Buying the horse you said 'no' to?

[pinkfluffy]

Quick question: has anyone, in the long never-ending search for a horse, said no to one then gone back weeks later and realised that horse may be the one for them?

I know why I said no, those reasons haven't gone away but as I've seen more/ridden more I'm rethinking my criteria and now those reasons (age and price) don't seem like a big deal compared to a great ride and a good personality.

 

[Squeak]

I think my main concern would be why the horse was still available weeks later. Possibly your reservations re cost was justified? Maybe as the horse hasn't sold there might now be some negotiating space on the price?

 

[scats]

I’ve got one in my stable- Polly! ?

 

[Widgeon]

No, but then I don't think that would happen to me - the sort of horse I like (big pony / small horse, nice to hack) sells within hours or days - it wouldn't still be available after multiple weeks of deliberation!

I think my main concern would be why the horse was still available weeks later. Possibly your reservations re cost was justified? Maybe as the horse hasn't sold there might now be some negotiating space on the price?

ETA - Yes, I'd be wondering this too

 

[ycbm]

I think my main concern would be why the horse was still available weeks later. Possibly your reservations re cost was justified? Maybe as the horse hasn't sold there might now be some negotiating space on the price?

Exactly this. It wouldn't worry me to adjust my expectations of age or price in the light of what I've found for sale, but it would worry me that the horse had not sold in the meantime.
.

 

[CMcC]

The best pony I have ever owned. Went to look at another but the dealer had sold it by the time I got there. Bought out a puny looking grey 13’2” (too small, wrong colour). Was persuaded to try her as I had “come all that way” (40 minutes!). Not impressed. Dealer was untacking I was about to tell him I didn’t want her and to call me if he got anything suitable. Then I heard a voice say I’ll take her. It was my voice but I am pretty sure it was her decision. She is now retired but quite simply the best pony ever!

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I said no to my chestnut that I've had now for nearly 20 years. He was too expand he cribbed terribly. Dealer who sold him had to fetch him back due to buyer not even able to get on him after 2 weeks. Rang and said I could have him for the money I had! I think he was fed up of him!!

 

[doodle]

Yes. It was a disaster. Thought I might as well as on paper horse suited. Didn’t occur to me to question why still for sale. I sold the horse on after a few months. My first thought was right and it wasn’t the right horse.

 

[pinkfluffy]

I think my main concern would be why the horse was still available weeks later. Possibly your reservations re cost was justified? Maybe as the horse hasn't sold there might now be some negotiating space on the price?

I think availability is due to price/age. Before I even saw him the first time I knew he was overpriced but his looks got my attention. I also think age is a factor - I'm not looking for anything green and I know he's older than many people may want. It's a bit older than I was looking for but not too much.
I just hope a failed vetting isn't why he's still available.

 

[ihatework]

I said no to one. A few weeks later the owner rang me and asked if I wanted him for free!
He stayed with me for 14 years until he was put down

 

[pinkfluffy]

I said no to one. A few weeks later the owner rang me and asked if I wanted him for free!
He stayed with me for 14 years until he was put down

I'd definitely take him for free

 

[AandK]

Yes, have had him for 20yrs now... Originally walked away as he failed his vetting (heart murmur) but couldn't stop thinking about him so popped in a reduced offer about a week after the vetting, picked him up the following day and the rest is history!

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

Only once. Went back about a month later as he was still for sale and I hadn't found anything else that suited what I was looking for. But I had had some sixth sense about him at the first viewing and walked away with no solid reason why.. Owner agreed a lower price at my second viewing.

I didn't bother with vetting as I was young and stupid and thought I knew more than I actually did many years ago. Also he was not much money, and an amount I could (in those halcyon days!) afford to lose. And lose it I did, he was PTS about 4 months later with not one full ride out of him. The poor thing was relatively young but had got several severe soundness issues that had been well disguised with bute.

Buting to sell was fairly common back in the day from lower end sellers, but in my young and conceited over confident mind I thought my background had kept me ahead of the game with that little trick and I would spot a well buted horse a mile away. But I didn't did I. Oh the folly of youth.

