Starzaan
Well-Known Member
Long one...sorry everyone, but I desperately need some advice!
So...
last summer, my brother's wife called and asked me to start searching for a pony for their girls, aged 7 and 5. They live in Holland, and my sister in law isn't experienced enough to make a decision by herself (and bombproof kids ponies are like hen's teeth over there!). There followed a constant barrage of emails with suggestions of horses for me to go and look at, but when I asked if she was comfortable with me choosing something for them without her seeing it she said no, consequently they missed out on a hell of a lot of nice ponies! They came over for a weekend to stay with us and look at horses that I was supposed to have lined up, but as I'm sure all of you know, perfect kids ponies don't stay on the market for long, so I had nothing when they came over. I called the owner of a local riding school who I know very well, and asked if she had anything for the girls to which she said she had a few possibilities, but we'd have to go straight over and have a look!
When we got there, we were shown a few cobs who seemed ideal, but my sister in law being the stubborn inexperienced person that she is, said she didn't want them, she wanted to look at the leopard spot. History of the leopard spot is rather interesting... he was bought as a 2yr old by the YO to use as a stallion, however, his babies were all a rather funny poo colour, so he was gelded in 2008. Since being cut he had been used in the riding school, and was then sold on. The buyers funds fell through, so he was sent back to the riding school to be sold on. He is 15.2hh, and at the time was 5yrs old.
I tried him first, in the outdoor school, and really liked him - although he was a bit lazy he felt really safe and had fabulous paces. I then rode him in their jumping field, which is alongside a very busy main road, and had ponies turned out in it! He was more lively, and a bit stronger, but again very safe and sensible, and jumped beautifully! My sister in law tried him, and liked him, and so we let the girls ride him. They loved him instantly, and I decided that he was in fact perfect for them. This was because although safe, he didn't take any crap! My older niece was being a real brat, and when she didn't ask for something properly and he didn't do it, she whacked him and had a tantrum - this made him buck. Not nasty bucks, and he never unseated her, he just told her that she was being unfair and he didn't deserve a whack!
He was vetted and shipped over to Holland and then the problems began. When deal was made, the owner of the riding school said that it was imperative that he was led in a chifney, and wasn't allowed to get away with his stalliony rubbish - he's a typical boy, and likes to try it on, but when told off and shown who's boss he behaves beautifully. My sister in law decided that she would ignore this, and start leading him in a headcollar, and riding him in a bitless bridle.
There followed a hell of a lot of phonecalls to me to whine about how naughty he was and how he was too strong and kept pulling her over when she led him. She didn't have the excuse that she didn't have a chifney as I spent £60 on a chifney, headcollar, wormer etc. so that she had everything she needed. £60 which I never got back!
In October, he was spooked by another horse, and pulled back whilst tied up on the yard, bolting to the gate which my older niece was trying to shut, he tried to stop, but slipped on the concrete and knocked the gate onto her, resulting in her having severe brain injuries and a broken leg. Miraculously, she is now fine, but the horse has been sent over to me here in England to sell, as the girls are now frightened of him.
I had more problems with her re: transport and cost - after I had rung to say that he couldn't be shipped when planned due to the snow and us having an extra horse on the yard who couldn't be moved until the snow melted, I then got a phonecall saying "he's on his way, he'll be with you by 5". I went mental and rang the transport company, who said that they had also tried to convince her to to send him due to the snow, (strange, seeing as she blamed them for having to send him over) and that they were happy to have him on their yard for the next few weeks.
It then materialised that she hadn't sent me anything other than a headcollar and a bag of apples - what happened to all the tack and the rugs he went over with?! I called and told her that I had no money to kit him out, so she'd have to pay for tack and rugs etc. She said no! After a hell of a lot of arguing and me trying to explain that a horse for sale has to be seen to be hunting and competing etc. and therefore needs to be clipped so has to have rugs, she finally agreed. So now, we have tack and two rugs (wild, I know!) and I have a horse on my hands who has been ruined. There was also trouble with her unrealistic ideas about selling a horse, she said I could have a sliding scale of comission - 10 % if he was sold in the first month, then 5%, then nothing. I sent her a long and angry email explaining what selling horses entails, and saying that I would keep anything over the price she wanted for him - the standard deal I do with all owners.
When I sent him over there he was worth £6000, and now I'm not happy even advertising him due to his rearing, napping and bolting in hand. He has clearly been allowed to get away with murder, and I'm being put under immense pressure to sell him asap, but I'm not happy selling something that I wouldn't buy myself. He's learning again, and is getting better, but I'm really struggling to get any sense or money out of her. So far this horse has cost me about £500 that I haven't seen. He's also currently with my big eventer here where I work, which is all fine and dandy, but means that my wages are down by about £100 a week, and my mare, who needs company, is costing me £60 a month grass livery 40 miles away where she is just mooching about in a field and I can only see her on Sundays.
What shall I do?! Do I carry on and just get tough with her, or do I cut my losses and give up, and tell her to send him to a dealer? Getting so fed up with it, and feel sorry for him cause he's such a lovely boy, but I can't carry on like this!
