Do dealers deserve a bad reputation?

Thing is though I've heard so many stories from people who bought a horse unseen and then moan when it's not what they wanted and label the seller as a 'dodgy dealer' tbh, some people just lack basic common sense when buying a horse. Dealer or private seller, use your loaf, research, try the horse a few times, take someone more experienced with you, don't let your heart rule your head...etc etc etc. I'd buy from a dealer if it was the perfect horse for me.
 
I am not sure, a dealer sold a "bombproof" cob suitable for a nervous newbie to horse ownership to me. She was nothing of the sort, but in a short time I had fallen head over heels for her character and so perservered... nearly 5 years on I love her to bits and wouldn't dream of getting rid of, despite her quirks and foibles.... She's made me a better rider, we still have issues, but hey it'd be boring if I had nothing to "work on"
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I agree with what you say but even this is not always fool proof. I went with an experienced person who not only taught me but looked after my horse; the dealer had taught me and had encouraged me to sell my previous horse. Between me, my instructor and the dealer there was a very clear brief. I don't want to go into details but it wasn't the dealers fault that the horse was wrong (unknown medical problems that had not been picked up on a five stage vetting that made the horse dangerous) just how he dealt with the resulting situation.

It wasn't the vets fault either, the problems only became apparent in specific situations and weren't diagnosed for 4-6 weeks after the horse was bought.

Someone else mentioned that people only talk about the bad and I want to say a good story as well. Whilst I wouldn’t go to buy from a dealer where I have no connections again I have in actual fact bought a horse from a dealer since, I kept my horse in livery on his yard and had there been problems he was there to help. He found my new horse in Ireland and bought her back for me to try, no pressure but he thought she would suit me. She is one of the best horses I have ever had and I am very happy achieving things I never thought would never be possible.
 
One of my best horses came from a dealer, so I am not biased against them at all. I think for most dealers you will always hear one or two dodgy tales, but when you hear a similar story over and over again from various different people then I think you are entitled to view them as dodgy.

Being a farrier's wife has its advantages, in that you get to hear about lots of people's purchases and whether they are success or not (and whether success or lack of it is down to the rider or the horse
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Unfortunately there are a number of bad dealers, but the reputation I think is wrong. I have bought many from dealers and had fantastic animals, all exactly as described etc.
I think it is a case of knowing what you are doing.
 
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