Have you ever bought a horse that wasn't for sale?

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htobago

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An American magazine was interviewing me yesterday about Tobago, and asking how I got him...

This got me thinking about horse-shopping and horse-buying, and the funny first phone conversation I had with Tobago's owners - where I must have been told at least a dozen times that this colt was NOT FOR SALE!

I said I understood, and asked if I could please just come and see him anyway, as my mentor had told me I simply had to see this horse... Of course I fell in love at first sight, and shamelessly begged and pleaded and gave his poor owners no peace until they finally allowed me to buy him.

Just wondered if anyone else has bought a horse that wasn't for sale...? And if so, what was the factor that persuaded your horse's owners to let you buy him/her?
 
No, but I have sold a few that weren't on the market, so someone must have seen something in them.

To tell the truth I didn't hold out for very long, one nearly gave me a heart attack because I jokingly named a ridiculously high price "OK, give me xx thousand pounds and he's yours" and they shook hands on it! Bankers draft in my hand the next day!

Which magazine was it please?
 
Donkey was not for sale, I discovered her existance on the tinternet - was put in touch with the owner - went to see her and begged (well stood on the yard bawling my eyes out with my arms around her neck because she did'nt look like Nelly
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) The rest is history, I know I paid over the going rate for her at the time - but who cares - she is mine all mine - actually rewrite that as I am hers!!
 
yes, my first horse (after ponies.) had arranged to go and see a local horse, but it was sold before i got there. the seller mentioned that she knew someone who had a horse that would be perfect, but it wasn't for sale... i rang and spoke at length to the owner, then went and rode the mare. she could obviously tell that i'm a huge softie (i had the mare for about 20 yrs, till she was pts) and was going to give her a good home, not pressurise her hugely, but have a lot of fun with her! rip Queenie, such a lovely generous horse.
 
Yes, went to see a different horse at a local dealer, but fell in love with little coloured yearling that they had, was told point blank that she was not for sale, but after asking 10 times in the space of 5 minutes "how much do you want for her", he gave up and sold her to me for a bargain price.
 
Yes I bought a horse which was apparently "definitely not for sale". I just said I'd really like to buy the horse for x-amount and then left.

About a month later the owner phoned me up and said I could have him, not buy him but have him. I said no that I don't "do" being given horses, I prefer to own them. She said no - I said okay.

A week or so later, she phoned me and said yes I could buy him - so I did.
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I think I've been around the block enough times to know that pretty much everything in life is for sale at the right price - and this may have nothing to do with the amount of money you offer - it could just be because they want the horse to have a good home with a secure future.
 
Yes, when i bought Sophie she wasn't for sale, in fact I was at the yard looking at another one when the conversation came round to the cobby mare in the field that wasn't doing very much........
 
Many years back i was offered an amazing amount to sell my reg shetland to a girl who was stabled at the yard next door as her uncle had seen him over the fence - and fell in love with him - what did i do - didnt even consider it - and even now - i dont regret it! he tried to go higher with the offer but soon realised i was set on keeping him until one of us is no longer here!
I tried to buy a section d that wasnt for sale after i had her on loan for 2 years - the owner was persistant she wouldnt sell - i went and got myself a nice mw hunter - 8 months later she called to say she would sell her to me - by this time - i was settled with my mw and as my parents were paying for the horses back then - i wasnt allowed her! broke my heart but..... the owner never sold her elsewhere and as soon as i got my own yard - she came back on full loan - well - she was just dropped off in the field for me! shes been with me ever since but the owner is set she wont ever sell her again! (we are now talking about a 22 year old section d whos semi-retired! app she was the 1st the owner ever bred so still holds a lot of memories - she never visits or phones to see how she is thou!)
 
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No, but I have sold a few that weren't on the market, so someone must have seen something in them.

To tell the truth I didn't hold out for very long, one nearly gave me a heart attack because I jokingly named a ridiculously high price "OK, give me xx thousand pounds and he's yours" and they shook hands on it! Bankers draft in my hand the next day!

Which magazine was it please?

[/ QUOTE ]

It was Arabian Horse World - one of the big US Arab mags.

LOL - yes, I'm sure waving a big cheque sometimes helps!
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I don't think that was it in my case, though. The people I bought Tobago from are top international show-trainers - and they only allowed me to buy him on condition I would keep him with them for another 6 months, basically on 'showing livery', but at no charge to me! There was nothing in this for them financially - quite the opposite, they were giving me 6 months free livery, training and showing! - but they were just besotted with this colt and couldn't bear to part with him so soon.

They knew they would have to sell him eventually, as this is one of their main sources of income, and anyway they didn't have the facilities to stand him at stud, but they had had him since he was a weanling and had become very attached to him.

I was so touched to find that big-time show trainers can be just as soppy about their horses as a little one-horse owner like me. They are always phoning or texting to ask after him, and coming to visit him. I got a text once saying "There is a big Tobago-shaped hole in our lives now". Isn't that sweet? Such lovely people.
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I went to see a bay cob at a dealers yard a few years ago but I didn't like the look of her however there was a gorgeous coloured cob which belonged to the dealers daughter. He said he was definately not for sale as the daughter wanted to show him (his sire was a coloured show horse).

I told the dealer I was only interested in the coloured cob and needless to say went away empty handed.

A few days later the dealer phoned saying his daughter may be interested in selling him and cut a long story short I ended up with him after all and he turned out to be a brilliant pony.
 
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