In a buyers market

pedilia

pedilia

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Why is it so difficult to find a horse???

I've been messed about so much, driven 150 mile round trip, to be told its sold! Tried 2 that were lame, one last weekend I got on and all four feet left the ground!!

So many owners seem unable to recognise a horse that is lame or in pain, so very frustrating! All I want is a decent all-rounder!
 
How rubbish for you! I still don't understand why some sellers feel the need to waste peoples time its just pointless. I guess all you can do is soldier on and put each viewing down as a experience!
 
I agree with lottiepony :( That is some bad luck. One thought is a few owners (like myself) may have decided to quit trying to sell till spring, in the hope the market picks up. But good luck in your search, there'll be one out there for you ;) Perhaps pop what you after on here, you never know :)
 
Thanks all. Glad it's not just me millsandboon, I know there is a horse out there, it's just so frustrating especially seeing the amount of threads about timewasters, think that applies just as much to sellers!
 
I had alot more problems with timewasters when i was looking for a pony for my daughter. I saw more lame ones than sound. One lady i looked at the pony really liked it had a second viewing arranged to pick it up and she changed her mind when i was about to leave and said he was no longer for sale. My daughter was gutted!!!:mad:
But in the end i found the most amazing pony we have now her name is Star and she really lives up to her name!!!:)
I totally believe things happen for a reason and the right one will come along and youll know as soon as you see.:)
 
Just bought my first one and understand totally what you are going through. we travelled miles and came upon windsuckers, lame horses, I had the age changed from 6 in the advert to 4 when I arrived and on and on. In the end I had gone to see one which just felt awful the moment I got on, I couldn't wait to get off and was so frustrated when the dealer said oh we just got this one in its not advertised yet do you want to try him and he was perfect, keep looking the right one will come but I didn't enjoy horse shopping at all and I thought it would be great fun...good luck!! :)
 
Selling/buying at a distance is a real problem, especially in Scotland where distances are huge.

Then there is the horse that just isn't right for the buyer who turns up - but the buyer can't see it. What do you do? Take the money and run? I'm afraid I think more of my ponies than that.

I have a cracking little pony here at the moment and a local girl who is totally in love with her (but, thank goodness, can't afford her!) but I wouldn't sell the pony to her because they are totally unsuited. The girl needs a safe quiet confidence builder while the pony is a fizzy PC sort that flies in response to a gentle squeeze!

I hate selling my ponies and take a bit of trouble matching the new owner to the pony, so has anyone got any advice? Thankfully, that girl is local, but what if she'd travelled miles and mum and dad had produced a wad of cash? "Sorry, the pony is no longer for sale"? Now that would be popular! There are always two sides to every story and it is a problem.

I make videos professionally and I am wondering if that is the answer. And if so, what do you want the video to show? These days anyone can make a video but making a good one that tells the full story without misleading the viewer is not that easy. If we are not to deceive people and waste time, they need to be fair and show the good and the bad.
 
I have someone coming to try mine this morning, she wasnt even advertised lol Its all snowballed from a chat that they were looking for something & i have that something :) Hoping it all works out, fingers crossed x
 
It does work both ways. You can have buyers who sound perfect and they arrive and they cannot ride your horse at all and have hopelessly overstated their abilities. You have people not bothering to turn up at all. You have people who put you through the mill, numerous tries and never ever come back. Fair enough they don't like the horse but it would be nice after all the time spent to have a no. Not "I really like this horse, I will call you .."

And while it is a buyers market to a degree, the good horses that everyone wants will still sell, at good money and you won't pick them up cheaply. I admire a bit of cheek (don't ask, don't get) but when I see some of the calls my YO gets even I have to admit there is a line.. and it gets crossed BIG time.

So maybe when buying a horse, don't automatically assume its a fire sale and the seller is desperate. Do your research to really know what the market value is and be honest about your capabilities.

She has just sold a novice eventer, after much soul searching, but he has gone to a really nice new owner... so the market is still working..
 
I'm still lookng too, and with all the Welsh cobs there are around, you wouldn't think it would be so difficult, but I've only found three worth going to see.

One was ridiculously over-priced for its abilities, one was absolutely tiny all over (not the height) and I would have looked ridiculous on it - it wasn't thin, just a very short, narrow pony), and the other was sold to someone else after the seller promised I would be the first to see it (he was related to a mare I lost earlier this year).

I have also sent texts and emails to people who just haven't responded (and I haven't been able to get them on the 'phone).

Getting fed up now!
 
I just bought my welsh D two hours ago :) :) :) after having him on loan since August. I can TOTALLY sympathise with the OP, because I was looking solidly from January-August and I've just worked out that involved 1200 miles, 9 viewings, 50+ phone calls & about 100 hours of online research.

I know it's a cliche (and I would have merrily thumped anyone who said this to me at the time!), but the right one will find you - however you might just have to make yourself very 'findable'. I got the other liveries to put up my Wanted ad every time they went out anywhere to a competition or lesson and my boy's owner saw one of them.
 
sidewaysonacob said:
I just bought my welsh D two hours ago :) :) :) after having him on loan since August. I can TOTALLY sympathise with the OP, because I was looking solidly from January-August and I've just worked out that involved 1200 miles, 9 viewings, 50+ phone calls & about 100 hours of online research.

I know it's a cliche (and I would have merrily thumped anyone who said this to me at the time!), but the right one will find you - however you might just have to make yourself very 'findable'. I got the other liveries to put up my Wanted ad every time they went out anywhere to a competition or lesson and my boy's owner saw one of them.
Click to expand...

Congratulations :D
 
pedilia said:
Thanks all. Glad it's not just me millsandboon, I know there is a horse out there, it's just so frustrating especially seeing the amount of threads about timewasters, think that applies just as much to sellers!
Click to expand...

I've got three for sale, advertised but I have no one come down and look
 
I sympathise with you OP, I've been horse hunting since June, tried 14 horses, one failed vetting and another seller pulled out at the last minute. Been keeping a good eye on notice boards at local tack shops but there's really nothing around, and I'm also looking for an all rounder. I'm considering giving up and trying again in the new year in the hope that after Christmas more might be up for sale. Fingers crossed for you!
 
I really don't think it is a buyers market. There are a lot of cheap horses out there but they're generally cheap for a reason ie temperament, soundness, lacking ability (not in a bad way), no competition record which everyone wants these days regardless of whether or not they plan to compete. The real quality which is sensibly priced is still selling.

Since mid Oct I have travelled 2000 miles, viewed 9, two of them twice, one more than twice and had one fail the vet. Some I saw were instant nos as just not what I wanted. One ticked every box and after much soul searching just missed that vital "something" so was also a no. Others were "nice, but" scenarios.

I think now a lot of owners will wait until Spring or at least until after Christmas.

Even if you're totally certain what you want, have seen lots of photos, videos and interrogated the owner you can still get there and find it's just not the one for some reason. It's very frustrating process from both sides!
 
My boy is advertised at I think a very cheap price and I have been honest that he is young and very green in the school but a sweet chap...still I get people come who are looking for a first horse?? Just want to find him the perfect home is it that much to ask :p
 
I dont think it helps when people put two lines in the description. If people took the time to put in a decent description of the horse it could save a lot of time and wasted phone calls at least!
 
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