Easy come, easy go?

nikicb

nikicb

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Was Surrey, now West Berkshire
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So fed up for my friend. She sold a horse last week that she had had for 18 months. She sold him because he just matured too big (broad) for her. She's very petite and he's a chunky chap. But in all the time she had him she didn't come off despite being a slightly nervy rider. She did RC clinics with him, hacked him, dressage, tiny jumping and it was a tough decision to sell him, but the right one for her.

He's back with her today as the new owner came off him. I don't know the ins and outs of it all so won't speculate, although I find it hard to believe he did anything too wild, as he was harder to get going than to stop. I just think it's a shame that he was barely given any settling in time and now he's effectively 'tarnished goods'.

I know someone could post from the buyer's point of view that she was sold this dangerous horse, but I just feel so frustrated by the whole situation on behalf of my friend who has shown her total honesty by having him straight back. I just wonder how much effort some people are willing to put in when they get a new horse. I say SOME people as there are many who do put the effort in, but some treat the process like buying a commodity instead of a living breathing animal.

Feel free to ignore my grumbles, we'd just started going through ads for her new horse and now we are back to square one. :(
 
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It's a difficult thing it's very easy to buy a horse that's fine at the vendors yard that becomes to much if the new rider is a bit nervous and the horse is even mildly affected by the change of yards.
It really depends what happened sometimes a fall is just one of those things but sometimes it can flag up a bigger issue in which case the sooner the horse is returned the better.
A horse is however not a pair of jeans and people ought to expect it to take a bit of time if they are not experianced .
There are also some totally unscrupulous people selling horses and some really deluded ones buying them that's a nasty mixture.
 
Maybe he didn't like the new owner. Just because he got on with your friend it doesn't mean he will automatically get on with the new owner, especially as his routine will have probably been changed to suit her. Maybe new owner thought horses are robots and will behave perfectly for whoever
 
Goldenstar said:
It's a difficult thing it's very easy to buy a horse that's fine at the vendors yard that becomes to much if the new rider is a bit nervous and the horse is even mildly affected by the change of yards.
It really depends what happened sometimes a fall is just one of those things but sometimes it can flag up a bigger issue in which case the sooner the horse is returned the better.
A horse is however not a pair of jeans and people ought to expect it to take a bit of time if they are not experianced .
There are also some totally unscrupulous people selling horses and some really deluded ones buying them that's a nasty mixture.
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yaffsimone1 said:
Maybe he didn't like the new owner. Just because he got on with your friend it doesn't mean he will automatically get on with the new owner, especially as his routine will have probably been changed to suit her. Maybe new owner thought horses are robots and will behave perfectly for whoever
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I totally agree with what both of you are saying. The whole buying/selling process is a minefield. I'm not sure I was really looking for answers, just venting my frustration and disappointment it hasn't worked out this time.
 
Is it really such a big deal to fall off?

Here's me telling the kids to get straight back on - not return the poor horse!
Perhaps buyer needs a different hobby.
 
If he was mine (providing circumstances allowed) if the buyer wasn't as competent as they believed themselves to be I would probably prefer the buyer to bring him straight back rather than hold onto him and potentially ruining a perfectly good horse.

My 7yr old TB bucked me off on the day of viewing. How dare I, a complete stranger rock up onto her yard, jump on an in season mare and expect her to be accommodating! .....needless to say I didn't hold it against her and she was delivered to me 2 days later. Her ladyship has never (touched wood) bucked me off since!
 
pennyturner said:
Is it really such a big deal to fall off?

Here's me telling the kids to get straight back on - not return the poor horse!
Perhaps buyer needs a different hobby.
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yaffsimone1 said:
If he was mine (providing circumstances allowed) if the buyer wasn't as competent as they believed themselves to be I would probably prefer the buyer to bring him straight back rather than hold onto him and potentially ruining a perfectly good horse.

