How many times is a reasonable amount to try out a horse?

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Charla

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I've had a girl view my pony who is looking to full loan him. She has ridden him in the school and along the road on one occasion, she has then hacked out on him another two separate occasions and wants to ride him in the school and on the road again tomorrow. He hasn't put a foot wrong so far, he really is a fab pony. If she asks to try him again after tomorrow do I put a stop to it? I understand a horse must be right for you but after trying him 4 times in every possible way, surely you would know whether you want him or not? Am I being taken for a ride? Or do some of you try potential horses 4+ times? Thanks.
 
I tried mine out once, saw him ridden then did some flatwork, a few jumps and a quick hack up the main road and back. Put a deposit down that night subject to vetting.

I think 4+ times is a bit much tbh :)
 
I think she is joy-riding ... but I would have a serious chat tommorow to her regarding the loan and wether she is going to go ahead or not.
 
4+ times is definitely too much - it's a complete waste of your time and potentially money. If she hasn't made up her mind after tomorrow then you need to move on and find a different buyer.
 
I think twice is enough really. If its a loan, do you think they are up to the job of looking after your pony? Boot on the other foot and all that?
 
I tried my latest acquisition four times but I left his old owner in no doubt of my interest after the first visit - I think if your not getting the right vibes and after this time she hasn't confirmed her interest to call it a day.
 
Agree she is taking the peas! I would just say to her that if she wishes to keep trying your pony it will now be £20 a go, unless she wishes to go ahead with the loan, forking out money generally focus peoples minds!
 
How does she look on the horse? Is she nervous? I know a couple of people who worry over nothing and have to do things in tiny tiny stages..

Is she going to keep him at your house or at hers? If at hers, has you been over to check it out/references? I'd do that before anything else, if she puts you off, perhaps timewasting? Is she's keeping it at yours, offer a months trial perhaps? With her contributing of course.

At the end of the day, other people can still come and see the pony with a view to trialing it, so is it such a big deal? Perhaps mention to her that you feel a little like she is just coming for a ride, and see what the reaction is - it may jolt her into making a decision perhaps.
 
Have not read any replies so going straight from the hip here! I would try a horse once. I would probably know within 5 minutes if it was the horse for me. Thats me though, "very impulsive, know what i want" type of person. I go by gut instict and all that. Cannot understand people that need time to "make up their mind", either you do or you don't, if you know what i mean!
 
She is completely taking the p. Would maybe have understood going to try a horse twice, to see it on different occasions, but 4 times! Really?! :confused: I'm sorry but getting a horse on loan is a very different level of commitment to buying a horse.

Maybe just mention to her that there are other people interested (even if not completely true) as that should add a slight sense of urgency to the situation. At least then you will get an idea of how serious she is
 
Joy riding. Ask her outright if she is interested etc and see what her reaction is. If she says shes not sure then tell her no and wait for someone suitable to come along.

Agree with other posters too, are you happy with how she is riding your horse?
 
Sorry but I am going to disagree big time - when we put our mare on loan the first people came and tried her twice. I checked out where she was going and the people (they were in the same pony club as my daughter). Two weeks later she was back with us, lame and knackered out - worked to death by a speed merchant child. The second time the loanee was nervous and wanted to make sure they were right for each other, she came to visit at least a dozen times.. The outcome, my mare is in a 10* 'forever' home. We go and visit whenever we want, we have become very good friends with the loanee, when we go to visit she is always 'scared' we will want our mare back. I know that this is not always the case but if you want a good home for your horse and if the loanee is anxious to make the right choice then surely that is best for the horse.

I know that this post may not be popular but it worked out superbly for our mare and us.
 
Taking the pee.

I am royally fed up with timewasters though.

I had one girl try the horse I had for sale 4 times over the period of a month - she was repeatedly late or changed the times on me last minute too which completely messed me around - eventually after the 4th viewing she made a ridiculous offer to his owner on the Tuesday night, and then tried to force me to skive off work the next day so she could get the horse vetted immediately - and when I bent over backwards to try and arrange someone to be there - she had the audacity to complain that it was all a bit of a palaver for her. Bloody nightmare.

Anyway yes - I think seeing a horse twice is plenty. The first time is to see if you click and it will do the things you want. The second time is just to make sure, and perhaps to try something specific - ie. more jumping, xc, hacking - whatever you need to do. A third time perhaps if there is a very valid reason, but really even that is pushing it. 4 times is just a joke.
 
