Has anyone loaned/trialed before buying?

Yes and I'm so glad I did as it went back after 2 weeks as it wasn't at all what I wanted. I think if the seller will agree to it it's a good idea.
 
i had a horse on trial for a week before deciding that he wasn't for me. it's a great idea if the seller decides to let you trial.
 
Thanks for replying everyone.
Ive seen a couple for sale locally but I would really like to give them a good trial first, mainly because its been around 18 years since I owned my own horse so Im abit nervous about buying.
 
I just tried my mare twice. The second time I arranged for the buyers to bring her to a show for me to compete on, which is about the best trial you can have. She got 3rd place in the Open Jumping with me so she did pretty well! If I was a seller, there is no way I would let my horse out on trial. Buyers could try as many times they wanted but not take away. Unless it had a lot wrong with it and was very hard to sell. No horse is perfect, it can take a while to bond with even the most ideal of horses, and I wouldn't fancy my horse going back and forth from different people on the whims that many potential horse buyers frequently seem to have! (Lol at the the sellers of my mare told me about the person who turned up and then complained that she was "a lot bigger than she expected, and too big for her" - she was advertised at 16.1 and thats what she is!)
 
Yes, I had one on a three week trial at my friend's place. Unfortunately he was so lame from crap shoeing when he arrived we couldn't ride him. Which, in a way was good, because he failed a flexion test big time. He should be going home on Monday, so all my friend has done is look after and feed him for a fortnight! And we are having to pay for the privilege of having him transported back!

I'm afraid I bought the replacement straightaway as he is lurverly
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i had mine on loan for 4 or 5 months before buying although he wasn't originally for sale when i took him on loan. Gave me a chance to see him in all situation, how he kept weight over winter, have lessons, take him to shows etc etc.

I can see why some sellers wouldn't let their horse go out on trial but think think its very useful for the buyer. Also think sellers should be reluctant as gives buyers a good negotiatiing point on price- i.e. they can find out all those little niggles that could reduce the price.

Headless_horsewoman- like your idea about getting them to bring it to a show for you, never thought of that before!

basically i think buying is a total minefield and i'd want to trial/loan beforehand as i'd be worried about it all going wrong once i got them home.
 
I was very grateful to Colleen for letting us have Tommy Tucker on trial before we bought him
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- but now he's mine mine mine
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and she can't have him back
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(but she still comes to visit him
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)
 
I had my mare for 2 weeks before buying her, she wasnt exactly as described but I could put up with her little faults as her good bits were fabulous and she was just what I needed.
I think it is a good idea to see if you suit each other as I paid alot of money for a Warmblood once that was far from what he was sold as and I lost alot of money.
I think some horses do not suit some people or their situations, it may not mean the horse is a bad one just doesnt suit one particular person.
Good luck
 
Personally as a seller i would not allow any of my horses off my yard without payment in full.
However i have in the past allowed the new owner to come and ride/ care for and jump the horse on my premises, i even took them both to the local showjumping, they got 1st place she bought him the next day.
In short trial at home no problem for a few weeks but never off site.
Teresa
 
i had my mare on a normal 10month loan when the owners circumstances changed which meant she had to sell and i bought her. this was a great way to by a horse as i knew her fairly well and had established her a routine and found her faults and weaknesses.... however if i'd have had the question to buy at 3months then i wouldnt because she was being horrid and taking a while to settle....

i thing if u can get a 6month LWVTB that is the very best way to buy a horse!
 
I had Jerry on trial for 3 weeks before I bought him. The girl I bought him from was a local dealer and she was really fair.
The trouble is, you end up falling in love with them when they live with you so it's very difficult to give them back even if they are not perfect!
I would definitely ask to have a horse on trial for at least a week even if it was to be kept at their yard if I had to buy a horse again.
Good luck!
 
i think that there is a difference between having a horse on loan and then buying it to just having it on trial. i can understand why people want to do the latter and its always worth asking as the seller might be happy for this to happen. but if they say no don't interpret it as them trying to hide something...i personally would never let my horse go out on trial.
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