Does the tack worn on an advert put you off?

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ForeverBroke_

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Just a pondering really - when looking at a horse for sale would you prefer it to be in just a snaffle, no martingale etc? Or would you consider the chosen tack to be a 'personal preference,' and still go and have a look ?

Are there any limits to what you'd find 'acceptable?'

Over to you!

;)
 
I'd consider it a personal preference and still go and look. I know plenty of people who use tack that their horse doesn't need, so it wouldn't put me off at all.
 
I viewed a horse once that was 14.1 in a dutch gag on bottom ring and martingale and neck strap...... Turned out the owner was a nervous wreck horse actually didnt need all this.....on flip side i viewed another in a loose ring snaffle nothing else and the little bugger had no breaks no respect and was a handful but owner didnt have a clue and didnt want him turned hard!
 
- if owner claims to be riding regularly then poorly fitting saddle would worry me for back problems (and getting over the mental ones remembered pain causes)
- if looking for something to put a novice on then too many gadgets would bother me

On the other hand if owner wasn't a dealer/and hadn't grown out or horse in terms of either size or ability then chances are there is a possibility owner can't handle/ride it happily. Either through nerves, inexperience or just not gelling personality wise. That could be due to horse or owner or both. So, never say never...

I usually ride with less than others on the same horse, even when sharing so alternating days etc, etc. (Although currently riding one whose owner ditches bits of kit I *do* like.)
 
No I wouldn't care.

I don't think a plain snaffle is right for all horses, but that doesn't mean they aren't nice horses that aren't capable of doing the job I want.

I'd probably ask the question before going to look though.
 
i've seen pics of horses in martingales, flash nosebands, grackles (not at same time), dutch gags on bottom rings etc etc. at the time i was helping a friend find a suitable horse for her daughter.
the daughter was keen on a few but they were kitted out in as much stuff as possible so i told the mum to ask WHY it was in so much, they didn't and went to see one of the horses and as it turned out bought it for their daughter as it looked 'pretty' and 'talented', their daughter couldn't ride it anywhere as the mare was so strong, she bolted (true bolting) and reared. the previous owner was glad she had someone like them come and buy her as they didn't question anything and just bought it.
 
When I have been looking for horses I was more likely to be put off by what the rider was wearing and if the horse had been made presentable for the photo.
A muddy horse which has not been brushed in weeks being ridden by a hoody wearing rider in jogging bottoms and Ugg boots with no hat would be likely to put me off.

If you are going to sell a horse at least put some effort into it.
A well presented photo of a smart horse with a smart looking rider works wonders.

Craig
 
Loads of gadgets wouldn't put me off necessarily but I would want to know why they were used! Also be aware a horse might be ridden in a strong bit etc normally but might be put in a snaffle just for the photo for the advert!
 
No tack wouldn't bother me but like another poster said it makes a big difference when the horse looks smart in the photos.
If someone can't present a horse properly for sale what other short cuts have they taken?
I also like to see photos from different time periods. Ie not all photos taken on the same day which is obvious by what the people are wearing, weather ect but some photos of the horse at different shows or whatever. It shows to me that the horse has been in the same home for a while :).
 
I put off by how the rider rides and what the tack is like. Not too bothered about what bit it has but more like that it has been fitting the horse properly as others have said back problems.
 
It only puts me off if horse is advertised as suitable for novice yet got more gadgets on than you'd find in a tack shop
 
No :)

I'm buying the horse not what it's wearing. I'll make my own decisions as to what I feel it needs when it is home.
 
I just use it as a guide to what I'm likely to expect. Although anything that's described as "always snaffle mouthed" gets a very close inspection of the photos to check. It's surprising how many are photographed in other bits!
 
I agree with abaddon_1974

I would be put off by a rider in trackies no hat etc

When I was looking yes I was more interested in ones in snaffles as I am a nervous rider but my horse I have is in a gag and it didn't put me off

He is only in the single ring gag though and i use a plain cavesson and no martingale as he doesn't need them

When I first got him he needed a flash badly but I have schooled him lots and he doesn't need it anymore I hated it!

He used to open his mouth and refuse to turn but after lots of hard work he doesn't need it

So if a horse had a martingale on or flash it wouldnt put me off

I used to use a martingale as a sort of safety strap
 
I only ever buy unbacked beasts so no :p

If I was going to buy myself something that was rideable I don't think it would bother me overly. I'd probably ask on the phone if it was something really glaring (bottom ring of dutch gag + standing martingale or something ridiculous) but if it was just a pelham or a kimblewick or something I wouldn't overly worry. No harm in looking is there?

flash/grackle nosebands and running martingales I would definitely ignore as it is many peoples default setting to stick on both that I wouldn't even begin to assume the horse needed either!
 
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