Mmmm, am wondering if she's fully "trying out" this horse. Yes I know you've said she's "hacked it" and gone "in the school", but TBH if I was trying out a horse I'd want to ride it solo AND in company and see how it went, plus do all the paces and see how it reacted to other horses passing at walk, trot, canter etc., plus see whether it was polite to go away from the main herd and return without hooning plus pop a fence as well.

But she's not buying it FFS she's only loaning it! So TBH I think you'd be justified in saying that if she's still unsure after four rides then perhaps this horse won't suit her etc etc and you'd be far better looking for someone else.

Coz if she's messing you around NOW, then when she's got your horse my question would be is she gonna mess you about in the future.

Look for someone else to loan your horse to would be the advice I'd suggest.
 
Is this the first loan for her? Maybe she is just wanting to be really sure?

I bought my horse, but the first visit I just looked at him in the rain in a field. 2nd visit I rode him with owner on foot. His girth was too big and I took a tumble when he decided to mess around, so I called a halt to the trial and arranged to go back when she had a girth that fitted!! I hacked him out with a friend on foot (not the owner) for the 2nd ride and as soon as I got back to the yard I arranged to take him on a 2 week trial...... he's still with me 3 years later. TBH if the owner had not offered the trial I am not sure whether I would have bought him as I was a little undecided and wanted to make sure I made the right decision. So I could have been annoying for the owner if the hadn't offered the trial and wanted a 3rd ride...... who is to say?

I'd make it clear when she comes that this is the last trial and that you want a definite decision either way before she leaves. If she is not sure find out what her reservations are as you may be able to put them to rest before she hops on board.

Good luck!
 
TBH, I would be more than willing for someone to try a horse as much as they wanted to make sure they got on before upsetting the horse & its routine....The girl *could* be a joyrider, but she could also be a caring person who doesn't want to commit to a horse before she is 100% sure.....
 
The girl *could* be a joyrider, but she could also be a caring person who doesn't want to commit to a horse before she is 100% sure.....
Click to expand...

I agree with you, but the OP needs to find out which one of these the girl is. The girl needs to decide.
 
I bought my resent one after watching him lunged for 5 min then rode for 5 min , I had a sit on him a trotted two circles and that was it I said I wanted him there and then. But every ones is different.
 
I disagree, I think it might be a good sign for a loan horse that she really wants to get it right.

When I loaned my horse, I made the loaner ride at home, on a hack on her own, on a hack with others and then took her to the XC course!!!! I just wanted to make absolutely sure loaner knew what she was taking on and that I was 100% happy about them as a partnership.

Anyway, 18months on, horse has done amazing things with loaner, so it can be good.

Assuming you feel happy with the partnership, time to have a chat about how she is feeling!!
 
As a buyer, as many times as needed to make the right decision
And as a seller up to half a dozen times if neccessary to make sure the horse was suitable for them as i wouldnt want to sell anything on to an uncertain future
 
I certainly think it is time to encourage a decision out of her. Funny, there was somone on her a little while ago that was in the opposite position and posters were sticking up for her saying it was a huge decision and she had to take her time! Funny how we tend to stick up for the OP!

Tell her that you have no option but to readvertise the pony as you need to move on financially/emotionally ...
 
I tried my horse 3 times before i bought him, despite the fact he 'felt right' as soon as I got on. Once at home in his field. Once at a hired arena with instructor so she could try him and we could see him loaded. Once on a long hack to see how he was in traffic.

Perhaps she is just being cautious? I mean at least she is taking the time and effort to get it right!!!!

I have had to put my horse up for loan while I am pregnant and I have been giving the new loaner lessons on him for the past 2 months, and taking them out for hacks. granted she is a teenager and he will be her first horse but it's not as is she's going to be unsupervised. I would just rather get it right, for my horse's sake.
 
Yes I think 4 times is a bit much.. maybe she's just being cautious but surely if she likes the pony, she should take him, and if it doesn't work out after an agreed period he could come home?

When I took my first loan horse I just took him straight from the field- said hello to him but didn't ride- not necessarily the wisest but I knew if anything went wrong it wouldn't be a huge deal to bring him home.
 
Hello, thank you all for your replies! The outcome of today...girl tried him out on the roads again and as much as some of the other horses we were with messed around my pony was as good as gold and therefore today she told me she would like to have him. It does appear she is the caring type who just wanted to be 100% sure. I went to see the yard and it was a nice quiet set up with only 2 other horses. And is local enough for me to visit on regular occasions. So all is going ahead. Yard owner did say if anything changes and pony isn't suitable they expect me to come and get him immediately which I thought was quite cheeky. However I wouldn't want my pony being unhappy so would take him straight back anyway!
 
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