Following on from below post, but with buyers

[niko]

I had to sell my mare last year as she just couldnt go any further with me, was an ablsoute sweetheart and quirky so needed someone knowledgable and gentle. After grilling people about there riding ability (for their own safety, im not the worlds best!) i had a few potential buyers that said they had competed at x level. I had one person land on their head, and another who terrified her and sweated up v badly i had to tell them to get off as was running from under them, i was horrified, i would never ride a horse beyond my ability! Anyone had any experiences like this?

 

[Cruiseonamiro]

Yes! Selling my 148 comp pony, very, very, very good jumper but very sharp and sensitive til you got to know him, and we had a lot of people come, thinking he'd be a good buy because he's 16 and advertised as a schoomaster! I explained that he is a schoolmaster but you have to be a good enough rider to learn his buttons... he decked one girl within minutes, turned out she only wanted a hacker when we'd asked for a competition home.

 

[c7mlm]

i had the same we had a 148 comp pony very sharp but a very good jumper i asked all the right questions and a girl told me she had done BSJA up to fox so i let her come and try. we tacked up and daughter rode her all ok. the girl then got on and she was flying round the school screaming within minutes, i then asked her dad about her BSJA experience and he didn't even know what it stood for.

 

[vhf]

So many I now sometimes ask for references! And occasionally, someone who completely under-rates themselves because they've never "had a go" on one that suited them, was that well schooled etc. etc.

 

[SAL66]

I found it hard trying to word my advert for my horse, he was a push button ride , hacked for England, fantastic personality, super manners. I just wanted him to have a quieter life.

So I advertised him as a novice ride but he could have the odd moment as can all horses, but was unindated with people who couldn't ride at all, complete beginners, one lady didn't even know how to pick out his feet.

If I advertised him as anything other than novice, I would attract better riders who perhaps wanted to more things with him than would have liked.

I did try to weedle out what I thought were timewasters but I did find it a very hard process.

However the first person who rang up about him, I thought nope he wouldn't be suitable for you, she rang on 3 separate occasions and I thought hats off for your persistants so arranged for her to come and see him. I rode him explained how you needed to ride him and then she got on, she rode him beautifully and loved him and was there for over 3 hours.

So I couldn't have judged her any more wrongly by our conversation on the phone, maybe she sold her abilities short, but she bought him and he lives the life of riley, no more than he deserves.

So I guess its all down to honesty about the type of horse we are selling and clear perception of our riding abilities for those looking.