Do you need to have an arena when selling a horse?

S

sparky1981

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 October 2010
Messages
383
Visit site
I'm just wondering as I'm about to sadly put my boy up for sale. We don't have a school bit do have a fairly level schooling area that we jump and school in. I'm just wondering if when people come to try him whether their going to want to see him in an arena?thoughts would be appreciated. He's a 5 year old all rounder.
 
Provided it is a suitable area so that I can assess the horse's ability to do the job I want it for then I'm not bothered if its an surfaced arena or a flat corner of a field.
You could also look on it as being to the advantage of the buyer to see how well the horse works outside of a manège.
 
If they are serious about buying and really need/want to try him in an arena, could you box somewhere they could have a private lesson on him prior to buying?

Half hour private lesson as part of vetting perhaps? Don't know if this is possible, but it came to mind.
 
Last edited:
No of course not, unless it is some fancy comp horse. If you've got a level field then that sounds fine, you just have to hope the ground doesn't turn into a bog :-)
 
Field should be fine unless its particularly slippery after rain. I've tried horses in some awful manege surfaces, so don't worry.

If the weather is likely to be very bad though, would it be possible to take the horse to a hired arena ?
 
Thankyou for your replies. I could possibly borrow an arena if the worst came to worse just not sure how happy the owners would be with a load of random people turning up to try my horse out but I could ask.im hoping if dry it won't be a problem. I know I've tried horses in fields in the past but some people seem more fussy!
 
I think it really depends what market you are aiming at. When we bought our 13.2 there was no school and that was absolutely fine. But when I was looking for a horse to do dressage on for me, being able to try him out on a surface was something I expected. I guess if someone particularly likes what they see in the field and wants to see him on a surface you could hire one for a second visit. Good luck with the sale. :)
 
I would be happy to try in a field, I have bought one before that was only tried in the field. I think if the buyers came and liked him and then really wanted to try him in a school you could take him to one but I wouldn't worry about it unless they specifically wanted it.
 
I agree that as long as you have a suitable area to try him out in then that's perfectly adequate. In fact I'd probably see it as a bonus as some horses can be a nightmare on grass (mine included!). As others have said, if someone is seriously considering buying then you could always meet them at a nearby riding centre where they could try him in an arena x
 
When I last sold a horse the buyers came and saw her at home and liked her, so I loaded her up and took her to a local yard where I had booked the school. Worked well in lots of ways, they saw her travel and ridden somewhere different. I was a pain for me tbh but luckily the first people along bought her. You could maybe do that for a second viewing if necessary?
 
As long as the weather does not let you down it should be ok.
You need to be able to walk trot and canter safely and jump a fence apporiate to the horses experiance if not you will have to be prepared to hire a school .
In the past I have asked for a horse to be taken to somewhere with facilities for me to try one time the owners school was just too deep I judged it to be unsafe I told them I liked the horse but would not jump in their school I came back to a local EC the next day and they where happy to bring her there , the fact I was driving a six hour round trip let them know I was serious .
 
Thanks everyone I think I will let them do first viewings at home and if they like him take him to a school for a second viewing. God I hate selling horses
 
i know it was only loan, but when i loaned my boy out a few years ago i didnt have an arena...instead we went for a hack, she came to try him twice, once when i rode another with them to check she was ok with him and once on their own to prove he hacks alone. we had a few canters along bridle paths and jumped a makeshift jump on a track. i know he was only being loaned as a hack/local show type of horse but he proved how sane and sensible but forward going and responsive he was. so it depends what you are selling him as. EG if he is being sold as dressage/showjumping type then an arena or space where you can show him off would be better.
 
Very definitely not! When I bought my mare (nearly 12 years ago now!) I got on her on the yard and the owner then took me for an hour's hack along the roads, the canal towpath and across the common for a gallop. When we had her vetted, I had to ride her back along the canal towpath (ducking under all the low bridges) with the vet trailing after me (owner had gone back to work!) to the common, so all the assessment that would normally be done on the lunge was done with her under saddle. I had to canter round in circles for ages on the common, it was great fun :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top