Being very picky about who to sell my horse to.

Cobsndogs

Cobsndogs

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I know I was moaning recently as got my horse up for sale and hadn't had any responses.
So someone has rung and been out to see him, they really like him. Problem is I think they are totally overhorsing themselves and would not be happy to let him go to them. He is a 16.3 competition type, and although he is a total gentleman, I just don't feel he is for them. It is for a husband and wife share, he is a total novice and didn't try him, and she has lost her confidence ( I totally sympathise), and looked terrified on him and was only up there for about 10mins. I have heard from someone who knows them that they have got through 4 horses in past 2 years, as if they spook once etc they get sold on.
My husband is saying I can't dictate what people do with a horse once they buy it, and I know that, but I think my horse deserves better than ending up being sold on again through no fault of his own, and would rather keep him until the right home comes along for him.
 
Good for you, they don't seem right for him at all. What is someone with a huge confidence issue and with a novice husband doing looking at a 16.3 competition horse in the first place?!!!
 
I don't blame you actually - this is the only time you will have a say, so I think it's important to make that first move the right one.

I sold a horse a couple of years ago, it took me a year to find the right buyer, many people came to see him as he was a lovely looking horse, and I had quite a few offers for him, but I turned them all down until I found the lady who 'clicked' with him.

They're still together and she still sends me updates. I know there's no guarantee he'll stay with her for the rest of his life, but I do know that if she does have to sell him on, she'll work as hard as I did to find the right home for him.
 
Go with your gut feeling, Ludo and it does seem this would NOT be a match made in Heaven!

I sold a horse (classic case of talented but quirky!) and didn't even allow 3 or 4 lots to see him. I did, i the end find him a brilliant, forever home where he has shone like the star I knew he could be.

Stick to your guns, or you will always be fretting about how he is.
 
You wouldn't loan him or share him with just anyone, so feel selling is the same. If you feel they are unsuitable then stick to your guns. Your hubby may be right, but you do have a say in who you sell your horse to in the first place. :)
 
It sounds like a disaster waiting to happen if you sell to those people! :eek:

I am selling one of mine at the moment, I have so far refused to let one lady even come and see him, and turned down an offer - the right perosn/home is out there and will be worth waiting for, he is far to precious to end up in the wrong hands.

Good luck with finding the right person.
 
I agree. After he is sold you will have no further say in what happens to him, even if you offer to buy him back, there is no guarantee that he would be offered to you. BUT you have as much say as you want in who you sell him to. If you are sure that you don't want to sell him to this couple, rather than not wanting to sell him at all, iyswim, then don't sell him to them. It does sound as though they are looking at the wrong type of horse for them. You would be doing them a kindness if you suggested that they go for 'less of a horse'.
 
I can only echo the sentiments above. Who you sell him to is the only control you're going to have over his future: it's worth being patient and getting it right. That way he'll be happy, and you can live without regrets. That way both of you, and the new owners, are all winners 80)
 
you are right to try and be as sure as you can be that its a good match. Firstly because you care about his welfare, and secondly, if you sell him and it all goes horribly wrong, you can bet youll have a broken horse back and lots of aggro.
 
I'm in a similar situatuion to your potential buyers at the minute, and to be honest as a buyer I would think that there was something wrong if you (The Owner) wasn't being picky about who you would sell too.

I bought a pony for my youngest daughter and owner couldn't care less who she sold her to, which I found heartbreaking as she obviously wasn't loved. (she is the best £500 I have ever spent!)

As a novice rider who has lost my confidence I would probably be grateful if the owner thought I would be over horsing myself and said no.

Hope you sort it out, and I wish I was a better rider as I would be seriously interested myself!

x
 
I would go with your gut feeling. I had the sad situation of selling a horse a few years ago and seeing him sold on within a couple of months. Absolutely heartbreaking. It is not worth the risk of that happening.
 
Good on you and don't do anything less than be picky.

I think it is our responsibility to ensure our horses future can be as secure as possible, afterall they rely on us, can't do it for themselves.

I would just give them a call and say that weighing up everything you feel he is unsuitable for them but wish them luck finding something. Stick to your guns and don't be swayed.

I sincerely hope the right person comes along for your horse and they can offer him a wonderful happy home.

Good luck x
 
Where are you? Im horse hunting at the moment and looking for a gelding. Ive not lost my confidence but am not the bravest rider in the world. Can you give me some more details on your horse.

PM me if you prefer.
 
There is no way I could sell my horse to anyone I wasn't totally happy with. I know we have no control once they've been sold, but gut feeling is often proved right, and I would have to click with them as well as them clicking with the horse.

If you can afford to wait for the right person, then I would if I were you. :)
 
One of the girls on my yard has a horse for sale ( or 3 :p ) and the eldest one has been for sale for a long time because she hasn't found the right new owner for her. Because the mare is quiet people think she is confident but she gets her confidence from her rider so can be quirky so owner is taking her time to make sure she gets the right match



Very sensible in my opinion
 
you also have to consider that if you do sell the horse to these people and it goes wrong then they might try and take legal action against you for selling them an unsuitable horse. i know its supposed to be "buyer beware" but a friend of mine had a very upsetting few months when buyers tried to sue her- it didn't go anywhere in the end but it was very stressful for her. go with your gut instinct :)
 
Thanks for all the replies. They have phoned again, to say they would like him, and I have done the deed and turned them down.
On the plus side we went out and he did his first dressage test today (he always been an showjumper), he behaved really well, considering the lack of jumps confused him, and got 66.7%, so really pleased with him.
 
When I went to view my 4yo the lady was looking for someone for him... not the other way round which I understand. If you think its not going to work out then it probably wont since you know him better than anyone else. You'll know when you find the 'right' person. Good luck x
 
I wish to God now that the person selling to us had told me she didnt think the horse was right for us. Through a complaint made to the RCVS about something linked to the sale, we understand now that it had been said that they thought we were not suited, and not confident enough for him, but they still sold him to us!!! You can guess it all went wrong, cant you!
 
OP, well done on doing the right thing. It sounds as though you're doing well with the horse yourself though so have you considered loaning him? If you had a personality clash or something he'd be better being sold but as you're clearly very responsible AND getting on well with him it might be an idea to consider. That way you get a say in his welfare always.
 
Good for you!! Do the right thing by your horse, his future is in your hands and that is quite some responsibility! Read the title of this and thought great what a shame more people are not more like you!!!
 
You have every right to be picky. We have been to and have found the most fabulous new owner for one of our horses. We could have sold him 20 times over but where he went was of the utmost importance to us. There were many people we turned away purely from talking to them on the phone.

Good luck in finding the right new owner for your horse soon.
 
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