Grrrrrrr.....selling horses

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sarabelle

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Selling horses - I hate it. End of.

I get too emotionally involved in the process, and feel too d*mn deflated when people dont turn up to view when arranged/cant ride for toffee/think your horse is wonderful but 'really, I was after a grey'.

She's not grey, I do apologise.

I quite simpy never want to have to sell one again :(
 
Agreed, it's so horrible......!!

I have only ever sold 2 and was amazed by how 'stupid' some buyers can be, how they love to waste your time, and that there are some really cr*p riders out there! Also it is really upsetting to hear people criticsing or nit picking over your horse, especially if you are still really attached to it.

Ironically both mine went to people I knew in the end, and had just wished I had put out some feelers before spending the money on advertsisng, as could have sold them stress free!

Like you I have sworn never to sell again...
 
It's always hard as a seller, but I would argue its a similar minefield for buyers! I guess both sides have just got to be realistic in what they want, do their research, be patient and keep their fingers crossed!:D
 
I agree Princess Jess, I know it can be the same for both sides.

Its also a case of non-intentional a lot of time.

It doesnt matter how much they agree on the phone during that initial call, and 'totally understand', that a well schooled horse is ridden from the leg, they still turn up and cant balance/have to use their hands to haul themselves up into a rising trot.

Have also realised that a 17 h MW is automatically going to attract a certain type of buyer....the 'husband just learning to ride', or the 'seasoned hunter' who in fact is usually to piddled off his own hip flask to do anything other than be passenger lol
 
Ironically both mine went to people I knew in the end, and had just wished I had put out some feelers before spending the money on advertsisng, as could have sold them stress free!
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This.
I have sold two horses and I was very lucky to sell both of my horses by word of mouth! That was emotional enough for me so I can't imagine how you must feel! :o
 
Just to encourage up. Four years ago I sold a horse and it was a real effort. Having been reassured he was in the right place, that was that. But for some reason I decided to contact the new owner the other day just to see how he was. They still own him, love him to bits and thanked me for selling him to them. I thanked them for buying him and giving him such a loving home where he is obviously very happy and content. So it can really be worth all the time and effort to find the right owner.
 
Don't always dismiss people as awful riders from the viewing!
I was so nervous when I went viewing Foxy! I went round the wrong side of her to get on, then I sat on her like a sack of spuds until I eventually could breath enough to sit up straight! Sometimes nerves leaves people a little hopeless :o Luckily for me they realized how nervous I was and we all laughed about it. (I also attempted to take her bridle off with the noseband and cheek band still fastened :rolleyes:)

The right home will come up for her, just be patient!
The person saying that they wanted a grey is just plain stupid!!! Why waste your petrol if you are aware that the horse isn't the colour that you want and you have no intention of changing your mind :confused:
 
I understand the nerves - I am the worst at that! Cant get through a dressage test in one piece without clamming up due to nerves when someones watching :p

And I understand that we all start somewhere - I'm not saying they are awful riders...but when I say she is 'not a novice ride', not because she is in anyway difficult, but because she is schooled well and will not work correctly unless you ask correctly, it is annoying when individuals have completely overestimated their own ability (or simply not been truthful).

I haven't once said to a viewer 'no' - they have come to that conclusion themselves when they arent able to get on and make her go, and have got a continous llama reaction from her from socking her in the mouth :rolleyes:

I have an instructor covering viewings for me - he's happy to coach during the viewing, and in the case of one nervous individual - both the horse and rider completely changed their way going by the end of the session. She didnt buy her though, '17hh is just to big to cope with on the ground'.
 
True tales from my very limited experience of selling [two horses three viewers]

"I used to ride when I was a child, we now want a mother and child horse" .......... turns out mother "self-taught", and has never sat on a horse since. Child has never ever ever ever cantered never been out on a hack .......... she booted my mare in ribs and went flying off in to the distance, reins flapping, and that was only "trot on"

"I want to go B&B trail riding across the Highlands, my daughter rides, but she gets proper lessons as she does not listen to me" .... mother has ridden about six times, child about twice, Western style so does not know how to hold reins English style ............!

"I want an Endurance and Le Trek pony, forward going!" ............ gets on and boots him in the belly ........... a forward going horse would have jumped over the arena fence and disappeared into the wild blue yonder....

"Perfect pony, will be back next week with a show jumper to school him ......."
two weeks later, "can I have him on loan,, I am a bit skint this week"

"We are top show jumping people, keep our ponies at a pro yard, very professional approach to training, regular instruction, currently do BSJA to 1m. " ...........Made appoinment, never heard any more.
 
sarabelle said:
I agree Princess Jess, I know it can be the same for both sides.

Its also a case of non-intentional a lot of time.

It doesnt matter how much they agree on the phone during that initial call, and 'totally understand', that a well schooled horse is ridden from the leg, they still turn up and cant balance/have to use their hands to haul themselves up into a rising trot.

Have also realised that a 17 h MW is automatically going to attract a certain type of buyer....the 'husband just learning to ride', or the 'seasoned hunter' who in fact is usually to piddled off his own hip flask to do anything other than be passenger lol
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After several beginners turning up to ride my boy, I now ask to speak to their instructor to find out if they can ride, this stops many timewasters. I also have to go right in to the nutty gritty if asked, as he is not unsafe or a nutter, but needs a quiet, experienced rider, experienced does not mean RS ponies trotting round an arena for half an hour a week.
 
Miss L Toe said:
"I used to ride when I was a child, we now want a mother and child horse" .......... turns out mother "self-taught", and has never sat on a horse since. Child has never ever ever ever cantered never been out on a hack .......... she booted my mare in ribs and went flying off in to the distance, reins flapping, and that was only "trot on"
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:D
Some people are so delusional!
If riding lessons were cheaper then maybe these people would settle for that rather than buying a horse when they can't tell it's stirrups from its bit (I actually once asked a friend who has 'ridden for years' to grab me the spare 'metal snaffle bit', she came back with a stirrup :o)
 
The post about nerves struck a chord!

When going to view a horse, having not ridden for a few months, my nerves were not helped by the sellers inviting me in for a cuppa before going to the horse, and showing me photos of rider at Blenheim the previous year (not on horse i was looking at, phew!!)

I rode like a complete idiot, was convinced they wouldn't let me have him, but thankfully they did :D
 
It comes down to whether a nervous, or less experienced rider will listen to instruction Nikki.

She is a schoolmistress - you ask (even if you're told how to ask by the guy on the ground), she gives.

You wobble about on top ignoring instructors clear advice, you wont get anything out of her :)

I've said yes to a 'husband learning to ride' for a viewing this weekend -but only on the basis they are prepared to listen and learn lol
 
Yes I couldnt agree more, i have a HW 17.3hh for sale, whom I have owned since he was 5 months old, only reason for selling, too big, 4 overweight novices later, horse hasnt put a foot wrong, only really wanted one couple to have him as it seemed like a loverly home, for them to turn him down for a minor physical reason,they only only wanted to walk round the block !! So depressing to have your horse pulled to peices by people who think they are vets, so have given up and will keep him but then thankfully i did not have to sell.
 
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