"Didn't go to plan" viewing

LaurenBay

LaurenBay

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Hi,

I was just wondering has anyone ever been to a viewing and something has happened (Horse bucked, owner fell off etc) and dispite that you saw something in the Horse and bought the Horse anyway?

How did it turn out?
 
The owners of the horse I was viewing decided to put his bridle on out on the yard, not tied up, something spooked the horse and off he went with reins round neck and owner clinging on and ran up a steep bank and down again and back into the stabe block, with owner running swiftly alongside with the rest of bridle still in hand.

I decided it could be overlooked because
a) I'd never try and tack a horse up like that anyway
b) he reminded me of my old pony who was fond of such stunts and so it made me smile

He also bucked as the owner was riding him on the yard (just a little one) and was a total s*d with the vet when he was trying to look at his legs for the vetting.

I still bought him and he is still at times a pain in the bum with his back legs, he's getting better and he's young so I'd expect some naughtiness that needs working through.
 
I know someone who was viewing a welshie for their 8yo son. The pony bucked him off, jumped the arena fance, and ran off. They bought him anyway because he looked flashy! Then spent they next months getting very frustrated with him, because he was being a sod.
 
When we viewed my wee mare i very nearly went out the side door :p Asked for canter with to much outside leg and she flung herself swiftly sideways. But luckly i stayed on lol Then when my sister tryed her she spooked and took off down the arena with her. And when you picked her back legs up she lifted them really high and cow kicked!!! But she was only coming 4yrs old, and had a noticable eagarness to work. We've had her 3 months now and she has completely changed :) Very glad we got her.
 
AshTay said:
The owners of the horse I was viewing decided to put his bridle on out on the yard, not tied up, something spooked the horse and off he went with reins round neck and owner clinging on and ran up a steep bank and down again and back into the stabe block, with owner running swiftly alongside with the rest of bridle still in hand.

I decided it could be overlooked because
a) I'd never try and tack a horse up like that anyway
b) he reminded me of my old pony who was fond of such stunts and so it made me smile

He also bucked as the owner was riding him on the yard (just a little one) and was a total s*d with the vet when he was trying to look at his legs for the vetting.

I still bought him and he is still at times a pain in the bum with his back legs, he's getting better and he's young so I'd expect some naughtiness that needs working through.
Click to expand...

I should have added c) he looked so darned gorgeous as he cantered past us back to the stable block that my heart gave a little leap and that was it!

Should also say that when I went back to view him again, the owner again tried to tack him up outside (and on a strange yard) and he behaved impeccably.

I think it's good to see what they're capable of as only then can you decide whether you can handle it. Although that logic clearly didn't work for sprite1978's friend....
 
Went to see a mare for a client. (client was nervous, just out of RS). The mare was being ridden in a gag and spurs (oh dear) and was very lazy. Their "instructor" was helping the girl show the horse off, and put up some jumps. The girl fell of twice!!!! Both times though she was coming in off a terrible line in a trot that was going nowhere! It was totally the riders fault. She was devastated, but actually I didn't blame the mare at all, and we weren't looking for a jumping horse and the fact that she was so quiet was a bonus. They bought her and had her for 3 years. She was great for them, and actually she was very good at jumping! ha ha
 
Depends what I'm looking for and how competent the owner seems to be. If the horse is "misbehaves" and I can see the owner is clearly incompetent then it won't put me off the horse. I bought a mare last year that cantered/bounced off for about 10 minutes before I managed to settle her into a trot, but there's something about her I liked and now we're working through her issues she's turning out to be a real sweetheart.

But if I was going to look for a safe all rounder, I wouldn't be happy if it bucked or spooked at something minor, so it really depends on the circumstances.
 
Someone who came to view a horse I had for sale, person (the buyer) rode him all was well and good because he listened to me (I did warn them you didn't need much leg and a few other things) but they had also brought an 'expert' with them and was about to run through a few things with her but she looked down her nose at me and said she gave lessons and knows how to ride ....put me in my place.

Horse took off with her, she couldn't find brakes neither...shame.

She came back looking a bit worse for ware and out of breath.

Funnily enough though they had him vetted and bought him.
 
