My mum always says that people never sell a good horse

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Agent XXX999

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And anything for sale in the horse and hound is for sale for a reason.

As in...you never buy a horse unless the old owner has a reason for selling it - for instance they dont think it is good enough or its schooling isnt good enough or the horse is difficult.

What are your thoughts on this?

It is for this reason I have ended up with horses that noone else wanted (becasue, ironically, she thinks horses are what you make them and how you ride them and there is no such thing as a bad horse....just owners that dont adapt so the horse reaches its full potential)

What do you think of this?

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To a certain degree, if you think in terms of black and white, then your mum has a point.

People sell for many reasons though. Change in lifestyles, health or family commitments, out growing both in their height or horse's ability to move through up through the levels.

I'm cynical though, and I always look for the "catch".
 
I totally agree with your mum. I believe that in the majority of cases it is the rider that has the problem, not the horse. This is why many horses seemingly change when they are sold. Also, in my experience "good" horses are never advertised, and don't need to be, because they are snapped up in an instant through word of mouth.
 
I think some people do sell good horses
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My current boy was for sale as he's young, and was owned by someone who started a family recently. The old owner is great and we speak weekly.

A friend sold her fantastic mare as she's RAF and her next tour is in Iraq or Afghanistan. She had several offers and refused them until she found the right home.
 
I've known some brilliant horses that have been advertised and sold. To a certain extent your mum is right, every horse is what you make it, but some are just better than others. But better and brilliant will always depend on your capabilities, wants and needs from a horse.
People with great horses can have genuine reasons for sale- I like to look out for horses for sale in aug/sept where the rider/owner is going to uni (if completely genuine) or outgrown.
 
i think there's a point there... i only got my horse cos the guy (i used to ride out for him) was giving up hunting and didn't think Ron would take to hacking out with a kid on a lead rein. as it happens the guy now hunts with someone else, and would have had to change horses anyway as ron isn't the right sort for that type of country.

i also used to have a little welsh cob that we were told would never jump and couldn't be handled by men, and would only really be a companion who could hack out.... it did take a year before my dad could catch him, and he liked trying to kill the vet, and to swing our (short) farrier by his belt, but we did everything with him. he was the most honest willing little horse i've ever met... i did PC and hunting and had so much fun with him, and my sister was on PC teams with him and jumped PC open SJ with him when it was at its biggest - he was the only pony to jump 4 consecutive double clears in that competition - and she came 3rd (cos he wasn't the quickest only having short legs)... he's now out on loan to a family a few miles away, with a waiting list of PC kids wanting him when she grows out of him! and he's 22 now!
 
I can see what your mum is saying, however I know of a horse that is about to go up for sale because she has been started in the right way, is now starting to get some good results and her rider is going to be based with a professional rider as of next year. So in that case it isn't because they have taken her as far as she can go, or because there is anything wrong.
I think a lot of people have youngsters these days that they do a bit of work with and then sell as horse prices are so inflated they can make money by doing it!
 
She is right to be wary. There are many dishonest sellers and buyers... who become sellers! Most buyers become seller at some point!

A horse is like a mirror, it reflects the handler/rider/drivers good points and bad points. They are very humbling creatures. Sadly, many people don't have the humility or skill to see whgatthe horse is bouncing back at them.

I have never met a bad horse in 25 years. Just spoilt ones. Some horses are easier than others.

There are many people who bring problems upon themselves by not being honest about their capabilities, or simply ignorant.

Horses are creatures that medicaly a lot can go wrong with. Just like people. Many people can function, but would be incapable of performing atheleticly because they are unsound. Even a happy hack is a athelete! We ask a lot of horses!
 
There is some truth in that but if you've got a good horse its worth a lot more and easy to sell!
Thats why there are a lot of pros who take so long to reach the top because they end up selling all their good horses along the way just to make ends meet
 
I disagree with your mum i'm afraid...

There are many reasons that people sell horses...one of the more obvious ones being that they don't want to be lumbered with an older horses that needs to be retired. Many of the top producers make their living from identifying good young horses and producing them to the best of their abilities before passing them on to someone with the ability or desire to take the further. People's financial situation may change necessitating the sale of a horse....doesn't mean the horse has any issues.