 

[lynz88]

Not exactly the same but I was looking for a horse to part board and found mine (that I now own). I tried him and didn't like him. It was awful. I was about to say no to part boarding him as I was untacking....and while I was doing that, he put his head on my hip as if to say "you!!" It melted my heart and I part boarded him for a little while before he became mine.

 

[Red-1]

Yes, my first eventer. He had 2 1/2 shoes on, was not quite sound, dished terribly, made an awful noise in his wind and bucked like something else.

I fell in love but couldn't bear to spend what they wanted me to pay as, on paper, he wasn't such a fine purchase. I put an offer on the table, it was refused, I walked away.

I tried several others, nothing was as nice.

They called back about 6 weeks later and again wanted me to pay more. I stuck to my guns, asked why they were calling when I had put my best offer on the table. They then came to my price. Ye-Ha! Getting him through the vetting was interesting as I said I wouldn't pay for a vet unless he was shod but then the farrier took loads off and he was sore.

Fabulous purchase, took me round my first BE events, took me round my first Novice, never faulted XC and was fab Bd too.

 

[Roxylola]

Very different story, but if I'd been actually looking I'd have said no to Bon, too big, too blood, too white, but he brings me so much joy. Once I sat on him he was so sweet and obliging even when I could feel his worries, he's such a lovely boy.

 

[Ossy2]

Slightly different but yes, 3 years later lol ?

 

[gallopingby]

I think my main concern would be why the horse was still available weeks later. Possibly your reservations re cost was justified? Maybe as the horse hasn't sold there might now be some negotiating space on the price?

Possibly because no one could be bothered to travel to view? Seems to happen frequently if you live in Dorset/Devon/Cornwall or Scotland. I set the price and stick to it. We frequently travel to view but many expect the perfect horse to just appear 30 mins away or at a push they might manage 50 miles.

 

[Annagain]

Not exactly but when I was looking when I bought Charlie, there's no way I'd have gone to look at Wiggy as he's older than I'd like. When I sold Charlie 2 years later, I only went to see Wiggy because I was looking at horses up to 12 the first time. Wiggy is 14 so had I bought him at 12 when I was first looking, I'd have a 14 year old now. He was a bit more expensive than I'd like to have paid for a 14 year old but I really wanted him so I bit the bullet.

Best thing I ever did.

 

[eahotson]

Not exactly but when I was looking when I bought Charlie, there's no way I'd have gone to look at Wiggy as he's older than I'd like. When I sold Charlie 2 years later, I only went to see Wiggy because I was looking at horses up to 12 the first time. Wiggy is 14 so had I bought him at 12 when I was first looking, I'd have a 14 year old now. He was a bit more expensive than I'd like to have paid for a 14 year old but I really wanted him so I bit the bullet.

Best thing I ever did.

Sounds as though he was worth every penny

 

[twiggy2]

I was offered my last mare for free when she was and yearling, she was in with my 2, she keep breaking all the fencing and I mean 5 or 6 times a day so I said no. She was sold and I bought her a year later as I felt sorry for her, she was a great little mare though and most likely still is.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

When I was looking 5 yrs ago I'd got a list of "everything I didn't want" i.e. mare, youngster, pony, coloured, hairy cob.

Guess what I came home with............ ALL of those (profile pic!).

 

[Milliepony]

Yes - my beautiful, sweet mare... I was looking for a 15hh-ish gelding for daughter and me and dismissed her based on her H&H advert as I didn't like her hind leg in the photo and she sounded a bit green for what we were after. This particular day, after speaking to various sellers and getting more and more defeated, I went back to the little coloured mare's advert and rang the number. She sounded good, so we viewed her: there was nothing wrong with the hind leg and we fell in love right there and then. She's been such a good horse for us over the years: now retired, she'll be with us for ever.

 

[lynz88]

When I was looking 5 yrs ago I'd got a list of "everything I didn't want" i.e. mare, youngster, pony, coloured, hairy cob.

Guess what I came home with............ ALL of those (profile pic!).

Precisely my horse. He is everything I didn't want/don't like....gelding, TB, chestnut (I especially hate plain chestnuts and guess what he is....). I was adamant my horse was going to be a grey or dark bay, a mare, and most definitely a warmblood as I was sick of TBs.....