Firsst horse I viewed was advertised as 'bombproof and suitable for a complete novice'. I got on whilst a groom held her. Horse spooked at something outside the arena, trod on groom's foot. Groom let out a howl and let go of bridle, horse went straight into canter and headed for a five bar gate. I thought she was going to jump it and that I would die but luckily she simply barged into it and stopped. I got off at the speed of light
 
when I tried Pilfer xc he hit a fence on his front cannon and gave himself a dead leg and was absolutely hopping for a minute or so until he got the feeling back.

then when I got on for my go I found I had absolutely no brakes and Pilfer merrily hurtled around with me for about 30 minutes jumping what he wanted to as I tried desperately just to steer, let alone worry about slowing down!

I bought him anyway and he was a superduper horse who took me from jumping 2'6ft to going BE Novice and always filled me with confidence-once I had worked out how to ride him! :)
 
My mare spooked whilst I was riding her and kept spooked a few times when coming out of the stable (they were unloading horses from a trailer).

I just thought that if that was her at her worst, then I'd be fine. Subsequently though I fell off again and am in hospital. Completely my fault not hers though! Shame mind!
 
Mine whipped round with me 4 times when I went to try him and I tried to hack him away from the yard. I had fallen in love with him the moment I saw his face though so I got him anyway.
He's a star and even though he used to spin round occassionally when I first got him it was insecurity rather then nappiness and he rarely does it now and is not nappy in the least, he loves his work. He's amazing :).
 
Seen quite a few that I wasnt keen on in my current horse search, one I was dumped cant remember why. I couldnt move my back was painful and it took two weeks for my back to get better. The sellers knew what this horse was like before I got on him. Others Ive tried have run off with me, thanks but no thanks and one that bucked a lot in trot when they were riding him. Its a nightmare horse viewing, take your life in your hands.
 
looking for my first horse....................popped onboard
walk trot canter ok with brakes:)
started jumping...................started getting faster, bolder and higher
well i was a cockey 16 yr old so you cares eh?
carried on jumping aimed at the 3.6 spread..........................he jumped 4.6
i jumped a foot bigger than that:eek:

contected on landing and then served round an apple tree..................i went plop on my bum:o

ended up with concussion and still bought him :)
 
I went to view a little TB mare who was advertised as done all Rc activities, good in all ways etc, all the usual info. When my mum and I turned up she was being ridden by someone other than the owner who I found out was over horsed and hadn't ridden the mare for the past year. The mare wasn't as advertised in anyway at all, not even the correct colour, she was liver chestnut not a bright bay! I got her on her in the arena and she proceeded to run backwards the whole of the arena and only stopped when her backside hit the fence. At this point I should hve probably got off and called it a day but I continued. What a little madam she was, full of attitude. I'm not sure why, but I still liked her, there was just something about her.......... to cut a very long story short, this was 18 years ago, I still have the little mare she's been the best horse ever and is enjoying her retirement at the grand age of 30.

Sometimes you can't judge a book by it's cover.
 
from the other side;;;

the potential sellers who came to view my horse.... i got on first - managed 5 steps of walk and my horse went into full on bronc (he'd never done it before)


Apparantly.......I came flying off, got knocked out and wasnt breathing.

I lived. alllimbs intact...jjust a bad back - the sellers said they would come back another day.... never heard from them again lol - unsurprisingly!!!!

Still didnt find out what happened to the horse.... he was re-schooled and sold some months later!...
 
We went to view a mare with my sister when she was looking for her first horse and I can't imagine a worse viewing! The little girl who the pony actually belonged to wouldn't ride her (alarm bells!!) and an older girl got on her instead. However the pony looked nappy and difficult even with a strong rider on her (pony was 13hh, girl was about 14). Then we boosted my little sister up and the pony's owner promptly disappeared with her daughter and the rider in tow, saying she had things to do. My sister was 10 and tiny, but very game, and managed to trot a few circles before the pony bucked her off and galloped back to the gate. The owner's claim of "well she's never done that before" was not believed :rolleyes:. We didn't buy!
 