HELP EVERYONE!
So...
last summer, my brother's wife called and asked me to start searching for a pony for their girls, aged 7 and 5. They live in Holland, and my sister in law isn't experienced enough to make a decision by herself (and bombproof kids ponies are like hen's teeth over there!). There followed a constant barrage of emails with suggestions of horses for me to go and look at, but when I asked if she was comfortable with me choosing something for them without her seeing it she said no, consequently they missed out on a hell of a lot of nice ponies! They came over for a weekend to stay with us and look at horses that I was supposed to have lined up, but as I'm sure all of you know, perfect kids ponies don't stay on the market for long, so I had nothing when they came over. I called the owner of a local riding school who I know very well, and asked if she had anything for the girls to which she said she had a few possibilities, but we'd have to go straight over and have a look!
When we got there, we were shown a few cobs who seemed ideal, but my sister in law being the stubborn inexperienced person that she is, said she didn't want them, she wanted to look at the leopard spot. History of the leopard spot is rather interesting... he was bought as a 2yr old by the YO to use as a stallion, however, his babies were all a rather funny poo colour, so he was gelded in 2008. Since being cut he had been used in the riding school, and was then sold on. The buyers funds fell through, so he was sent back to the riding school to be sold on. He is 15.2hh, and at the time was 5yrs old.
I tried him first, in the outdoor school, and really liked him - although he was a bit lazy he felt really safe and had fabulous paces. I then rode him in their jumping field, which is alongside a very busy main road, and had ponies turned out in it! He was more lively, and a bit stronger, but again very safe and sensible, and jumped beautifully! My sister in law tried him, and liked him, and so we let the girls ride him. They loved him instantly, and I decided that he was in fact perfect for them. This was because although safe, he didn't take any crap! My older niece was being a real brat, and when she didn't ask for something properly and he didn't do it, she whacked him and had a tantrum - this made him buck. Not nasty bucks, and he never unseated her, he just told her that she was being unfair and he didn't deserve a whack!
He was vetted and shipped over to Holland and then the problems began. When deal was made, the owner of the riding school said that it was imperative that he was led in a chifney, and wasn't allowed to get away with his stalliony rubbish - he's a typical boy, and likes to try it on, but when told off and shown who's boss he behaves beautifully. My sister in law decided that she would ignore this, and start leading him in a headcollar, and riding him in a bitless bridle.
There followed a hell of a lot of phonecalls to me to whine about how naughty he was and how he was too strong and kept pulling her over when she led him. She didn't have the excuse that she didn't have a chifney as I spent £60 on a chifney, headcollar, wormer etc. so that she had everything she needed. £60 which I never got back!
In October, he was spooked by another horse, and pulled back whilst tied up on the yard, bolting to the gate which my older niece was trying to shut, he tried to stop, but slipped on the concrete and knocked the gate onto her, resulting in her having severe brain injuries and a broken leg. Miraculously, she is now fine, but the horse has been sent over to me here in England to sell, as the girls are now frightened of him.
I had more problems with her re: transport and cost - after I had rung to say that he couldn't be shipped when planned due to the snow and us having an extra horse on the yard who couldn't be moved until the snow melted, I then got a phonecall saying "he's on his way, he'll be with you by 5". I went mental and rang the transport company, who said that they had also tried to convince her to to send him due to the snow, (strange, seeing as she blamed them for having to send him over) and that they were happy to have him on their yard for the next few weeks.
It then materialised that she hadn't sent me anything other than a headcollar and a bag of apples - what happened to all the tack and the rugs he went over with?! I called and told her that I had no money to kit him out, so she'd have to pay for tack and rugs etc. She said no! After a hell of a lot of arguing and me trying to explain that a horse for sale has to be seen to be hunting and competing etc. and therefore needs to be clipped so has to have rugs, she finally agreed. So now, we have tack and two rugs (wild, I know!) and I have a horse on my hands who has been ruined. There was also trouble with her unrealistic ideas about selling a horse, she said I could have a sliding scale of comission - 10 % if he was sold in the first month, then 5%, then nothing. I sent her a long and angry email explaining what selling horses entails, and saying that I would keep anything over the price she wanted for him - the standard deal I do with all owners.
When I sent him over there he was worth £6000, and now I'm not happy even advertising him due to his rearing, napping and bolting in hand. He has clearly been allowed to get away with murder, and I'm being put under immense pressure to sell him asap, but I'm not happy selling something that I wouldn't buy myself. He's learning again, and is getting better, but I'm really struggling to get any sense or money out of her. So far this horse has cost me about £500 that I haven't seen. He's also currently with my big eventer here where I work, which is all fine and dandy, but means that my wages are down by about £100 a week, and my mare, who needs company, is costing me £60 a month grass livery 40 miles away where she is just mooching about in a field and I can only see her on Sundays.
What shall I do?! Do I carry on and just get tough with her, or do I cut my losses and give up, and tell her to send him to a dealer? Getting so fed up with it, and feel sorry for him cause he's such a lovely boy, but I can't carry on like this!
HELP EVERYONE!