 

[sunnyone]

Only the once. My OH came home one night and said he thought we should get some weanlings from the New Forest sales to help eat the gorse down at our fields and then perhaps sell them on. I knew nothing about NFs so went to see some champions at a stud the following weekend. We were shown a filly foal of their Champion stallion and also a grey colt. I did not want a colt so barely glanced at him.
Sale time came around and I marked my catalogue to look at a couple of fillies seriously. Whilst sat in the ring waiting I saw the same colt come in, and he was making very low bids. He was obviously going on the meat wagon but I thought he's been handled, wormed and stabled, I'll bid. I paid under £10 for him!
We had him gelded, at 1 year and kept him for 5. He was a real boon to have around the place as he would be a companion to the horses, lead the other ponies I bought into a stable or a trailer, and would travel alone when required. At 12.3" he was vey cheap to keep but we sold him as we had nobody to break or ride him. I would still love to know what became of Samson's Disney.

 

[Ceifer]

Yep.
Tried a beautiful eventer. Ummm’d and ahhh’d about it. I’d also hoped the owner would take a slightly lower offer as he’d been on the market a while. She wouldn’t budge on price which ate into my contingency money so I walked away. Horse has now become a champion show horse and I wince every time I see him in H&H ??.

also my last mare failed the vetting. I walked away. The owners really wanted rid of her so a week later I went back in with an offer and they accepted

 

[millitiger]

I tried a horse, he failed vetting so I carried on looking elsewhere.

About 4 months later, I couldn't find anything I liked as much so, took a punt and bought him for 30% less.

He went on to event at BE for another 8 seasons (15 concurrent seasons total) and never had a lame step- I have never regretted buying him at all!

 

[oldie48]

When we sold my daughter's eventer, a rather novicey little lady tried him and decided he was too big and too much horse. I thought she was right. She came back a month later, tried him again and offered the asking price. tbh I was a bit dubious but he was to be kept on a pro yard and she had lots of help, so against my better judgement, I sold him. It worked out wonderfully well and he had a home for life. My 7 year old daughter and I went to see a 5 year old Connie mare, daughter fell in love and I saw a disaster waiting to happen so we came home without the mare. The dealer who had bought the mare over from Ireland kept ringing me and daughter kept nagging me, eventually we agreed he'd bring the mare over to a local HT, with his own rider and we'd have a look at her again. It was a vile day, blowing a gale and the little mare stopped at pretty much every fence but popped it second time. She was calm but forward going and looked very smart. The deal was done before she went back on the lorry. She was a really super competition pony and it was clear my daughter had a much better nose for a good horse than I did.

 

[webble]

How many weeks later? The market is slowing down a bit so it might not be the red flag it was say 12 months ago

 

[hock]

I know there’s a lady that viewed my super youngster that was an angel, a very good price and was talented enough for a pro but could be produced by a half decent amateur that is kicking herself for not buying him. She was the first person out of the 3 offers I had for him that I really liked. She sat on this baby horse of mine that had been turned away for 3 weeks and we dragged out of the field without even lunging and after her ride she sat on him, reins around his neck and feet out her stirrups while he stood politely listening to us chat. (My rider rode him first). We agreed a price and a vetting was booked, then the next day told me a friend “an expert” had said he was going to grow too big despite me telling her before viewing his maximum height. Anyway I’ll be honest I thought you absolute muppet, you will never sit on a quieter, kinder, more straight forward horse that moves like a super model. But she has also done me a favour I couldn’t face trying to convince another soul how absolutely fabulous he is and turned him away. So if my horse is the horse that got away and you said no to - there’s not a chance I would let you buy him. At some point he will be sold but only to someone who’s going to worship his hooves and can’t live without him. Plus 4 weeks ago we went showing his first time out and for me and we came home with 2 reds, inhand champion and then show supreme. So next year we’re off showing (I want a novice hoys ticket) or we’re going to do the BD young horse classes and we’re going to regionals, or I will eat the cat. Sorry if this is the lady ? I did think you were really lovely (and rode him nicely) or I wouldn’t have let you visit! Bit awkward if it is you … ??