I tried a horse who refused several times whilst I was trying to jump him, but being a young teenager at the time and my first "horse", I figured it must have been me causing the problem (as the owner seemed to suggest). I popped the horse over huge (well huge to me at the time) XC fences and he was fine, I guess that impressed me enough to buy him! Big mistake. The horse was an absolute dream to handle, the soppiest creature but to ride he was very very hit and miss. 90% of the time in competition, he'd nap in the middle of a SJ round and get eliminated and he'd nap so badly in the XC start box, but then suddenly he'd click after literally 5 mins of messing about and shoot round clear but by then we had massive time penalties. He was amazing at home and in lessons - would jump anything, but put him in a competition and he fell apart no matter what I tried. Gave up and sold him to a hacking home where he's been happy since! Learnt my lesson and ended up with fab horses since.

I had 2 not go to plan when I was selling. One was a project pony who was super, but she had decided that day to be absolutely high as a kite, literally going sideways / cantering on the spot - totally unlike her. I told the woman, look she's being a cow lets give up on this! My other horse ended up bucking a young girl off but to be fair she'd got excited that he did flying changes and did them about a million times until he got bored. He never bucked but of course you always look like a liar saying "well he's never done that before!".
 
When i went to view my boy, the owner was stood at the corner of the yard tembling as i attempted to tack him up, his bit which was a three ring gag didnt fit was hanging and bashing his teeth, after running around to find a snaffle to suit, i got on and headed off to the school, with an audience including the owner.

We had a mooch round in the school, walk, trot and canter, nothing amiss, had a small cross pole put up jumped it lovely, put it up to 2'3" ish he jumped it lovely, spooked before he landed and had me in the floor - gasps from the audience & owner lights 10th ciggy in about 10minutes.

I still bought him, as i fell in love with him and loved his cheeky attitude!

Still to this day do not know why previous owner wouldn't ride him though :confused: in fact she knew nothing about him & had owned him for 18 months.
 
The first horse I ever viewed was a 16hh TB "schoolmaster", apparently had "some Everest Milton in his bloodlines" :rolleyes: After a while I asked for canter and he did an evil, dirty, head between his knees twisting buck and threw me into the school fence. He then galloped round the arena before rolling and breaking the saddle.

My Dad was quite clearly horrified that this horse was described as a schoolmaster, I was too scared to go anywhere near him, my instructor walked off shaking her head and the owner said "he'll teach you how to ride properly, he did that for a reason, to tell you that was not right":eek:

Needless to say we walked away without the devil "Milton" horse and thanked the deluded owner for her time :D

After that I let my instructor pick out the ones to view!
 
I went to see and Arab on the viewing I didnt want an Arab, I wanted a Welsh D. They put his bridle on by undoing the reins putting round neck and fastening. They undid a cheek piece put bit in and re-did, everything pointing to a problem with his head. I got on - hadnt been ridden in a year, owner refused to get on. I trotted/cantered round, he had a little hooney and settled.

21 years later he's the best horse a kid could wish for, he's 32 still going strong - oh and there was nothing wrong with his head - the cheek pieces were way too tight and got a sock in the gob everytime he was tacked up - loosen off and problem solved:D I now have another Arab (Anglo) who I did mean to buy:)
 
My boy was totally the other way round... lemme explain.

Sleepy was up for sale by a fellow student at a local riding school. She told us all about the biting, barging and generally really bad behaviour from her 4 year old chestnut ex-racer and she wanted 2 grand for him as she couldn't cope anymore - totally unrideable too. We all smiled knowingly and went off for our lesson.

When we came back she'd dropped the price to half that as she'd been talked round by the school owner's dad - well at that price it's worth a look if nothing else cos I was kinda looking but not seriously.

Next day up at his field (he's on his own as owner had been kicked off last yard) he saw us all walking up to his gate. He reared, turned away as if to run, thought about it and then sauntered towards us like he was coming in for his execution. I took a chance and got into his field and went and said hello. Well he buried his head in my armpit and started grooming my right forearm.

That did it. Yeah we had a bit of a ride on him - I mean a bit as in 3 minutes but the look on his face of "please get me out of here" was pitiful. He was in our yard as soon as we were able to arrange it. You won't believe how little trouble we had getting him in the trailer - on a main road as well :) Never looked back and he's still a total softy - I'll never part with him.
 