My 7yr old TB bucked me off on the day of viewing. How dare I, a complete stranger rock up onto her yard, jump on an in season mare and expect her to be accommodating! .....needless to say I didn't hold it against her and she was delivered to me 2 days later. Her ladyship has never (touched wood) bucked me off since!
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I agree, but I guess not everyone will. I just wonder how much his routine was changed (feed/turnout), but as I say I don't have access to the facts so will never know.
 
Rule One: They Can All Spook!
Rule Two: Gravity Hates Everyone Equally.
Rule Three: Any Fall You Can Walk Away From Counts As A Positive Learning Experience.

Hope he gets a great home soon, OP :) Good on your friend for being honest!
 
Arizahn said:
Rule One: They Can All Spook!
Rule Two: Gravity Hates Everyone Equally.
Rule Three: Any Fall You Can Walk Away From Counts As A Positive Learning Experience.

Hope he gets a great home soon, OP :) Good on your friend for being honest!
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Love those rules! Thank you - she's put him on Project Horses now - just keeping fingers crossed that he ends up in the right place as he has so much to offer. :(
 
Arizahn said:
Rule One: They Can All Spook!
Rule Two: Gravity Hates Everyone Equally.
Rule Three: Any Fall You Can Walk Away From Counts As A Positive Learning Experience.

Hope he gets a great home soon, OP :) Good on your friend for being honest!
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Excellent and very true! Buyer definitely needs a new hobby (unless he did some thing very out of character)

I'm sure he will get a cracking home as he seems super, but I can understand your frustration.
 
Oh poor boy. My girl was sweet as they come when I tried her. Had her 8 weeks and she turned wild! She was standing up in her stable at any noise or sudden movements, she became dangerous to handle in her stable but a saint to lead out still. Came over the door of the stable when a field mate tied on the yard went for a ride. Ridden work she calculated and threw me off at use of my leg. For the first time in 24 years I was scared! I contacted previous owners and found she had been passed around a lot but always been good, however nobody had had her longer than 6weeks. I gave her a chance, lots of bribery with meadow herb treats, lots of in hand work and now pleased to say she's waiting to come into her stable, I'm back on and able to use my leg to ride her forward again.

I think having been passed around and only 4 she was just really unsettled and insecure, she didn't know or trust me. I could have sent her back then but so glad I didn't!

If I was your friend I'd advertise him as normal and then warn any serious buyers he will be unsettled.
 
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JFTD said:
Excellent and very true! Buyer definitely needs a new hobby (unless he did some thing very out of character)

I'm sure he will get a cracking home as he seems super, but I can understand your frustration.
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Thank you - I am happy to say there has been some good news concerning his future, but it's not for me to say any more. :)

Ella19 said:
Oh poor boy. My girl was sweet as they come when I tried her. Had her 8 weeks and she turned wild! She was standing up in her stable at any noise or sudden movements, she became dangerous to handle in her stable but a saint to lead out still. Came over the door of the stable when a field mate tied on the yard went for a ride. Ridden work she calculated and threw me off at use of my leg. For the first time in 24 years I was scared! I contacted previous owners and found she had been passed around a lot but always been good, however nobody had had her longer than 6weeks. I gave her a chance, lots of bribery with meadow herb treats, lots of in hand work and now pleased to say she's waiting to come into her stable, I'm back on and able to use my leg to ride her forward again.

I think having been passed around and only 4 she was just really unsettled and insecure, she didn't know or trust me. I could have sent her back then but so glad I didn't!

If I was your friend I'd advertise him as normal and then warn any serious buyers he will be unsettled.
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I pretty much had this with my old girl - I was dumped in a field after 2 days then she ran straight through 2 barbed wire fences. I don't know how many times she was threatened with the glue factory in the first few months. But she came good and I kept her for 30 years until she died last year at 35. :)
 
Is she can't find a home and he suits her in every other way (and has a good temperament) Has she every consider side saddle on him? If he is that broad then he should take to it easily!
 