As I say, many reasons why horses good hoses may be sold on
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People's lives change and there are many reasons for selling, positive and negative. I sold my car when I moved - didn't make it a bad car!

Of course "nice" horses get sold - the catch is people often know they're competitive/safe/sound etc and they are priced accordingly. As they should be.

When we're talking about horses who seem too good to be true, I would tend to agree. Even there, though, if the reason for sale is unsuitability or improper training (including ignoring a treatable physical condition) then the horse might very well be a "bargain" IF the buyer can sort it out. My concern there, though, is that improper training has physical ramifications and if the horse has been ridden incorrectly for too long there may be underlying issues not so easily solved.
 
It's funny you should post this, cause that's what I say!! I am such a sceptic now when it comes to buying horses, as i've managed to have several which have turned out to be other than what is advertised. So to me, I only look at certain ads and even then I take what is written with a pinch of salt!
 
I am known for my trusting and naive nature
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but even I am amused when eventers etc sell novice eventers stating 'Ready to go on to the next level'....or when showing yards sell youngstock with 'Will win all the shows'.....
But my favourites are the teenage horses with 'Potential eventer/dressage/SJ'....;)
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I agree with Rambo, that's crap Chocolate!! There are LOADS of reasons why people sell... outgrown, emigrating, lost their job so can't afford it, etc.

I do agree though that some people have a negative effect on horses where they don't quite 'gel'. But loads of people sell to make money... For example, people buying younsters to bring on a bit and sell.

I had to sell my (amazing) horse when I went to uni which broke my heart but I couldn't have afforded to keep her whilst I was at uni
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Not true as far as we are concerned. Over the past few years, horses we have sold have competed (and beaten us!) after we sold them. These include horses who were 2nd at HOYS, another was 3rd at HOYS, another was UK amateur champion. Sometimes if we have youngsters coming through, then we have to sell the older more established horses as we don't have the time and resource to keep everything. Some (like Bob) stay forever as they are just part of the family, but we have sold other more successful horses who have gone on to have even greater success.

In fact, we have a great 15.2 mare for sale right now, been to HOYS as a small riding horse, excellent dressage, lovely jump, Master Imp breeding .....
 
I agree with your statement to a certain extent but my boy who I just sold was a good horse but I am pregnant and have SPD which means I cant give him the attention he needed so decided it was in his best interest for him to be sold.
 
I agree to a certain extent, but I think it depends who you buy from.

As a private owner, I have only ever sold two horses, both for the reason that I couldn't 'gel' with them, as in, I found them difficult! I sold both carefully into homes where I thought they would have a useful job. One found his niche as a hunt horse, and the other is now getting placed at PN with a professional on board.

My other horses, the ones I do 'gel' with, someone would have to kill me to get their hands on! So yes, I do kind of agree with the idea that only 'problem' horses get sold from private homes. Although, that doesn't mean that a different/better rider or a different job can't turn a 'problem' horse into a star.

I think people making a living out of horses sell for different reasons though. And, incidentally, the two horses I sold on came from private homes, and the three that I got on brilliantly with came from professionals!

The only way to 100% guarantee you are not taking on any baggage is to buy very young, but for this, you need to have been through a few older horses first!
 
I also think generally good horses are sold before there is a need to advertise and there is usually something getting in the way of that if they are advertised. e.g. price is too high, the horse has a querk etc. This is why I think if you find a good dealer who buys, then sells horses that are bred to be sold e.g. from Ireland, you have a better chance of what you see being what you get.
 
Just to clarify, I meant that good horses from private sellers are generally sold before they get to be advertised. And I should have said breeders, producers and good dealers are a safer bet!
 
I have tended to think horses are for sale for a reason, not EVERYONE can be "expecting a baby" or "going to uni" or "child lost interest", I tend to be very cynical regarding people selling, so yea I agree with your mum.
 
I agree with you Rambo. Many very good horses are sold.

Equally some pretty bad ones too.

