Dangerous buying/selling stories?

[muriel]

I have just been having a good chuckle at some of the 'funniest buying and selling stories' thread and I wondered if anyone else has turned up to see things that are just downright dangerous?

I was working in a dressage yard in Belgium a good few years ago and my boss was looking for a couple of youngsters for me to bring on. Having seen a few really nice animals, we turned up at final yard of the day to see a just broken 4 yr old. We turned up to find that there was nobody there who could could ride it, only grooms in the yard in the afternoon and the rather elderly yard owner who lunged it for us and then said I could get on but it really was just broken so better to stay on lunge. I know, I know - but boss standing next to me and wants to see it ridden so on I got. Anyway, trotted round beautifully on the left rein, changed to the right rein walk was OK then leg on to go into trot and straight up and over it went!! Very calm, no panic at all, obviously knew exactly what it was doing. I got severely squashed, cartilidge damaged in hip, no riding for 6 months (ie no work, and back home again) progressive arthritis in hip and subsequent hip replacement 10 years later at 32!!

All my own fault, should never have got on a baby at a yard I didn't know without seeing it ridden first - hindsight is a wonderful thing - but what would you do if you were employed as a rider and the boss wants to see you ride something?

Any other horror stories? I'm sure some of you must have been to try nutters too.

 

[Lippyx]

Poor you!! Well, I would say no way, but we all do strange things when under pressure!!

 

[Booboos]

Oh my gosh, what a nightmare!

I don't have anything that comes even close! Just the odd lunatic and the odd bucker when looking for a horse for a total novice, but nothing compares!

 

[Lobelia_Overhill]

Back when I was looking for a horse 20 odd years ago the first one I looked at reared up and fell over backwards - thankfully he sat down first, and I had time to roll out of the way!

No I didn't buy him!

(and he'd behaved fine with his owner)

 

[emma69]

My old boss had a terrible habit of going to 'pick up some new headcollers' at the sales and comng back with untried horses, usually around the four year old mark. Then it was pray for it to be broken before jumping on and 'see what it knows'. Fortunately, you got a good inkling from tacking up if this was an entirely new idea so we at least lunged those ones first. I also had the joy of 'seeing if it behaves in traffic'. Gosh I miss my old job (ha ha. But you know, not a single bad fall with any of them first time out!)

 

[bugaboo]

Oh as a youngster been skinny,weighing nothing and having a famous sticky bum on my yard.My YO and trainer used to come back with all sorts for me,but they all made me a quick witted little jockey and never had a life threatening accident.
Im pretty fearless [well before i became a mum,not sure now as i dont really ride] at getting on horses,on the ground its a completely different story had bad accident there.

 

[atouchwild]

[ QUOTE ]
My old boss had a terrible habit of going to 'pick up some new headcollers' at the sales and comng back with untried horses, usually around the four year old mark. Then it was pray for it to be broken before jumping on and 'see what it knows'. Fortunately, you got a good inkling from tacking up if this was an entirely new idea so we at least lunged those ones first. I also had the joy of 'seeing if it behaves in traffic'. Gosh I miss my old job (ha ha. But you know, not a single bad fall with any of them first time out!)

[/ QUOTE ]

Had a giggle at this - sounds like my job now!!

 

[tedster]

Only one who was a dealer... Went to see horse was told it was quiet as anything, even though suspiciously hot, was a nice looking horse and was a long journey so asked to see it ridden, was told no one avaliable to ride it....so me being completely dumb just said o well I will just try it myself... it was horrible hunched up when I got on , felt like it was going to explode.... and it did buck, fly buck twists.. yuk horrid and they didnt have a school to try it in so was riding in a field full of rumble etc.... luckily managed to pull it up and got off hastily. Taught me never ever try a horse until you have seen it ridden and know its ok.

 

[RhiannonE]

After losing confidence on my previous IDxTB I vowed that my next horse would be absolutely bombproof - I could deal with being green on the flat or jumping but just wanted something sane and sensible.
Went to a dealer - nearly 3 hours away from me. He was advertising this gorgeous liver chesnut "schoolmaster" -12yrs old. I thought great- called and was told he was a perfect gent, never bothered with anything, would be fantastic for me the newly nervous rider (in past have been known to ride fireary stallions for stud farm where i used to work but with age and unsuitable horses i'm now not so care free).

Turned up and he was riding the horse already - the horse was dripping with sweat and very very hot. Thought ok, looks nice and if i like I can come back and insist on him being non ridden/in field etc etc.
Got on and he was a truely gorgeous ride in regards to light mouth, floating paces- I did just have to sit there and look pretty. Did feel a bit like an unexploded bomb - thought hmm maybe just all that "impulsion" he's got. Thought cool this is fun - lets try a few half passes, then out of no where -crazy beast shoots sideways into side of the indoor menage, bashing me and himself, several spins and bucks later i'm on the floor with helpful dealer saying "lets get you back on again shall we love?"

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