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Thanks for the replys.

The only reason I asked was that I went to see a Pony a couple of weeks ago, I walk and trotted in the little area they use for riding.Ground was to uneven for a canter. Went for a walk up the road, lots of cars zooming past, Pony was lovely and took it all in his stride. Got to a level ground open space I walked and felt safe enough for a trot (might not seem like a huge deal to most but as a nervous rider, it was a big deal for me) felt safe the whole time. Pony did quicken a bit but I gave a little half halt and he listened stright away and steadied up. I asked the owner to get on to have a canter (I hadn't seen him canter yet, and also nerves I didn't want too, not Pony's fault though, I've only just canterd my share Horse in an open space) Owner got on and straight away asked for canter (bearing in mind that we were chatting a bit before she got on) Pony stopped dead and the owner went over his head. She was fine got back on and trotted a little bit then cantered, no problem at all! She did look very shocked and said Pony had never ever done that before and she completly understood if we didn't want to go back.

I think it was just a fluke, owner genrelly(sp?) looked shocked. I've decided I want to see him again as up until that point I felt very safe with him, more so then any other Horse/Pony I've viewed so far.

I just wanted reassurence that other people have had similar experiences and it was a 1 off.
 
Horse I went to view-did NOT want to be mounted...he reared and plunged all the way round the schooling ring, mashing the sellers dad up against the fence in the process. However, he stood still long enough for me to hop on easily enough (when girls dad muttered 'bloody hell, did you see that' it should have been a clue......:rolleyes:) .... He then spooked his way around the schooling ring..... Admittedly, I had already fallen in love with the lad so obviously I bought him....as you do.;)

7 months later.....what a little dude he is. He's coming good- so glad I got him.
 
I got on, she bronced and bronced and bronced, then did power trot with no brakes or steering. I thought this was not going too well and said as much to the owner but she persuaded me to take her for a little hack around the roads. GULP! So off we went and she was a sweetheart, I felt really safe and she took absolutely no notice of any traffic. I bought her and she hasn't to this day bronced with me and is a dream horse. She does occasionally test other riders though.
 
LaurenBay said:
Thanks for the replys.

I think it was just a fluke, owner genrelly(sp?) looked shocked. I've decided I want to see him again as up until that point I felt very safe with him, more so then any other Horse/Pony I've viewed so far.

I just wanted reassurence that other people have had similar experiences and it was a 1 off.
Click to expand...

It is a tough call. It well have been a very genuine thing - pony has never seen you before, last time it saw a new rider it got moved on, making it a little nervous etc or it might do it alot, this is the thing - sometimes you genuinely never can tell till you get it home and ride it a bit.

Did the owner give a believable reason as to why it's for sale? did anything else feel "not quite right"? I'm sure others on here have got far more experience with this kind of thing than me...
 
I tried a horse at a dealer yard back in autem. She was described as lovely sort showen at county level now ready for winter jumping season or as a lovely hack. Turned up, she was absoloutly covered in lumps, bumps and scares I asked the seller about them she said they were minor cuts and would be gone in a couple of days (they were clearly sacoids). Having driven a long way I thought I may aswell ride anyway and see how she rode. So jumped on we were only able to go on a hack, took me about 10 minutes to get her walking in a staight line but then she went in a lovely outline. Then asked her for trot and she completly lost it bucked and reared all over the place. Seller said "O you rode that well". I wasn't impressed!
 
Pony is for sale due to no rider, they are eventers, their yard was full off WB'S and TB's. The Pony is not an eventing Pony.

I know I did ask about a trial but she wasn't keen
 
I was selling one of mine a couple of years ago, we'd took him to another yard for her to have a lesson on him. Didn't put a foot wrong until he came in to a fence and took a stride out (just one of those things as he wasn't quite right and didn't want to get close). Anyway, rider wasn't quite use to that and fell off :eek: which was then made worse by a trip to A&E and a broken shoulder later :(

She bought him a week later :)
 
I can't believe how many of you get on horses without seeing someone else ride it first! If they don't want to get on it I certainly don't. If they fob you off with excuses of injuries/no rider on the day then I'd just say no thanks.
 
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