Experiences of selling an unsuitable horse

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eahotson

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For anyone who is in the same situation as I was.Had ahorse that was totally unsuited to me.I struggled forover 2years and loved him to bits.On the ground he was one of the kindest ponies I have ever known.Cried buckets when I realized I would have to sell him.Went through a phase of'Does it matter if I can't ride him much, just keep him as a pet'.NEARLY did it.Knew though that I would get very frustrated as I want to ride and I was just putting off the inevitable.Now have a suitable horse and the spooky one is in a much more suitable home.Was it worth it?Well its early days yet but up to now a most definate YES.I wouldn't go back now and am learning to love the newbie more each day.Equally important though, to me anyway, if you could ask the spooky one, my guess is he would say the same.He loves work and attention and wouldn't have been happy as a field ornament.He is in a home which suits him very well.I took my time and paid for some reschooling etc. (well driving actually as he needed to see more of life) and waited to get him a good home before I moved on.It was sugested to me that I put him in part exchange at a dealers but I couldn't do that. In the end I put him on selling livery and this was brilliant.He was well cared for, happy, exercised, schooled etc. and I could go and see him when ever I wanted.Didn't have to do the actual selling but retained ownership so could have vetoed the sale if I hadn't liked it.Hope this helps anyone in this difficult situation.
 
I decided to sell a previous horse as I knew I had bought him in haste and could not do him justice. He was on five although there was some dispute about this and I think he may have been younger. It was before horrse passports and the vet when I had him vetted wasn't certain. Anyway long and short of it was that he only wanted to jump XC as it was in his genes as he was TB x ID and his Dad had been a very famous and succesful 3 times champion hurdler. His mum had hunted. He wasn't interested in SJ or dressage like I was and he was boring and lacked spark to ride. I wanted shot of him after 9 months or so, Mum and Dad told me I had to wait until the spring to sell him to a) see if I could get on with him, and b) generate more buying interest due to the time of year. I knew he was not the one for me and I didn't really like him that much, and I certainly never got on with him. I used to shout at him and lose my patience with him, I didn't have the experience a youngster needed - I'd had a Grade B showjumper before him (which we lost as a result of a tragic accident) and I wanted a ready made horse. It was all very sad and soul destroying. Miki tried it on with me and used to buck and nap really badly and I lost my confidence completely. Then about two months later Miki broke his leg playing in the field and had to be PTS. He was only six.

The reason I have put all this down is because I feel really strongly that if you can't get on with a horse you MUST sell it, as much for you as for them. There is no point spending a fortune on a horse in keep, shoeing, entry fees, etc if you are not happy and the two of you don't get on.

I think you did the right thing, and I know sometimes it is hard to make that decision but if it benefits you and your horse sometimes its the only decision you can make. xx
 
Pirani I'm really pleased for you that selling your horse has worked out, and you are building a good relationship with your new equine friend
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If you don't mind I would just like to add to this thread that when anyone is thinking of selling on a horse you have had problems with please (please!) be absolutely honest about the issues you have encountered with the horse and try to be as candid as possible about the reasons for their behaviour- I'm sure Pirani and most of the users on here would do this as a matter of course (everyone seems utterly responsible!
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) but I'm sure we all come across horses who get moved from pillar to post because each new owner is more concerned with 'getting rid of it' and 'getting their money back' than with finding it the right home
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Ali I think you have a very valid point here. Can I reassure you that I was painfully honest and turned down one person because I knew that he was totally unsuitable for them. I wanted a good home for him and not one where he would be pushed from pillar to post. He was missold to me (I learned a lot about him after I bought him) and wouldn't do that to anyone else.
 
Iwrote a totally honest ad about my horse , who had a issues with napping , biting & an old injury that would flare up & make him unrideable for weeks .
To my surprise , I had 80 replies ! Sadly , most people hadn't read the ad properly & I had to endure many timewasters . I could see his future was bleak , so eventually he went to a horse sanctuary ( many won't accept horses from private homes now , but this was in 1991 . )
My only other option was to have him put down ( he was 5 years old ) - sounds harsh , but I didn't want him being constantly being sold & re-sold & ending up being sold for meat .
He was mis-sold to me ( I was young & the dealer was very economical with the truth . )
He was put down at the sanctuary last month , aged 24 , due to arthritis , but I was so grateful that he found a permanent home in the sanctuary .

Sadly , not many sanctuaries will take on problem horses now due to so many cruelty cases that are priorities ( I understand this totally , btw ) , so please be honest when you're selling or consider the sad option of having an unsuitable horse put down , rather than selling on to anyone .

Sorry , long , rambling post .

RIP - Rothman 1985 - 2009 x
 
I did exactly the same as you, I bought a big Belgium Warmblood gelding that was a nightmare! He took the pee out of me something wicked. I would make any excuse not to ride, would be gleeful if it was raining heavy as I didnt need an excuse!
He was such a lovely boy to handle I had a big soft spot for him and blamed myself for the way he was. He was really spooky and would also buck really badly after a fence, I had his back, saddle everything checked and even gave him another chance after throwing me off and stamping on me.
I couldn't bear to sell him and I was approached by an event rider who saw some potential in him (he would happily pop 1.40m) and she took him on loan, she did ok with him (he still tried to take the pee) and when he came back (her circumstances changed) I decided I needed to sell him so that is what I did - making the new owner aware of his past.

Somebody once told me he was "A horse that needed reminding everyday he was there to work and not to give him an inch"
I am not that sort of rider.
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I firmly believe there is a horse for everybody, I now have a lovely horse that has got me back out competing and has filled me with confidence again.

I should have sold the other one straight away as I spent over 2 years in turmoil.
I am now happy and the horse is now happy.
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5 years ago I sold my old mare - and I was devestated. The problem was however - as everyones stories here echo - we were not suitable for each other.

She ended up terrifying me. For 2 years i would shake with fear before I got on, knowing if you gave her more than one day off I was liable for a trip to A&E and determined not to let her down, I persevered. We stopped MOST of her behaviourial problems but my confidence never, and still hasn't returned. My friends described it as an abusive relationship.

I couldn't have sold her myself - by the time I made the decision I was too scared and too emotional, however my instructor rode for a local competition centre and they took her and sold her. She went onto to become a super show jumper - though again give her a mm and she would run with it for miles.

Moved away from the area now and often wonder what had happened to her. Bought River, and gained my confidence on him, and have recently been starting youngsters again and am slowly slowly regaining the confidence she had shattered. Now I just wish I had the strentght after 2 months when I knew she was too much for me to let her go, rather than continue for 3.5 painful years - perhaps now the nerves wouldn't be such a problem!!

I guess, and sorry for rambelling, I am echoing everyone above, there is no shame in a horse not being for you - better to sell as soon as you know than risk damage to both you and the horse.

xx
 
I bought a horse which had been mis-sold. She had been sold to some-one who had been involved in a RTA (fortunately no-one was injured) with a previous horse and who had lost her confidence. The horse was sold as a 'confidence giver' but unfortunately this was not the case. They struggled on for almost 12 months, with the new owner having lessons on a different horse to try to regain her confidence. Eventually she was advertised for sale and I bought her. She has fabulous manners and was very well-loved. I keep in contact with the previous owner who is always interested in her doings. She was quite jumpy for a while with me but after having her saddle reflocked and her teeth done, she is much more settled. The person who sold to me bought the RS horse and is now much more confident again.
This story is just to show that it certainly can be the best thing for all concerned to sell on honestly.
 
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