your add TACK NOT INCLUDED, it should sort out your problems.
Good luck selling.
 
Jen_Cots said:
I have and told them on the phone, I think it must be the market!!
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I think you've hit the nail on the head. It often seems that those looking for cheap horses want everything for nothing. I've sold one or two horses at this low price and versus the ones I sell for thousands more the lower end market is easily a more tedious market to be in.
 
If you don't state whether or not tack is included people are entiltled to ask I'm afraid!

Also, what do you mean by cannot ride? Are they literally unable to conrol the horse effectively in walk, trot and canter? Or can they not maintain a correct and consisttant outline and improve the horse as they ride?

I agree that many people leap into ownership too early and with little experience (my own auntie bought a horse and didn't lnow how to tack up) but often riders are antirely capable at riding according to what they want to do, they may just not be suitable for the horse or have aimed above their ability (maybe looking for something to show them the ropes?)

Sorry this sounds grumpy, it isn't intended to! I'm just trying to be the devils advocate :)
 
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Jen_Cots said:
Why is it that everyone thinks that horses should come with tack?

I have 7 horses and use various saddles on all of them, I have one for sale at not a lot (1.8k) and when numpties have come to try they have asked if the saddle (a WOW cost £1.5k) comes with her - urm no !

I get the distinct impression that if I bought a cr*p saddle for £50 and chucked it in (regardless of whether it fit) the vast majority would be happy

Is this just the market sector?

Also the amount of people that cannot ride and are buying horses is astounding

Getting really fed up with this hassle now!
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Firstly, not everyone thinks tack should come too. Second, no harm in asking about tack if not mentioned in the advert. Third probably not the 'market sector', see above re: advert. Fourth, everyone has to start somewhere, we weren't all born in a saddle, perhaps they are learning, first horse, etc, not looking to spend a fortune (my first was about the same value), if you only want experienced riders mention it in the advert to avoid the issue, however, you'll limit your market as many will not be looking for a 1.8k horse.

Overall would suggest a re-write of your add to avoid your getting even more frustrated.

Good luck.
 
I understand your frustration but I always try and get the saddle thrown in - just as I always ask for a full tank of fuel and mats when I buy a car... If the seller says 'No' it won't stop me buying necessarily but I'm always up for the best deal I can - plus I hate 'breaking in' new tack it sucks.

BnBx
 
E_Lister said:
Also, what do you mean by cannot ride? Are they literally unable to conrol the horse effectively in walk, trot and canter? Or can they not maintain a correct and consisttant outline and improve the horse as they ride?
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Well honestly, one I thought was messing around, as it looked so weird. Was wobbly in the arena, which could have been nerves. Took into a field and in canter their hands were up by the shoulders (hanging on the mouth) and completely lost their balance, horse obligingly stopped so they could flop to the floor - the horse didn't put a foot wrong!

I don't think I like selling cheap horses :mad:
 
I find if you don't ask you don't get, I don't make it a bargaining point but I do ask if there's anything they want to go with the pony, sometimes people look at me as though I'm daft, sometimes I get a whole load of useful stuff.

So I've bought £300 pony including English saddle, bridle, 2 rugs, feed bowls, haynets and bins, grooming kit and boots.

£250 pony including saddle and bridle - both nice English kit.

£300 pony including saddle, bridle, 4 rugs and 8 bags of feed.

£2500 pony including saddle, 2 bridles, feed bins, feed, shavings, feed bowls, grooming kit, 9 rugs, various headcollars and boots.

£900 pony with a headcollar

£2000 pony with a headcollar

£4500 horse with £1K saddle, 2 bridles, vast collection of rugs, various numnahs and headcollars, several sets of boots, all the mats from the stable, feed bowls, feed bins, haynets, spare feed, grooming kit, extensive first aid kits for human and horse.

£800 pony with headcollar.

I have got rather a large number of feed bins now!
 
I always ask if tack and rugs are included, never thought I was offending anyone just always thought no harm in asking and it was never sated eitherway on the ads.
I buy very cheap ponies. Lucy was £500 inclu all tack and rugs and Herbie was £550 inclu all tack and rugs. I've never paid more than £600 for a horse and only one time was that just for the horse :)
Merryn I have to say was bargin of the century He was free then we gave his owner £100 and got a nice saddle, two bridles, two rugs, two full grooming kits, loads of fly sprey/ mane and tail de tangler etc... buckets, a bag of feed, a bale of hay, several hay nets and two headcollers (don't think i'm forgetting anything) :p :D :D
I love getting a bargin mind you all my ponies have come with issues ;)
 
I would not sell a horse without correctly fitting tack. If I had a hideously expensive saddle which I wanted to keep I would make sure there was a saddle which had been fitted by a saddler to send with the horse. I think a lot of people want to ride the horse immediately and some (lots?) would just chuck on any old saddle in order to do that. My 1st priority would be the horse's comfort.
 