Sometimes we are all guilty of thinking they are 'machines'. When I bought my boy he had never been known to buck or do anything untoward, was perfect to hack etc when I tried him. I've kept him on the same yard he was from so he had no need to be unsettled, however, on our second hack out alone I asked too much, we were somewhere he had not been with the previous owner and he dumped me! He has also tested me with small bucks and nips, I believe with him being 7 and not having any other owner (his last owner bred him) he is not used to other riders/owners and is testing me. Although he's in the same environment, I do things differently and ride differently. We aren't bonded yet and haven't formed that partnership, it will come. 6 weeks is no time, the buyer should have given the horse more chance IMO.
 
Thanks everyone! I am so very happy to say he is heading to a new home on Sunday where he will be given every chance to prove himself as the lovely boy he is - the HHO community shows it's true worth yet again. It will be great for him and also my friend who can now move on, get something smaller and start enjoying horses again. :)

TandD - too late for this boy (in a happy way!), but actually that might be something to think about with my broad backed boy in the future. :)

sherry90 - it sounds like you have the beginning of a great relationship - keep going. :) And I agree the buyer gave my friend's horse no chance to prove himself really. :(
 
nikicb said:
Thanks everyone! I am so very happy to say he is heading to a new home on Sunday where he will be given every chance to prove himself as the lovely boy he is - the HHO community shows it's true worth yet again. It will be great for him and also my friend who can now move on, get something smaller and start enjoying horses again. :)

TandD - too late for this boy (in a happy way!), but actually that might be something to think about with my broad backed boy in the future. :)

sherry90 - it sounds like you have the beginning of a great relationship - keep going. :) And I agree the buyer gave my friend's horse no chance to prove himself really. :(
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Glad that he's got a second chance! If he's the black 7 year old on project horses....he's a real stunner and has got quite a bit of presence about him!!!

I'd love to have a go at side saddle! With two mainly tb's I don't think I have chance..... But I think more should consider it for those very broad horses! You can do so many events like it..... If you do give it a go please take some photos , I'd love to see how you get on!
 
TandD said:
Glad that he's got a second chance! If he's the black 7 year old on project horses....he's a real stunner and has got quite a bit of presence about him!!!

I'd love to have a go at side saddle! With two mainly tb's I don't think I have chance..... But I think more should consider it for those very broad horses! You can do so many events like it..... If you do give it a go please take some photos , I'd love to see how you get on!
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Thanks - he's actually the 15.1 Irish Cob, and will hopefully make a great all rounder.

Once I get to grips with riding astride on my horse, side saddle might be something to consider - and yes I would definitely do a report. :)
 
nikicb said:
Thanks - he's actually the 15.1 Irish Cob, and will hopefully make a great all rounder.

Once I get to grips with riding astride on my horse, side saddle might be something to consider - and yes I would definitely do a report. :)
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That is certainly one 'dude' of a horse...... The type that I've tried to convince my mum to ride!, but yes he is built like a tank....hope it all goes well, he doesn't look like the type to be a bucker!
 
T and B - don't discount TB's for side saddle.
My friend rides side saddle on her two TB's and gets placed most times. She also hunts :)

NikiCB - fingers crossed for your friends horse I'm sure he will do fine when he's given time :)
 
It really frustrates me reading your post, the amount of people that return/try and return horses because they have fallen off really frustrates me. You fall off! thats what happens when choose to ride! It sounds like your friends horse is a nice type and it was porbably to do with being in new surroundings or of course plain rider error!! I bought and still own a horse i fell off when i went to try him, was nothing serious just had a bit of a misunderstanding at a fence!! Some people are such wet flannels, she never even gave the horse a chance by the sound of it, just wrote him off! Soo frustrating!
 
TandD said:
That is certainly one 'dude' of a horse...... The type that I've tried to convince my mum to ride!, but yes he is built like a tank....hope it all goes well, he doesn't look like the type to be a bucker!
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Deseado said:
I'm curious; what does a bucker look like?
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I don't think that TandD's comment has to mean that they think that there is a type that looks like a bucker, only that there is a type that looks less likely to be a bucker. Horses of draught horse breeds are in general known to have a more docile temperament, thus, I presume that someone who sees a horse "built like a tank" (whether they're of draught horse breed or not), can think that the horse doesn't look like the type to be a bucker.
 
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