The difference is that the good ones will often be sold through world of mouth, with no need for advertising - so you or I would never get to hear of them. Certainly when you get to the top level (Olympic horse level) you will never see them advertised. their owner doesn't want the world to know they are for sale, they fish around for the best possible purchaser who will take the horse on - and that purchaser could be on the other side of the globe.

Down at our level I think advertisements are an equal share of those that are what is says on the tin, or could go on to do more, and those that are being offloaded.
 
i disagree, people sell horses for all sorts of reasons, and sometimes they are very good, very nice horses, just for sale quite literally "through no fault of their own."

i sold a super confidence-giving, very well-schooled homebred mare, aged 12, who i had to retire from eventing as she just wasn't tough enough but hadn't broken down yet... i saw tiny warning signs and stopped working her immediately, and scans showed that she had a teensy bit of damage, not lame yet, but no way would she stand up to more galloping and jumping.
after all that hard work to get her to that level (Medium dressage, ready to go Advanced eventing), it broke my heart to ride her with no purpose... i'm not keen enough on pure dr to do just that, and she would never have made GP etc, which is what i'd want to aim for if i was going to concentrate exclusively on dr!
with full disclosure of her history, minor injuries, and limitations (absolutely no galloping or jumping allowed) i managed to find a wonderful home for her with a lady who wanted an angelic horse for hacking and as a light dressage schoolmaster. she suits this lady for this job perfectly, far more than she would have suited me to carry on with, if that makes sense, and she is really really valued and cherished in that role. i have first refusal to buy her back at any time, and will do so if they ever want to sell her.
i have been lucky enough to buy equally nice horses from genuine people, thank goodness!
 
But Kerilli, this is exactly the point, the horse you sold had a 'problem'. Presumably, she wouldn't have been for sale without this issue as you'd have wanted to keep her for yourself to event.

You were honest enough to disclose the problem and find her an ideal home, but you are probably in the minority there!

We talking here about how often really good, sound, genuine, talented, sane horses (as in, ready to go onwards and upwards, not downsize or change career) end up in the pages of H&H or the like, and my opinion is, very few from private owners. Professionals may be different.
 
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I have tended to think horses are for sale for a reason, not EVERYONE can be "expecting a baby" or "going to uni" or "child lost interest", I tend to be very cynical regarding people selling, so yea I agree with your mum.

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I had to sell my last mare due to me being pregnant
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.....I also had to sell my 14.2hh because I didnt necessarily grow out of him but I wanted to showjump in the horse classes
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How far do you go as to find out if sellers are telling the truth as such .

Op I tend to disagree with your mum , Although I do know that there is alot of "little white liars " out there that will do anything to sell a horse .
 
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Also, in my experience "good" horses are never advertised, and don't need to be, because they are snapped up in an instant through word of mouth.

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And that is how I bought my latest lad, and I don't regret it one little bit. He is perfect for what I want to do.
 
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i disagree, people sell horses for all sorts of reasons, and sometimes they are very good, very nice horses, just for sale quite literally "through no fault of their own."

i sold a super confidence-giving, very well-schooled homebred mare, aged 12, who i had to retire from eventing as she just wasn't tough enough but hadn't broken down yet... i saw tiny warning signs and stopped working her immediately, and scans showed that she had a teensy bit of damage, not lame yet, but no way would she stand up to more galloping and jumping.
after all that hard work to get her to that level (Medium dressage, ready to go Advanced eventing), it broke my heart to ride her with no purpose... i'm not keen enough on pure dr to do just that, and she would never have made GP etc, which is what i'd want to aim for if i was going to concentrate exclusively on dr!
with full disclosure of her history, minor injuries, and limitations (absolutely no galloping or jumping allowed) i managed to find a wonderful home for her with a lady who wanted an angelic horse for hacking and as a light dressage schoolmaster. she suits this lady for this job perfectly, far more than she would have suited me to carry on with, if that makes sense, and she is really really valued and cherished in that role. i have first refusal to buy her back at any time, and will do so if they ever want to sell her.
i have been lucky enough to buy equally nice horses from genuine people, thank goodness!

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Think you made my point for me, you sold it for a reason being it wasnt fully sound.
 
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