If it wasn't in the advert I would ask because with how hard it is to find a saddle to fit a horse perfectly most have to be altered so much or made to measure that the saddle is 'useless' to anybody else.
Once a horse has a saddle made to fit no point seperating the pair. However if you have an off the peg saddle I can understand not selling it with the horse but I have NEVER been fortunate enough to have a horse that has been able to have an off the peg saddle. So retail value of the saddle is low. I think this is irrelevant of price or size of the horse or pony and still get the saddler out asap.
 
In the past i have sold horses and ponies of all types with and without tack depending on circumstance. I have also bought many with and without tack. These range from £250 to £7500.

Years ago it seemed most horses were sold with tack. This was when tack was less expensive and people were far less concerned as to the fitting or suitability of the tack so a cheap saddle and bridle was nothign to ensure a quick sale.

Now with the introduction of more luxury brands and a stigma against ill fitting tack it is a whole new ball game as people are spending out alot of money on saddles and gadgets.

I expect most people querying whether tack is inlcuded ask out of pure innocence as they assume the tack is well fitted to the horse and the inclusion would help them out by having readily suitable equipment for their new horse.

It also depends on the sellers circumstance- not everybody has 7 horses!! Many people sell to give up or get a bigger horse and then obviously have no reason for the old horses tack to be retained unless they want to sell it seperately which can often be more hassle than it is worth.

I think as long as you are clear as to what is and what is not included but in my opinion there is no harm in people asking :rolleyes:
 
just because someone has asked if tack is included doesnt make them a "numpty"!! :/

tack can be quite expensive and especially buying a horse with no tack at all,

also people want to get the horse home and be able to ride straight away, my horse didnt come with a saddle and i couldnt ride him for 2 weeks as I couldn get a saddle to fit,

if you own say three horses and are selling one chances are that the horses saddle wont fit the other too and there are so many dodgy fitting saddles around nowadays, when i sold my ponies I was worried about there "new" tack and wanted to make sure they were comfortable and ridden in something I know that fits!

The only reason my horse didnt come with his saddle was because it was brand new and happened to fit the owners filly, he came with bridle, boots and rugs though
 
I always want to send mine with their tack just in case they try to ride it in something that doesn't fit. Although I know friends that buy and sell and have bought the crappiest, cheapest, not fitted tack just so they can say tack included, I could never do that to my horse.

But I would maybe buy a second hand wintec or something if I was selling a horse that cheap. I tend to add an extra 1k on for tack and rugs then if they want to negotiate price I'll take the tack out and sell it separately.
 
You have said quite clearly both in your advert and on here that no tack is included, so I can understand your annoyance! I have only ever bought two horses, one a (relatively) cheap ex-racer and one a very expensive warmblood, and both came with absolutely sweet FA. Luckily with the first one, the yard was about 500 yards from a saddler who was able to sell us a very well-fitting second-hand saddle, at least to get us started :-)
 
I don't see why it is a right that horses should be sold with tack?
Writing in the ad that it comes with tack is a bonus - you should not need to state that the horse doesn't come with tack, especially if you tell them on the phone.

It's worth asking when you view a horse, if you don't ask you don't get but if the seller says no then the viewer shouldn't get grumpy.

I went to view a little tb and the seller kept going on how the horse came with tack - a horrible synthetic rhinegold saddle that probably cost £50 max.

OP - I understand your frustration, selling is a nightmare, not made easier my some viewers!
 
jemima_too said:
I find if you don't ask you don't get, I don't make it a bargaining point but I do ask if there's anything they want to go with the pony, sometimes people look at me as though I'm daft, sometimes I get a whole load of useful stuff.

So I've bought £300 pony including English saddle, bridle, 2 rugs, feed bowls, haynets and bins, grooming kit and boots.

£250 pony including saddle and bridle - both nice English kit.

£300 pony including saddle, bridle, 4 rugs and 8 bags of feed.

£2500 pony including saddle, 2 bridles, feed bins, feed, shavings, feed bowls, grooming kit, 9 rugs, various headcollars and boots.

£900 pony with a headcollar

£2000 pony with a headcollar

£4500 horse with £1K saddle, 2 bridles, vast collection of rugs, various numnahs and headcollars, several sets of boots, all the mats from the stable, feed bowls, feed bins, haynets, spare feed, grooming kit, extensive first aid kits for human and horse.

£800 pony with headcollar.

