Forever homes - would you give a discount?

once upon a time i might have but not now , older and wiser and sadly too aware of how devious people can be, no I wouldn't:( I would take a drop in price for someone i knew and trusted but that would be it.
As it is, my 2 are with me for life anyway, i was gifted them and wouldn't dream of going back on my word to their owners.
 
I wouldn't buy anything with first right of refusal either. We may have to sell for reasons we don't like or we may be sellers of an odd horse. But you either keep the horse or sell. Suppose you did have this clause and horse was now worth a lot more money. Are you then going to pay asking price or are you going to expect the lower price you sold for because you thought it was a forever home? The first right of refusal can be messy. Maybe it works out sometimes. And new owner might be a **** as well. Hasn't taken care of horse and now wants you to give the original money back or else.

I had a situation in which I sold a horse as a foal. A warmblood I bred. Owner left him with us til he was 3. We broke and started him at rock bottom prices all through those years as he was a long term client. We knew he would be heading off to a "trainer" but it was never mentioned when. He came out to see him all the time and seemed to have big plans for the horse. Horse was only just walking and a little trot under saddle and owner called one day and said he'd be over in an hour to collect him. Um ok, thanks for the notice. I said as you have seen this horse go yesterday you know he is very green and will probably need another month out on grass after he's going nicely. Oh yeah "trainer" is super with young horses. So off he went and I heard nothing.

After a year I finally got a hold of his owner. All other owners update me which is so nice. Come to find out horse was given away. Apparently after 3 weeks he wouldn't jump a pole and was a boxwalker. Trainer had owner convinced the boxwalking started at my place and that I hid this problem. How exactly I did this when owner showed up randomly in the evenings was beyond me. I asked why didn't he call me if he was giving him away. I got well you weren't going to give me my money back so there was no point. But quite ok to give him away to just anybody.

Just what that poor horse went through in 3 weeks is beyond me. I sent a happy just learning the basics horse to a so called "trainer" that had him ruined in 3 weeks. But it just goes to show you what a holes people are.

So no more rock bottom priced for horses or livery or breaking. I sell young horses. Of course I want them in good homes. Because I try and take my time and do right by them, they should be solid enough citizens to get good homes. But I may be one part. If someone goes and makes the horse more valuable by a competition route well of course they have a right to sell on. Chances are they will end up in the right place too. And I say chances are.

I trust nobody. Even well intended friends and or great contacts of friends. If you're selling, your selling, bottom line. People expect horses to go to forever homes and yet theirs isn't one. I know circumstances change in a heartbeat but you are either a forever home or you sell. Don't expect others to do what you aren't doing.

It's nice to see all of you with forever horses that found the perfect horse for you. But you have to realise you are the minority.

Terri
 
As other people have said, even if buyers have every intention of giving a forever home they can't always do it due to a multitude of reasons.
When I've bought horses I've always bought them with the intention of keeping them forever, but one turned out too big for me and and I lost my nerve on another two. It would have been wrong for myself and the horses if I'd kept them. I sold them onto 5* homes whose owners still keep in touch with me.

I thankfully found my 'forever' horse and although I intend to keep him I cannot with my hand on my heart guarantee that I will. I've found that life throws up so many obstacles i.e. death, bereavement, illness, redundancy etc. I can't see myself ever selling my horse and I did keep my old one in retirement until he had to be pts but you just don't know what's round the corner.
 
After selling my old horse to a genuine forever home , and then tragidy striking her into an uncertain future , i will definitely not be selling my lovely boy...i paid a lot of money for him and he's everything i could wish for and more , but to me it's not really about re-couping the money so if my circumstances change he'll definitely only be for loan - even if that is permenant ( some people insist they want to buy so they are happy that the horse is truely theirs , and i totally understand that ) But i wont be letting lightening strike our family twice , all our animals plus rescue ponies , have a home for life..
 
i know that i got my horse a lot cheaper as i offered a forever home and the same with my old horse (he died in march)the mare i have now the people i got her off had had her from 7 months old and she was 8 when i got her 4 months ago and i know i wouild never sell her unless i lost my job or something like that
 
cassie summers said:
i know that i got my horse a lot cheaper as i offered a forever home

i got her 4 months ago and i know i wouild never sell her unless i lost my job or something like that
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Perfect example. You have offered a forever home, but can't actually guarantee it, although I have doubt your intentions are 100% genuine.
 
Zebedee said:
Perfect example. You have offered a forever home, but can't actually guarantee it, although I have doubt your intentions are 100% genuine.
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I got my horse for free. I didn't say he would be in a forever home. But he is. Personally forever homes I think are developed over time, when you have that bond with a horse. If I didn't connect over a year or more with a horse I would likley sell it on, but not with my lad because I have that bond.
 
sitch said:
I got my horse for free. I didn't say he would be in a forever home. But he is. Personally forever homes I think are developed over time, when you have that bond with a horse. If I didn't connect over a year or more with a horse I would likley sell it on, but not with my lad because I have that bond.
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I think the point some posters are trying to make is that for the vast majority of people the 'forever home' is dependent on other factors besides what they would like. Job loss /relationship breakdown/illness are frequent reasons for people having to part with their horses when it was never part of the plan to do so.
 
cassie summers said:
i know that i got my horse a lot cheaper as i offered a forever home and the same with my old horse (he died in march)the mare i have now the people i got her off had had her from 7 months old and she was 8 when i got her 4 months ago and i know i wouild never sell her unless i lost my job or something like that
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Everyone understands there are no guarantees. But all most of us are looking for is someone who at least intends to do their best to bond with the horse and try to make it a forever home. If they can't, then fair enough.

