Buying a pony...

Falcon

Falcon

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 August 2010
Messages
71
Visit site
I am currently looking to buy a pony and it seems like alot of ponies I call up about are 'on sale behalf of a friend', essentially this doesn't worry me as we have sold a pony in this way before due to work committments etc.

In the one particular circumstance (the pony I am intersted in), the history of the pony is a little hazy, and I'm not 100% convinced on the story as to why it's for sale, who owns it currently etc.

I went to see the pony, and liked what I saw, seemed sweet and I enjoyed riding her...

I was told she was forward going - but she wasn't, infact she needed a kick on, I guess I am worried she was excersied before, or had been given something... i am a little untrusting due to a bad experience earlier this year!

BUT the story etc is making me twitchy, I have asked question after question, and done as much digging/research online as I can.

What else (if anything) can I do, what would you do?
 
Falcon said:
I am currently looking to buy a pony and it seems like alot of ponies I call up about are 'on sale behalf of a friend', essentially this doesn't worry me as we have sold a pony in this way before due to work committments etc.

In the one particular circumstance (the pony I am intersted in), the history of the pony is a little hazy, and I'm not 100% convinced on the story as to why it's for sale, who owns it currently etc.

I went to see the pony, and liked what I saw, seemed sweet and I enjoyed riding her...

I was told she was forward going - but she wasn't, infact she needed a kick on, I guess I am worried she was excersied before, or had been given something... i am a little untrusting due to a bad experience earlier this year!

BUT the story etc is making me twitchy, I have asked question after question, and done as much digging/research online as I can.

What else (if anything) can I do, what would you do?
Click to expand...

The world of pony selling!!!

people are terrible, they lie, fake, cover-up...so un-truthful!

In my experience just try around, try and get references from eg. pony club DC'S, pony club managers etc etc

hope this helps xx
 
I cant think of anything else to do but try to contact previous owners?
But I would say if in doubt dont buy it. You obviously have a gut instinct so I would go with that, as they say there are plenty more fish in the sea! :)
 
if they sat it has a record doing pony club or anything else then check it out very carefully...try checking out the owner on the passport not the person selling it...
if still in doubt walk away...there are lots of other ponys out there.....
 
Get someone else to ring up and ask the same questions to see if they get the same awnsers. Assuming you trust them and they know what you want possibly get them to try the pony and see if they think anything is suspiscious.
 
I think you have to trust your gut I'm afraid with horse buying, the other thing is to have it 5 stage vetted including a blood test to check for sedatives.
 
I'd walk away

'Selling on behalf of a friend' is a simple get-out of not having to provide full details

Sometimes its true but in a genuine case they can probably get accurate answers quickly for you

Plenty of other ponies out there that have a much less complicated situation

If it feels wrong then chances are it is wrong
 
I'd walk away as well, I'm afraid. You could try asking for details of the 'friend' and phone/e-mail them to ask the questions you have- if the actual owner does not have the time or inclination to answer them or the person who is selling will not hand over the details I would walk away, faster...if these people are genuine they will want to see the pony going to a good home and will answer your questions even if they haven't really got time.

Ultimately, if you really like the pony, go and have another look, ask why it wasn't forward going last time, if you aren't happy, walk away or discuss the option of loan with a view to buy if you are still interested anyway. Then get a vet you trust to do a 5 stage and bloods. If you don't think it is worth this much hassle, there are plenty of others out there...
 
Thanks all for the responses, I actually managed to track down an old owner and get some history which to be honest has made me even more twitchy.

A trial period was dismissed immediately so sadly on this case I think I will have to go with my gut and walk away - a real shame as a super smart pony and I enjoyed riding the pony alot!!

Why am I struggling to much to find an honest and geuine pony for sale with a known history?!
 
Falcon said:
Thanks all for the responses, I actually managed to track down an old owner and get some history which to be honest has made me even more twitchy.

Why am I struggling to much to find an honest and geuine pony for sale with a known history?!
Click to expand...

Because the "best" ponies often never come on to the open market, I think they are sold by word of mouth, often pre-booked before the current rider has grown out of them.

Don't give up, lovely kind ponies are out there being sold by genuine honest sellers. It's jsut sometimes they can be a bit hard to find.
 
Is he in the pony club? If so could you ring up the DC or instructors from that pony club and ask information about him?

If your not sure though walk away, its not worth the hassle
 
Looking something between 13.2 - 14.2hh (small adult) with a good sane/trainable brain for dressage.... age, sex etc fairly open to right pony....

For me the brain/trainability/paces and a generally nice person are the most important!
 
genuine ponies dont come up for sale, they are kept are passed on through the family. My genuine pony stayed with me over 20 years he was not going anywhere until the big green field in the sky called him - breaks my heart still today, my world feels empty without him, sun is shining just not so bright without him.

as for your problem - i have tried horse described as forward going yet you needed a rocket up the bottom to make them move. They probably have no idea. remember its all perception and riding ability.

was the horse already caught and waiting for you?
 
good ponies are hard to find and are often snapped up quickly as they are suitable for children and adults.

it look me ages to find my lovely pony a few years ago, in the end I managed to find a good one and was the first to look at him so no-one else could get in there first and I bought him.

I think sometimes people perceptions of "forward going" are different in the end I had to ask - do you have to use a whip to get canter or how much leg do you need to use. Also some of the ponies may be used to different aids to get them going, so yes they were forward going if you gave them a whack with the whip but did not respond to the leg.

What is your budget? and have you tried looking on the pony club website or if you are might like a native (new forests have been successful in dressage for example) then the breed society websites.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top