I have got rather a large number of feed bins now!
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Crikey, you've done well!

I suppose if someone is selling and giving up they would heve no use for any of the stuff, which can be hard to sell.
 
I would always like to buy the horses current tack (assuming it fits!) as that would be less hassle than going and getting everything new/measuring it up/getting it fitted.
I wouldn't expect it free though and wouldn't expect things like rugs which are more interchangeable between horses.
 
i think alot of times people buying in that budget work out how much they have to spend on a horse and forget about tack.

My mare came with just her and a headcollar - i sold her with a bridle but the buyers had to pay extra for her (brand new) saddle and rugs.
 
My friend managed to get a woman down from £1500 to £750 inc brand new leather saddle, bridle, numnahs, head collars, rugs, feed bins, grooming kit - the lot! She didn't expect anything additional but she asked and got!

All I got was a 'free' rope halter!
 
blitznbobs said:
I understand your frustration but I always try and get the saddle thrown in - just as I always ask for a full tank of fuel and mats when I buy a car... If the seller says 'No' it won't stop me buying necessarily but I'm always up for the best deal I can - plus I hate 'breaking in' new tack it sucks.

BnBx
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Exactly this - I would not however state that tack is not included in advert - sounds far too negative. Just fend off such questions when and if asked.

Absolutely no harm in a buyer asking - its just a negotiating ploy.
 
blitznbobs said:
I understand your frustration but I always try and get the saddle thrown in - just as I always ask for a full tank of fuel and mats when I buy a car... If the seller says 'No' it won't stop me buying necessarily but I'm always up for the best deal I can - plus I hate 'breaking in' new tack it sucks.

BnBx
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Agree with this comment, it is a deal!!!, an buers are are always looking for a deal to be done xxx

Good luck with your search for a new home x
 
Jen_Cots said:
Well honestly, one I thought was messing around, as it looked so weird. Was wobbly in the arena, which could have been nerves. Took into a field and in canter their hands were up by the shoulders (hanging on the mouth) and completely lost their balance, horse obligingly stopped so they could flop to the floor - the horse didn't put a foot wrong!

I don't think I like selling cheap horses :mad:
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Well to be honest in this instance I think more fool you. If I had a customer who was "wobbly" in the arena I would not let them into a field for a canter!! Re: the tack....I would never give tack with a horse but also feel that if you don't ask you don't get. I also think giving tack is far less common over here so prob wouldn't come across it as much
 
I would always ask if the tack was available - not necessarily included. If the owner had said they were giving up/buying a different sized animal & then were not prepared to include/sell the tack it would make me wonder if that was the real reason. You are obviously in a different situation as you have several, but some people will hold back on tack & throw it in as part of the negotiation.
 
horsegirl said:
I would not sell a horse without correctly fitting tack. If I had a hideously expensive saddle which I wanted to keep I would make sure there was a saddle which had been fitted by a saddler to send with the horse. I think a lot of people want to ride the horse immediately and some (lots?) would just chuck on any old saddle in order to do that. My 1st priority would be the horse's comfort.
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I agree. I expect many a horse sold without its tack has ended up wearing unsuitable stuff once it's gotten to its new home. I doubt all those perusing the horse market (particularly at the cheapest end) have always budgeted another few hundred quid on top of the buying price to cover the cost of a reputable saddler to come fit a comfy replacement saddle. I bet 'cha that.
 
Spyda said:
I agree. I expect many a horse sold without its tack has ended up wearing unsuitable stuff once it's gotten to its new home. I doubt all those perusing the horse market (particularly at the cheapest end) have always budgeted another few hundred quid on top of the buying price to cover the cost of a reputable saddler to come fit a comfy replacement saddle. I bet 'cha that.
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I agree with trying to give the horse the best chance of a nice life but if you've bought the horse and then paid to have a saddle fitted what makes you think the next owner wont do the same? If i thought the people trying my horse weren't capable of getting it decent fitting tack i wouldn't be selling it to them!

I let a horse go with a bridle including bit and reins and was most miffed to find that when they picked the horse up they had a brand new saddle and bridle fitted so were just taking mine as a spare!
 
sassybebe said:
I agree with trying to give the horse the best chance of a nice life but if you've bought the horse and then paid to have a saddle fitted what makes you think the next owner wont do the same? If i thought the people trying my horse weren't capable of getting it decent fitting tack i wouldn't be selling it to them!

I let a horse go with a bridle including bit and reins and was most miffed to find that when they picked the horse up they had a brand new saddle and bridle fitted so were just taking mine as a spare!
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I agree with this. I don't have a problem with being asked if tacks included, like I don't have a problem with saying "no, it's not!!".
 
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