That's very different to someone who intends to sell on for profit at the first possible opportunity. Not that that's always a bad thing to do, but it's not what most of us want for our beloved pals we're forced to sell.

I bought my Mollie back in June. Tbh she turned out to not really be right for me, too nervous and spooky. However, I told myself from the start that I'd give her and I a year, and review whether we're coping better with each other's nervousness by then.
 
Zebedee said:
Perfect example. You have offered a forever home, but can't actually guarantee it, although I have doubt your intentions are 100% genuine.
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My apologies Cassie Summers - the above should of course read that I have NO doubt that your intentions are 100% genuine.
 
In answer to question: Nope. Why would you, when there are NO guarantees that anyone can make to ensure a 'forever' home for any horse? But I'd certainly accommodate someone who I genuinely thought would bond with the horse well and provide it with the best possible home for the time being.

Now people have read this post and think there might be a chance of a discount - EVERYONE will be promising forever homes LOL :D
 
kateknights said:
Absolutely no way! I sold my mare just over two years ago to someone on this forum, who promised me she would have a home for life! She sold her two months later and ignored all my contact! I was and still am mortified and very upset by this!
So in a nutshell, as has been previously said, people can and will say anything but never take their word as gospel!
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I really don't know how someone could do that! How awful. :mad:
 
Spyda said:
Now people have read this post and think there might be a chance of a discount - EVERYONE will be promising forever homes LOL :D
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Exactly why I'd only do it if the person was well known and trusted by me, or very highly recommended by someone who was!

I know it would still be a risk and I could be duped, but I'd still do it because the horse would have a better chance than simply being sold to the highest bidder.
 
Equilibrium Ireland said:
I trust nobody. Even well intended friends and or great contacts of friends. If you're selling, your selling, bottom line. People expect horses to go to forever homes and yet theirs isn't one. I know circumstances change in a heartbeat but you are either a forever home or you sell. Don't expect others to do what you aren't doing.

It's nice to see all of you with forever horses that found the perfect horse for you. But you have to realise you are the minority.

Terri
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Very well put!
 
No I wouldn't drop the price just for that reason because there's no guarantee at all. However a horse me and my mom had went to view a horse who was advertised at 6K we got him for 3800K because we were a forever home and 12 years later we've still got him and still in touch wih the old owner so forever homes do exist!
 
I've only sold one horse in recent years (I have had others out on loan so I could be personally assured of their 'forever home').

I didn't offer a discount but understood that she was sold to a long term home. You can imagine how distressing it was to receive a phone call from a dealer who had my information from some of the paperwork that came with her asking about her history. If I had been in a position to do so I would have bought her back over the phone there and then.

I do understand that situations change, horses don't work out, etc, etc. I'm just a bit sad that I wasn't at least given first refusal
 
the watcher said:
I've only sold one horse in recent years (I have had others out on loan so I could be personally assured of their 'forever home').

I didn't offer a discount but understood that she was sold to a long term home. You can imagine how distressing it was to receive a phone call from a dealer who had my information from some of the paperwork that came with her asking about her history. If I had been in a position to do so I would have bought her back over the phone there and then.

I do understand that situations change, horses don't work out, etc, etc. I'm just a bit sad that I wasn't at least given first refusal
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That's very upsetting. I wonder why they didn't give first refusal? Perhaps it just never occurred to them that having sold her, you'd want her back?

Lolita: You seem to be saying that forever homes exist, you're the proof. However, even though someone trusted you and dropped the price, you wouldn't do it for anyone yourself. :( That seems rather sad.
 
Zebedee said:
Perfect example. You have offered a forever home, but can't actually guarantee it, although I have doubt your intentions are 100% genuine.
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i am sorry...you doubt my intentions are 100% genuine i wont say what i paid for my mare but i have been offered alot more than i paid for her and if i wasnt 100% genuine i would have sold her surely so yes my intention is to keep her forever as i did my old horse
 
I don't think you can guarantee anything but you can pick a home where a) you think your horse or pony will be happy & b) they tend to keep animals into retirement. When we bought our pony, she was advertised cheaply (it was just before winter) & there was a lot of interest. They sold to us because our prospective rider had 3 younger sisters & we still had a 22 year old who I'd purchased as a just backed 4 year old so they thought there was a good chance of a long term home. 8 year's later, she is the much adored pony of child #3 (the older 2 have outgrown her), with her little sister waiting impatiently to be allowed to take over. We dont ever intend to sell her.
 
No I wouldn't and I would be less than impressed if someone tried to pull that card with me. I have not had to sell many over the years but when I have, they have been good horses with a future ahead of them, just not what I wanted. Sitting down I worked out that I have actually only sold 5 horses in my entire equine lifetime. I had one horse I kept from 6 to 27 and my mare who I made the decision to keep to the end a long time ago. I owed both horses big time and they took me where I wanted to go. I turned down people I didn't think were right for my horses and had no problems with that but in the end, I sold them knowing I had no control over them once they left me.
 
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